anyone with a riding mower??? what to look for?

[mtemm]

not sure which way we are going. I still think a self propelled push mower is the way to go, but everyone (except my dad) is horrified that we would even consider one for our lot. The guy we bought the house from push-mowed it once...then bought a rider.

I've mowed slightly bigger lots before ages ago at my parent's house, and I know it takes a ton of time.

I've noticed some riding mowers are only around $800...and some are upwards of $2000. Not sure what the difference...would an $800 one from Sams club or on sale at Sears be just horrible??? What should we be looking for?

ARGGGHHHHH!!!!!

 

[Meriweather]

Well........I'm not the expert here, DH is and he isn't home. I'm sure someone will pipe in with more valuable info.
We're on our second rider........John Deere.....big sucker!!
They do great! I don't know how much you're mowing though. That would help me decide.
They are more costly..........we paid $4500 for ours.

I would check consumer reports..............that's where we usually check everything.

 

[Lanshark]

A lot depends on how big your lot is and whether the terrain is hilly or flat. Are you only going to mow or do you want to do other things with it (ie plow, pull a cart or lawn wagon)?


We wanted a good mower that we could also use to vacuum up the leaves in the fall. I think all of them with a bag will do that. We bought a snapper hi-vac and it cost around $1200. We love it. We did not get an electric starter. That cost another couple of hundred dollars and Dh didn't want it. It is a pull start. The blade raises and lowers easily and cuts to the width of the tractor so I can go in a line with the front tire and know that area is being cut. The bag holds a a lot so I don't have to empty too often except in the fall.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Some features that drive me crazy about my mom's machine:

1. Ease of getting on and off. Some you have to teeter around on the foot rest trying to throw your leg over the seat or around the shifter.

2. Ease of engaging-disengaging the deck.

3. Optional equipment that can be attached.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We have a one acre lot with a couple of challenging ditches. We use a push mower.

I walk for exercise anyhow, so pushing a mower is no big deal. I actually enjoy it!!

 

[Towncrier]

Another consideration is making sure that you have a place to store your mower. We bought a second-hand Toro rear engine riding mower from our neighbors many years ago. It works fairly well on our 1/2 acre lot.

If you have a lot of obstructions and/or hills, and if you truly enjoy the walk behind mower, might I suggest that you look for a good self-propelled walk behind mower. You can use the money that you save for a trip to WDW.

 

[mtemm]

thanks everyone! We have a totally flat lot in back, minor slope in front...no ditches. Very few trees, all young, so leaves aren't really an issue. And we do have a storage shed out back to keep whatever we decide on in it.

I don't mind walking...and I thinkif Greg andI split it up it shouldn't be too bad. Wish we knew are neighbors well enough to ask to borrow one of their push mowers.