Buying my first riding mower / lawn tractor.

Have you looked on Craigslist? I know most owners say their equipment is in "excellent" condition, when it really is in disrepair. I found a great deal on Craigslist and I used that JD on our 2.75 acres. No regrets until we moved and the new owners requested the JD as part of the deal.

This one is in Denver, just as an example.

https://denver.craigslist.org/grd/5952424646.html
 
The John Deere D110 has a 19 HP single cylinder John Deere-branded engine. http://www.homedepot.com/p/John-Dee...c-Front-Engine-Riding-Mower-BG20982/300241279

The Cub Cadet XT1 with 46 inch deck has a Kohler twin cylinder engine. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cub-Cade...-Gas-Front-Engine-Riding-Mower-LT46/205617433

The Cub Cadet XT1 with 42 inch deck has a Kohler single cylinder engine. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cub-Cade...-Gas-Front-Engine-Riding-Mower-LT42/205617431

John Deere parts are ridiculously expensive. The V-twin Kohler is a better engine IMO than the 19 HP John Deere single. The Cub also looks to be better built.

The reason the JD is more expensive is because it has green paint.

I would go with the Cub Cadet with the 46 inch deck.
 
Noodles said:
Someone else posted the links, but the 46" has the two cylinder. The 42" is a single.
Click to expand...


I'm sorry but you've lost me here. Didn't you say that you "have a gate" on your property? Iwasn't even looking at 46" because of that. Now you wanna a 46 so that changes alot!
 
Noodles said:
my gate is 51", and I measured the XT1 46" deck at Home Depot and I think it was 48". That's tight but I think doable. What's odd is that the website has it listed as wider. So I need to figure this out.

As for shelter, it will be in the garage or a shed, so I'm ok there.

Edit: just realized that the width on the site is likely with the chute down. I measured with it up. Either way I need to confirm.
Click to expand...

His gate is 51" wide.
 
Can I take a step back and ask a basic question? What is the primary purpose of upgrading from a push mower to a rider/tractor? Is it mostly to make the job easier, or faster?

My only real concern is cutting down on mowing time. I'm a relatively young guy don't mind getting a bit of a workout while mowing. Life with three kids means my weekend time is valuable. Obviously the tractor will be faster, but will it be a significant improvement?

While I greatly prefer to maintain my lawn myself, I've been debating between the tractor and a landscaping service. My main fear is that I buy the tractor and it only makes a marginal improvement on time. Then a year or two later I get frustrated and go with the landscaper - meaning I've paid twice and have a tractor I no longer use.
 
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