So is there any competitor to the x500 series?

Thanks @etcallhome . I guess my budget is $9000 or very close.

Needs: tiller and a cart. Somewhat rocky soil if that matters, but flat.
Wants - a front loader/bucket. I saw the JD model that lifts about 150 pounds and that would be plenty for what I need.
Nice to have - a disc or plow, even a small one. Speed of completing the job would be OK, but I'm fine with taking an extra hour or two. It's just not a big deal to me.
Not needed: mowing, actually.

With my budget, I am probably looking at a used garden tractor. I looked at the 300s but with the rocks around, I don't see the rack and pinion steering last more than a year or so at a time.

I'll probably be buying in the September timeframe so I have time to shop around.

One general question for @TJR345 : I've seen several brands of small tillers with separate motors to drive the tiller. Do they still put as much of a strain on the vehicle as the tillers powered by the tractor? It seems they would, but I haven't seen a clear answer on that.

Thanks for the fast answers, everyone! I looked at Simplicity and it really is looking like only JD is making what most people would consider a "garden tractor" at this point.

JohnGuin said:

Thanks @etcallhome . I guess my budget is $9000 or very close.

Needs: tiller and a cart. Somewhat rocky soil if that matters, but flat.
Wants - a front loader/bucket. I saw the JD model that lifts about 150 pounds and that would be plenty for what I need.
Nice to have - a disc or plow, even a small one. Speed of completing the job would be OK, but I'm fine with taking an extra hour or two. It's just not a big deal to me.
Not needed: mowing, actually.

With my budget, I am probably looking at a used garden tractor. I looked at the 300s but with the rocks around, I don't see the rack and pinion steering last more than a year or so at a time.

I'll probably be buying in the September timeframe so I have time to shop around.

One general question for @TJR345 : I've seen several brands of small tillers with separate motors to drive the tiller. Do they still put as much of a strain on the vehicle as the tillers powered by the tractor? It seems they would, but I haven't seen a clear answer on that.

Thanks for the fast answers, everyone! I looked at Simplicity and it really is looking like only JD is making what most people would consider a "garden tractor" at this point.

Click to expand...

As capable as an x5 is and as much as I live to say the x7 is all a lot of people need and the 1 series gets a bit over sold.

You really are talking about needing something like a 1 series. You should be able to find a used one that fits your budget and still be in great shape. Might take a bit of looking.

To answer the question of does anyone other than JD make a true garden tractor anymore. I'm of the opinion of no there really isn't anything that's comparable to the x5 and there is nothing that even comes close to an x7 not even the the x5.

Rocky soil is no joke and even small rocks get heavy fast, and not so heavy small rocks take a lot of power to pull from the ground without a lot of digging.

JohnGuin said:

One general question for @TJR345 : I've seen several brands of small tillers with separate motors to drive the tiller. Do they still put as much of a strain on the vehicle as the tillers powered by the tractor? It seems they would, but I haven't seen a clear answer on that.

Click to expand...

The tow behinds shake the tractor more so than one mounted to the tractor. A lot require you to reach back to raise and lower or get off to do it.
As for a mower that you're looking for I would look at the X595 or X748. They are out there because everyone moves to a 1025r. I like my X595 it's just big enough without being too big. As for the current X5xx series very capable tractor. I mow 2.5 acres and have used it many times especially in the spring when things are still wet and a bigger heavier tractor would just cause ruts. My X590 also has tiller duty in the garden. With a $9,000 budget there are a lot of options, take the time and get what fits you.

Well you have a few options, though there are people here that would argue that NOTHING compares to an X5, but let's be real.

First, the previously mentioned Simplicity Prestige; there is also the Conquest, which is somewhere in between an X3 and X5.

My second suggestion is the Cub Cadet XT3, particularly the GSX model. This was the garden tractor I had before realizing I needed a SCUT, lol. I loved it though, and it was an absolute beauty of a mower. It's shaft driven, can take a sleeve hitch, and is quite a solid machine. It's an awesome value, and it a reliable platform. My only complaint about it would be subpar ergonomics, at least compared to Deere. Still, it's comfortable, strong, and has an awesome exhaust note.

Many Have Stated the Simplicity Conquest & Prestige would compare to a X500 series. At one time I would say That was True. But since 2020 Simplicity Dropped the 1Point Hitch(sleeve Hitch) and the 36inch Belt driven PTO tiller from Production. What the Issue was that suspension On the Prestige and Conquest was a Big Issue with the way You Ran the Belt from the front PTO to the Tiller the Belt ran along the left outside of the Frame well the suspension didn't leave enough room for the Belt . But them dropping the 1 Point Hitch as well I think was a Mistake as You Cannot Use any rear sleeve Hitch equipment Your only choice really is the aftermarket Universal electric lift sleeve Hitch from Johnny Products Universal Sleeve Hitch if You want to use sleeve Hitch equipment on either the Conquest or Prestige what was Nice about the 1 point with the Prestige is You Got a Hydraulic lifted sleeve Hitch Most don't realize the Conquest had a 1 point But it did Because the 36inch Belt driven tiller They Made for the Conquest needed the 1 point to raise and lower the Tiller so with the Conquest You got a 1 point That was a Manual lift with Spring assist Today Simplicity Has added electronic Power steering and Hydraulic Lift to the Conquest Model But that Hydraulic Lift is Only for the deck and Front Mounted attachments as Stated Simplicity Now sell a Agri-Fab Made 5HP tow Behind tiller for the Conquest and Prestige So today They are Just glorified Lawn Tractors Pretending to be Garden tractors at One Time the Prestige surpassed even the X500 series because they did have a Model with All wheel Drive But it cost almost as Much as a Deere X700 series and the Turn radius was Bad at 36inches. The Simplicity Dropped front suspension On Both the Conquest and Prestige Because the Front suspension on the 2WD Models Increased the Turn radius of 18 inches to 30inches Yet they Markets it as still having a 18 inch turn radius oops on them.

The Cub Cadet XT3 GSX in a Lot of way's In Can be comparable with the X500 series even In ergonomics It does have the Twin touch style Pedals It has a Mowing In reverse system that put the Deere Mow & reverse system to shame You turn the Key and Press a Button and it stays in Mow in reverse and You Never Had to Pull up On a Lever again . It so easy that you never think of disabling the Mow In reverse system.

XT3 GSX. does Have electronic Power steering and it is Very responsive I still prefer the Deere Hydraulic Power steering though and it does Have electric Lift for the Mowing decks and Front 46inch Blade. The 46inch Front Blade is Lacking in Height to the Deere 48inch Blade But it does Clear snow very well for such a short In height front Blade. MTD did start offering a sleeve Hitch(Agri-Fab Made) for the XT3 series in 2016 It a Manual lift similar to the Deere Manual lift Integral Hitch(Brinly Made) But You Can add a aftermarket Electric Lift kit to it Electric sleeve hitch upgrade and it Does a Great Job Plowing with a 10inch Plow and using any sleeve Hitch Implements . It is Lacking in the Tiller department as No OEM tiller for it But for My XT3 GSX I did Buy a Bercomac tiller Tiller - Rotary Tiller - Bercomac which is similar to the 30inch Tiller Deere offers for the X500 series. But Bercomac Just stopped Production on that tiller. Looks Like I Got the last one from Jim's repair Nice thing about that Tiller I can also use it On MY JD GX335 only downside it it Manual lift that is fairly easy to lift though

Prior to 2011 MTD Made a 30inch Dual direction Hydraulic tiller for the 2500 series which the XT3 series is Based On But the Rear Hitch design was Changed & the OEM electric Lift sleeve Hitch or 30inch Hydraulic tiller will not Mount On the XT3 series or the 2011 thru 2014 GTX2000 series. That tiller design really exceeded the 42inch Hydraulic tillers In One Big way You could reverse direction of the Tiller with the Flip of a Lever while the 42inch Hydraulic tiller You Have to remove the Tiller Frame and Mount it on the opposite side of the tiller in order to reverse direction.

The XT3 GSX also Have diff/lock But it is Lever Operated and You Can leave it engaged going forward. I prefer the Deere Pedal Operated That goes off On it's own when You release the pedal. I think MTD should go to a foot control on the XT3 GSX similar to the Diff/lock they Have On the XT2 GX54 D or what they Had On the Cub Cadet 3000 series.

MY XT3 GSX can really Keep Up with the Deere X500 series except no Hydraulic Tiller Because You Can get a Johnny Bucket Jr for it Johnny Bucket Jr. Cub Cadet 2000 and 2500 series

What I have found with the Cub Cadet XT3 series is the Mulch Kit On the Bigger decks(48, 54 & 60inch Fab decks) does a Better Job Mulching then the Mulch Kits On the Previous X700 Ultimate series of which I have a X748.

But with Bercomac dropping there tiller The XT3 series Is Lacking the X500 series a Little Bit . There warranty does exceed Deere X500 series warranty as it is 4 years Unlimited Hrs and Deere's X500 series is 4 years or 500hrs Don't think that Matters Much I Only Know a few People with a 1000hrs In 4 Years On any Garden tractor. MTD Like Deere does stand Behind there warranty.

There is One other Brand that try's to compete against Deere which is Husqvarna and there Not even In the same Class as any of it competitors do to the Fact Husqvarna uses a a flimsy easily bendable stamped frame in the TS 300 series which can't even support a Johnny Bucket without Bending the frame and again the Tiller department the Bercomac tiller was the Only PTO tiller Made for it since the Mid 1990's People Fall for the Kawasaki engine and the K66 with diff/lock But they Get a Tractor without a Backbone.


So to do the Cub Cadet XT3 series is about the closes to the X500 series with Simplicity Producing a Gloried Lawn Tractor with a Garden tractor Transmission Normally I would Put Cub Cadet 3rd Under Simplicity but do to the Lack of OEM Ground engaging equipment I would Have to put it In third. Because it quality does exceed Husqvarna and with aftermarket equipment you can be close to Deere X500 series as Far as Versatility. as of 2021 Simplicity is Dropping the Legacy the 2021 Models are the Last Model scuttlebutt says there going to come out with a True Sub Compact to replace it.

So Currently the X500 series rains supreme in the Medium Garden tractor Market IMHO because You Can get Just about any attachments a Medium Garden tractor should be able to use