24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
Campfire Outfitter
OP Online Happy
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
looking for the best new garden/lawn tractor out there.
does anyone have any recommendations <$5K?
not really looking for a zero turn one, it would be nice if it could take attachments just in case future needs require them. needs to be easy to use as well. online reviews don't really help since most of the time people don't write something about it unless its bad. been looking off and on for the last month and learned enough to know I don't know what makes one a great one.
any guidelines people can provide the better, such as:
pros/cons of mower deck width
transmissions
adjustable height of deck
power, what size engine should I consider the minimum?

thanks, any advice is appreciated


Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.

Calm seas don't make sailors.
BP-B2

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 834
C
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
C
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 834
Once upon a time it would have been Gravely. They had all kinds of attachments and extremely well made and virtually indestructable. Now everything not John Deere green is pretty much pure junk. The one exception is Kubota. But neither JD nor Kubota are in the price range you indicate. One thing for absolute certainty, ztay well away from Cub Cadet. The old ones were great. The new ones are horrible.

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,067
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,067
It's a little older but I have a Craftsman (same thing as Husky). It has the Kohler 26hp and the hydrostatic transmission. So far in 7 years it's been close to flawless. The hydro tranny is very handy but it gives up a little power to the manual. My partner has the same tractor with a 24 hp kohler and the manual and it will outpull mine with the 26hp.

I have a sleeve hitch on it and use a homemade cultivator. The hitch has no downward force so it needs some weight added to dig in even a little. However, the weight can make it quite hard to lift. The hitch mechanism is a bit flimsy for lifting very much weight.


“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell

It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,659
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,659
Originally Posted by Rock Chuck
It's a little older but I have a Craftsman (same thing as Husky). It has the Kohler 26hp and the hydrostatic transmission. So far in 7 years it's been close to flawless. The hydro tranny is very handy but it gives up a little power to the manual. My partner has the same tractor with a 24 hp kohler and the manual and it will outpull mine with the 26hp.

I have been using the same Craftsman for 18 years. Did it ever need any repair .... Yes, of course.
However I have always been able to fix it myself at low cost. All in all, its been great to have.


"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much" Teddy Roosevelt
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,994
B
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
B
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,994
Originally Posted by Colorado1135
looking for the best new garden/lawn tractor out there.
does anyone have any recommendations <$5K?
not really looking for a zero turn one, it would be nice if it could take attachments just in case future needs require them. needs to be easy to use as well. online reviews don't really help since most of the time people don't write something about it unless its bad. been looking off and on for the last month and learned enough to know I don't know what makes one a great one.
any guidelines people can provide the better, such as:
pros/cons of mower deck width
transmissions
adjustable height of deck
power, what size engine should I consider the minimum?

thanks, any advice is appreciated


What are you intending to do with it? If it's just for mowing larger acreages, the lower-end John Deeres work very well. I bought a JD D130 this summer to mow my 1 acre grass cover around my house, and it works very well. Hydrostatic trans, 22 hp twin motor, 42" deck fully adjustable, etc. I didn't want anything bigger than the 42" deck because of some tight spots I need to negotiate. So far, I am more than satisfied with the tractor. It is very easy to use, anyone could run one with a minimum of instruction.
It will take a number of attachments, such as snow blade, leaf pickups, tow behind aerators, etc. if needed.
Cost was $1900, but they go up in price and capability from there.
You will have to look hard to find a bad review on a John Deer implement.


I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
IC B2

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 926
D
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
D
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 926
Might take a look at Simplicity. There older mowers are built like a tank. Don't know about the new ones.


Grammar is important.
Capitol letters are the difference between "helping your Uncle Jack off a horse" & "helping your uncle jack off a horse".
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,695
J
JDK Online Content
Campfire Regular
Online Content
Campfire Regular
J
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,695
I'm somewhat in the same boat.

Had a Husqvarna hand grenade an engine on me 2 weeks ago. Kohler Courage 20 single with less than 200 hours. Tractor, engine and mowing was one giant POS from day one. Reviews are all over the place and nothing is cheap.

On the positive side, I don't have to mow a 5x15 foot section of my lawn anymore as the oil killed it.

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
Campfire Outfitter
OP Online Happy
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
I read somewhere that as of this year the craftsman mowers are built by someone else now, not Husky anymore frown

Raven

these are pretty new, anyone ever tried one?
lots of positive reviews, especially on customer service.
any thoughts?



Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.

Calm seas don't make sailors.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,756
R
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
R
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,756
Are you just going to cut grass or are you going to need a tiller or something for the garden?


"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". --- William Penn

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,503
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,503
Originally Posted by Colorado1135
I read somewhere that as of this year the craftsman mowers are built by someone else now, not Husky anymore frown

Raven

these are pretty new, anyone ever tried one?
lots of positive reviews, especially on customer service.
any thoughts?



That's an interesting concept.


4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan. smile
IC B3

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664
D
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
D
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664
I bought an Cub XT3 in June to mow with. I put Ag tractor type tires on it and it does a good job for me. I wish the deck would raise 1/2 more at the top setting but I can live with it as is. Around here the XT3 is the only shaft drive under $5K. The XT3 has a drive system that you can replace the fluid in and has a spin on filter. They are built by MTD.


The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311
N
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
N
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,311
My "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" JD 300 transmission took a chit at a whopping 242 hours, out of 2 years warranty, mowed 1 acre of grass once a week, never again! I paid $3K for the JD, I just bought an XMark zero turn for $5K, it's a 10 times better mower! I think JD's are now made in China. Good luck.

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,375
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,375
deeres are garbage, look at simplicity, i love them, and my whole family has them after i had mine for 10 years an abused the [bleep] out of it


I kill chit. "The Heathens nest"
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
S
Campfire Oracle
Offline
Campfire Oracle
S
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Originally Posted by NJelksmacker
My "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" JD 300 transmission took a chit at a whopping 242 hours, out of 2 years warranty, mowed 1 acre of grass once a week, never again! I paid $3K for the JD, I just bought an XMark zero turn for $5K, it's a 10 times better mower! I think JD's are now made in China. Good luck.


You have to get into the 320's before you get the 'better' transmissions.



"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
R
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
R
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,408
i've had a simplicity regent 44" deck & 22hp briggs for 6 mowing seasons now. i mow about 2.5 acres of grass and trails. or should i say my boys do. they killed a mtd troybuilt in 9 years but this simplicity is still going strong. i think with bagger i had just shy of $3k OTD. the bagger was a waste of $400 but the rest of the mower is very well built. had to replace a spindle housing this year when a stump bent it up. i'm on 2nd set of blades but thats it.


My diploma is a DD214
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,369
L
Campfire Outfitter
Online Content
Campfire Outfitter
L
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,369
Not all John Deere's deserve the green paint. simplicitys are good mowers I've got a older model 2001 maked AGCO Allis

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,932
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,932
My JD LT178 is 18 years old and still mowing grass. Been serviced every year. As far as I'm concerned "Nothing runs like a Deere".


Beware of thieves, scammers and dishonest members on the "Fire" classifieds. Ya there is a thief here too. Whatever!!

They're all around the CampFire and everywhere.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,366
R
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
R
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,366
RE just mowing lawns, we mow a couple of strips of about 2000 yards of road frontage and 3 yards, about 2 acres total, sometimes as often as every 5 days. And its not unheard of to mow in January.

We've had super luck with Walmart riders.... bought one in 79 that lasted until about mid 90s.

Then bought a used 80s model that lasted until about 2013 or so and tossed a bolt in a rod, and simply bought a 300 buck replacement motor and put it in place. Going good today.

have a Bad Boy zero turn the wife finally thought it might be nice if she could get all the stuff mowed in one night instead of a couple....

But the wally one still gets work done.

IMHO if you maintain your stuff it generally lasts, as long as it doesn't have a lot of plastic parts like Craftsman chit started putting on in years past.


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033
I bought a used Sears this spring. So far so good. It's a 46" cut, I think 17 h.p. Kohler. I'd have to go out and check to be sure, but I knew the guy I bought it off of and he was real happy with it. Basically outside of oil changes, the only money he put into it in over 10 years was a new belt and he replaced the deck bearings one time. Depends on your needs. All I use it for is mowing the lawn, and moving a little wood around the lot in a small trailer.


molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,223
B
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
B
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,223
I would agree with the Simplicity and the older Deutz Allis, type mowers/garden tractors. My dad used to mow 19 rural cemeteries. He is no longer mowing the cemeteries, but still has the mowers and uses them to this day. He did put new rings on the pistons of one of the engines though. The drivetrain has help up very well.

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,852
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,852
This is the best garden tractor, but it isn't a very good lawn mower.

[Linked Image]


Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist

Just "Campfire Riffraff and Trash"

This will be my last post! Flave 1/3/21
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 8,573
W
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 8,573
I saw a film(video to you young guys) of Roy Roger using one of those to loosen the soil in Triggers pen.

Last edited by websterparish47; 08/27/15.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,722
K
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
K
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,722
Simplicity is were I would be looking...I just sold one this spring with 400 Hrs never Had a screw turned.....Still running the original Blades and belts mowed 2+ ac a week. Pulled stumps with it, beat the chit out of it. It had the vanguard engine and tough Torque Trans with traction control. never got stuck. You can get them with a Fabricated deck Now.


“When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,529
E
EdM Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
E
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,529
Originally Posted by MissouriEd
My JD LT178 is 18 years old and still mowing grass. Been serviced every year. As far as I'm concerned "Nothing runs like a Deere".


Do you think a modern day Deere is the same as one made 18 years ago? When Iived in Kansas I had a Hustler ZTR and it was a great machine for the 4 or so acres I had to mow. Again, it was of 1995 vintage so what they make today may well be different.


Conduct is the best proof of character.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,660
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,660
Originally Posted by cuznguido
Once upon a time it would have been Gravely. They had all kinds of attachments and extremely well made and virtually indestructable. Now everything not John Deere green is pretty much pure junk. The one exception is Kubota. But neither JD nor Kubota are in the price range you indicate. One thing for absolute certainty, ztay well away from Cub Cadet. The old ones were great. The new ones are horrible.



I grew up in WV, and just about everyone we knew that had any acreage had a Gravely. It was a shame they went away.

However, nature abhors a vacuum and that vacuum has long since been filled with improvements.

BCS America

You buy the tractor with an implement and additional implements are about $1100.

[img]http://www.bcsamerica.com/assets/tt.php?q=90&src=http://www.bcsamerica.com/aire/../uploads/2013/03/PowerSafe-Controls.jpg&w=460&h=460[/img]


Just like the old Gravelys, you can get a rotary plow, roto-tiller attachement, shovel plow, rough-country rotary mower, sicckle bar mower, snow blower, wood splitter, and a metric-schittload of other implements for gardening, snow removal, mowing, cleaning, grading wood chipping.

Just scroll down to the bottom of the page and check out all the attachments by category.




Last edited by stevelyn; 08/27/15.

[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]

Z
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,283
T
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
T
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,283
My pick is a John Deere, Ive worked on mowers for 20+ years. Get the better one not the L or D series. Ive got a customer that mows commercial with a X300 that has 1700 hours on it. I have another customer that has 2200hrs on a LX 277 which the X300 replaced.

Of course you have to remember some folks can tear up anything.

Majority of my repairs are from bad fuel and water.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,366
R
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
R
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,366
Originally Posted by Oldman03
This is the best garden tractor, but it isn't a very good lawn mower.

[Linked Image]


That one looks about as good as our Super A as far as a small tractor goes. Have done a lot with ours. But its never had new paint etc...


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
Campfire Outfitter
OP Online Happy
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,604
lots of great info, thanks Guys I'm open to more opinions as well. needs to be a new machine, will be used for mowing primarily with the possibility of heavier cover, possibly other stuff as well like hauling a little wagon W/ 25 gal sprayer.it will be used primarily around a 4000+ acre private conservation property so it could be used for more than just yard work. I do have a big JD with 3pt mower to do the heavy lifting.

part of the reason I was interested in the raven I linked previously, it might serve lots of purposes around here, only problem is they are so new and unreliable I don't want to be wasting money possibly. on the flip side if it works as advertised with minimal problems it would be the cat's pajamas.


Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.

Calm seas don't make sailors.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,994
B
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
B
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,994
Originally Posted by Oldman03
This is the best garden tractor, but it isn't a very good lawn mower.

[Linked Image]


Very nice!
I grew up on a farm, and we had three Farmalls- A D, an M, and an MD. Wish I knew where they are now.


I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,910
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,910
The best deal I've found on a garden tractor that's also a good lawn tractor, in your price range is this:
[Linked Image]

It's a used Kubota BX2230 with 60" mower deck. It's got a little three cylinder diesel engine with around 24 or so horsepower, four-wheel drive, mid PTO shaft driven 60" mower deck, three point hitch, 540 rpm rear PTO, hydraulic lift on deck, and LOTS of other good features. I've got the 60" belly mower, a used rear blade, a 48" King Kutter gear drive XB series 3pt hitch mounted tiller, a heavy duty dump cart, and a pull-behind fertilizer and seed spreader.

It had 1500 hours on it when I bought it, but the engine, transmission and everything else on it is in good condition. If I'd known what great little tractors these are, I'd have had one years ago.

[Linked Image]


I've kept my 100 yards of gravel driveway in great shape, mowed my yard and the church yard with it, fetched firewood out of the woods, and put in four deer plots with it this summer. I do wish I had a front end loader for it though.


Bring enough gun and know how to use it.

Know that it is not the knowing, nor the talking, nor the reading man, but the doing man, that at last will be found the happiest man. - Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,891
P
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
P
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,891
A friend has one and they had to replace the deck motor controllers.
They said they got a bad batch.

I kind of like that thing because of the gen as part of the machine.

They are fun to drive and haul butt on electric only.
They do a good job of mowing some tall grass.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
436 members (160user, 10ring1, 1lesfox, 300jimmy, 257 mag, 1lessdog, 45 invisible), 2,154 guests, and 925 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,595
Posts18,398,070
Members73,815
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.202s Queries: 14 (0.003s) Memory: 0.9574 MB (Peak: 1.1679 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 11:43:28 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS