Mowin The Lawn....

[importkiller76]

Just got the new house finished last fall and now this year we'll be getting the yard going. I've got 5 acres to mow. I got an older craftsman for free last year but it's kind of a heap and I was thinkin about a new mower since I'll be spending a lot of time in the future riding around the yard whackin down the grass. Who else has to mow a lot? What are you guys riding? I'm thinking I'll probably go with a John Deere....

[700 sportsman]

I usually do the mowing around here, we have a JD 320, it is a '93, but is in perfect condition, and only has had the battery replaced ONCE. I would reccomend a nice JD, maybe a zero turn depending on what you plan on using it for. Are you wanting a small loader tractor for snow removal or anything? One of our neighbors has a very small Kubota loader tractor with a mower deck, it's very nice, and he uses it for snow and whatnot also.

[Matt_]

Wow.. with 5 acres make sure you get a good 54" deck!!

 

I picked up a Husqvarna YTH2348 last Fall. Just put the mulching kit on it and got a few cuts in.. i love it. If i had 5 acres, i'd probably look into the Garden series as opposed to the Yard series; they're built for more heavy duty continuous use.

 

 

 

Ran the 48" dozer blade and chains to keep the snow in check this past winter

 

 

 

[RaddHazzard]

Wow.. with 5 acres make sure you get a good 54" deck!!

 

I picked up a Husqvarna YTH2348 last Fall. Just put the mulching kit on it and got a few cuts in.. i love it. If i had 5 acres, i'd probably look into the Garden series as opposed to the Yard series; they're built for more heavy duty continuous use.

 

 

 

Ran the 48" dozer blade and chains to keep the snow in check this past winter

 

 

 

 

Hey matt, i could be wrong but are u a member of gixxer dot com? For some reason i remember that photo like ive seen it before and thats the only other forum im registered.

[Matt_]

Hey matt, i could be wrong but are u a member of gixxer dot com? For some reason i remember that photo like ive seen it before and thats the only other forum im registered.

 

not a member of gixxer dot com.... but i wonder where else you would've seen that picture.... hmmmmmmm

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...318&hl=snow

 

[66nova]

I do, with this...

 

[Matt_]

I do, with this...

 

you have grass as a bed mat? that's awesome... how deep did you have to make the topsoil? Is that also how you leveled the truck?

[KMGZ400]

i use a john deere LT155.. idk about year.. its between 2001-2003.. been a great mower still has all of the original belts on it and its never had 1 problem

[66nova]

I do, with this...

 

you have grass as a bed mat? that's awesome... how deep did you have to make the topsoil? Is that also how you leveled the truck?

 

 

 

 

 

[Jennabear]

I love mowing the lawn!

[98silvz71]

We have 3.5 acres to mow and bought a JD 2004 LT135, it was a limited edition with a 20hp Briggs in it. It ran fine til last summer when it decided one day that it wanted to throw a rod through the block. Had a couple of issues with the deck strength but it was a Light series one. Last year we stepped up to an X320 with a 23hp Kawasaki and it has been a lot better. First you can wheel and deal on the X series mowers since only the JD dealers have them. Second, they get longer warranties and have that smooth running Kawasaki motor. We got this one with a 52" deck and put the mulch kit on it.

 

No matter which way you go, you will probably want to step up to the heavy series mowers. That way you can have the bigger, stronger deck and it should last a lot longer. I know a lot of older JD 320's still running around to this day.

[Deichler]

Here is my 1969 John Deere 112 I use to mow with. Well, she mows and plows snow. By far the best tractor I have had, and arguably one of the best Deere made. This is a Garden Tractor, meaning.....it will eat those box store Deere's for lunch. What you don't see on the back of the tractor when she has the blade on, is 5 John Deere suitcase weights, cuz lets face it, my 160 lbs frame is not enough so I have to add weight. On occasion I have pulled this machine at garden tractor pulls and plowed with it with a 10" 1 bottom Brinley plow. Just a kick ass tractor. She is pretty much new, engine 100% redone in Aug 07 and bored .10 over. And in Feb 08 the rear end was all redone as I was plowing snow and took 3rd and 4th out. So my recomendation, 100 series vintage Deere.

[MarkD]

At 5 acres you are ( and I'm sure you know this) at the point where you need a zero-turn (speed) or small tractor with finish mower. Quality units can be found for about the same price. It mainly depends on if you want the convenience of a dedicated mower with incredible maneuverability, or the other usage options a small tractor can offer.

 

At best, a "lawn mower" is going to take you 1+ hours per acre to cut. A commercial Zero Turn can do 3+ acres per hour.

 

I have 3 acres and I use a cub cadet "lawn mower" I bartered for, 20 hp/54" cut. Occasionally use a Dixie Chopper 48" cut to get the job done in 1/3 to 1/2 the time.

[stormrider]

I use a Deere LT166 which is a great little mower. You probably want to go up in the series due to the large lawn but you can't go wrong with a Deere

[importkiller76]

Thanks guys! This actually helps a lot. I was already thinking JD and now I'm pretty sure it'll be a "big green tractor" riding around at my place. And I've looked at some of the newer light duty ones and I just don't think they'll hold up for what I'll use 'em for. I'll probably get either one of the heavier duty riding mowers or a zero turn. I have a plow for my quad and access to a bobcat so snow removal is usually taken on that way so a dedicated mower it will be. Thanks again guys!