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Hills: X570 vs. 1023e

7K views 33 replies 15 participants last post by  Jim16 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all:

I'm looking to buy a new tractor soon. Mostly for cutting grass. However, I could use a loader now and then so I've been thinking about the 1023e. However, I have some steep hills and I'm concerned about tipping. The pictures don't help a lot but will give you some idea. Should I avoid getting the 1023e and is the x570 able to handle hills pretty well?

Thanks!
 

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#2 ·
If you're considering spending the money on the 1023e, you could get an X7 series and get a little buck loader for similar price, and still maintain the lower center of gravity. As far as the slopes, either the X5 or X7 series should handle those hills fine. What you don't mention are things like how much land, what kind of tasks you want to do (mowing, snow work, tilling, moving piles of uranium, etc...) and how often you need a loader, and how much you need to lift.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the reply. I have 13 acres. About 3.5 is grass. The loader would likely be used for working in the woods (somewhat like a skid steer - some digging and pushing downed trees out of the way), moving stones and mulch too.

Another option I'm considering (because I'm not sure how much the loader can handle) is getting the x570 for the grass and then finding an old beat up track loader (skid steer) for the forestry type stuff.

As to how often I'd use it, probably once a week or so. It seems like I can always find something to do with a loader/skid steer.
 
#6 ·
Skip the old beat up skidsteer. I promise you it will be a money pit, and completely immobile in the event of engine/trans failure. At least you can usually fairly easily tow a broken tractor. Also the tractor won't tear up the ground. If you do get skidsteer that ends up proving reliable, it will be the handiest piece of equipment you'll ever own. Keep in mind that by nature, it will pretty much tear the ever living snot out of whatever ground you use it on. Very hard to do landscaping on a pretty lawn like yours with a skidsteer and not destroy it.

I'd go with the SCUT if I were you, but also keep an open mind to other brands... It's a big investment. Do lots of homework (I'm sure you probably have already). There are those who will argue, but with those hills whatever you get - 4wd will be a major bonus. If you go with anything 2wd, mount some good grippy ATV tires. Don't even bother with turfs, and HDAPs might even be a waste of effort.

Also, load the tires of whatever you get with Rimguard to lower your center of gravity. The X will have a bit lower C of G right off the get-go, which may be of some benefit, but the 1023- especially with its Low range, will easily climb and decend those hills.

Does the X have hydraulic assist front wheels or true mechanical 4wd? If it's hydraulic assist, it might as well be a 2wd when decending the hill... The front wheels won't help control the decent much.
 
#9 ·
Does the X have hydraulic assist front wheels or true mechanical 4wd? If it's hydraulic assist, it might as well be a 2wd when descending the hill... The front wheels won't help control the decent much.
I disagree, modern X7 series have hydraulic AWD full-time and it DOES help a lot when descending hills, it is like you have a mechanical system but you can also turn corners without scuffing tires. Mine is a similar to a billy-goat on hills.
 
#7 ·
Some other options: find a gently used X748 and see if you can locate a 45 loader for it, rather than a front-mount loader for the X570. The 45 loader can still be found; it has "goal posts" for rollover protection. The 45 loader will lift about 375 pounds with proper counterweight; you can shim the pressure relief valve and get even more capacity, up to about 500 or so without unduly stressing the pump.

I sort of like your idea of the X570 for mowing and then getting a trackloader for the other stuff; sounds like your budget is pretty flexible. I'd say it's an even better plan than the 1023 with a loader (and mower). The 1023 can lift more than an X7 with loader, but both tend to get a pretty high center of gravity with the loader in place, and working on a hillside can get interesting. A trackloader has an inherently lower c/g, and I think you'd find tracks a definite plus on unimproved ground.
 
#8 ·
My front yard is a very steep hill, much like the hill in your pictures. First, don't buy an X570. No hydraulics on that model, so go with a 580 at the very least. But, to be honest the curve you threw is "maybe" needing an FEL. Not on the current X5xx series, or on the current X7xx series. In my book, and based on you pictures/needs I would jump into a 1 series, especially with promotions going on right now.

And with all of that said, if mowing, plowing, ground engagement like tilling, box blades, rake, etc. are what you need an X580 or X590 will do the job just fine.
 
#11 ·
With one series and the ROPS, you’ll be doing a lot of trimming of the low hanging branches on your tree’s and thinning out the tree’s since the one series turns like a battleship by comparison the X570 turning radius is 16 inches – a X580/590 turning radius is 22 inches, a X7xx series is 25 inches - larger deck can help minimize the differences, but the X570 will have smaller uncut circles, then the x7xx or 1 series

The one series can mow, but it’s not ideal at it, You can mount a FEL on a x700 series but once again it’s not ideal. If 99% of what you’ll use the tractor for is mowing, buy yourself a x500 series tractor and save yourself 10 to 12 grand
 
#17 ·
Definitely will take down branches with the ROPS on the 1 series. In fact the X7xx series will set enough higher than the X580/590 that it might make it tough to get under branches. I found that out when I took mine to mow for a friend. Since, I use his GTH52XLS and have much less trouble getting under his apple tree branches, mostly. X580/590, with deck only, probably won’t save 10 to 12 grand over an X738/39/58/59, even with a CTS loader, but will over a 1 series with loader and mower deck. Take a look at slightly used and save some that way if you need to, but keep it slightly used. Everything I’ve bought has been used and I’ve been very pleased.
 
#12 ·
Thanks for all the replies - it gave me a lot to think about. I ended up getting a new 2018 X570 and had them put on the HDAP tires. The dealer gave me such a good price I couldn't pass it up.
I figure that if it doesn't serve my purposes, I can trade it in on something bigger next year. :) I have a feeling this won't be my last tractor.......

I appreciate all the help.
 
#19 · (Edited)
#13 ·
Please report back with your performance. Pictures of hills are always somewhat deceiving and I would like to hear how the HDAPs handle your situation.
 
#20 ·
Soundchsr,

I wish you luck with your new X570, but, I won't sugarcoat the fact you'll regret not having hydraulics for lift and steering, plus HDAPs are standard on the 580 and 590.
 
#23 ·
Good point RT3360. If the OP can get into a 580 or 590 for about the same $ he should use the promise and do just that. He'll be so much happier with power steering and hydraulic lift.
 
#25 ·
Good point RT3360. If the OP can get into a 580 or 590 for about the same $ he should use the promise and do just that. He'll be so much happier with power steering and hydraulic lift.
Amen to power steering and maybe not as much hydraulic lift, but the seat is also a big plus if you need to spend a lot of hours in it and the HAWD is better than you can imagine. Only other tractor I’ve used that comes close is a Kubota BX2380 with 54” deck, manual 4WD. Mows great, is very stable on steep hills, and can cut grass 2’ high (yep 24”) without breaking a sweat. If I hadn’t run across my X738 with all the attachments I needed for less money, I would have bought a BX2380 or maaaaybe a BX1880.

I would try the 1023R on the hills first before committing to buy one. I don’t think you will like how high it sits when you’re on the hills and it’s more money than a Kubota BX2380. FWIW I think the Kubota is more stable on the slopes. Some people say they don’t like the reverse pedal, but after using my friend’s, I found I got used to it fairly quickly. I do have to say, I like the Deere pedals better.
 
#27 ·
Since this seems to be a "dynamic situation" I'll chime in with my X580 experience.

Get the 580 over the 570, I don't know how I lived without the power steering and lift.

The other thing that I didn't appreciate until mowing is that the 580, being longer and heavier than the lower-end lawn tractors, scrubs the outside front tire in sharp turns, even when crawling. I can't go slow enough not to scrub that thing when I'm close to steering lock. So it's fine on improved surfaces like asphalt, concrete, gravel, and even healthy turf, but be aware it is mildly destructive to soil or thin turf to fully use the low turning radius. I actually wind up doing some acrobatics to mow around trees and beds, but with a suicide knob on the wheel and the power steering it's pretty much a breeze. I have a fair amount of jockeying around tight spaces in between sheds, trees, pool, fences, flower beds, etc. and being able to just spin the wheel around is amazing.
 
#29 ·
I think you will be happy with the versatility of a 1025r TLB. For the amount of space you have you will use it often. By the way any tree you have to trim branches off of the get under with the ROPS is likely looking like a bush and needs the trimming anyway. ?

You do need to consider you will be around 22/23k for the tractor with a MMM. If you want a snowblower or other rear attachments plan on being into it for around $25k. Tractor Time with Tim can show you all the things a 1025r is capable of and also its limitations. As has been pointed out a skid steer is way more capable than these small tractors for lifting big loads but will wreck the ground underneath it, won't have a back hoe and won't cut grass. In my opinion these small tractors are a compromise on everything they do but they are the most capable multi tool for the money.

To clear up some misinformation from earlier posts. You can mount a 45 loader to any current X7xx series tractor without modifying the frame except one 1/2 in hole to mount custom mounting brackets. I've done it on my X738 and used it for over a year with no issues. Also a X7xx can lift 700 lbs. again I've done it many times. I'll include a picture of the bracket mounted to the frame. The bolts holding it on are all through factory holes except the bottom Right bolt.

The palm trees weigh around 200 lbs each.
 

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#30 ·
JBible, I wish you hadn’t made it so clear that I could have a 45 loader on my X738. :sidelaugh

Now to find a 45 loader and the TPH and weight bracket w/weights of course. I better take out an insurance policy, my wife is going to kill me. :tango_face_surprise
 
#31 ·
JBible, I wish you hadn’t made it so clear that I could have a 45 loader on my X738. <img src="http://www.mytractorforum.com/images/smilies/sidelaugh.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Sidelaugh" class="inlineimg" />

Now to find a 45 loader and the TPH and weight bracket w/weights of course. I better take out an insurance policy, my wife is going to kill me.
Sorry for the strife in your marriage ?. I used the loader to move my wife's palms from the back yard to the garage for the winter then back outside for this summer. Just tell her you will be able to help her occasionally with the loader.

The biggest problem with a 45 loader is finding one. People don't want to let them go. Expect to pay a premium. Honestly I have just under 70 hours on my X738 since I started using it in January 2018. I probably use the loader 70% of the time. I help my neighbors a lot and I have several rental properties that had to be cleaned up. I have cleared several parking strips of grass and dirt, cleared a back yard of the same which weighed 50,000 lbs in a day according to the scales when I dumped it at the land fill. I would conservatively say I have moved around 80,000 lbs of materials with the loader in the past year. I even used it to help one of my scouts with his Eagle project.

Your wife will be more upset when you tell her you need a dump trailer. Then you might need a bigger truck too. ?
 

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#33 ·
Dump trailer, why didn’t I think of that, I’ve just been thinking of a landscape trailer, 14’ long, to transport my X738 with the Cyclone Rake attached.

“helping neighbors” and rental property, now that’s a couple of good ones to use for justification. :sidelaugh
Naw, at 70, I don’t want to have only a little fun before it goes to someone else. Guess I’ll just have to dream. Cool to see you can use it with your deck still on AND you can tow your dump trailer around to boot.
 
#34 ·
"Amen to power steering and maybe not as much hydraulic lift,"

I just got my X570 and the steering is unbelievable on it. I drove an X590 before getting the X570 ( which I didn't drive) and had a little regret not getting the X590 waiting for delivery. But the steering is so effortless on the X570 that I wouldn't make a decision to get the X590 just on the steering.
 
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