Rear Engine Riders vs. Tractors

[lowerAla]

Does any know why there are so few RERs around? Basically Snapper, Simplicity and Ariens, thats it. What are the disadvantages that make them so unpopular? Rear Engine Riders seem like a good crossover choice between tractors and ZTRs, without the high price. There must be something about them that I am unaware of. I know they don't look cool, but is that it? Give me some advice, since this is one of my options. Thanks

 

[Fordlords]

We had this really old 1960's Snapper rear engine rider around the house for the longest time, and it honestly did a very good job of cutiing the grass and was simple to use. It didn't have a lot of power as is the nature of most RER's, but for its purpose did not need much power. If I remember correctly my father sold it at a garage sale as the deck used a special 6 sided belt (grooves on both sides of the belt) that wore out quickly and was getting hard to obtian for that model, and it's been regular tractors for us ever since. I think the RER's just declined so much in popularity that the market isn't there for them to be made much anymore.

-Fordlords-

 

[Shimon]

They are pretty light duty and are made more for small manicured lawns. I bought a used Honda Harmony which was an excellent machine but it was too "light duty" for all the ruts and holes in my lawn. The tires are small and it didn't have much power (11 HP) so I sold it for what I bought it to a couple with a "cleaner" lawn.

They have their place and they are well made for the most part.

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

I have a John Deere RX95 RER. The quality of the cut is supper. Snappers have been around for a long time. I really don't have any idea. Unless tractor design is easier to work on, and the "cool factor."

Other than that I honestly don't know.

 

[slowrev]

I had an old AMF rear engine riding mower and now have a Gravely 812 garden tractor. One thing I can say about the RER's is TRACTION!

The neighbor has a NH 4wd compact (about 35hp) and the old Gravely will go anyplace the NH will and places he cannot take the NH because of rollover danger. The gravely will go places you can't stay in the seat. err well I can , I put a bass boat seat on it, nice and cushy bucket seat with fold up arm rests
I use it to keep the brush and weeds beat down (belly mower deck) in a forested area of mine, and to haul firewood. It is only 12 hp, but it chews up anything I can push down as I drive over it. and will pull 1/2 ton trailer of firewood up a 30 deg slope ( not %).

 

[bontai_Joe]

RERs are pretty good at cutting grass, and I believe Snapper makes one up to a 48" wide deck, but typically they are fitted with 30" to 36" decks. So it takes longer to cut a lawn than using a tractor with a 48" to 54" deck. But a tractor with it's stronger transmission can do other things, like plow snow, pull an airator, pull a decent sized loaded cart. I think the limiting factor of the RER is the trannies used in them limits what they can do, and the fact that most folks want bigger mowing decks. But as mentioned above they do offer a HIGH quality cut at a reasonable price.

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

I would think the transmissions would be the same. Snapper uses a "cone drive" type of transmission. Not the best for pulling. Others use the pyreless (sp?) transmissions that are same for RER or tractors of same horsepower. Most use a belt drive from engine to tranmission.

 

[lowerAla]

Thanks for the replies. One of the issues with RERs appears to be traction. Is this because of the smaller tire size? I am thinking it is, because the weight over the rear wheels should actually be more than on a lawn tractor. I don't live in snow country, so that is not an issue, but I did notice on the Snapper web site that they sell a snow blade for their RERs as well as tire chains. Anybody really push snow with one of their machines, or is this something they sell that does not really work?

 

[bontai_Joe]

Thanks for the replies. One of the issues with RERs appears to be traction. Is this because of the smaller tire size? I am thinking it is, because the weight over the rear wheels should actually be more than on a lawn tractor. I don't live in snow country, so that is not an issue, but I did notice on the Snapper web site that they sell a snow blade for their RERs as well as tire chains. Anybody really push snow with one of their machines, or is this something they sell that does not really work?

The Snapper snow plow set up does work on light snow that's not too deep. Although I haven't pulled up the actual weights off the manufacturer's website, I think that most RERs are lighter in weight than all but the smallest tractors. I have a Troy-Bilt Horse tiller that has a front mounted blade. Even though the whole setup only weighs around 300 pounds, it will plow a small amount of snow off a driveway, but it will never replace my big garden tractor that when set up for winter is well over 1000 pounds with a hydraulically controlled 54" wide front blade.

 

[slowrev]

Thanks for the replies. One of the issues with RERs appears to be traction. Is this because of the smaller tire size? I am thinking it is, because the weight over the rear wheels should actually be more than on a lawn tractor. I don't live in snow country, so that is not an issue, but I did notice on the Snapper web site that they sell a snow blade for their RERs as well as tire chains. Anybody really push snow with one of their machines, or is this something they sell that does not really work?

I believe the reason for the increased traction in RER's is the engine weight being over the rear axle. I have found that the smaller the tire the less traction you tend to get. Less surface of the tire is in contact with the ground on the smaller tires.

 

[wushaw]

I think it is because they are plain and not of the norm look for a riding lawn mower.
I have a 9hp 28" RER high vac Snapper that has been treated roughly in its five years of service. I have broken only one spindle.
I have used it as my mini brush hog/thorn mulcher. It has an easier life now with most of the nasty stuff is gone. It is used for mowing close to my back pond now due to the steep banks, it handles it much better than my ZTR and alot cheaper to repair if it/we went swimming.

 

[otsegony]

I have a John Deere RX-75 RER that I inherited from my father-in-law. I have to second the opinion that the RERs give a very good cut, but are not suited to big, rough lawns. The small tires get lost in the smallest ruts and I find that my Wheel Horse 312 is acutally more managable around trees and other obstacles. However, it is very reliable and gets used regularly by my son to help out with the mowing. Although it pulls a sweeper very well and apparently once had an aerator attachment I could not imagine that it could push any snow given the small wheels and lack of power. By the way, a clue to why they are not popular anymore may have something to do with their cost. I found the original receipt from 1989 in the owner's manual when I picked up the machine, it was sold for over $2000 with a trade-in!

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

I have a John Deere RX-75 RER that I inherited from my father-in-law. I have to second the opinion that the RERs give a very good cut, but are not suited to big, rough lawns. The small tires get lost in the smallest ruts and I find that my Wheel Horse 312 is acutally more managable around trees and other obstacles. However, it is very reliable and gets used regularly by my son to help out with the mowing. Although it pulls a sweeper very well and apparently once had an aerator attachment I could not imagine that it could push any snow given the small wheels and lack of power. By the way, a clue to why they are not popular anymore may have something to do with their cost. I found the original receipt from 1989 in the owner's manual when I picked up the machine, it was sold for over $2000 with a trade-in!

John Deere's have a healthy price tag. But they are well built machines. They tend to hold their value, well as a general rule.

 

[texbaylea]

I bought a 30" cut 12.5 hp Snapper just a couple of months ago. I got this machine as I needed something to mow over the septic system and around the house where I can not use the Kubota. I got it as essentially NOS for less than $1000. Doesn't have the "cool" look (suburban tractor) that are so popular but I think that it will last longer.

It carries me at 250 lbs through high grass without difficulty.

Vernon

 

[PAGUY]

I have an 800 series Gravely RER that is 16hp with a 60" MMM, 48" snow plow, 48"snowblower and street sweeper attachment. That tractor is a little workhorse. My only complaint is the two wheel drive. I have a driveway that is up hill and once I lose traction I have no alternative but to backdown and try again which makes a mess of the driveway sealer with the chains. I'm planning to sell the works for $1500 as I bought a 2003 BX2200 Kubota with Fels and 60" MMM two weeks ago.

Is that a fair price? It is in good shape and last year I had a new improved PTO clutch installed by the local dealer to the tune of over $1K so I'm not making a killing by selling it but I need the room that all the implements take up in my garage.

My neighbor's brother has showed an interest as he grew up with Gravely and still cuts with the two wheel walk behind model.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I have an 800 series Gravely RER that is 16hp with a 60" MMM, 48" snow plow, 48"snowblower and street sweeper attachment. That tractor is a little workhorse. My only complaint is the two wheel drive. I have a driveway that is up hill and once I lose traction I have no alternative but to backdown and try again which makes a mess of the driveway sealer with the chains. I'm planning to sell the works for $1500 as I bought a 2003 BX2200 Kubota with Fels and 60" MMM two weeks ago.

Is that a fair price? It is in good shape and last year I had a new improved PTO clutch installed by the local dealer to the tune of over $1K so I'm not making a killing by selling it but I need the room that all the implements take up in my garage.

My neighbor's brother has showed an interest as he grew up with Gravely and still cuts with the two wheel walk behind model.

Yeah, that's a very good price! I wish I had the cash.

 

[jcmseven]

RER's have not done well because time has passed them by. Back when cutting one's lawn at about one MPH was acceptable, they did well. Now, with much more efficient machines available for not a lot more money, they are dying out. SlowRev has a different beast, though. Like him, I, or other members of my family have owned Gravely rear engined garden tractors since I was about five (I am 37 now). My dad still has an 8193KT with well over 3000 hours on it that has NEVER been overhauled (and knowing my dad, likely never serviced either). We have used that tractor for everything and it has never let us down. I have owned several garden tractors over the years including the legendary 430, etc. and have never had a machine of a pure garden tractor variety that equalled that Gravely. Too bad though, it also went by the wayside as Gravely delved totally into commercial mowers a few years back. I would buy another one to supplement my big tractor if they still were made.

John M

 

[slowrev]

RER's have not done well because time has passed them by. Back when cutting one's lawn at about one MPH was acceptable, they did well. Now, with much more efficient machines available for not a lot more money, they are dying out. SlowRev has a different beast, though. Like him, I, or other members of my family have owned Gravely rear engined garden tractors since I was about five (I am 37 now). My dad still has an 8193KT with well over 3000 hours on it that has NEVER been overhauled (and knowing my dad, likely never serviced either). We have used that tractor for everything and it has never let us down. I have owned several garden tractors over the years including the legendary 430, etc. and have never had a machine of a pure garden tractor variety that equalled that Gravely. Too bad though, it also went by the wayside as Gravely delved totally into commercial mowers a few years back. I would buy another one to supplement my big tractor if they still were made.

John M

See Paguys post above. Looks like a good deal on a gravely with attachments.

 

[JohnSinVA]

Where in PA are you from PA Guy? That's a setup worth driving for if you're not too far off.

 

[drgrant]

I think RERs have mainly been killed by ZTRs. A ZTR, even on the smallest
lawn, goes fast and is extremely manueverable, and the ride is a **** of a
lot more comfortable than your typical RER. A lot of folks used RER
to get turning radius; ZTR gets that and faster, and with more comfort.
Another thing is that most RERs don't have a hydro setup. I think Deere
used to have a "Hydro like" variator drive thing on their SX RERs many
moons ago, but the vast majority of them are clutch and gear
arrangements. Then theres the whole mowing speed thing... on
average, a good ZTR will get the job done faster, or at least from what I've
seen they will.

I have a Toro 8/25 RER, and while it serves me well, my front lawn is a bit
rutted and the ride is rough, especially if I'm trying to mow in 3rd gear.

Another gaping problem with a lot of RERs is lack of power. If you let the
lawn go to pot for awhile, and its overgrown, you're basically screwed with
a lot of RERs in the under 12 horse category. You have to end up mowing
the lawn twice! Some of them also suffer from a lack of height adjustment
ability. EG- the highest setting on my Toro really isn't that high, so hacking
down overgrowth is still tough even on that setting. Yeah yeah, I know,
cut the lawn more often, but we all know there are people out there
that have to cut theirs at long intervals.

-Mike