Time to buy a riding lawnmower...any suggestions?

[RU482]

My yard is too large to efficiently mow with my push mower, so I'm thinking of getting a riding lawnmower. For this size yard, what would be a good size mower to get?

Is John Deere overated, or worth the price? Huskavarna? any other ideas/comments?

 

[The Sauce]

I have a Husq and I love it...been running fine for over 10 years now. The Deeres are good but don't buy a Depot Deere (i.e. Home Depot) - it's a totally different, and cheaper, animal than a real Deere. Simplicity makes a good tractor as well. Some people love the Crastsman tractors, some hate them...they are cheap and will egt the job done. For 3/4 acres you really dont need anything that grand. I would think a lower end model with a 42" deck would suit you fine. You dont need a lot of HP. I have a Husq with a 13HP Kohler and a 42" deck and I mow about 3-4 acres.

 

[lupi]

I got a husq last year. After doing some reading it seemed to be the only mid ranged brand that was actually made by the manufacture. Most of the others (deer, toro etc..) were low quality contracted stuff with brand name only.

 

[RU482]

good input. I thought I heard that too about the depot deeres. Seemed like most of them had HP ratings in the 15-22HP range with a 42" deck.

lupi...where did you buy your mower? I've been looking at Lowes, but would probably buy from anywhere

thanks

 

[BigJ]

Stay away from the low end Deeres. Cub Cadet and Husq put out some decent low-end stuff.

 

[drnickriviera]

See if you can find a used commercial mower. I wouldn't give up my hydro walk behind for any riding mower.

woohoo 1k finally

 

[RU482]

Interesting. I just went to Sears.com, and it says that they now cary Husq riders. The even more interesting this was that the craftsman mowers look almost exactly like the Husq mowers. Time to look into those specs, I guess. Has Husq jumped the shark, or has craftsman upgraded?

EDIT:
nevermind, I was seeing things

 

[flyfish]

TEH GRASSHOG 5000 !!!!!!

 

[bctbct]

I have always had MTD products and they are great for the money. My current one is about 11-12 yo and started today despite last year gas and not removing the battery.

 

[richardycc]

not all Husqvarna are created equal, I think I made a mistake by getting the last yr model leftover husq 1542 because I was so focus on the engine, and forgot about the body. my 1542 has the supposingly awesome kawasaki v-twin engine, but the body is bolted together (I think all current model has welded frame now), so the engine might last me a long time, but the frame might not. I just got it last yr, I've had no problem so far.....If you can afford it, my advise is to look for one has welded frame with a twin engine. Check out the brand Simplicity, they are pricy, but supposingly thats what Fenway Park groundkeepers use to cut their grass.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Stay away from the low end Deeres. Cub Cadet and Husq put out some decent low-end stuff.

My Grandfather has a mid-range Deere that has been great minus one dead battery. My cousin has a Cub Cadet that has had to be repaired several times. Don't know if he got a faulty model or has bad luck.

I like John Deere.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: redly1
Interesting. I just went to Sears.com, and it says that they now cary Husq riders. The even more interesting this was that the craftsman mowers look almost exactly like the Husq mowers. Time to look into those specs, I guess. Has Husq jumped the shark, or has craftsman upgraded?

EDIT:
nevermind, I was seeing things

Husky and Craftsman are made by AYP. MTD makes Cub Cadet and troybult.. Murray went bankrupt; Toro, Snapper, and Simplicity may still make their own.

 

[Loop2kil]

60" John Deere 737 Zero Turn, FTW. IF you want a 'REAL' John Deere you will need to go to an actual dealer. The crap that is sold at Home Depot with the JD name is nothing better than a Murray.
You get what you pay for, mine was not cheap (~$7k) but I can cut 4 acres in just under 1.5 hours and that's with hills and a fence to navigate.

 

[newmachineoverlord]

why not get a robomower? If you have a big yard, why mow it yourself when you can get a machine to do it for you?

 

[mobobuff]

Had a Deere riding mower for 10+ years and it was a great machine, it was replaced with a Cub Cadet, and it failed in comparison to the Deere mower made in '94.

Go with Deere.

 

[akshatp]

Bought a Sears rider last year after the summer.. It was $1600 in July we got it for $1000 plus tax in September... If you can wait one more season, try to get them after the summer... You will save alot and get a better mower...

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Bought a Sears rider last year after the summer.. It was $1600 in July we got it for $1000 plus tax in September... If you can wait one more season, try to get them after the summer... You will save alot and get a better mower...

I bought a Craftsman about 8 years ago and got a similar good deal. I absolutely hate it...I've had problems with just about everything on it. The only good part about it has been the B&S I/C engine - it's been solid as a rock. Everything else on it sucks. Literally EVERY time I cut the grass I seriously consider driving it into the lake. I don't have $1500 to replace it right now so I have to live with it but there's no way I'd buy another one.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

http://www.therobotstore.com/s.nl/it.A/id.295/.f

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Mill

Originally posted by: BigJ
Stay away from the low end Deeres. Cub Cadet and Husq put out some decent low-end stuff.

My Grandfather has a mid-range Deere that has been great minus one dead battery. My cousin has a Cub Cadet that has had to be repaired several times. Don't know if he got a faulty model or has bad luck.

I like John Deere.

The mid-range and higher Deeres are excellent. The low end stuff they sell at Home Depot is absolute crap. The Cub Cadets HD sells are miles ahead compared to the Deeres at that level.

 

[The Sauce]

MTD makes junk. Stay away from the Cub Cadets or anything else you know is made by MTD.