Who makes the BEST garden tractor?

Poncho · Mar 25, 2004

Bob.... I actually bought one of the Sears Craftsmen Limited Edition 50"mower with the Kohler 23hp water cooled engine. This thing has a lot of power... I weigh about 240 and I've pulled a 48" poly lawn roller full of water like it wasn't even back there... if i remember correctly it's over 400 pounds. I've got about 25 hours on it... so it really isn't broken in.. funny thing is though... it's the only motorized item we own that actually gets parked in the garage /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I can say that i am amazed at the wealth of knowledge that people on this board have about different makes of equipment.. I keep adding favorite links to my browser /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Mar 26, 2004

it's the only motorized item we own that actually gets parked in the garage 

Don't feel bad. WE have a two car garage, a one car garage and rent a 20x10 storage shed and have no cars inside, only tractors and stuff! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Bob_Skurka · Apr 2, 2004

Moss . . . are you bragging about the fact that your priorities are in the proper sequence? OF COURSE THE TRACTOR belongs in the garage!!!!

bmac · Apr 3, 2004

So, Bob, did you demo the Ventrac? Just in case you are still looking, I happened upon this today (see attachment). Not that it meets your needs, but it does look like a whale of a slope mower - Hustler Hillsider.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 3, 2004

Ventrac is coming to the house in 9 days with some demo units.

I did look at/play with the Steiners, they are pretty darn awesome units.

My quest is to buy the best mower period, but it must handle ALL the terrain conditions I have which include some steep slopes, some flat areas and some modestly rough spots.

BEST qualities include enough power that it won't be stressed on slopes or in high grass.

BEST also requires something that is SOFT on the turf (which is a big plus for the articulated units).

BEST also has excellent traction (which is a big plus for the 4wd units).

BEST must turn tight. Mowing around a lot of landscaping is an important concern. The tighter the machine turns, the better (this favors 4w-steer + SOME articulated machines).

BEST must also accept a reasonable selection of accessories (no clear favorite here, every brand has a bunch and they seem to be proprietary to that brand IE: Cub only fits Cub, Deere only fits Deere, PT only fits PT)

So I don't know where the quest will end, but I have figured out that traditional format garden tractors are NOT the best available, but they suit the needs of MOST of the people who buy them. I just am heaping on some additional qualifications to cull the herd a bit.

MossRoad · Apr 3, 2004

to cull the herd a bit 

Happy hunting! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Schultz · Apr 6, 2004

The ingersoll tractor is well built, I haven't had much problem there, but hooking up the mower deck stinks, its a real PITA. Attaching the snow blower isn't that bad, but it's all belts, unless they have converted the mower decks to hydraulic drive.

The 60" mower deck sucks (at least my 1987 does), I've replaced about four spindles in the 600 hrs that I've used it, each spindle bearing assembly is about $125. The tractor now has 1175hrs, the Onan motor runs like new.
The main reason I don't like the mower deck is the blade speed is relatively slow (poor cut in heavy grass), and its timed. If one of the timing belts break it makes a mess of the other blade it smashes into, once it bent the spindle blade mount. So not only did it cost a $30 timing belt but a $125 spindle & bearings, and two new blades at $20 each. The only new enhancements to the decks that I'm aware of is they've added greasable spindles and metal pulleys. I was told by the dealer the bearings are the same sealed bearings though. The grease only aids in heat transfer since it can't get into the bearing.
Tim

s1120 · Apr 11, 2004

( The ingersoll tractor is well built, I haven't had much problem there, but hooking up the mower deck stinks, its a real PITA. Attaching the snow blower isn't that bad, but it's all belts, unless they have converted the mower decks to hydraulic drive.

The 60" mower deck sucks (at least my 1987 does), I've replaced about four spindles in the 600 hrs that I've used it, each spindle bearing assembly is about $125. The tractor now has 1175hrs, the Onan motor runs like new.
The main reason I don't like the mower deck is the blade speed is relatively slow (poor cut in heavy grass), and its timed. If one of the timing belts break it makes a mess of the other blade it smashes into, once it bent the spindle blade mount. So not only did it cost a $30 timing belt but a $125 spindle & bearings, and two new blades at $20 each. The only new enhancements to the decks that I'm aware of is they've added greasable spindles and metal pulleys. I was told by the dealer the bearings are the same sealed bearings though. The grease only aids in heat transfer since it can't get into the bearing.
Tim )

Ya the 60" deck is kinda a PITA, but the 48" deck is unstopable. Not timed like the 60, and being a bit smaler, easyer to install. Still turns a little slow though, I plan to swap to a little bit smaller pulley to speed it up a tiny bit.

Libertine · Apr 12, 2004

Bob_Skurka:
Not to confuse you with other choices, but based on what you say you want to do, you might conside a two wheel garden tractor. I've had Gravelies, but the BCS series will certainly do what you want on any type of slope (well, up to say 45 degrees). With their quick detach, you can switch between brush mower, finish mower, cycle bar mower as well as use the pto for driving chippers, rotary plows, tillers and many, many other things. The BCS has a geared transmission (as did the old gravelies). If you MUST ride (on more level ground) you can use a sulky. With the mower out in front its easy to get under/around bushes. You can even get a hay baler (it really works, I've seen it popping out 50 lb bales) and tedder/rake. For extra traction you can add duals & wheel weights. Further, the BCS offers many different engines including a small diesel and you can get plates for either European bolt pattern (or American bolt pattern for easy engine replacement years down the road). For a small operation these type of tractors are much superior in ease of use & flexibility than any 4 wheeler. These are serious tools. For more information check BCS dealer (I've met the owner several times & he's a good guy).
JEH

Bob_Skurka · Apr 12, 2004

Libertine . . . based on a series of "qualifications" I have layed out, a 2 wheel tractor is not up to the size of the tasks needed by me, or by most people. While I am hunting for the perfect tractor for me, I am also trying to be objective regarding the search and my qualifications are that the tractor be first and formost a mowing machine capable of mowing in all terrains over several acres. I don't think MOST people would consider mowing several acres with a BCS. Using a sulky is not really practical because if I detatch it on my upper property then what I ride on the lower lands? I'd have to go back up, re-attach and then get it down to the the valley to do that?

Much has been talked about my slopes, but they comprise less than 15% of where I mow, so the tractor must mow equally well on steep slopes, reclaimed pastures, and smooth lawns to qualify as one of the BEST to make the cut.

Again, MOST lawn & garden tractors spend 85+% of their running time mowing the lawn. To be the BEST, the unit must function flawlessly as a lawn mower.

It must be SOFT on the turf (which is why the 4wheel steer units and the articulated units end up on the list).

It must be capable of climbing without tearing the turf (favoring 4wheel drive).

It must be capable of slope and tough terrain use (favoring 4wheel drive-articulated units).

It must be capable of mowing in tight spots (favoring articulated units & 4wheel steering units).

It must take a reasonable amount of attachments as would be used by MOST owners (AT LEAST a mower deck & snow thrower). And remember, MOST people ONLY use their garden tractors for MINIMAL tasks beyond mowing, many do not even use them to blow snow, so offering 20-to-40 implements that MOST people will never own is not a critical factor.

All the above said, there are very few units that do all those things reasonably well. Deere has 4 wheel drive units, and 4 wheel steer units, but NO 4 wheel drive with 4 wheel steer units. Cub Cadet doesn't offer them either. Toro, NH, Ingersoll, etc all fall short as well.

Steiner, Ventrac & Power Trac all have 4wheel drive & articulated bodies which allows them to be very soft on turf, yet provides superior traction to climb most slopes. Giere Mountaineer II is more traditional and lighter built, but offers a unique 4wheel drive & 4wheel steer mechanism that is pretty amazing.

Power Trac offers the most versitility, but is not really designed as a mowing machine so of the group of the BEST, I would objectively rank it LAST for MOST people who would never utilize its abilities. If you want to compare a PT to a standard CUT, then I would rank it near the TOP of that list, but CUTs and garden tractors are used for different purposes. As pure mowers, Steiner & Ventrac are probably the best units because they were designed for golf courses and similar commercial operations as primarily mowing tractors that are also capable of doing some additional BASIC landscape operations.