riding mowers

[moneypitxj]

i bought about 3 acres some time back and i am having a house built on it. it is time i purchase my luxury mower.

i need some advise on what people are using to mow football sized yards with.

i was looking at the deeres but, before i go and dish out the fayes. i want some other riding mower owners opinons.

 

[2offroad]

get some goats. fun to watch the little one play.

 

[woody]

If all you want to do is cut grass with it, your looking at a $1000-$2000 'lawn tractor'. If you also want to run a snowblower or tiller with it, you're looking at a $2000+ 'garden tractor' with F & R PTO outputs.

Husqvarna appears to be 'really similar' to Sears Craftsman...as does Statesman (Southern States -local farm supply- house brand)

Some things to ponder:

If you need a bagger, not all models have that option.

Electric PTO may be a feature if ya can't/dont want to pull a lever to engage the blade.

If the yard is 'uneven' look for a deck that has lots of roller wheels...

Look for a motor that has full pressure lubrication (will have a spin-on oil filter)

Look for one with cast iron axles and grease nipples.

Hard to go wrong with Deere, Cub Cadet, TroyBilt, Husqvarna IMHO

Quite a price hike from the common 42" deck up to 48" or wider...

 

[2offroad]

the husky, sears, and some others are MTD built, very good for the money, i got a Craftsman 26hp twin Kohler 50" deck a couple winters ago for $1000 off, Sears has good sales in the off season.

 

[MattBlackXJ]

I'm partial to Deere because I used to work on them. If I were buying for 3 acres, I'd get somthing with a 54" deck if you don't have any problems with narrow pathways that you have to mow. If so, maybe a 48" instead.

The 100 series is a little on the cheapo side, but still better then any craftsman. The larger models in that series might work for you (G100, G110). For that much ground I'd avoid an LT or LX. I have an LX which I love, but I wouldn't want to mow that much area with it. That puts you into a GT or GX if you can swing it, or get the financing. I could go on more but a dealer could tell you the same info.

 

[XJJPR]

I have to agree with what Matt said.

I use this on just short of 2 acres of grass and would like something a little faster/bigger.

Get as much as you can afford. It will make your mowing hours shorter and leave more time to play!

hinkley

 

[Flowers]

Go TORO or Go Home!

If your interested in used golf course equipment PM me. A good used TORO 322-D or 325-D would be primo for 3 acres. I have connections.

 

[spaulman]

I purchased a Cub Cadet 3204 w/54" deck last summer to mow our 1.75 acres. No cheap but I haven't regretted it for a minute. This thing is vastly different than the Cub Cadet's that Lowes, etc sells. Beefy like the pre-MTD Cub Cadets. I had considered a zero-turn but my wife likes to mow occasionally and didn't feel comfortable on the zero-turn.

My father-in-law had bought a $300 MTD at an auction and let us have it to use. After the steering gear stripped for the second time in a month, I went out and bought the Cub Cadet. It is nice being able to go out to the shed and having a reliable mower to use. For 3 acres, you might want to consider a 60" deck to speed up the process.

 

[macgyvr]

My buddy just bought a John Deere 445 with a 20somthing horse liquid cooled vtwin, shaft drive, hydro, with attachment points for front bucket rear hookups, has a traction control in the diff....its nice...so nice he's been cutting my yard with it cause he just can't mow enough...

think he paid around $5500 w/300 hrs....

he bought it after looking and test driving cubs and many other mowers for most of the summer

mac 'green' gyvr

 

[4ward]

Buncha sissies, go big or.......

You could have your house leveled and the grass mowed in 2 minutes.

 

[Wayne Sihler]

My father and i have used Wheel Horse to mow 5+ acres since the late 80s.It has been thru 1 Kolher 16 hp motor and lots of belts.It has also been a PIA for up-keep, lots of little problems but only one major and that was the motor.
The local Wheel Horse dealer is going out of business and we will be looking to go to a Deere.
Service and reputation for quality are whats important.
Wayne

 

[85Chief]

I personally use a New Holland/ Ford and I mow 14 yards. I would like something bigger, but the quality of the cut is awesome. I owned a Cub Cadet, but it was a lemon. Every time I turned around it was on the repair list. The quality of the cut wasnt the greatest either. ExMark is an exellent cut, but is on the expensive side. Some mow up to 6.0 acres per hour, so you would have plenty of time to play.

http://www.exmark.com/

 

[RichP]

I inherited my dads 1970 Wheel horse commando, 12 or 15hp Koelher engine, 3 speed. It ran fine till about 2 years ago and needs to go to the dealer to get well again. Problem is Toro bought wheel horse and the local WH dealer retired and closed up, nearest is 20mi away now and you can't just 'throw it in the back of the XJ'. It has a 36" 3 blade deck and a snow plow. I rebuilt about 5 years ago, replaced the tires. I plan on dropping it off when I get back and having it gone over, the thing is solid, simple and always ran [I think the generator went, it starts and runs for about 10 min then dies and the battery won't turn it over]. I only have 2 acres and most of that is woods but it does a nice job keeping the underbrush clear with the deck raised. New one though I would go with a 48" deck and get one that will take a snowblower with it's own engine.

 

[gixj90]

I bought a Snapper over several of the ones listed in other posts, not 'cause it is necessarily better, but for the price, it can't be beat. The MTD brands, I suggest you stay away from (Home Depot, Lowes's etc Deere, cub cadet etc) The Deere's and Cadets from a Bonafide mower or yard supply are of higher quality than the Lowes/HD variety. Check the thickness (gauge of the steel used) of the mower deck at a HD deere vs a "real deere". The thicker the better. With all that said though, my Snapper, 42" cut, 16HP with the hydromatic transmission mows my 2.1 acres quick and level. No problems as of yet with it.

 

[Moto]

I would stay away from any Homedepot or department store brand. even if it is a Deere. They are all manufactured from the same companys. The Husky isnt a real swedish made Husky, Husky is owned by Poulan, and then MTD now makes scotts, Cub Cadet, Bolens, Yard Man, Yard Machines, white outdoor etc.... There Deeres that are availble at places like home depot and such are not "real " JD's they are made alot cheaper. I would recomend staying away from wheelhorse, I heard that the company was going out of bussiness if it hasnt already and was possible in the process of getting bought by troy-built or something like that. As for the sears craftsmen mowers, avoid them, Sears has some need to put like a 26hp engine into mowers with transmissions and such that were never designed for that much power, also getting parts to repair a craftsmen suck, they use special sears part numbers for the engine parts and it makes it complicated trying to get it repaired at anywhere other than sears. The best bet is to go to a real tractor dealer and explain your needs and let them help you select. But anyways the Snapper Products are decent, The larger John Deeres from a dealership are good, The ariens are decent for the Money, Older Bolens, Cub Cadets, and Gravelys are unbeatable. Kubota makes a full line of smaller Riding mowers, You should check out the Kubota TG1860 with the little diesel. Its a nice little riding mower, hydrostatic drive and everything. Here is a link. http://www.kubota.com/h/products/TG1860.cfm

 

[Flowers]

i bought about 3 acres some time back and i am having a house built on it. it is time i purchase my luxury mower.

i need some advise on what people are using to mow football sized yards with.

i was looking at the deeres but, before i go and dish out the fayes. i want some other riding mower owners opinons.

I guess we should have asked, what's your budget?

 

[ChuckD]

I wonder if Matt cuts his grass with his Tractor.

 

[MattBlackXJ]

There Deeres that are availble at places like home depot and such are not "real " JD's they are made alot cheaper.

This isn't really true. The same models they sell at Home Depot are sold at independent JD dealers. I agree to avoid Home Depot anyway, because you will get far superior service at most JD dealers. In the case you have a warranty issue, Home Depot will send you to the local JD shop, and they won't be as willing to help you out as if you bought the tractor from them.

 

[Beezil]

since most of you are fat and out-of-shape

consider this:

 

[LBEXJ]

You guys know Jeeps ... but you don't know $hit about mowers. If you are serious about mowing grass, get a Dixie Chopper.

http://www.dixiechopper.com/silvereagles_.php

Les