Lawn Tractor or ATV?

[Denco]

Hi All.
Recently, I moved to Oregon and purchase about 3 acres. Mostly hills and some steep ones at that. It's now time to cut the weeds and grass.

In your opinion, should I purchase one of the more powerful John Deere lawn tractors or should I get an ATV and hook a grass cutter thingy on the back?

I'm thinking of safety, ability to maneuver/climb, etc. Anyone gone either route?

Thanks in advance for any replies.--Den

[bigsteel15]

Hi All.
In your opinion, should I purchase one of the more powerful John Deere lawn tractors or should I get an ATV and hook a grass cutter thingy on the back?

I'm thinking of safety, ability to maneuver/climb, etc. Anyone gone either route?

Thanks in advance for any replies.--Den

The John Deere Gator would be the ideal unit to cover both options.
My boss just got a diesel unit and loves it.

[crokett]

A Gator with a bed also lets you haul stuff without getting a trailer. 'Course you can't take a gator out and go offroading though...

[scorrpio]

I dunno. A neighbor across the road has an ATV. But come time to mow the lawn, he pushes the mower around himself. Do ATVs even have a sufficiently low gear to properly haul a lawnmower?

[jerrye]

If all you're looking to do is cut grass, I'd think a good ZTR mower is the ticket. Been in use on commercial side for years; best productivity if there are obstacles; most are low-profile, low CG, so are safe for hills. Just my .02

[linear]

If all you're looking to do is cut grass, I'd think a good ZTR mower is the ticket. Been in use on commercial side for years; best productivity if there are obstacles; most are low-profile, low CG, so are safe for hills. Just my .02

Make it $0.04. I agree entirely. I own a JD lawn tractor, but my yard is super flat. I'd never want to drive that thing on a slope.

[mschrank]

Hi All.
Recently, I moved to Oregon...

Whereabouts?

[Denco]

Whereabouts?

Roseburg Oregon.

Thanks all for the comments. I have some steep hills, so I'm weighing it carefully.

[sertsa]

Potential heresy on a power tool forum, but how about neither. Do you really want to have to mow 3 steep hilly acres all the time. Could you keep an area around the house that would be push mowable, and let the rest go au naturale?

[dlminehart]

Or get or borrow a couple goats.

[Hellrazor]

I drive our JD 445 at work on hills 20% of time to mow. Install wheel weights and off you go. I can mow about 7-8 acres in an 8hour day. But that includes a lot of tight areas around the buildings.

We have 2 gators at work too, I do not like them. They are a toy IMO.

[mleichtle]

Or get or borrow a couple goats.

And invisible fence, Heard of this meathod but havent tried it yet.

[Denco]

Potential heresy on a power tool forum, but how about neither. Do you really want to have to mow 3 steep hilly acres all the time. Could you keep an area around the house that would be push mowable, and let the rest go au naturale?

I have plans for the entire acreage. Otherwise, I'd let it go.

[os1kne]

I think your best bet will be to go with a tractor. If it's fairly even terrain, the JD 445 should work nicely. Good luck!

[billwmeyer]

Just last Sunday, a customer of mine who was 88 rolled his brand new John Deere ZTR mower in a ditch and drowned in the ditch water that was only a few inches deep. He got pinned under the mower! Be careful on those hills.
Bill