Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 24

Thread: Riding Mower - The answer?

  1. #1
    Member JaxRed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Posts
    14,669

    Riding Mower - The answer?

    So I have your standard sized suburban yard. Front is maybe 20' x 30', back is bigger, maybe 75X35.

    So being incredibly busy, and more incredibly lazy, I pay some lawn mowing service $140 a month to mow the lawn. This is Florida, so it's 12 months a year. In addition I pay Truegreen Chemlawn about $650 a year for fertilizing, etc.

    This is house I plan to retire in and that is only about 7 years away. Looking at controlling costs. Let's eliminate one thing right off the bat...... doing it myself with walking mower is just never going to happen.

    Considering 2 alternatives

    1. Trying to eliminate so much grass that it could be done with a weed-eater or electric mower. In front I could widen the driveway with pavers, put a big palm tree in with large island around it, stuff like that.

    Might be a little harder in back, but we're putting in sunroom, and we could expand the patio areas.

    Advantages to this would be No Mowing, no Chemlawn, and reduced watering costs. Disadvantages would be the costs asscoiated with it, and the possibility the lawn would look weird if not done well.

    2. Or get a riding lawnmower. Would still have the Chemlawn costs, and the water costs. What I wonder is whether the riding mower is so fast and easy that it's not a major pain in the butt come mowing time. I've never used one.
    Bud Selig: "I'm the worst commissioner ever"
    Rob Manfred: "Hold my beer"

    https://redsintelligence.com/smforum/index.php


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    I hate the Cubs LoganBuck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    7,057

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Jax, there are many small mowers, that may work for you if you don't want a push mower. My number one suggestion would be a self propelled walk behind, given the size of your yard. However, since you don't want that, you should probably look into a small zero turn mower, given the size of your yard a conventional mower would take too long to manuever. Plus you would be able to cut down on your trimmer time, because a zero turn gets alot closer to obstacles like trees and flower beds. Look for something under 16 Hp and at most a 42" deck. Manueverability should be your key target. I am assuming you have a slight mechanical inclination as well, to keep a lawn mower you should know some basics about small engines, like oil change, spark plugs, belt maintenance, and how to change a battery. Any place that services mowers, really likes to stick people that can't do the basics for service fees. Try to buy from someone local, that can be available should you have a more advanced issues.

    I own two lawn mowers, a Craftsman for my house, my yard is about an acre in size, and a Grasshopper for around my farm (4 acres of mowing). I have researched many brands of mowers over the years, so fire away if you have any questions.
    Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.

  4. #3
    2009: Fail Ltlabner's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Cincinnati
    Posts
    7,441

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Quote Originally Posted by JaxRed View Post
    So I have your standard sized suburban yard. Front is maybe 20' x 30', back is bigger, maybe 75X35.

    So being incredibly busy, and more incredibly lazy, I pay some lawn mowing service $140 a month to mow the lawn. This is Florida, so it's 12 months a year. In addition I pay Truegreen Chemlawn about $650 a year for fertilizing, etc.

    This is house I plan to retire in and that is only about 7 years away. Looking at controlling costs. Let's eliminate one thing right off the bat...... doing it myself with walking mower is just never going to happen.

    Considering 2 alternatives

    1. Trying to eliminate so much grass that it could be done with a weed-eater or electric mower. In front I could widen the driveway with pavers, put a big palm tree in with large island around it, stuff like that.

    Might be a little harder in back, but we're putting in sunroom, and we could expand the patio areas.

    Advantages to this would be No Mowing, no Chemlawn, and reduced watering costs. Disadvantages would be the costs asscoiated with it, and the possibility the lawn would look weird if not done well.

    2. Or get a riding lawnmower. Would still have the Chemlawn costs, and the water costs. What I wonder is whether the riding mower is so fast and easy that it's not a major pain in the butt come mowing time. I've never used one.

    All depends on your preferences. I've found that most people with riding mowers still need to do some triming either with a push mower or a weed wacker.

    My yard is more like 125 x 225 and I push the entire thing. Because of the number of trees and other obstructions it's just as easy to push it. And it's good exercise.

    Riding mowers aren't cheep either. I think the cheepo units still run $800 or so. But I'm certinally no expert on their prices. That's new, if you can find someone with a decent used one it might be perfect for what you are trying to do.

  5. #4
    SERP Emeritus paintmered's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Cbus
    Posts
    7,256

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Whatever you do, go to a dealer and not to Lowe's, Home Depot or Sears. The riding mowers they sell there will last you at most 5 years. The name on the mower might be the same, but the mower itself is not the same quality.

    Go to a dealer (John Deere, Toro, whatever) and you will find something that will run without problem for 25 years.
    All models are wrong. Some of them are useful.

  6. #5
    Oy Vey! Red in Chicago's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    3,456

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    trugreen is the devil...two years ago, they killed off almost my entire front yard due to over-fertilizing during our draught...

  7. #6
    Goober GAC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Bellefontaine, Ohio
    Posts
    29,988

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Quote Originally Posted by paintmered View Post
    Whatever you do, go to a dealer and not to Lowe's, Home Depot or Sears. The riding mowers they sell there will last you at most 5 years. The name on the mower might be the same, but the mower itself is not the same quality.

    Go to a dealer (John Deere, Toro, whatever) and you will find something that will run without problem for 25 years.
    Fully agree Craig. Invest in something that is durable and will last. I like Dixons, but buy one with a Honda motor. You can get a 42" cut for around $3500. Well worth it.

    My neighbor bought a Toro (which bought out Workhorse) for around $2600. Nice mower too.
    "In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)

  8. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Milford, OH
    Posts
    1,658

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Quote Originally Posted by paintmered View Post
    Whatever you do, go to a dealer and not to Lowe's, Home Depot or Sears. The riding mowers they sell there will last you at most 5 years. The name on the mower might be the same, but the mower itself is not the same quality.

    Go to a dealer (John Deere, Toro, whatever) and you will find something that will run without problem for 25 years.

    I don't necessarily agree with you on this. While going to the dealer may have a few advantages, if you take care of your ride it will last you just as long as a dealer bought model.

  9. #8
    I hate the Cubs LoganBuck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    7,057

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Quote Originally Posted by Virginia Beach Reds View Post
    I don't necessarily agree with you on this. While going to the dealer may have a few advantages, if you take care of your ride it will last you just as long as a dealer bought model.
    Virginia is right, the dealers also sell that HomeDepot, Sears, stuff with different paint. My Grandfather always put it this way. You can have a new Craftsman for half the price of a John Deere, but in 15 years your Craftsman is trash and the John Deere is 15 years old, with alot of quirky problems, you buy a new Craftsman, and you don't worry about the quirky 15 year old John Deere. I got a 26 HP Craftsman with a Kohler engine and a 54" deck for mowing around home. Paid $2000, a comperable John Deere would have run me $4700, and I was getting an employee discount through a family member. If you change the oil and maintain the mower properly, you really only have to worry about the motor wearing out. If you do go with a cheaper mower, go with a manual transmission. The hydrostatic units have more mechanical parts that are harder to fix. I would not by a used lawn mower, unless it is a Deere, Grasshopper, or similar quality, and only if it has documented hours. A lawn mower will only run about 2000 hours before croaking. There are alot of nice options in zeroturn mowers that we have not mentioned. Dixon makes a nice consumer model that has sizes that fit Jax's needs.
    Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.

  10. #9
    Little Reds BandWagon Reds Nd2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    3,244

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    "...You just have a wider lens than one game."
    --Former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky, on why he didn't fly Josh Hamilton to Colorado for one game.

    "...its money well-spent. Don't screw around with your freedom."
    --Roy Tucker, on why you need to lawyer up when you find yourself swimming with sharks.

  11. #10
    Class of 2023 George Foster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Ky
    Posts
    6,248

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    For such a small yard get a walk behind push mower. It propels itself, all you have to do is keep it on line. It will really frustrate you with the amount of your yard that you cannot get to with rider mower. the corners, landscaing, etc.

    With a walk behind mower, you will have to do very little if any trimming with a weed eater. With a rider mower...a ton of weed eating.

    A top of the line walk behind mower will run 700 to 1 K tops. A decent rider will run 4-7 K.

    What happens if the mower needs work? With a rider, you need a trailer to get it to the repairman...with a walk behind, put it in the back of a truck or SUV.

    Trust me a walk behind, with such a small yard, is the way to go and save 4-5 K!!! If your time is the main factor, by the time you frustrate yourself with a rider and trimming, you can mow it with a walk behind...

    http://www.toro.com/home/mowers/index.html
    1st pick of the 2023 baseball amateur draft

  12. #11
    Member JaxRed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Posts
    14,669

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    I saw a John Deere at Lowes today for roughly $1800. That's what got me thinking. At $1,680 a year for mowing, a $1,800 mower pays for itself pretty quickly.
    John Deere at Home Depot

    Link won't go direct;y to last page of riding mowers

    20 HP, 42 inch. George Foster is wrong if he thinks I'm going to do regular mower, did that before I went to mowing service. But he might be right that riding mower might have enough drawbacks, that my vision of a quick 20 minute trip around the yard is a pipe dream.

    My yard is level and fairly rectangular. I know I'd have to weed-eat. Thought it was interesting that no one mentioned the "eliminate most of the grass" option. We are empty nesters, so we don't need yard to play in.
    Last edited by JaxRed; 01-15-2007 at 12:27 AM.
    Bud Selig: "I'm the worst commissioner ever"
    Rob Manfred: "Hold my beer"

    https://redsintelligence.com/smforum/index.php

  13. #12
    I hate the Cubs LoganBuck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    7,057

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    I know exactly the mower you are describing and have been told, it is of lower quality than a Craftsman. John Deere is pretty much slapping their name on a crappy mower, they don't make it. If you look at that mower closely it gives you a delicate feeling, even if you compare it to the other house brands at Home Depot. I can't stress how negative the perception is of that mower.
    Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.

  14. #13
    Potential Lunch Winner Dom Heffner's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Tampa, FL
    Posts
    7,222

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    I pay some lawn mowing service $140 a month to mow
    Wow- I just got a quote here in Tampa for $40....

  15. #14
    First Time Caller SunDeck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Posts
    6,142

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Eliminating as much grass as you can is a great option. I reduced my mowing time by about 1/2 by doing this. In my case, the actual time spent on yard care probably has not gone down (I like the work), but instead has shifted to the kinds of things I personally like to do, working with perennials, beds, etc.

    In your case, I would recommend doing the same, except with the advice to choose your plants carefully. Luckily, in your region there are gazillions of evergreen shrubs that you won't have to constantly care for, so the option of reducing the size of the mowable turf is definitely feasible.

    An additional recommendation would be to sculpt your beds to accomodate the mower. This will help to reduce trimmer work.

    If you do this right, you won't have enough time on the rider to even finish the drink in your cupholder!
    Next Reds manager, second shooter. --Confirmed on Redszone.

  16. #15
    Goober GAC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Bellefontaine, Ohio
    Posts
    29,988

    Re: Riding Mower - The answer?

    Quote Originally Posted by JaxRed View Post
    I saw a John Deere at Lowes today for roughly $1800. That's what got me thinking. At $1,680 a year for mowing, a $1,800 mower pays for itself pretty quickly.
    John Deere at Home Depot

    Link won't go direct;y to last page of riding mowers
    My neighbor has that exact same model. I've driven it. Nice mower for what he (and probably you) have to do.

    "In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator