Either riding or zero-turn. My 20yo Deere needs a new engine, I've been using it for much heavier stuff than it was designed for, whatever. Looking to buy a new one, priced a couple (Deere and Toro) and holy crap are they expensive now. eta, to nip it in the bud: Yes, I know you pay that guy.
I have a normal suburban yard that is handled by my mediocre battery powered mower. Can't help, OP. Sorry. But just want to say I'm stunned that in 2024 we haven't figured out a way to Roomba-mow yards. How is that not a common thing? I realize some of those exist, but even the best ones are so-so and are too damn expensive. We need a Manhattan Project type initiative on this.
I had one during the pandemic and it sucked ass, running into the fence, and not lasting very long per charge...maybe things have changed. At least my landscaper's happy...
I'd boil it down to this, if I'm spending over 90 minutes each time I mow, I want a zero turn like so: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...ESpBGkx-Mi0Z1VAYNz0mV0NlET7sxIZMyx51-cFX9aDas Less than that, I'd save the cash and get a riding mower like https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/husqvarna-yth22v46-lawn-tractor-960450061 Either should be ok for light duty towing, either will tow 600lbs. Actually, that is more than my atv is rated to tow with its stupid CVT transmission.
Not sure how much property you are trying to maintain. I have about 40 acres over half has to be mowed. I have a Kabota with brush hog and front end loader to take care of the area behind my pond and other tasks. For the big areas I have a Ferris 61" zero turn. Around the house I have a smaller 42" zero turn John Deere. Definitely prefer zero turn over traditional riding mower.
agree it depends on the area you need to mow, but where I live in the rainy northeast I mow up to three times a week in the early season when it's wet. About 4 acres of lawn. About ten years ago replaced a dead, 15-year-old JD riding mower with a Gravely commercial zero turn with a 60" deck. Haven't looked back, and very pleased with the Gravely quality. The new ones have suspension seats that really cushion the ride over the bumps. If I were to get a new one I'd probably want that feature, our ground is really lumpy. For brush hogging other areas, I've got a tow-behind Swisher mower I use with the ATV.
repower with cheap chinese harbor freight or pay up and get a new one that fits your needs. Deere S240 has a Kawasaki engine and Accel mower deck (high end deck) for cheap.
So I got stupid and shopped around on the JD website...wanna know what a $17+K riding mower looks like? https://www.deere.com/en/mowers/lawn-tractors/x700-series/x758-lawn-tractor/
Fuuuck that. I mowed 4 acres every couple of weeks as a kid on an old, old Snapper riding mower that my stepdad rescued from some garbage and brought back to life. I think it was made in the 1960s and may have gone 4mph, top speed. Took me most of a weekend day.
If I don't care what it looks like I can get the three acres that matters around the house done in about an hour. If I do the entire thing and take care around the edges etc it's probably a 2.5 hour job
That's not a lawnmower, its a garden tractor and no one is buying them anymore because they cost more than subcompact tractors. They are holdovers from the past. S240 48" gets you kawa engine and good deck. for mowing purposes, nothing above that gives you anything except comfort, SOME speed, and the ability to use ground engaging implements. Notably the only difference in that tractors mower deck and the S240 48" is it has quick connect and drive over options. The performance is basically the same as the 3800 dollar mower.
I have always bought eXmark and Toro but Deere has good stuff for people who want a traditional ride on mower. (not me) Considering the engine and decks and dealer support you get, the price is very fair.
