To purchase a tractor mower or to rent one, that is the question? Our apologies to Shakespeare, but today we will discuss that topic and give our professional opinion. We are Keith’s Tractor Mowing, serving the Greater Fort Worth area with affordable acreage mowing. Call us when the job is too large for you to handle, and you want it done professionally.
So, you think you want a tractor mower? Let’s talk about it.
The cost of a tractor mower.
You can spend $5000 for a good riding lawn mower, or you can spend $50,000, or more, for a quality tractor mower. The range in prices is because of the various sizes, the power of the motors, and the quality of the materials used in production.
Generally speaking, the larger the lot mowing you need to do, the more economical it is to go larger. The largest of the tractor mowers can mow fifteen acres of land in an hour, the equivalent of approximately fifteen football fields. If the old saying “time is money” applies to this discussion, and your time is valuable, then your time mowing is greatly reduced with a larger tractor mower.
Renting a tractor mower.
Perhaps renting a tractor mower is more economical for you to do. You can rent a good mower, depending upon the city, for between $50-$100 per hour. Remember, the mower needs to get from the store to your property; some rental companies will deliver; some expect you to haul the mower to your property. Also remember safety, which we will discuss in the next section.
Hiring a professional acreage mowing company.
Again, this quoted price depends upon the local market, but we will estimate that professional mowing will cost you in the neighborhood of $75 per hour. With this option, you do not have to worry about hauling the tractor. With this option, you do not need to worry about safety and proper training on the equipment. And, with this option, you are protected by liability insurance carried by the mowing company.
Is it worth it to you to hire a company? We can’t answer that question. Ranch mowing/pasture mowing needs to be done at least twice per year. With that as your base, it will take quite a few years to justify paying tens-of-thousands of dollars. Of course, the tractor can be used for other tasks besides mowing, and there are also tax deductions/depreciation to consider as a farmer/rancher.
These are decisions we cannot make. Our only goal, here, is to give you something to think about, inform you of options and their costs, and then turn you loose to make the best decision for your particular situation.
A final word about Keith’s Tractor Mowing.
Keith’s Tractor Mowing is locally owned and operated, a trusted name for ranchers, farmers, housing developments, and local governments. Call us for all manner of tractor mowing, from pipeline mowing to mowing your back forty; from church mowing to right of way mowing. We do it all, any job over an acre in size, and we carry a $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy with us to every job site.