My dad was head groundskeeper at the University of Iowa, Oakdale campus back in the 1970-1990's. They used two AC 720 and a John Deere 420 to mow and snow removal. The mower deck on the AC 720 was a welded steel and not pressed like the JD 420 and dad wouldn't touch the JD 420 much at all.
@@BuildALotAcres really enjoyed restoring this barn find - never thought I would like mechanics - Matt from diesel creek inspired me - enjoyed your informative video too - thanks
Early 90’s I saw at a dealer a used GMT 9000, which they told me was a trade in. The one I saw was a bit rough looking. The wing deck ran off a rear PTO. You didn’t mention the Toro 5xi series 523Dxi diesel is over 1100 pounds. I bought a 523Dxi parts tractor in May 2023 for $300. It had 65.8 hours on it , 60” deck with two stuck spindles and two of the three connecting rods were broke. Whoever bought it around 1998 didn’t check the oil often enough and ran it low on oil, basically throwing away $12,000. They sold it to a guy they knew who was going to fix the engine but he ran out of time. Then I bought it. I began parting it out and between the engine parts sold and trading the 60” deck for a tiller and a pair of 23” ag tires I’ve brought in about $2,000 so far, and I still have most of the tractor left. I’m keeping lots of parts for my other 5xi tractors.
I always referred to tractors like the Gravely GMT9000 and Toro Groundsmaster as "Estate" tractors. They were built with focus on cutting huge swaths for massive yards like found on estates.
The GMT 9000 stands for Grounds Maintenance Tractor. Some have Renault engines others Continental. It has the same transmission as a Gravely G series, 8000 series and 800 series. So it essentially is a garden tractor drive train with a 4 cylinder engine. Kinda of a copy of a Cub Low Boy…. The 24G is also awesome. Had a 72” deck capability.
I had a Gravley GMT9000 with the 72 inch deck. I didn't know a loader was available. It was Always in the repair shop . The dealer promptly bought it back from me after I called the manufacturer and complained about all my issues with it.
@@BuildALotAcres I bought a John Deere 850 with a 72 inch belly mower. It was the smallest tractor they had that could fit a 72 inch belly mower. No power steering, dead PTO and no ROPS in 1980. The GMT9000 was smooth and easy to maneuver...but the 850 was durable. In 1989 I bought a JD 955 . My Gravely dealer was 30 miles away in a small town and in a year or more in my possession I made the trip over 20 times. The dealer had a demo that he'd lend me unless it was still broken. The serial number was the only way for us to know which one was mine.
Would any of you guys have a recommendation on a small tractor that would be capable of pulling a tow behind boom lift around peoples yards? We have a Haulotte 4533 towable boom lift that we bring to job sites with a pick up truck. We put high flotation tires on the lift but the truck destroys yards often times, a small maneuverable vehicle would be would be ideal.
I’m not familiar with these lifts. Looks like they weight around 4500-5000 lbs. Most old garden tractors would tow that amount of weight if on wheels. May want 4wd if you encounter and hills on these jobs.
@@BuildALotAcres my two lifts weight (45 ft.) 4100lbs and (55ft)5040lbs respectively. You guys talked about a simplicity and I actually found one local for 2800 bucks with 840 hours on it. I think I may go for it. I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel .
Great Fun Between Father and Son 👍😇👌 That Gravely Was A Big One 😇👍and Ingersoll was very nice with the Backhoe 😇👍👌💪 Truly OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE VIDEO Cheers 👌👌👍👍😇😇🍻🍻
That was interesting and a lot of fun. I just sold off a c 1979 or so Bolens G192. This was a Bolens/Iseki Japanese tractor with Isuzu 2 cyl diesel and gear drive. Not a garden tractor, kind of light farm use. I would have kept it but it had gearbox issues and parts were not available. There is a Simplicity with a loader similar to the one you showed nearby to me that I will make a play for if it becomes available. I have several Gravely's, all of them are the two wheel walk behinds. Li, Convertibles, Custom Convertibles and a Pro10. Im going to enjoy your channel.
Thank you very much 🙏 My cousin has a couple Simplicity W’s and a Gravely L that I’ll be showcasing in a future video. I just filmed it yesterday. Probably be out in 2-3 weeks on a Tractor Talk Tuesday 👍
Also weighing in at 1620 with out the optional 3 point hitch or the 3160 mowing deck is the ih184. I guess these aren’t as popular on the eastern seaboard but here in the Midwest the cub 154 185,184 were ubiquitous.
Yes, but not a mid mount belly mower. I believe the earlier 600 series hyloaders could utilize a mid mount deck, but the 7020 to the best of my knowledge was only intended to run the 3 point finish mower for fine cuts or the hydra cutter/brushog for thicker brush which were both hydraulically powered off the rear pto
Funny you mention that. We just wrapped up filming a video at my cousins. He has a bunch of old Allis Chalmers and Simplicities from the 60’s. We showcase and discuss his collection. It’s scheduled for release July 16. 👍
@@BuildALotAcres yessir we had 3 old allis chalmers of my great paps i restored for my ffa project this past summer and winter a 1948 allis chalmers g 1967 big ten and a 1984 1036 sprint is in the works
The Gmt9000 looks to be a slightly larger and close in weight to my Massey Ferguson 1215. Tractor data classified my 1215 as a Compact Utility tractor.
If you go to the beginning of this video I compiled a detailed list of super garden tractors 👍 th-cam.com/video/d-FMy3dOF80/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7NvaSe5FkZTbUs4h
I have a what I think is s pretty nice sized garden tractor. It is gravely badged but gravely says it was made by ariens. It has front, center, and rear hydraulics, a hydrostatic transmission, and an opposed twin 16hp kohler engine. It looks just like the 24g but with a front mounted engine.
I respect the heck out of the original super garden tractor, but going by weight it only weighs 875 lbs. This list was exclusively the heaviest gt’s. I have an upcoming video on the 982 and the history of IH 👍 I also mention it in my biggest baddest garden tractors ever made video th-cam.com/video/d-FMy3dOF80/w-d-xo.html
Those are some big garden tractors for sure! I agree that maybe some of them are on the cusp of being more like a compact tractor. I believe my Gravely 12G weighs in at 898 lbs. dry. The 50" deck is another 200 lbs. (Thats with the Kohler 12 hp Magnum) Love the history content guys!
More modern tractors that are worth at least a mention are the Toro xi series, Simplicity legacy xl and the John deere x700 series The last two came in 4wd All are around 1000# and twin cylinder powered. Love the old stuff never seen a powermax in person
At what point does a garden tractor jump up to be considered a sub compact? With 4 wheel drive and a loader, I would consider the Ingersoll a sub compact.
None of the Sears garden tractors were very heavy. The SS-16 and SS18 type tractors were only around 700 lbs. The heaviest Sears/Craftsman that I am aware of were the FF series which were more like 860 lb range.
I chose the D250 because it is about 135 lbs. heavier than the D200. I did do a video on the Wheelhorse D series you may enjoy 👍 th-cam.com/video/shnjAjsHRL0/w-d-xo.html
Why do the new Cub cadet riding mowers have such a terrible quality cut.. are there more of a brush hog than a lawn mower I just don't understand why does company can't make a mower that cuts completely and precision
These are a far cry from the 2005 Sears garden trator my family owned after i was already grown. They kept it for aout 15 years at which point it had 700hrs and was trashed asfar as anything related to the utter deck. Motor was a Kohler comand pro that was same uni used on commecial mowers of the time but rest of tractor just k8nd of sucked. No tach, no form of 3pt hitch w/o buying it, shetmetal unibody construction, no dif lock and turning circle sucked. I think it was AYP product
My dad was head groundskeeper at the University of Iowa, Oakdale campus back in the 1970-1990's. They used two AC 720 and a John Deere 420 to mow and snow removal. The mower deck on the AC 720 was a welded steel and not pressed like the JD 420 and dad wouldn't touch the JD 420 much at all.
They are definitely monsters among garden tractors 👹👍
Your Dad was a smart man
What? No mention of the Cub Lo-Boy 154? I would consider that a garden tractor. 😊
I’m already conjuring up part 2 😄😉👍
@@BuildALotAcresThe numbered cubs were 154, 185 and 184. They were similar with minor changes.
Can’t forget the IH Cub Cadet 1182, with the Kabota 3 cylinder liquid cooled Diesel engine. That thing was an absolute tank as well!
👍
My buddy's dad has a gravely, not sure of the model but it articulates in the middle like a big loader , it's 4x4 and quite a little beast.
The old farri tractors for nurseries. The could maneuver in a tight greenhouse, " articulated steering. " 3 Point hitch. Just incredible
My restored Sears 1973 st16 with liquid ballast, dual wheels, mower, dozer blade must be well over 1000lbs - can’t wait to try it out
Sounds like a good time 👍👍
@@BuildALotAcres really enjoyed restoring this barn find - never thought I would like mechanics - Matt from diesel creek inspired me - enjoyed your informative video too - thanks
Hey I own that bolens ht23 at 2:15 where did you guys find that picture , 😊
@@carsandtrucksdotcom8470 We searched images online and chose the best examples we could find 🙏👍
Awsome video guys! A lot of cool info thanks!
You’re welcome 👍
that gravely@#2 is a low boy tractor cub cadet had one of similar spec also cat-1
This is the Best video you guys have done.. thank you!!
Wow!!! Thank you so much. I'm glad folks are enjoying them. We have some pretty interesting videos in the pipeline 👍
I have a kubota bx2380 with a 60 inch deck and I think it weighs 1400 lbs
@@bigjohn6358 The BX’s we’re always advertised as sub compacts as far as I know. Great machines 👍
Early 90’s I saw at a dealer a used GMT 9000, which they told me was a trade in. The one I saw was a bit rough looking. The wing deck ran off a rear PTO.
You didn’t mention the Toro 5xi series 523Dxi diesel is over 1100 pounds. I bought a 523Dxi parts tractor in May 2023 for $300. It had 65.8 hours on it , 60” deck with two stuck spindles and two of the three connecting rods were broke. Whoever bought it around 1998 didn’t check the oil often enough and ran it low on oil, basically throwing away $12,000. They sold it to a guy they knew who was going to fix the engine but he ran out of time. Then I bought it. I began parting it out and between the engine parts sold and trading the 60” deck for a tiller and a pair of 23” ag tires I’ve brought in about $2,000 so far, and I still have most of the tractor left. I’m keeping lots of parts for my other 5xi tractors.
I may end up doing a part 2 of this topic 👍
I always referred to tractors like the Gravely GMT9000 and Toro Groundsmaster as "Estate" tractors. They were built with focus on cutting huge swaths for massive yards like found on estates.
Yeah, golf courses, parks, school grounds, etc
The GMT 9000 stands for Grounds Maintenance Tractor. Some have Renault engines others Continental. It has the same transmission as a Gravely G series, 8000 series and 800 series. So it essentially is a garden tractor drive train with a 4 cylinder engine. Kinda of a copy of a Cub Low Boy…. The 24G is also awesome. Had a 72” deck capability.
I’m going to be discussing the lo boy, including the 154, 185, and 184 in an upcoming video 👍
I had a Gravley GMT9000 with the 72 inch deck. I didn't know a loader was available. It was Always in the repair shop . The dealer promptly bought it back from me after I called the manufacturer and complained about all my issues with it.
Sorry to hear that. What did you replace it with
@@BuildALotAcres I bought a John Deere 850 with a 72 inch belly mower. It was the smallest tractor they had that could fit a 72 inch belly mower. No power steering, dead PTO and no ROPS in 1980. The GMT9000 was smooth and easy to maneuver...but the 850 was durable. In 1989 I bought a JD 955 .
My Gravely dealer was 30 miles away in a small town and in a year or more in my possession I made the trip over 20 times. The dealer had a demo that he'd lend me unless it was still broken. The serial number was the only way for us to know which one was mine.
Would any of you guys have a recommendation on a small tractor that would be capable of pulling a tow behind boom lift around peoples yards?
We have a Haulotte 4533 towable boom lift that we bring to job sites with a pick up truck. We put high flotation tires on the lift but the truck destroys yards often times, a small maneuverable vehicle would be would be ideal.
I’m not familiar with these lifts. Looks like they weight around 4500-5000 lbs. Most old garden tractors would tow that amount of weight if on wheels. May want 4wd if you encounter and hills on these jobs.
@@BuildALotAcres my two lifts weight (45 ft.) 4100lbs and (55ft)5040lbs respectively. You guys talked about a simplicity and I actually found one local for 2800 bucks with 840 hours on it. I think I may go for it.
I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel .
@@BuildALotAcres forgot to mention the tongue weight is between 240lbs and 314lbs
@@ryane6719 Thank you sir 🙏 Good luck with your purchase 👍
Love the CASE 1200 TK t-shirt.
Thank you 🙏
Great Fun Between Father and Son 👍😇👌 That Gravely Was A Big One 😇👍and Ingersoll was very nice with the Backhoe 😇👍👌💪 Truly OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE VIDEO Cheers 👌👌👍👍😇😇🍻🍻
Thank you sir. Just enjoying making memories 🙏
Nice review. The Gravely GMT was mainly used as a golf course or estate mower. It was big however. I own 2 Simplicity Sunstars and a PowrMax 9020.
Very cool. I have a Sunstar 20 and a 9020 Powermax. 👍
That was interesting and a lot of fun. I just sold off a c 1979 or so Bolens G192. This was a Bolens/Iseki Japanese tractor with Isuzu 2 cyl diesel and gear drive. Not a garden tractor, kind of light farm use. I would have kept it but it had gearbox issues and parts were not available. There is a Simplicity with a loader similar to the one you showed nearby to me that I will make a play for if it becomes available. I have several Gravely's, all of them are the two wheel walk behinds. Li, Convertibles, Custom Convertibles and a Pro10. Im going to enjoy your channel.
Thank you very much 🙏 My cousin has a couple Simplicity W’s and a Gravely L that I’ll be showcasing in a future video. I just filmed it yesterday. Probably be out in 2-3 weeks on a Tractor Talk Tuesday 👍
I have a Bolens Iseki GT172. With category 1 3 point hitch and mid mount 4 ft belly mower. 17 horse 2 cylinder diesel . I love that little tractor.
Great machines 👍
Also weighing in at 1620 with out the optional 3 point hitch or the 3160 mowing deck is the ih184. I guess these aren’t as popular on the eastern seaboard but here in the Midwest the cub 154 185,184 were ubiquitous.
I talk about the 154, 185, and 184 in part 2! th-cam.com/video/Fie8g0IlY2M/w-d-xo.html👍
Could you get the 7020 with a mower deck?
Yes, but not a mid mount belly mower. I believe the earlier 600 series hyloaders could utilize a mid mount deck, but the 7020 to the best of my knowledge was only intended to run the 3 point finish mower for fine cuts or the hydra cutter/brushog for thicker brush which were both hydraulically powered off the rear pto
@@BuildALotAcres thank you
could you guys do a video on the yellow allis chalmers the late 60s big ten i own one and would love to know more love the videos
Funny you mention that. We just wrapped up
filming a video at my cousins. He has a bunch of old Allis Chalmers and Simplicities from the 60’s. We showcase and discuss his collection. It’s scheduled for release July 16. 👍
@@BuildALotAcres yessir we had 3 old allis chalmers of my great paps i restored for my ffa project this past summer and winter a 1948 allis chalmers g 1967 big ten and a 1984 1036 sprint is in the works
@@joshstarr945 Very cool 👍
The Gmt9000 looks to be a slightly larger and close in weight to my Massey Ferguson 1215. Tractor data classified my 1215 as a Compact Utility tractor.
It's definitely on the line. A fuzzy one at that 👍
My 1973 Gravely 816 isn't real huge in size, but it's built very heavy-duty. Still has the original 2-cylinder Onan flathead engine.
The old Gravely's are built like tanks for sure. 👍
Nice list...I never heard of the 7020...but nearly tried to buy a GMT9000 some years back
The 7020 is a beast. I’ve seen several up close in person. Missed out on one on EBay by mere seconds!
cool seeing the old tractors again.
surprised no one made a list in the comments yet.
If you go to the beginning of this video I compiled a detailed list of super garden tractors 👍 th-cam.com/video/d-FMy3dOF80/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7NvaSe5FkZTbUs4h
I have a what I think is s pretty nice sized garden tractor. It is gravely badged but gravely says it was made by ariens. It has front, center, and rear hydraulics, a hydrostatic transmission, and an opposed twin 16hp kohler engine. It looks just like the 24g but with a front mounted engine.
Very interesting! I did a video on Ariens a while back. th-cam.com/video/3HlcBelD9Wc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ukzgSq_CLu1TfBpQ
Not putting a cub cadet 782d or 982 is criminal. They were the one to start it; and those sgts had so much torque
I respect the heck out of the original super garden tractor, but going by weight it only weighs 875 lbs. This list was exclusively the heaviest gt’s. I have an upcoming video on the 982 and the history of IH 👍 I also mention it in my biggest baddest garden tractors ever made video th-cam.com/video/d-FMy3dOF80/w-d-xo.html
Cub cadet 982 with Hobart 5 ft mower been great
I have a video about the cub cadet line in the queue. Including the 82 series 👍
Those are some big garden tractors for sure! I agree that maybe some of them are on the cusp of being more like a compact tractor.
I believe my Gravely 12G weighs in at 898 lbs. dry. The 50" deck is another 200 lbs. (Thats with the Kohler 12 hp Magnum)
Love the history content guys!
@@lcee6592 Thank you very much. We’re glad you’re enjoying them
I think my father-in-law has one of those Ingersoll’s. I know it’s 4WD with a loader bucket and Ingersoll colors. Now I have to go find out!
Very cool. 👍
Good video, my friend
Thank you sir 🙏
is the mf gc1725 a garden tractor. the gc stands for garden compact
Size wise it definitely looks like a GT 👍
Information on the John Deer 600 series. Seemed like almost a utility tractor. What happened to the 600's?
I'm not familiar with that series. I'll check them out 👍
More modern tractors that are worth at least a mention are the Toro xi series, Simplicity legacy xl and the John deere x700 series The last two came in 4wd All are around 1000# and twin cylinder powered. Love the old stuff never seen a powermax in person
My Powermax dwarfs my hi wheel Case. Maybe I’ll do a video on newer machines. Admittedly, I prefer the older stuff 👍
you also forgot the jacobsen 53500/ ford LGT 195 which would at least be a "step up"
The Jacobsen 53500/Ford LGT195 is in part 2 that I released yesterday 👍
I'm wondering what is the biggest garden tractor that doesn't require titling with the state in Missouri?
🤷♂️
Your not driving it on the highway and it isn't insured .Who cares if it is titled. My friends WD 45 nor his massy Ferguson are titled.
so im watching part 2, but if youre including a 4 cylinder watercooled cat 1 hitch machine, the International 184 should be included
@@motownXJdad9565 I talk about the Lo boys in part 2 👍
What do you guys say about Onans? Junk?
I think Onan made a great heavy duty engine. I’ve owned at least 4 or 5 over the years. Parts are hard to get sometimes and can be expensive
I love my Bolens HT 20 just wish they had made a 4 wheel drive 😢😢
@@dandahermitseals5582 The Iseki models are probably the closest thing
Very interesting
🙏
At what point does a garden tractor jump up to be considered a sub compact? With 4 wheel drive and a loader, I would consider the Ingersoll a sub compact.
Great question. I’m actually debating doing a video on that very topic 👍
To me a sub compact starts at a tractor with standard 3 pt hitch.
My Mahindra Max25 weighs just under 1500 pounds dry... a couple of these machines are the same weight and comparative size!
Yes sir. 👍
I had a Case 646 loader tractor. No power steering and two wheel drive. It wasn’t practical for me. Well built, heavy and simple tractor though.
The 648, 6018, 6020, and 7020 all had power steering. Definitely heavy duty machines 👍
Where does sears come in 1972 though 1976
None of the Sears garden tractors were very heavy. The SS-16 and SS18 type tractors were only around 700 lbs. The heaviest Sears/Craftsman that I am aware of were the FF series which were more like 860 lb range.
The Bolens Duramax tractors were brutes. I have 3 of them, one with a Mitsubishi diesel.
Very nice 👍
Also Wheel horse D200 with the 20 hp kohler
I chose the D250 because it is about 135 lbs. heavier than the D200. I did do a video on the Wheelhorse D series you may enjoy 👍 th-cam.com/video/shnjAjsHRL0/w-d-xo.html
Why do the new Cub cadet riding mowers have such a terrible quality cut.. are there more of a brush hog than a lawn mower I just don't understand why does company can't make a mower that cuts completely and precision
Cause they’re made cheaply to fit a certain price point. Pretty sad really. Profit over all else with most modern companies
There was going to be a fight if #1 wasn't the 7020....hahaha
Lol. Yes sir 🤣🤣🤣
Where is the toro city ser
Never heard of it
👍👍
Thank you sir 🙏
These are a far cry from the 2005 Sears garden trator my family owned after i was already grown. They kept it for aout 15 years at which point it had 700hrs and was trashed asfar as anything related to the utter deck. Motor was a Kohler comand pro that was same uni used on commecial mowers of the time but rest of tractor just k8nd of sucked. No tach, no form of 3pt hitch w/o buying it, shetmetal unibody construction, no dif lock and turning circle sucked. I think it was AYP product
Yeah. The mid 2000’s machines weren’t great. They got cheaper and cheaper over time really starting in the late 1980’s -early 1990’s I’d say
My JD 400 weighs 975
What's your definition of "garden tractor"? That's a click bait title. I use an MF 165 for mowing around the house.
I explain how I determined that in part 2 👍
Ford LGT195
It’s in part II. Check it out 👍
John Deere x720. That’s my bet
According to TractorDara it’s top weight was 1139 lbs, which means it wouldn’t crack into the top 5 I discuss 👍
I meant that is my garden tractor
@@gregfredrick283 Ah. My apologies 👍
Comparing a loader tractor, really? Wasted my time...
Yes, and I explained exactly why in the video.
strongland 2474
It’s on my part 2 list 👍