Sears Garden Tractor Question

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

We just can't afford a full tractor and really don't need one since we aren't cutting hay or anything. Just a really big garden and a huge lawn. We are looking at 22hp Sears Craftsman that is on sale. It has the triple blade mower. We would like to get a dump cart, plow attachment, disc and snow blade, and tire weights. Any other attachments you can recommend and have any of you been happy with a Sears garden tractor??

Also, we are looking at the troybuilt versa-tiller. The one that converts from front tilling to rear tilling. Anyone have one and how do you like it?

We are on 10 acres in Western Virginia and have the garden and orchard. We are currently cow shopping (if you know of any Jerseys for sale in the Wytheville area..let me know!) and chickens.

Thanks for your input.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), August 24, 2001

Answers

I have the 1994 model of what you're considering buying, with the plow, disk and wheel weights. The tractor mows well but the plow is not effective in breaking ground. You can turn under last year's garden with it; plan on breaking new ground with the rotory tiller (or hire a farmer with a capable tractor) and subsequently maintaining it with the Sears tractor and plow and disc.

-- Mark Sykes (mark@marksykes.net), August 24, 2001.

How big is a big yard? How smooth is it? How large of an area you going to be plowing? Just the garden or some of the 10acres? What kind of ground will you be tilling and discing?

Is the 22hp a true garden tractor? will it support the cat 0 attachmnets you want to put on it? The big disadvantge on the garden tractor will be in hard soil, rocky soil on on rough land. It will beat you to death on rough land, and you may not have enough power to pull the plough in hard soil. Keep in mind its 22hp MAX, running full speed. DOnt confuse 22hp diesel tractor with 22hp from a garden tractor they are not the same rating. If your going to plowing snow, you also need chains. I dont know what the sale price is on the 22hp, but a good one is going to run about $2k, plus $100-200 for the car, another 200-300 for plow, other 200-300 for a disc, $200 for a blade another $200 for weights and chains. thats almost $3k. Can you find an older tractor with some attachments for that?

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 24, 2001.


In this area you can buy a 8N Ford made in the 50's for $2,000 to $3,000 that if you pick a good one will last longer than you. I think you will find the Sears is made by MTD so you can buy the same tractor without the gray paint for a lot less other places. The Troybuilt is good but they have filed bankrupcy and MTD has made a offer to buy them according to the news. As for mowing you can get finish mower to fit the Ford.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), August 24, 2001.

Mel, thanks for posting the bankruptcy info on Troybilt. I was going to buy a Trobilt tiller this fall. Damn! First, Stark Brother's Nursery on July 5th. Then Troybilt on July 30th.

-- Steve in So. WI (alpine1@prodigy.net), August 24, 2001.

I didnt know about Troy-bilt going bankrupt but I know it took the local repair months to get a shaft and gear from them, it was always on back order, he finally got it somewhere else. Doesnt sound good for them.' And about the Sears tractor. Maybe able to get a tiller attachment to go behind it and make the breaking of the ground better. dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), August 25, 2001.


John Deere makes a nice garden/lawn tractor. As they say "Nothing runs better than a Deere"

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), August 25, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ