Buying Advice Best riding mower

[ChiknsNpigsNkids]

Looking to buy a riding mower, husqvarna or John deere.

 

[bp fick]

If you are comparing lawn tractors from a Big Box store, there isn't much difference between a Husquarna and Deere. Go for features, specifics and price. Which one you like better.

If you're talking about the dealership Deere's in the x340 and above, well.... that's a whole 'nother ballgame and the pricing will reflect the upgrade in quality.

 

[Redneck in training]

Tell us how big is your yard, how many obstacles are there, how steep it is etc. and we will be glad to help you to separate you from your hard earned money.

 

[jinman]

If you want a John Deere like the ones at the box stores, go to a JD dealer. They sell them for exactly the same price/warranty and can finance them like the box stores, only it will be JD credit. You'll have the extra bonus of good will from the JD dealer if/when you need service. You'll have to go there anyway for service since the box stores don't do service and the warranty is through the local JD dealer.

If you buy the Husky, who knows where you'll get it serviced. . .

 

[bp fick]

If you want a John Deere like the ones at the box stores, go to a JD dealer. They sell them for exactly the same price/warranty and can finance them like the box stores, only it will be JD credit. You'll have the extra bonus of good will from the JD dealer if/when you need service. You'll have to go there anyway for service since the box stores don't do service and the warranty is through the local JD dealer.

If you buy the Husky, who knows where you'll get it serviced. . .

Jim is right. There is something to be said for dealer support. We have certified Husky dealerships too. With garages and parts counters. Top rated service. Your local area may be different.

I'd agree with buying either one at a dealer. I'm just not too awfully fond of the big box experience. In my own case, I have pretty high confidence in my own experience in repairing these machines.

 

[poorboy126]

For my two cents I have a JD X475 with 54" deck and I absolutely love this tractor, it is a 2005 and has had only very minor things go wrong. I had to replace the fuel pump that is in the tank and I'm not a mechanic by any means but with online help and my local John Deere dealer answering my questions I was able to do it on my own with basic hand tools one sunny afternoon. I would stay away from any "L" series because they are not real John Deere's and you will not get the quality that so many people talk about when referring to John Deere's. Also, I would agree with the others and buy from your local dealer and don't be tempted by the box stores. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[murphy1244]

Looking to buy a riding mower, husqvarna or John deere.

Why only those two brands? You want a real lawn machine try a Simplicity Conquest.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I believe sears craftsman is made by husqvarna. I know my 2002 gt3000 is.

I would really consider used. Check Craigslist. In our area we have to act fast because the used market us in high demand.

To me all these riding mowers are about the same anymore. I have hear say that there might be only 2 true manufacturers of lawn tractors and it is just cosmetics anymore.

Carl

 

[MHarryE]

Many years ago I interviewed for an engineering job with the plant that made Sears Craftsman and other brand mowers in Orangeburg, South Carolina. This plant is now a Husqvarna plant and makes a large number of brands. Engineering was very short staffed compared to what I was used to but then again most of a lawn tractor is selecting components from other suppliers and putting them together. When I was there they were trying to come as close to Deere as possible while meeting aggressive cost targets. That was before Deere started building the models they sell in the big box stores.

 

[Scooby074]

You want "best" its hard to beat the larger (not box store) deeres. I had a x540 and it was the best mower ive ever used, better than my much more expensive BX/

 

[foreman Etexas]

I believe sears craftsman is made by husqvarna. I know my 2002 gt3000 is.

I would really consider used. Check Craigslist. In our area we have to act fast because the used market us in high demand.

To me all these riding mowers are about the same anymore. I have hear say that there might be only 2 true manufacturers of lawn tractors and it is just cosmetics anymore.

Carl

Yeah I bought a used craftsman GT-5000 with 54in. cut 3yrs ago and havent had a lick of trouble out of it"bought off craigslist $900bucks". My parents have 2 snappers havent held up very well.They been using mine for cple years now when theirs are down. The GT-5000 v-twin motor sounds good too

 

[woodlandfarms]

At the end of the day they are very easy to self maintain. Parts are plentiful and easily sourced. Biggest cost would be if the engine shrapneld. Not to hard to dig into to repair.

 

[lilranch2001]

My vote is eXmark, I have a 12 year old Lazer Z with ~1200 hours on it and I have replaced 1 mule belt, and one fuel filter, and multiple sets of blade from mowing in the woods with it

Between the woods and lawn I mow ~ 9 acres

I hope it last till I die
:thumbsup:

 

[Mike476]

Coming up on 10 years on my YT 22 HP Craftsman, 1.5 acres to mow once a week, polymer trailer my wife hauls composted manure to her gardens and I use occasionally to haul gravel. Change the oil and filter / spark plug / fuel filter every spring, power wash the deck in the fall before storing for the winter. Never had to replace so much as a bulb.

For a ride on mower it's hard to beat, and no it doesn't compare to larger garden tractors but has done everything I've ever asked of it without an issue, at a fraction of the cost. In fact I was surprised how powerful it is, with my 230 lb frame and a trailer full of dirt it hauls up hills and through the trails of our property without an issue.

Who Builds Craftsman Riding Mowers? | eHow.com

 

[coobie]

Looking to buy a riding mower, husqvarna or John deere.

What size riding mower are you seeking?coobie

 

[Johndeere3720]

From my experience, most every lawn tractor is similar, I have owned them from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and up to 2005 (my currently John Deere L118). Given I have never owned a new lawn tractor, all 8 of them were used when i got them. I have to say, you notice a drop in quality in the late 90's lawn tractors, quality is sacrificed for a lower priced product. Even the 1980's Simplicity I had was loaded with plastic, a huge difference from the 70's Allis Chalmers and Simplicity Garden tractors I had which were atleast 95% metal. On up to my L118, it has 370 hours on it and still runs strong. it is on it's original engine and original transmission. Our yard is completely flat but I took it on our steep driveway last week and it climbed right up, no problems at all. My L118 was originally purchased from a local John Deere Dealer and I am the 3rd owner. First owner put maybe 50 hours on it, second brought that up to 250 I believe and was a mechanic that kept up on everything on that L118. Now I have it, I try my best to keep up with what the previous owner did, it looked almost new when I bought it in 2009. After saying this, I cant say my L118 has been a bad lawn tractor, if it is maintained on a regular basis, parts are lubricated, blades are sharpened, bearings are checked, and regular services are done at the suggested time or earlier, and it is kept clean and never put away wet, it will last you quite a while. I can say it is the last L series I will own for lawn duty but it was well worth what I got it for back in 2009.