the x300 is really an embellished ($$$) lawn tractor and does not have a heavy-duty hydro tranny for pulling hills and pulling signjficant loads.
You might do better with a late model used garden tractor. For uneven ground, invest in landscaping to level it out ..

If you intend to use the tractor for hauling rocks, and other heavy uses, i'd suggest getting a geared trans-axle, instead of the hydro. That fancy stuff is for the hi-class home-owner who only mows his lawn a couple times a week, and might haul the leaves and mowing refuse to the back part of his property once a month!
The only thing the hydro does for ya, is save a bit of shifting. Those hydros are not intended to be used for heavy work, although a few extremely lucky folks have managed to not pull the guts out of one, with that type of usage!
I guess i have been lucky, because i haven't managed to ruin any used lawn tractor i have acquired. The only hydro tranny i have here is junk, gotten from a dis appointed owner, who bought a geared tractor the next time.
Although, i did buy a really nice late model Craftsman lawn tractor, red in color, from a man who thought he didn't have to use the clutch to shift gears! Fool that he was-just went merrily on his rounds, shifting willy-nilly, and dissing the brand, because the tranny failed on him! It was a six speed, with a clutch!

If I read your needs correctly, you essentially want a lawn tractor which will occasionally haul a load of firewood? I didn't see anything about "ground engaging" implememnts or anything else which would require a Garden Tractor rear end and tranny. Also "occasionally" haul a load of rocks, mulch. That shuld be within the realm of a LT. What size cart do you have, one of the small ones or something like the 18 cuft AgriFab which is rated for 1500lbs? If you're worrying about hauling heavy loads and your cart will only hold 500...

You mention "spinning halfway up." Traction is a function of the tire tread, not the LT/GT label and if that's a concern, you'll have to spend extra $$ for AG or the ATV tires that have become popular on small tractors. Also, depending on the severity of the grade, wheel weights may be needed, though with a load on a cart, the weight is transferred to the rear end of the tractor (if loaded right) so that shouldn't be needed.

Sure, a GT would do everything you want and lots more, also "buy more than you need" is a very useful adage to keep in mind. However it's your $$ and you might want to do a realistic evaluation of the tasks you'll do. Didn't see anything about snow removal, pushing a blade or running a snow thrower that would be out of the realm (IMHO) of an LT.

If you have "bumps and contusions" in your lawn, remember that the deck hangs off the tractor and if one of the tires is riding up a bump, cut will be affected.

Another consideration is availability of parts and dealer service if needed. Where do you order parts for a TSC unit? Is the JD supported by a local dealer or sold at a "big box" store-all GREEN is not equal. You might look at Sears, they have good sales, parts and service are available, and their website is full of reviews for everythig they sell.

Good Luck,

Ev

Thank you all for the advice. I think I may have worried myself about uses I'll never need.

The firewood is simply moved from the woodpile to my porch about 35 yards away. The most common pulling would probably be loads f mulch from the back of my industrial dump trailer to the back yard. All what I would guess should fit into the lt category.

I've also found out that the husky runs the same tranny as the x300 which, to me, says that they're actually putting more stress on a lightweight tranny with the higher horsepower and heaviest frame. I don't suspect that I could expect much more in the way of performance from the extra 8 hp that the husky provides when it uses the sametranny as the 18 hp John Deere.

Still a lot of thinking to do. This all started because I didn't want to walk my mower or my wheel barrel around anymore. Then I got sucked into the big bad machine thought pattern. Pretty sure stepping outside of the box store and into a tractor store will give me all that I need no matter what name ends up on the hood.

Thanks again for the advice.

Jason

Is 18 hp enough... well, if you read around the forums you'll find post after post proclaiming that 8 hp is enough and has been for 40 years so I feel that question can be put to bed.

A JD X300 is not an entry level lawn tractor you buy at the box store. An X300 is a Select Series only sold by authorized John Deere dealers who stock parts and honor a 4 year or 300 hour warranty. You can get an X300 with up to a 48" deck. An X300 had EXACTLY the same frame as the X500 Garden Tractor... not a similar frame, the SAME frame.

The X300 has resale value that no Husqvarna ever dreamed of

The reason you see multitudes of owner reviews of the X300 may be that JD sells a lot of them and the owners are satisfied... that can't be a negative.

John Deere offers the 30 day promise... if you're not satisfied bring it back for a full refund within 30 days. What have you got to lose?

I would at least get X304 or even the X320. I don't see any attachments offered for the X300. At least if you want to down the road you will have some options with the X304 or higher models. I know I got snow blade for my LX266 and it sure comes in handy when it snows. It pushed 13" no problems with just chains. But you may not need attachments then the extra 500 bucks may not be worth it. I tend to get more than I need when making big investment, that way I other options available if needed.

Pretty much the same attachments offered for the X300 as the X304 and X320 and all the X3xx Select Series including tractor shovel and front blade...

click here for X300 attachments

Jason,
Looks like you are interested in purchasing more so of quality machine vs. big box low-end. If so, you might want to think about using that $3K or so to get yourself a used Deere X500 with a true GT tranny.

Here's one in VA I found on CL. After tax on the X300 and with a little bargaining, this used X500 would cost you the same as a new X300. 241 hours isn't much on these units.
http://blacksburg.craigslist.org/grd/2355111013.html

I purchased a used Deere GT225 two years ago for $1700. No hour meter, but probably was no more than 200. Also, my GT225 proves HP isn't everything. It's a 15HP single cylinder. In the fall I use a 48" deck and pull a Cyclone Rake. Fully loaded, you wouldn't know you were pulling a grade in my backyard. I can actually accelerate up those hills and most of the time I'm at "1/2 throttle" on the hydro.
I did a lot of research in the spring of 2009 and decided it was "all about the hydro" and I didn't have $5K for a new X500. Besides the X500, there are also the older series GTs and GXs. GT235 with a twin Kawa is a very nice unit and I also bought one myself for about $2600 with 200+ hours. You'll need a GX though if you want a diff lock. I don't have one and I can't say I needed one after two seasons and I'm running turfs. HDAPs might help a bit by themselves.
Good luck.