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Post by Tim on Feb 27, 2020 12:56:09 GMT
I have the requirement to purchase a lawn tractor.
These are not to be confused with mere ride-on mowers which are the ones with a rear engine - thus suitable for Porsche fans - and look like a larger mobility scooter.
Does anyone have any experience of these mighty beasts?
Budget is £2,000 - 2,500.
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Post by michael on Feb 27, 2020 19:00:32 GMT
I believe I have undertaken an in-depth review of my own Husqvarna. Find it on the other site.
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Post by PG on Feb 27, 2020 20:07:23 GMT
I guess the first question is do you want a stripey lawn or not? If you want stripes then you need one with a grass pick up that has a rear roller. For the budget and and stripes should be able to get a Westwood or Countax. We've had both. I would not say that one is more robust than the other.
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Post by Tim on Feb 28, 2020 10:37:44 GMT
No stripes required.
I'd been looking at Mountfield and Atco but hadn't seen anything of Husqvarna or Countax
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Post by michael on Feb 28, 2020 10:38:29 GMT
How large is the area you need to cut?
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Post by Tim on Feb 28, 2020 10:41:20 GMT
Up to 2 acres.
It's currently a mix of traditional garden lawn (nothing special though) and 3 separate paddocks that have hosted a number of sheep in the past, those are a bit rougher.
I don't plan on having any livestock so intend to just mow the paddocks in the short term and make them more gardenlike in the future.
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Post by michael on Feb 28, 2020 10:43:05 GMT
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Post by Tim on Feb 28, 2020 11:27:29 GMT
I'll add that to the list, thanks Michael.
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Post by Roadrunner on Feb 28, 2020 11:36:58 GMT
I have never used a Husqvarna tractor, but their chainsaws are excellent. Some years ago now, but when I was in the Rendlesham Forest, clearing up after the Great Storm of 1987, all the Forestery Commission guys rated Husqvarna over Stihl.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 28, 2020 11:53:45 GMT
I'm never jealous of anyone else's car but am insanely envious of anyone with a ride on lawnmower.
A friend and his wife bought a nice place with paddocks east of Hull and we went down to see it. He said "I know you're not that interested in the house come and have a look at this" and took me to a large shed and open the doors. It held a brand new lawn tractor. "I call this my silver dream machine. I can tell by your face you're experiencing the same emotions I went through when I saw her and out of respect I'm going to leave you two alone for a few minutes."
It was immense.
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Post by michael on Feb 28, 2020 12:22:07 GMT
I'll have had mine six years in October - I should be looking to upgrade: www.tapatalk.com/groups/themotor/husqvarna-lt-154-t21476.htmlI mentioned in this comprehensive review that the engine cuts out if you leave the seat. It as only last summer I realised it'll stay on if you engage the parking brake which has been transformative. When we got ours the paddocks were quite agricultural but in the space of a few months they were getting to garden standard and were it not for Yorkshire Water that would remain the case. I've since bought a roller and trailer from Ebay. The latter was a bargain at £40 so rather than buy accessories new I'd look online for used items first. |
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Post by PG on Feb 28, 2020 12:53:09 GMT
Up to 2 acres. It's currently a mix of traditional garden lawn (nothing special though) and 3 separate paddocks that have hosted a number of sheep in the past, those are a bit rougher. I don't plan on having any livestock so intend to just mow the paddocks in the short term and make them more gardenlike in the future. For paddocks you need to make sure you get something pretty well built and rugged and designed for wet British grass. Multi-blade decks are way better than single blade decks in that respect. A lot of lawn tractors are just that - take them off a lawn and they'll fall apart. This is especially true of any of the US designed models in my view. We had a Lawnflite first off and we utterly destroyed that in about 2 years. For rougher paddocks wheel diameter is important - the bigger the better or else you'll get stuck a lot. |
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Post by Tim on Feb 28, 2020 13:05:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2020 15:08:28 GMT
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Post by johnc on Feb 28, 2020 16:38:53 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 28, 2020 16:46:46 GMT
I have never used a Husqvarna tractor, but their chainsaws are excellent. Some years ago now, but when I was in the Rendlesham Forest, clearing up after the Great Storm of 1987, all the Forestery Commission guys rated Husqvarna over Stihl. Yay. Husqvana make super dirt bikes - can't imagine their lawnmower tractors would be any worse. |
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Post by johnc on Feb 28, 2020 16:57:21 GMT
I have 2 Husqvarna hedge cutters - they start first pull even after the winter layup and they perform really well.
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Post by Tim on Feb 28, 2020 17:08:55 GMT
I don't want my feet to be the crash structure when I drive into a tree or shed!! We moved about a month ago to our dream house (or as close as we can afford) with no immediate neighbours, great views and a big garden. This is our forever house! |
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Post by LandieMark on Feb 28, 2020 17:13:30 GMT
I have never used a Husqvarna tractor, but their chainsaws are excellent. Some years ago now, but when I was in the Rendlesham Forest, clearing up after the Great Storm of 1987, all the Forestery Commission guys rated Husqvarna over Stihl. I'm the opposite. Every Husky I've used has been a pig to start hot while the Stihl starts first pull every time. |
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Post by michael on Feb 28, 2020 17:26:13 GMT
My chainsaw and strimmer are Stihl, they're great products and start first time every time so long as they're properly maintained.
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Post by johnc on Feb 28, 2020 17:38:57 GMT
I don't want my feet to be the crash structure when I drive into a tree or shed!! We moved about a month ago to our dream house (or as close as we can afford) with no immediate neighbours, great views and a big garden. This is our forever house! What you have bought sounds exactly what my wife would ultimately want although she would add some stables and 2 horses as well. Have you moved nearer or further from St Andrews? |
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Post by Martin on Feb 28, 2020 18:51:35 GMT
I don't want my feet to be the crash structure when I drive into a tree or shed!! We moved about a month ago to our dream house (or as close as we can afford) with no immediate neighbours, great views and a big garden. This is our forever house! Does it have a big garage / shed / barn for your fleet? |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 28, 2020 18:57:49 GMT
Up to 2 acres. It's currently a mix of traditional garden lawn (nothing special though) and 3 separate paddocks that have hosted a number of sheep in the past, those are a bit rougher. I don't plan on having any livestock so intend to just mow the paddocks in the short term and make them more gardenlike in the future. I’d be sculpting a nice couple of par 3s..... |
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Post by PG on Feb 29, 2020 17:06:31 GMT
So have you bought a new house then Tim? We moved about a month ago to our dream house (or as close as we can afford) with no immediate neighbours, great views and a big garden. This is our forever house! Congrats on the house move - enjoy it. I have to say that I get enormous pleasure from just maintaining our house, garden (apart from weeding flower beds) and land. Something Mrs PG used to find hard to understand - she looks upon it as chores. Whereas I think, yay, get the lawn tractor / tractor and topper / hedge cutters etc out! I think after 27 years here, she's finally realised that I enjoy it. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2020 18:06:15 GMT
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Post by Tim on Mar 2, 2020 9:22:52 GMT
I don't want my feet to be the crash structure when I drive into a tree or shed!! We moved about a month ago to our dream house (or as close as we can afford) with no immediate neighbours, great views and a big garden. This is our forever house! What you have bought sounds exactly what my wife would ultimately want although she would add some stables and 2 horses as well. Have you moved nearer or further from St Andrews? We've moved further away from St Andrews - we're the same distance from Cupar but now North West, as if you were heading for Perth. You can actually see the house (in the distance) on the final stretch as you approach Cupar on the A91. The garden includes 3 separate fenced-off paddocks, a decent sized single garage (it was built for a LR Defender!) with a separate attached workroom, a couple of smaller store sheds and a shelter/store for half a dozen sheep that would probably be easily turned into a stable/art room for Mrs Tim/double garage. We've also got stunning views now whereas before we had a great view of the house across the street. My Mum reckons we've achieved our ideal house, i.e. in the middle of a field with no neighbours  A proper double garage is on the list for the future once we've finished redecorating, adding new carpets and put a new kitchen in. I'm looking forward to enjoying time in the garden, similar to Peet I don't like weeding flower beds but have missed the rest. While some of the garden around the house is full of bushes the paddocks are just grass and ripe for doing something (but no par 3s!).   |
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Post by michael on Mar 2, 2020 9:48:17 GMT
Congratulations! Amazing views and it sounds like our idea too - no neighbours. I'd suggest planting a woodland, cuts down the moving and will keep you in firewood once it is established - takes less time than you'd think. Good for nature etc.
The EU have introduced a law that requires you have motor insurance for lawn tractors even if you only use them on your own land. I can't imagine anyone complying with that.
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Post by johnc on Mar 2, 2020 10:07:43 GMT
What you have bought sounds exactly what my wife would ultimately want although she would add some stables and 2 horses as well. Have you moved nearer or further from St Andrews? We've moved further away from St Andrews - we're the same distance from Cupar but now North West, as if you were heading for Perth. You can actually see the house (in the distance) on the final stretch as you approach Cupar on the A91. The garden includes 3 separate fenced-off paddocks, a decent sized single garage (it was built for a LR Defender!) with a separate attached workroom, a couple of smaller store sheds and a shelter/store for half a dozen sheep that would probably be easily turned into a stable/art room for Mrs Tim/double garage. We've also got stunning views now whereas before we had a great view of the house across the street. My Mum reckons we've achieved our ideal house, i.e. in the middle of a field with no neighbours A proper double garage is on the list for the future once we've finished redecorating, adding new carpets and put a new kitchen in. I'm looking forward to enjoying time in the garden, similar to Peet I don't like weeding flower beds but have missed the rest. While some of the garden around the house is full of bushes the paddocks are just grass and ripe for doing something (but no par 3s!). That looks lovely. Is that up the A913? We sometimes go to St Andrews that way even though it's longer but I prefer the road since you tend to get held up less. |
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Post by Tim on Mar 2, 2020 10:11:42 GMT
That looks lovely. Is that up the A913? We sometimes go to St Andrews that way even though it's longer but I prefer the road since you tend to get held up less. That's right. The first mile and a half out of Cupar is one of my favourite bits of road and where, probably, some day I'll overdo it and end up in the scenery! We're up a side road towards the end of the long straight as you head North, below the tower on the hilltop. The sale board is still on the verge at the road end (despite the strong winds and our attempts to remove it one night)! |
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Post by bryan on Mar 2, 2020 11:38:52 GMT
Congratulations! Amazing views and it sounds like our idea too - no neighbours. I'd suggest planting a woodland, cuts down the moving and will keep you in firewood once it is established - takes less time than you'd think. Good for nature etc. The EU have introduced a law that requires you have motor insurance for lawn tractors even if you only use them on your own land. I can't imagine anyone complying with that.
What trees did you use for the grow your own firewood? I keep on toying with it for some of our garden
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