Who makes the BEST garden tractor?

[JackIL]

Bob,

I don't think I want to take the bait on that question, but I would like to clarify a point about the description of Steiner and Ventrac products. I believe both companies would be somewhat put off by referring to their products as "garden tractors." Steiner has used the term "turf tractor" for years, and until about a year ago the company name itself was Steiner Turf Equipment. While both companies sell products in specialty homeowner markets, they also deal extensively with commercial grounds care, institutional and municipal grounds care, golf course, and landscaping customers. Most of these customers would not typically be looking for "garden tractors" to meet their turf and grounds care equipment needs.

JackIL

 

[MossRoad]

I always thought the difference between a LAWN tractor and a GARDEN tractor was that the garden tractor could use ground engaging implements, such as tillers and lawn tractors could not.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Moss . . . I would tend to agree. A "lawn" tractor would only be used on the lawn, as in lawn mowing. A "garden" tractor would not be a lot different, but is could be used for some light duty tilling or other such applications.

JackIL . . . half of the fun of these forums is WHEN someone does take the bait. That said, I think that the Steiner & Ventracs are probably more capable than most "garden" tractors, but then again, so are the X-series John Deeres (much as I think those are a joke of a tractor because they are as expensive as a Sub-CUT but less capable).

I still consider the Ventrac a "garden tractor" because it is far more limited than a Sub-CUT and it is on par with the most capable of the "garden" tractors, plus it has some major advantages that they don't have. I'd probably say something like the Ventrac 4200 and the Steiner 525 are probably Sub-CUTS (but the lack of a standard cat 1 3pt hitch and 540 pto makes me question that). Not quite sure where the Ventrac 4100 and Steiner 415 or 430 would fall, but I would suggest they are "garden tractors" even if they are very capable and offer specialized functions not available on anything similar in size.