Need help picking a riding mower.

[Dave from Pa]

The old rider is done and I need a replacement pretty quick. I`m mowing about 2 acres with sloping ground around the house.I am thinking about a Kubota diesel but open to suggestions. I need something that will hold up under heavy mowing. If you have a recommendation I am open.Thanks

 

[mwtdvm]

From the Archives...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/73907-best-lawnmowers.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/105658-need-riding-lawnmower-recommendations-pro-con.html

 

[canoeguy]

I have a Kubota G1800 diesel, with which I mow five acres. Goes pretty fast, probably 20 miles per hour. Three blades, wide cut, takes me about three hours to do the whole five acres. Uses about 2 1/2 gallons of diesel per mowing.

I like it much better than the last mower I was using, and older John Deere that topped out about 5 MPH....

I didn't buy the mower, as we live in a church parsonage, but I am surely glad they bought a good mower for the preachers husband! Any thing less than that Kubota and I would spend my whole life mowing.....

 

[BarbC]

We just found the deal of a lifetime and gave it away.

An estate sale of a WheelHorse 312-8 (I think) with a 48" three-blade mower deck and a 48" plow for $500. One owner, in excellent shape and routinely professionally serviced. We rented a trailer and towed it over to a friend who was in dire need of a lawn tractor, having only a push mower.

They last forever!!

 

[ladder13]

I went thru this last year right about this time. Wound up buying a 300 Series Deere. Fantastic mower, lots of power, great cut, rides like an old Lincoln, steers effortlessly. Very happy with my Deere.

 

[Dave from Pa]

Deciding between a Deere and Kubota.Confusing to say the least. 300 series Deere seems to fill my need. Not sure about a Kubota model thats comparable,still looking.

 

[feralmerril]

Just a side question here. Do you people back east bag your clippings or just let it lay? Out west here in utah and when I was in california everyone bagged. But then again our lawns were measured in feet not acres! I would have run away from home if I had 2 acres to mow, much less than five! I have a rental and it has 1/2 acre. I had one of those old honda,s with a plastic body that looked like a kiddy ride at a carnaval. When it worked it was good. It was close to 10 years old when I bought it used and gave up the gost lately. Finaly got a renter in at the same time, but will be looking to get another when they run off.

 

[ladder13]

Merril, I bag my clippings. I used to let them lay on the grass as "nutrients", until I realized all I was doing was spreading weed seeds all over my lawn. I mow 3/4 of an acre, that's plenty, couldn't imagine mowing 5 acres or more.

 

[bk43]

I've had good luck with the John Deere doing almost 2 acres for going on 10 years. In addition to mowing it's hauled hundreds of carts full of debris to the street after hurricanes.

Very well built and reliable product.

Bob

 

[Rule3]

Between the two, I think it's a matter of who has the best service, warranty and price. Are you only mowing and not other tractor related work? Snow plow or something. Do you need a diesel? Which dealer is closest and will treat you the best should you need service.? If you do not need a tractor style, some of the ZTR mowers that commercial guys use can eat some grass in a hurry. They fly! Way faster than 5-6 mph.

 

[RYNO]

Since the company I work for makes most of the decks for Exmark and many for Toro (along with lots of component parts) I would have to reccommend one of those. I always look for a "Made in the USA" when I can.

 

[Big Fred]

I mow 1 1/2 acres with a John Deere X300. I mow slow and it takes about 2 hrs. Great tractor, I love it.

My neighbor has a Kubota GR2110, I think thats the model no. It's a 20 something horse diesel 4x4. Nice tractor but seems like a little overkill for his 2 acres. It takes him a little over an hour to mow.

My JD stickered for around $3000 new. I think his Kubota was somewhere around $9000. I'll keep my Deere.

 

[doublesharp]

I'd look for a used commercial ZTR with a diesel, preferably a Kubota. A 21 hp would get the job done fine and anything with under 1000 hours isn't hardly broke in yet. Uses about 1/2 gallon of fuel an hour. Kubota makes their own line of mowers and several mower mfgs use Kubota engines, notably Grasshopper. Get a 21 hp diesel on a 52"/61" ztr and you'll do 2 acres in about an hour.

Since the ZTR craze, you can sometimes really get a deal on older Kubota compact tractors. A 3cyl 16 hp B7100 hydro with a 60" belly mower is a sweet outfit and they can be had cheap if you're right place, right time. Season is ending and cash is king. Here's a link to one on ebay.

I bought an outfit just like this one brand new back in the early 80s and over the years I've owned 3 Kubota diesel and one Kioti diesel compact tractors and all were bullet proof. I've got a Grasshopper 26hp Brigs gas engine 52" cut ZTR now and it is a sweet mower. I do 4 acres with several obstacles in just over 2 hours. Flat land with no trees would be 4-5 acres an hour.

Kubota b7100 HST Tractor 4wd with 60 inch mower deck - eBay (item 290457527279 end time Jul-31-10 20:43:47 PDT)

 

[ridewv]

Dave, if you can I would look at the Kubota GR2110. I was with a friend who was looking at them in Accident Maryland. They seemed like a good dealer and had the best price. He also sells Cubs but says for about the same money the GR series is a way better machine. Especially on hills.

Here's a (older) post by a person that bought one.
GR 2110 arriving tomorrow - Page 2 - MyTractorForum.com - The Friendliest Tractor Forum and Best Place for Tractor Information

I purchased my Kubota B7500 to mow 8 years ago (I also needed something with a front end loader) It's simple to service, and very well build. Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with it, still the original battery and belt on the deck.

 

[Dave from Pa]

Thanks for the replies.I ruled out zero turn,property too hilly,was advised against them. 3 Deere dealers within 15 miles of me,2 are very good on service,1 seemed to care less. Kubota about 30 miles,unsure of service. The Deere 300 series fits my wallet, 500 series would be perfect. So far good reports on the 300 Deere, I just want a dependable mower. This is harder than deciding on a truck (2010 GMC Sierra crew cab retirement present). Ridewv,there is a Kubota dealer in Bruceton,will tallk to him Monday.

 

[cass]

I'm also in the market for a riding mower. I mow 10 acres, mostly with a Kubota L2800, but need one for around the house. Leaning toward another Kubota because of the great service I've had , and noticed that two local cemeteries use Kubota for their non-stop mowing. Nothing wrong with JD, my second and less expensive choice.

 

[bobelk99]

I vote for a gas engine Grasshopper 227.

I mow 5-6 acres, and after 1,000 hours am very pleased. Rides comfortably and VERY well built

 

[ridewv]

Ridewv,there is a Kubota dealer in Bruceton,will tallk to him Monday.

I live not far from Parcs, there in Bruceton. Neither they or the dealer in Accident existed when I purchased mine in 2003. I bought my B7500 from the dealer near Berlin PA. Dave there came up with a good price and delivered it to WV w/o charging sales tax.

Last year when my friend and I were checking, Parcs there in Bruceton was OK but didn't seem quite as knowledgable as the person up the road in Accident. They were also higher, but we didn't try to negotiate at that point. They've recently moved 1/4 mile down the road and look to have a little better inventory than they did. (Their main dealership is near Parkersburg WV).
The Kubota dealer in Accident also has dealerships and inventory in other towns. The prices the salesman was quoting were pretty attractive, he said they don't make much on them but they sell a lot.

Good advice from doublesharp on looking for used. Around here I see a lot of larger used tractors but finding a nice smaller Kubota, Massey, JD is difficult.
Good luck!

 

[Fuego]

Diesel fuel os less subject to price fluctuations than gasoline. Plus it is easier to store diesel fuel.
I would go with the Kubota diesel.

 

[delta-419]

Bought a john Deere to mow my 2 acres 4 years ago. It blew the engine at 36 hours. They replaced the engine under warrenty, it is in the shop at least 2x during the mowing season. Just got it back from the dealer with a $200 repair bill yesterday. That happens often enough that I'm researching info for a new dependable machine which I do not have presently. It has been maintained on a regular basis, in my humble opinion it is a POS.