Craftsman GT6000 or ...

[Mrmoerder]

Early last season my Craftsman GT5000 died (blew a cylinder). I bought the tractor used and loved it - it did everything I needed it to do (except last longer). It was a great four-year run.

Since my neighbor was shipping out overseas, I used his tractor for the remainder of the season in exchange for keeping his lawn up. Big-box Husqvarna. >cough< POS >cough< It got me through the season but I won't be doing THAT again.

Long story short (too late) I'm purchasing a new tractor in exactly two weeks. Budget is ~$4k.

I have 1.75 acres. One acre is turf lawn (euphemism for "mostly dirt"). This is twisty-turny around trees, kids and other landscaping items. There are surface roots that occasionally require raising the deck a bit.

The other .75 acre is field converted to lawn - it's thick, dense and grows fast. It's more-or-less straight runs., but it's a bear to mow. Mid-season, I generally have to mow weekly. If I let it go, I'm hatin' life and kicking the dog. It needs a minimum 54" deck and enough power to throw some grass.

I have numerous opportunities for ground-contact - tilling, plowing, aerating, etc. I say "opportunities" because I don't have the attachments.

What I do have is a dumper cart, and I use that a LOT. Hauling yard debris, dirt, stone, construction materials, etc...

With all the stone and dirt I move, I'd LOVE to have something that could load or push, but the better half of this operation (trust me, I'm being kind) doesn't want to spend that sort of money.

Sooo..... I'm leaning toward a new Craftsman - either the GT6000 $2899 3 yr. warranty 26 hp Kohler Pro Courage V-Twin (Craftsman GT6000 link) or the PGT 9000 $2999 2 yr. warranty Briggs and Stratton 28 HP OHV V-Twin(Craftsman PGT9000 link). I think either would work, but I'm not sure about that Kohler Courage - I've heard some negative things about it and I believe that's what my last tractor had.

On the other hand, I'm wondering if I might be better off shopping used equipment for $4k.

Thoughts?

I own 2 gt6000s. Ones a 1995 with a 19.5 hp Magnum, and the other is a 2013 with a 26 hp Courage. The 1995 has anywhere around 2500-3000 hours, still running. However its drivebelt frequently comes off. My 2013 has 60.2 hours on it. Hasnt missed a beat. Not a single proublem with the courage. Its very powerful, smooth, quite, burns about 4 gallons in 3 hours of mowing. I change oil and filter every 20 hours, regular service every 30.

 

[wjjones]

Woah! Definitely not my experience with the GT5000. It was solid as a rock. Well, except for the part about completely dying. But since I bought it used I chalked it up to poor maintenance by PO.

This definitely gives me pause. Anyone out there have experience with a newer model GT6000?

It all comes down to maintenance if you buy another Craftsman and you keep it on a good pm schedule it will be fine.