small tractor vs. ATV pulling a mower

[pheasantplucker]

I currently mow about six acres with a walk behind exMark (36"). My budget says I'm going to need to do this for another summer, at least before I can go with a small tractor or a side x side pulling a small brush hog. Reason for a side by side is I want a ROPS. My land is pretty hilly. Do any of you have experience with using an ATV pulling a mower? How is it on hills? Any advice or suggestions you can give would be appreciated. thanks

[uncle Will in In.]

A couple questions I have are What is a side beside?? Why do you mow that many acres? Would using it as pasture be an option?? Do you have other uses for the ATV?? Do you have any other uses for a small utility tractor with ROPS??
Walking behind the mower you have is great exercise. I'll bet you are in good shape. That is worth a lot even though it seems like the pits.

[hunter63]

First off, What is a ROPS?
My experance.
I used ( and still do) a 1995 Suzuki with a 10 hp Moen, pull behind, to mow at "The Place". Mow about 6 acres, plus trails.
Have a tractor now, with brush hog/mower.

Used the 4 wheeler/mower for 10 years and it worked well BUT,
The mower was never intended to be used as a "brush hog" and the 4 wheeler was never intended to run at low RPM for hours at a time. ( air cooled).
Pull behind mowers were never intended to be backed up. (See stuff broken).

I have beat the crap out of the 4 wheeler/mower.
Still works well, but has been patched.
Broke the tow bar several times.
Rear blade cover, (to keep stuff from flying around) bent up/broke. (doesn't back up well)
Broke off a couple of axles. ( banding into trees, cutting trails).

When grass is long, couple of feet tall, takes a long time to cut, as you need to go "very slow" ( only 10 hp).
Need to change plugson the 4 wheeler after a while as running slow tend to fowl the plugs faster.

The upside is that it does very well on hilly terrain, (low center of gravity), small enough that I can cut trails between trees that I can't fit the tractor.
Light enough that I can mow over the septic drain field, tractor too heavy.

I bought the ATV with mower and snow blade for work. (least that's what I told DW), but have had a good time using it for fun also. DW figured this out also, so had to get her one (atv) also. (Still won't help me mow)

If you buy one, a trailer is a good investment, but stay away from the "loaders", plows and such, as they are pretty much useless.

[Bearfootfarm]

ROPS= Roll Over Protection System (roll bar)

http://agsafety.aces.uiuc.edu/rops.html

Side by Side ATV= Like a Kawasaki Mule or a Polaris Ranger, where the passengers sit side by side
http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-US/Ranger/

Either should do a good job mowing. The tractor would be more versatile, and the ATV more fun! LOL

[hunter63]

Oh, yeah, the tractor has one of those, and on the hillside is a welcomed as is the seat belt.
The tractor doesn't "lean" as well as the ATV, and has a higher center of gravity.

[speshuled]

do you have any livestock that you could possibly use the ground for hay . or maybe have someone else cut it for hay and save you some time and money

[stanb999]

You use a tractor for utility. You use a four wheeler for fun.
The ATV wont go slow.
The ATV has no real pushing/pulling power.
The ATV has no PTO.

A compact tractor won't take you for a fast ride.
It won't blast over/threw snow drifts or scrub brush.
It won't impress the neighbors.
You won't need a helmet.

Those attachments they make for ATV's are mostly toys for people with too much time and money.
If you wish to do field work get a tractor.

[pheasantplucker]

Thanks for the input guys. I mow six acres because I like having fields and it keeps thistles, multiflora roses and poison ivy down. Draws a variety of wildlife, I hope to put in an orchard, vineyard and big garden. By big (probably small by your standards) but maybe 30x40. I currently don't have livestock or fencing. I've only had the property for a year and a half. Still have two in college so fencing is a ways off.

[pheasantplucker]

PS...I do enjoy mowing with the walk behind (except the extreme hills) and last summer I lost 22 lbs from mowing with it. I'm not in great shape for a 53 year old, but the walking is helping me get back in shape.

[MtnGranny]

I have a JD rider for our yard but we have about 1.5 acres that a neighbor cuts for hay about twice a year. I have thought about buying one of those mowers for the rider or ATV to mow that small pasture. I don't mind the neighbor taking the hay, but sometimes I get tired of looking at it before he cuts it and when it is that high, it's difficult to get to our creek. Do they work ok behind a riding mower?