one older model tractor - an Allis Chalmers model G - comes to mind for your needs.
You might check around your region for an used one and get lucky. Google the internet for details on that tractor...

What kind of crops are you raising on your acre? Ground clearance on a ATV or garden tractor isn't very much so you could only go through early in the season.

Buying a used ATV and used cultivator (which fits it) could be problematic as to finding and would it work. The ATV's I'm familiar with have a fairly wide "footprint" so you'd be straddling rows (see above) or have really wide row planting.

IMHO, look for a new or used front end tiller, full size, the drag stake can be adjusted to shallow depth to take out weeds. Further, you can remove tines to adjust for row spacing. Lots less $$ and more reliable than used ATV's tractor's etc. IF you have any mechanical aptitude you could keep one of those little 5 horse tillers running.

Since you use a garden hoe and don't like tillers, why not a "wheel hoe?" I've attached a link for one. They're available in various configurations and prices. The older ones with the big metal wheel can occasionally be picked up cheap at yard sales.

Good luck,

EV

Here is a link that might be useful: Wheel Hoe

Sorry for the long delay. The atv thing is certainly not the answer. Looks like I'm going to get one the large BCS two-wheelers and a rotary plow, for starters. I grow all kinds of crops so this machine should be very adaptable. Anybody familiar with those?

EV, I agree a wheel-hoe is good and in fact I have an old one that a friend gave me. I cultivated a 1/2 acre of corn in heavy loam with it a couple years ago. Great work out!

Hmmm, you might also consider an old Gravely walk behind with rotary plow, there's a ton of other implements also around for them. I have a '62 that still runs strong. Word of Warning/Explanation, gravelies are "man killers" in that they are OLD and were long before OSHA, safety switches, etc. etc. came along, also, they're very powerful, but you'll do a days work horsing one around. Check and see if there's a gravely dealer near you.

Just a thought, and maybe not a good one....:-)

Ev

didn't know they made a rotary plow. However, we already picked up a nearly new bcs 732.