Lawn tractor, Garden Tractor, Riding mower, whatever. I know there are differences, but that's what this thread is about. I used to sell these things years ago, but things have changed. My old '65 Sears died 10 years ago, and I've never bothered to get another rider.
Well, I now have about 3 acres to keep up. There will be more in a while. For the time being, it's fairly rough, and I tend to push equipment hard, even though I maintain everything very well. I need to be able to cut reasonably tall grass, and I need something to withstand some decent abuse. That said, I've narrowed the brand field down. Don't say it, I don't want a Deere. I live in NC, everybody and their three-toed little sister has a Deere. I just won't buy one. No Craftsman, no zero turn thingies. I like a tractor-type mower.
I like to keep things for a long time, but this will have an expected service life of about 3 years with good reliability. At that point, I'll either be buying something more professional, or realizing I'm not just not that good at commercial real estate investment. After that point, I'm open to a few parts wearing out here and there.
After paying people repeatedly to keep bushhoging this land once every few months, it's stupid not to just axe the push mower and get something I can work with as well as keep my lawn up.
Kubota
Simplicity
Cub Cadet (lower end driveshaft model)
Toro (Wheelhorse Classic)
Snapper
Can it be done for under 4 grand? If so, what are your recomendations? I saw the Cub 2544 or whatever it was, with the driveshaft for about 2500 bucks brand new at a dealer around here last year. Way off what retail is, but they can be had in that price range reliably. I liked it, but I haven't owned one. I did test it, and it was nice.
I've been on a Simplicity Regent, and it scared the hell out of me. It was obviously one hell of a machine, but if something ever broke, there would be astronauts pulling gear teeth out of their butts. Those blades are like little jet turbines under there. It didn't seem so much like a lawn mower, rather, it was like wrapping your legs around a tornado that became lodged in a demon's ass after passing through a glass warehouse full of razor blades. One can be had for under 3000, steel underwear is extra.
Kubota is nice, but expensive as hell. I couldn't get as much Kubota as I could the other brands. Are they that much better in this price range that the lower models would satisfy me?
I don't know much about the Toro. It's expensive, and I've only ever seen one in person. It's way over budget, I just put it in here because it looks nice.
I've never operated a Snapper.
Left to my own devices, I'd just go by the Cub with the driveshaft. Everyone here loves them, the problem is nobody around here knows what they are talking about. I can never find a single person intelligent enough to answer my simplest questions. Apparently MTD ownes them now, has that made a difference in reliability?
So, again I defer to Discoweb judgement. I know there are people here who have some of these machines. What do you think I should be looking at? What brands, and what models?
Cheers,
Kennith
Well, I now have about 3 acres to keep up. There will be more in a while. For the time being, it's fairly rough, and I tend to push equipment hard, even though I maintain everything very well. I need to be able to cut reasonably tall grass, and I need something to withstand some decent abuse. That said, I've narrowed the brand field down. Don't say it, I don't want a Deere. I live in NC, everybody and their three-toed little sister has a Deere. I just won't buy one. No Craftsman, no zero turn thingies. I like a tractor-type mower.
I like to keep things for a long time, but this will have an expected service life of about 3 years with good reliability. At that point, I'll either be buying something more professional, or realizing I'm not just not that good at commercial real estate investment. After that point, I'm open to a few parts wearing out here and there.
After paying people repeatedly to keep bushhoging this land once every few months, it's stupid not to just axe the push mower and get something I can work with as well as keep my lawn up.
Kubota
Simplicity
Cub Cadet (lower end driveshaft model)
Toro (Wheelhorse Classic)
Snapper
Can it be done for under 4 grand? If so, what are your recomendations? I saw the Cub 2544 or whatever it was, with the driveshaft for about 2500 bucks brand new at a dealer around here last year. Way off what retail is, but they can be had in that price range reliably. I liked it, but I haven't owned one. I did test it, and it was nice.
I've been on a Simplicity Regent, and it scared the hell out of me. It was obviously one hell of a machine, but if something ever broke, there would be astronauts pulling gear teeth out of their butts. Those blades are like little jet turbines under there. It didn't seem so much like a lawn mower, rather, it was like wrapping your legs around a tornado that became lodged in a demon's ass after passing through a glass warehouse full of razor blades. One can be had for under 3000, steel underwear is extra.
Kubota is nice, but expensive as hell. I couldn't get as much Kubota as I could the other brands. Are they that much better in this price range that the lower models would satisfy me?
I don't know much about the Toro. It's expensive, and I've only ever seen one in person. It's way over budget, I just put it in here because it looks nice.
I've never operated a Snapper.
Left to my own devices, I'd just go by the Cub with the driveshaft. Everyone here loves them, the problem is nobody around here knows what they are talking about. I can never find a single person intelligent enough to answer my simplest questions. Apparently MTD ownes them now, has that made a difference in reliability?
So, again I defer to Discoweb judgement. I know there are people here who have some of these machines. What do you think I should be looking at? What brands, and what models?
Cheers,
Kennith
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