Rear Finish Mower WHICH REAR FINISH MOWER?

[Travis_R]

O.K. Here it is.

I'm gonna buy the finish mower Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. Which one is the better deal? These are the 3 I'm choosing from. I'll go with what ya'll think is the best deal.

One dealer, locally has the Land Pride FDR1660 for $1708.87 tax included and I pick it up.

The other dealer, in Mississippi, will sell me a Bush Hog RDTH-60 for $1750.18 tax included. BUT in that total price, there is a $50.00 shipping fee (that I have to pay for) from Bush Hog to their dealership. ALSO, in that total price, there is a $65.00 service/set-up fee that their dealership charges for assembly, greasing fittings, putting oil in gearbox, (etc..). I don't think I should be charged the $50.00 or the $65.00 in my opinion. I have to go a long ways to pick it up also (probably an hour and a half or a little more away), but really wouldn't mind the trip! (out of state).

I could get a 5' First Choice finish mower from another dealer (with tractor purchase) for $1200.00 (which I think is high with a tractor purchase in my opinion) delivered and don't have to pay tax.


WHAT IS THE BEST DEAL??

Thanks,
Travis R

 

[tallyho8]

I think you are putting the cart before the horse. You should buy the tractor first, then buy a cutter to fit it. You just THINK you might know what model tractor you are going to get but until you actually buy it you should not get a cutter.
Out of those options I would buy the cutter with the tractor purchase because then you know the cutter is matched to the tractor. I am not familiar with the First Choice mower but if it is anywhere comparable to the others and is $500 cheaper, it sounds good to me. But this is only if the tractor you get with it is the kind you want and in the condition you expect and bought from a responsible dealership.

Remember, when you started this thread you wanted the cutter for a medium size Mahindra and now you want the cutter for a small Yanmar so if you get the cutter first, by the time you buy the tractor, it might be a different one that the cutter won't fit.

 

[Travis_R]

Thanks tallyho8,

I am pretty certain which tractor model i'm gonna get (just under a 30 hp Yanmar). Either way it goes, I'm gonna buy a 5' finish mower. The tractor will pull a 6' footer, but I have a good many obstacles to go around.

When I was mowing with my Mahindra and my ole' LMC 6' finish mower (which was a very good one), I told myself that I would buy a 5' foot mower next time.

Travis

 

[Gizmo36]

I like bush hog they make some good stuff. I have a First choice mine is green and they are as good as they come. Bar none.

 

[Travis_R]

Thanks Gizmo.

Yeah. I've heard that the First Choice finish mowers are good mowers. Where do you get parts for them at? Do they have a website?

Travis R

 

[tallyho8]

You can download their parts manual at their website. First Choice Equipment, equipment for grounds maintenance, hobby farming, landscaping.
I think you have to buy the parts from a dealer and I think Hoye is one of their dealers or whoever you get the mower from.

 

[LSUalum]

Travis,
Have you priced the Woods mower? I thought they were going to be really expensive, but I was able to get a better deal on it than the Bush Hog or the Land Pride.
I paid $1600 for a 6ft Woods, with no setup fee last week.

 

[Gizmo36]

Hoye is as good as i know.

 

[jand38]

You have a lot of unanswered question like how large of area( help on how heavy duty) , land pride is good as you can buy last but not least get a 6 ft. because it will be easier to get around objects, 5ft will be as narrow as tractor and you can not be effective in mowing I bought a 5ft and took it back for a 6ft. my two cents worth been there and done that and I have a NH -TC 30

 

[Gizmo36]

I have a 6 foot ,That I have use 3 times. And I would trade it for a 5 foot any day.

 

[Travis_R]

I've been using a 6' LMC on my Mahindra (which I just sold). With all my obstacles/pine trees, I will difinitely buy a 5'. Its gonna be on a lot smaller tractor, so that should help with the obstacles also.

Travis R

 

[Travis_R]

Well,

I FINALLY MADE MY PURCHASE TODAY!

I ended up getting the 5' Sitrex brand. I purchased a new mower with a used Yanmar tractor. I feel like I got a fair enough deal on it so I went with it. I don't think that the Sitrex is better built than the First Choice, but it will last me a long, long time anyway. It IS better built than my LMC was even though it was a good mower too.

My new Sitrex has the "square" type gearbox. I like that much better than the "round" type which is on the LMC. It comes standard with a rear chain guard. I like that feature also. The deck looks fairly strong also. I'm pretty sure its a little thicker than the LMC. I also like how convenient all the grease fittings are too. The LMC had a couple that was pretty difficult to get to.

There are only 2 things I can think of that I dislike about the Sitrex brand:
1. The belt tension has to be manually adjusted (same as LMC- gearbox has to be loosened)
2. I think the paint job could have a better quality on it.

Even with me disliking the 2 items mentioned above, the Sitrex brand is still worth the $1200 I gave for it. (LMC would be $1550).

I will pick up the tractor and mower next weekend (Sat., Feb. 10th). I 'll have to drive about 90 miles one way to pick them up.

Boy, its gonna be a long week AND a long drive!

I WANNA SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED ME DECIDE ON "WHICH REAR FINISH MOWER"........THANKS!

Travis R

 

[tallyho8]

Congratulations on your purchase. If you need a place to try it out, you can bring it over to my place. I'll save a couple acres of clover for you to cut.

 

[Travis_R]

Thanks but No Thanks! I want to stay away from that thick almost impossible to cut clover as far as possible!

 

[Travis_R]

I picked up the tractor and finish mower yesterday. The dealer loaded it on my trailer for me. I looked over the tractor and mower very carefully. I immediately noticed something wrong with the finish mower.

The left rear wheel fork was bent pretty bad. Dealer said that he looked it over real good and didn't know how he missed it. Was I mad or furious? Not one bit. Things happen. There was no argument at all. He said that I would have a new one delivered to my door by the end of the week, covered under warranty. I might would only have to send the bent one back to him. He wasn't for sure about that yet though. If I would have thought about it at the time, I would have just left the bent one there with him to begin with.

The Sitrex seems to be a good mower for the price. Its not as "heavy-duty" as I would like/expected, but it will work for me. Just from the looks of it, I would have to say that my LMC was a little "heavier" built. But on the other hand, I can't complain about the Sitrex because I haven't got to use it yet. Its Still Winter time! If it doesn't give me any problems, It will be a good mower and i'll be satisfied.

From the information I have gathered, I don't think its gonna be a problem getting parts when/if I need them. To me, that shows good "product support".

We'll see as time passes.

Travis R