Thread: riding mower recommendations?

I'm in a spot where I need to consider a new riding mower- but I need something that will cut some pasture weeds left over from last year. I have a small orchard, and some other areas too, so the mower will be used for general acreage clean up duty and mowing as well as keeping the lawn in shape. Needs to be reasonably durable. Anyone got a favorite mower recommendation? Trying to avoid shelling out the cash for a small tractor and brush hog.

I looked at zero turn mowers before opting for a more waistline friendly self propelled Toro walk behind. If I ever go that route it will be a Hustler with the fabricated deck. I believe it has a 21hp Kawasaki engine on the 54" version.

Originally Posted by chillinfish

I looked at zero turn mowers before opting for a more waistline friendly self propelled Toro walk behind. If I ever go that route it will be a Hustler with the fabricated deck. I believe it has a 21hp Kawasaki engine on the 54" version.

Not that my waistline couldn't stand the work, but my push mower is barely able to make it through the pasture weeds. A lot of bull thistle and other heavy stuff- the walk behind mower has been blowing smoke the last several times I've gone through the thick stuff.

Kubota is a very good option

would never get a cub cadet (multipl problems)
Husqavarn hydra static transmision issues??
John deere ??, the new model on commercials looks interesting with multiple options for attachments

I have one of those Dr Mower walk-behinds and it does everything they say it will and more. It will pretty much chew up anything you can get it over---has several forward speeds so you can match it to your ability. It mows about a three food swath. I highly recommend it for tough cutting.

However, it won't cut any shorter than about four inches, so it isn't real good for an actual lawn.

+1 on the cub cadet, the axels break too easy, plus other issues. That Deere commercial does look good, plus they are reliable, if you get them through the John Deere dealership. Not to say the Deere products are bad from Lowe’s or Home Depot, just not as reliable. But they are expensive.

My daughter has 11 acres - lots of pine plantation with privet and about 3 acres of lawn. She just got a 54" Husquevarna zero-radius mower, which I have used for about 6 hours. It does a great job on the lawn, and has enough HP to handle the weeds, light brush, limbs, and ground litter in the woods. I've also used her Husquevarna 25 HP lawn tractor with a 54" mowing deck for roughly 40 hours over the past 9 months. The zero-turn is hands-down better riding, more maneuverable, and gives a smoother cut. The zero-turn mower takes some getting used-to, as I tend to overthink the steering, but it is much more comfortable riding, and maneuverable. It is great cutting privet around tree trunks, mowing around the fruit trees & shrubs, and mulching the pine litter . It is very heavy (800# +/-), so it will bog down in mud very quickly (tread gets filled with mud & tires spin). You can't push it out - needs a tow when bogged down.

For a conventional style riding mower go with the John Deere 300 series from a dealer only. The smaller models sold by places like Lowe,s are cheaply made imports. My wife keeps 2 1/2 acres cut and slows down for nothing. The bigger series is holding up well so far.

Mahindra has some nice products too, in mowers

Kubota zero turn is what I have. Kubota has a standard all wheel drive mower also if you prefer that route for steeper inclines. Mine runsthe Kawasaki motor also and I have had no problems with it.