First Garden/Yard Tractor...Looking at Husqvarna

<1 acre...~5% slope...have a wet soggy yard sometimes so i think the larger tires of a tractor may be better than a zero turn...any advice would be appreciated...thanks in advance

wants/needs
-needs to have an easily removable bagger
-needs to be able to mow in reverse
-would like the ability to tow a thatcher, sweeper, spreader, roller and garden trailer
-would like the transmission to be able to handle towing rocks in the garden trailer
-needs 42"-48" fab deck...for maneuverability around obstacles in yard and a better cut with some uneven ground...mower + bagger attached have to fit through a 6' wide shed door
-would like to be able to easily remove the deck
-needs hydrostatic drive
-kawasaki or other 20+hp reliable engine
-easy oil changes
-reliable

looking at the following Husqvarna models at the moment...open to other brands though...not too sure how many quality brands there are out there...john deere and kubota are nice but a little too pricey but i would buy a low hour used model if it fit my needs...

TS348XD
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/ts-348xd/960430242/

YT42DXLS
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/yt42dxls/960430220/

YT48DXLS
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/yt48dxls/960430226/

is there a model GT48DXLS?...doesn't show on their website

was researching zero turns in the thread below...just trying to get more info to make a choice...
http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/showthread.php/46823-First-Zero-Turn-Looking-at-Toro-Exmark

I’m in the same boat. Was researching zero turns for far too long and now am leaning towards a lawn/garden tractor instead for the same reasons you mentioned. Also because a quality ZT was significantly more expensive than a good tractor, at least the ones I’m looking at. I’ve been looking in to the Cub Cadet xt2 series so I’m no help as far as the Husqvarna’s are concerned but hopefully I can learn a little something from this also

Good luck

good luck to you as well...i really want a zero turn and in the thread i posted in the original post above i researched a ton and got a lot of info from members on this forum which helped me narrow it down to 3 models but i have a feeling my yard is better suited for a tractor...i know there are a number of different manufacturers of tractors but i really want to pick something reliable that will last me a while as well be the right tool for the jobs i want to do

I have a Husqvarna YTH24V48 that has been great. I don't know about a bagger attachment, as I just use a mulching plate, but it mows great, and mulches leaves and grass nicely. Lowe's sells them for under $2000, and so far, I would have to recommend this brand. The deck is "stamped", but has reinforcing plates, and I have "rubbed" dozens of my trees, with no damage to the deck. I mow about 1.5 acres, and it handles the slopes nicely. The "reverse" mowing works great, and oil changes, etc, are easy.

Point37 said:

<1 acre...~5% slope...have a wet soggy yard sometimes so i think the larger tires of a tractor may be better than a zero turn...any advice would be appreciated...thanks in advance

wants/needs
-needs to have an easily removable bagger
-needs to be able to mow in reverse
-would like the ability to tow a thatcher, sweeper, spreader, roller and garden trailer
-would like the transmission to be able to handle towing rocks in the garden trailer
-needs 42"-48" fab deck...for maneuverability around obstacles in yard and a better cut with some uneven ground...mower + bagger attached have to fit through a 6' wide shed door
-would like to be able to easily remove the deck
-needs hydrostatic drive
-kawasaki or other 20+hp reliable engine
-easy oil changes
-reliable

looking at the following Husqvarna models at the moment...open to other brands though...not too sure how many quality brands there are out there...john deere and kubota are nice but a little too pricey but i would buy a low hour used model if it fit my needs...

TS348XD
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/ts-348xd/960430242/

YT42DXLS
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/yt42dxls/960430220/

YT48DXLS
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riding-lawn-mowers/yt48dxls/960430226/

is there a model GT48DXLS?...doesn't show on their website

was researching zero turns in the thread below...just trying to get more info to make a choice...
http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/showthread.php/46823-First-Zero-Turn-Looking-at-Toro-Exmark

Click to expand...

Out of all posted the only one that will do what you have listed for needs is HUSQVARNA TS 348XD

deminin said:

I have a Husqvarna YTH24V48 that has been great. I don't know about a bagger attachment, as I just use a mulching plate, but it mows great, and mulches leaves and grass nicely. Lowe's sells them for under $2000, and so far, I would have to recommend this brand. The deck is "stamped", but has reinforcing plates, and I have "rubbed" dozens of my trees, with no damage to the deck. I mow about 1.5 acres, and it handles the slopes nicely. The "reverse" mowing works great, and oil changes, etc, are easy.

Click to expand...

good info...thanks...i may just buy the mulching system and buy a bagger at a later time to save space and to see how it will handle the long grass...not sure yet...i just know i'm not going to be able to cut it when it needs to be cut all the time so i figured a bagger would be the best bet

BlazNT said:

Out of all posted the only one that will do what you have listed for needs is HUSQVARNA TS 348XD

Click to expand...

thanks...what specific item(s) from my list can i not do with the other 3 choices?...or is it just the better transmission which would be more suited for the rock moving?...seems like the yt42dxls and the yt48dxls only have a k46 transmission but the gt48dxls and the ts348xd have the better k66 transmission...but the gt48dxls isn't on the husqvarna website...not sure why...maybe the ts replaced the gt?...but i did find one on craigslist...not sure if a dealer could get one...their website is so vague when it comes to transmission info that i had to go in and look at the parts lists for each mower...i guess i'm down to a choice between 2 mowers now or maybe just 1 if the other isn't available anymore...the ts has some better features that i can't get on the gt...led lights and the better seat...not sure what else...

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/showthread.php/46686-Looking-to-buy-need-help-comparing!

also does anyone know what all the letters in the model number mean...i think GT=garden tractor...TS=?...XD=?...DXLS=?

2017 Husqvarna GT48DXLS, Kawasaki FR730 V-Twin 24 Hp engine, Tuff Torq K66 Electronic Locking Differential and newly designed 48" "Clear-Cut" 10 gauge fabricated deck at $2999.99

GT 48DXLS used...far drive for me though...
https://maine.craigslist.org/grd/d/2017-husqvarna-lawn-mower/6581742787.html

GT 48DXLS new...
https://www.southsidesales.com/husqvarna-gt48dxls

TS 348XD new
https://www.norfolkpower.com/new-models/2018-husqvarna-ts-348xd-960-43-02-42-26581033b

TS 348XD K66
PARTS MANUAL pages 8-9 show the transmission
http://service.webec.husqvarna.net/...nNAes/HUSI2017_NAenNAes_115952549_2017-11.pdf

GT 48DXLS K66
PARTS MANUAL pages 8-9 show the transmission
http://service.webec.husqvarna.net/...NAes/HUSI2018_NAenNAes_1157863326_2018-01.pdf

YT 42DXLS K46
PARTS MANUAL pages 8-9 show the transmission
http://service.webec.husqvarna.net/...nNAes/HUSI2018_NAenNAes_115953749_2018-01.pdf

YT 48DXLS K46
PARTS MANUAL pages 8-9 show the transmission
http://service.webec.husqvarna.net/...nNAes/HUSI2017_NAenNAes_115971349_2017-11.pdf

It is the trans that will suit you needs.

Not cheap but the John Deere x304 (FWS - Four Wheel Steer) will turn leaving an uncut radius of 16". I have an older, no longer available, John Deere SST18 ("O" radius turn) and it is great. But if I bought a new one, I would buy either the x304 with the 42 inch deck and the 16 turning radius or the x324 with the 48 inch deck and a 9" turning radius.

I have over the past 30 years used on a regular basis an Ariens (riding mower) 5 years, a Wheel Horse Garden Tractor 14 years, A Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor 8 years (it is now my spare) and the John Deere SST18 for the past 3 years. I prefer the John Deere.

Good Luck,

puspunta said:

Not cheap but the John Deere x304 (FWS - Four Wheel Steer) will turn leaving an uncut radius of 16". I have an older, no longer available, John Deere SST18 ("O" radius turn) and it is great. But if I bought a new one, I would buy either the x304 with the 42 inch deck and the 16 turning radius or the x324 with the 48 inch deck and a 9" turning radius.

I have over the past 30 years used on a regular basis an Ariens (riding mower) 5 years, a Wheel Horse Garden Tractor 14 years, A Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor 8 years (it is now my spare) and the John Deere SST18 for the past 3 years. I prefer the John Deere.

Good Luck,

Click to expand...

thanks...i like the idea of 4 wheel steering cause it seems like it would be the best mix of maneuverability and control without the small tires and scalping issues on a wet soft lawn with a zero turn...but i'm hesitant to go with a 4 wheel steer deere cause over time i feel like the 4 wheel steering could be a problem...also i don't really have a dealer closer than 20 miles from me...also where on the deere website does it tell you what transmissions they have in each mower?...toro and cub cadet also make a zero turn with a steering wheel but they still have the small front wheels and i don't think the transmissions will be strong enough for the rock moving

The 4WS JD's are in a class above the Husky's you list. They're probably at least double the cost of the Husky but this is one of those cases where you actually do get what you pay for.