Which Garden Tractor to get Sears or husky

powerscol · Mar 22, 2015

Well my 35 year old sears GT garden tractor is finally wore out.

Looking at two new GT units
First -2015 Craftsman Pro Series GT 54" 26hp Hydrostatic Kohler Elite Garden Tractor made by Husky with a 54" deck and quick attach blades. On sale for $2700
Second 2015 Husqvarna GT52XLS - appears to be the twin of the above except a 52" deck with bolt on blades. Husky price is $3200

Both have the same Kohler engine and the 730 hydro trans.

I have 3 acres to mow at various times and need to be able to drag a 4x6 chain harrow around. Field can be rough, so I am looking for a strong durable unit.

Quick thoughts would be appreciatedas sale goes off Monday on the sears

tcreeley · Mar 22, 2015

Less money, bigger deck points to the Sears. I used to use my GT with chains on the back wheels all of the time to tow manure in and around the barn for cleaning stalls. mowing the riding area in the back field, smoothing gravel, etc.. I had the gear transmission- rugged tractor. I don't know the other one.

tcartwri · Mar 22, 2015

They are the same machine with different paint.

powerscol · Mar 22, 2015

Thanks folks - the sears has the quick attach blades while the husky does not. Any issues with the quick attach. My guess is the plastic covers will be gone in the first mowing.

Am I missing a GT model that I should be considering too?

jeff9366 · Mar 22, 2015

Radio Shack is GONE. Sears will be NEXT.

I would consider Deere Garden Tractors too. Deere will be around.

powerscol · Mar 22, 2015

Thanks, but are they worth the extra $1000 to 1500 to get the same or even close features? I do know they make their own above the 300 series and use Kawasaki engines.

s219 · Mar 22, 2015

If you are used to the build quality and heft of a 35 year old Sears, the new ones will seem like junk in comparison. About the only lawn tractors I know are good these days are the Deere X300 and up (their lower end models are junk). There may be some good ones from other brands that I don't know about, but most I have seen in stores are all about the same.

Sprinklerman · Mar 22, 2015

I would look at some used diesel tractors , sub compacts with out loaders . It may cost a bit more but last a lt longer than the new tin mowers they sell now .

BigBlue · Mar 23, 2015

I'm also looking for a GT and from what I'm seeing on most offered they won't come close to the 35 year old tractor you had. It's like they took a riding mower and added a large engine and a big stamped steel deck and call it a GT. I remember an old Wheel Horse my Dad had and as long as you had it engaged the rear wheels would never quit, they might loose traction, but they would keep turning. Now the rear wheels quit turning on a slight slope. I'm now considering either a used John Deere 700 series or a new 500 series. I may be wrong, but I don't think either of those you were considering will hold up to pulling a harrow or to the rough fields you described.

jeff9366 · Mar 23, 2015

powerscol said:
Thanks, but are they worth the extra $1000 to 1500 to get the same or even close features? I do know they make their own above the 300 series and use Kawasaki engines.

Thirty-five years ago you paid for quality and apparently have not regretted it.

What has changed?