Help me decide...

[ChipSmith]

This is my first post here, but I've been reading this forum for a while now. I am going to be purchasing a new lawn tractor this season and I have narrowed my choices between the new Cub Cadet i1046/i1050 or the Husqvarna YTH2146XP. Either of these tractors would be a serious step up from the Murray 12.5HP 40" which is on its last leg.

My yard is 3/4 acre with a fair amount of obstacles, but the real issue is some very steep hills. The steepest parts measure between a 37%-40% grade. I know I probably shouldn't be mowing the steep parts with a tractor, but I have been able to get good results with strategic body positioning on my current tractor. Whatever I get it needs to be good on hills or it will be useless for me. I have ruled out traditional ZTR's for this reason.

What I like about the Cub Cadet i1000 series is they are wide and have a low center of gravity. They feel like they would be very stable on hills, and Cub Cadet is promoting that fact in their product literature.

My dealer is recommending the GT 2550 for my hilly yard because its heavy duty transmission and shaft drive. At $3,799 it is $100 less than the i1050, but I am concerned because of how high it sits and how stable it would be on hills.

What I like about the Husqvarna YTH2146XP is it has a Kawasaki engine and the TuffTorq K46 HST for only $2,399, but my dealer doesn't regularly stock them so I would have to pay freight for the special order. That would bring the price to $2,500 - $2,600 so not as good of a value as it could be.

So are either of these Cub Cadets worth the additional ~$1,000 or so over the Husqvarna XP? I am having a hard time justifying spending close to $4,000 on a new tractor, but I have looked around at used offerings and there is nothing appealing available in my area and I need something soon.

The other option I am considering is getting another "disposable tractor" like my old Murray. It has lasted 2 years cutting my hills at my current house, and I have used it for a couple of years before at my previous house. I could buy 4 disposable tractors for what these Cubs cost. Even if I only get 2-3 years out of them I might still come out ahead in the long run. So, with that said reliability of a more expensive tractor would have to be very good.

What do you guys recommend?

 

[MrJimi]

Take a look at Lowes, they carry Husqvarna
Check out This one wider cut and more Horsepower

And welcome to the site
Jim

 

[slowrev]

I go with the cheap. I got a yardman 15.5 HP / 46" last year. Same heavy deck exactly as the Cub cadet that cost much more. Goes really good on hills ( that really suprised me) and only cost a little over $800.
Used it heavy all last year abour 1.5 acres per week and no problems yet.
Step thru design which I love with my bad back.

But then that is just me, your mileage may differ. I figure with a belt or two it will last 8 yrs. So about $100 per year cost not counting gas and routine maintenance.

I like the idea of the drive shaft and such on the Cub cadet though. Just not the price.

Ben

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I needed soemthing to mow 2.2 acres last summer. Initially thought I'd buy a Deere, but got tired of the Deere dealers telling me if I didn't spend thousands $$$ more to get the Kawasaki engine thier lower priced units would not last. To make a long story short I bought a Sears Craftsman GS 6500 - 25hp Briggs 54" cut. So far very happy - no complaints whatsoever. The Sears unit is a Husquvarna painted black instead of orange.

 

[slowrev]

A friend got a small JD riding mower the other day. Junk, the spindles rattle around on it brand new.....
This is the low end of the JD mowers I am sure, but still....

 

[ChipSmith]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I will be going with something cheaper considering my terrain will probably prematurely shorten the life on anything I use.

With that said, a friend of mine will be relocating in a couple of months and will need to sell his tractor. He has a Troy-Bilt LTX1842 that is 3-4 years old. It has a 18 HP B&S, 42" deck, & a what looks to be a CVT instead of HST. What do you think it is worth?

 

[thingy]

Not much,,just buy a 2,000 dollar one at sears,,[well you can go up a little,say 2,500 max],,and you'll be set for next 10 years if you take care of it,,,even cheap ones will last a lot longer than 3-4 years unless you are abusing it,,I got a yardman [or something like that I bought at lowes 12 years ago],,20 hp kohler,,still runs and cuts,,,got a sears 25 hp kohler hydro drive,,about 8 years ago,,still runs like new,,cut over an acre of yard,,ones got 400 hours ones got over 600,,,gotta take a little care with them,,,but not nothing you wouldn't with a new 5,000 dollar deere,,,,thingy

 

[RickO]

Yep, buy the Husqvarna with the Kawi. I had a JD 170 with the 14hp Kawi and mowed about 2 acres for 9 years and when I sold it it still ran like new and did not use oil. Great motors - lots of torque.

I'm curious who makes the Husqvarna

 

[Fordlords]

Yep, buy the Husqvarna with the Kawi. I had a JD 170 with the 14hp Kawi and mowed about 2 acres for 9 years and when I sold it it still ran like new and did not use oil. Great motors - lots of torque.

I'm curious who makes the Husqvarna

Well, it's actually made by Husqvarna LOL! (Husqvarna home products) They make about all of the Husky and Craftsman and Poulan LGT products right in the USA. One would be hard found to beat the Kwacker engine, a total top end small engine. Their fuel injected small engines are just like getting in your car, turn the key and go at any temperature, no choke to play with.

-Fordlords-

 

[slowrev]

Is Husqvarna, and AYP all under Electrolux ? or am I cornfused again ?