The new lawn tractors are junk.

[DJM]

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I don't know much about them, but looking to get a small one for my new place, under $5K. Just a cursory look at the ones at Rona and Home Depot, they look chintzy AF. Even the John Deere's look cheap. Is there a brand that's decent and will last past a couple of seasons or should I look for an old, used one?

 

[Shaman]

I have a zero-turn Toro that has held up really well for 8 seasons. Was in the ballpark of $5K in 2019.

 

[Scuba Steve]

I don't know much about them, but looking to get a small one for my new place, under $5K. Just a cursory look at the ones at Rona and Home Depot, they look chintzy AF. Even the John Deere's look cheap. Is there a brand that's decent and will last past a couple of seasons or should I look for an old, used one?

Look for a welded deck square corners not a stamped one. I have a 30 plus year old toro and a 40 year old ferris I use here. The deck on the ferris is needing some repairs. Not going to spend 20 g plus for a new one.

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[DJM]

I had to look up what the difference was between pans but that's what I noticed about most of them, they all have thin cutting decks that look like they'll flex and crack. I'd rather not get into the higher-priced new units for a thicker pan so I'm going to look at older models for sale.

 

[Mad Mike]

I have a 25 year old Snapper. Simple af, no hydraulics, just a simple friction disk like a snowblower. Reliable as a hammer. I don’t think the make them anymore.

 

[nobbie48]

How cheap can you make things? I noticed a rototiller at Princess Auto for $200. 33cc two stoke. I didn't look inside the box but questioned:

Would it do the job?

For how many years?

Is it likely to maim you?

There is satisfaction in having the right stuff.

 

[crankcall]

Look at what the municipality and landscapers are buying . They do not want any downtime if avoidable . Sadly they do not have a five K budget cap either . Good used “might” be a good option. When I needed a lawn tractor I had a Kubota , small diesel and built like a full size farm tractor . They make good equipment but it’s not cheap .


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[nakkers]

Market place is your friend here. Plenty of used units of high quality, low hours and well cared for. Get word out in your neighborhood you’re in the market and might even have someone offer up the one they have sitting in the garage. It’s been sitting unused because they went with a professional service. (Widowed)


Or look into independent Husquvarna dealer (or similar) in the area. Sometimes they have customer units to sell and know the service history to sell it with confidence.

 

[crankcall]

From what I remember my landscape friend said most stamped decks would last years if anybody ever cleaned out the wet composting grass clumps . It’s an awkward job but slows the rust out by about a decade .


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[DJM]

I don’t have FB but someone at work said they’ll look for me. My new place is surrounded by farms and retirees so I’ve started looking nearby. Shame the tri-ads aren’t still around, that would probably be ideal place to look.

 

[SunnY S]

I don't know much about them, but looking to get a small one for my new place, under $5K. Just a cursory look at the ones at Rona and Home Depot, they look chintzy AF. Even the John Deere's look cheap. Is there a brand that's decent and will last past a couple of seasons or should I look for an old, used one?

can't speak for other brands, (although I know Kubota is an exceptionsl brand thats not cheap).

when it comes JD.....

skip the big box store models, those are disposable.

Visit a real john deere standalone, they will have the models that are built better for the real consumer.



I'd also consider an EGO, of all the battery brands, they seem to make a good product.

EGO Power EGO-TR4204 56V 42in Lawn Tractor 6x6.0Ah Kit

EGO Power TR4204 56V 42in Lawn Tractor 6x6.0Ah Kit. Shop online at Atlas Tools & Machinery.

www.atlas-machinery.com

 

[nobbie48]

can't speak for others, (although I know Kubota is an exceptionsl brand thats not cheap). when it comes JD.....

skip the big box store models, those are disposable.

Visit a real john deere standalone, they will have the models that are built better for the real consumer.



I'd also consider an EGO, of all the battery brands, they seem to make a good product.

EGO Power EGO-TR4204 56V 42in Lawn Tractor 6x6.0Ah Kit

EGO Power TR4204 56V 42in Lawn Tractor 6x6.0Ah Kit. Shop online at Atlas Tools & Machinery.

www.atlas-machinery.com

Big box stores need to met a price point and they're big enough to make the manufacturers comply.

I knew a guy that sold light fixtures and ceiling fans. Someone would come in and need to replace a cracked housing "Just like the one in your window display"

No can do. Yours is plastic from HD. Mine is steel. The hole pattern is different along with a number of other cost saving changes to meet the price.

Similarly an independent Deere dealer may not have the parts to service an HD special.

 

[DJM]

So like TV's made for Best Buy, there's some features changed/missing. JD seems to be the major brand in my area but I found a nice Kubota diesel @ $7500+tx. Missus is having a hard time with that, especially for 1/2 acre.

 

[Mad Mike]

So like TV's made for Best Buy, there's some features changed/missing. JD seems to be the major brand in my area but I found a nice Kubota diesel @ $7500+tx. Missus is having a hard time with that, especially for 1/2 acre.

Show her a pink snow shovel and pink lawnmower.

Then let her decide.

If that doesn’t work, try Girl math.
If I use it 7,500 times…
…it’s only $1 per use.

If I use it 15,000 times…
…they basically paid me to take it.

On a more serious level, a used Kubota is probably depreciated to the point it won’t depreciate much more. They hold value for years if properly maintained, so the real cost is the small amount you might lose when it comes time to sell.

 

[nobbie48]

Show her a pink snow shovel and pink lawnmower.

Then let her decide.

If that doesn’t work, try Girl math.
If I use it 7,500 times…
…it’s only $1 per use.

If I use it 15,000 times…
…they basically paid me to take it.

On a more serious level, a used Kubota is probably depreciated to the point it won’t depreciate much more. They hold value for years if properly maintained, so the real cost is the small amount you might lose when it comes time to sell.

Good point.

There's always a market for good used stuff. Used junk is a liability.

 

[SunnY S]

Big box stores need to met a price point and they're big enough to make the manufacturers comply.

so true, learned this recently when my hot water tank crapped out.

was going to buy a new tank from HD, my plumber warned me those were built cheaper. He sent me to his plumbing supplier, sure enough the same model while costing a bit more, was definitely built better. (more features, brass valves, better insulation)

The big box tanks are built to a price point, and disposable.

 

[nobbie48]

so true, learned this recently when my hot water tank crapped out.

was going to buy a new tank from HD, my plumber warned me those were built cheaper. He sent me to his plumbing supplier, sure enough the same model while costing a bit more, was definitely built better. (more features, brass valves, better insulation)

The big box tanks are built to a price point, and disposable.

Interesting as I bought out my Enercare tank last year. At $45 a month it pays for itself next May. The price was nuts but if Enercare was putting in quality units the existing tank might last long enough to make the switch even more profitable.

 

[crankcall]

Makes sense there are “levels” of manufacturing in heaters and probably A/C units and all that stuff . I’d gladly buy the better product if available to me , the labour to change stuff is almost the same as the unit cost . The less often you pay it the better .


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[AllistonGT]

Interesting as I bought out my Enercare tank last year. At $45 a month it pays for itself next May. The price was nuts but if Enercare was putting in quality units the existing tank might last long enough to make the switch even more profitable.

My tank installed by Enercare (Rheem) is now 25 years old. Never been serviced. Ended my contract years ago.

 

[nobbie48]

My tank installed by Enercare (Rheem) is now 25 years old. Never been serviced. Ended my contract years ago.

At my rates that contract would be at $13,500 now.

If mine goes I can put in an electric myself for under $1,000. Gas requires a fitter and the system is more complex with vents and purging.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday cleaning around the A coil of the A/C. The drain had plugged and water took the high road everywhere else.

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