On Thu, Jun 21, 2001 at 08:47:11PM -0500, Jeff Cocking wrote:
>
> I am also in the market for a yard/garden tractor. I have had several
> people mention getting a 4 wheel ATV type of vehicle. Then purchase the
> attachments as needed. Most ATVs have a compatible hitch for garden
> implements. This provides several options for mowing including reel
> mowers and traditional mowing deck.
>
> Curious if anyone has taken this approach or know of someone who has?
I thought about it and didn't do it, for these reasons:
-ATVs are way expensive (like $5k+ for a good one!)
-adding a mower's even more expensive
-unless you get a reel mower, which is only good on short
well manicured lawns (not mine!), the mower will have
a second engine, so there's more noise and more to maintain.
-lots of ATVs, espexially the cheaper ones, have a solid rear axle
so you'll be chewing up the lawn in turns (it's been a while since I have
ridden an ATV so this might have changed).
-the mower is essentially a trailer, so it's less manuverable. And I
hate trailers.
If you just need to mow the lawn, a riding mower would be the best.
If you also need more of a yard tractor, then a real tractor
with hydraulics would be useful... a front-end loader and rear hydraulics
for implements are great. Depending on where you live, you can
probably find a decent used compact with FEL for about what you'd pay for
a new ATV. Of course you can't go trail riding or deer hunting with
the tractor...
There's a new Kubota "sub compact" tractor which is is garden
tractor sized and has garden tractor sized wheels, but a Kubota
diesel engine and real hydraulics. It's the BX series.
Not cheap, but it'd work for mowing the lawn and lots of
garden tractor chores.
My Kubota 7100 can run a mower, but it would be a bit big and heavy for
mowing my hilly lawn (it'd do ok for a large expnse of flat lawn
though). So that's why I have two tractors- one for lawn mowing, one
for everything else.
Eric
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