The Gardener
Gold Member
I have been mowing with the BX24 and 54" MMM for about a year and the novelty has officially worn off. I have to say that I found the procedure too onerous to continue.
I fully understand.
Mowing is a time consuming effort for me. I have almost 4.5 acres of varied terrain that I grind out using a riding mower until funds permit an upgrade - and we'll be clearing another 3+ acres to field.
That said, I will always choose to have a dedicated lawn mowing machine. I want to sit in the seat, turn it on, cut the lawn, turn it off, and exit the seat. I have little time and less patience to fiddle around with a mower attachment. It seems that I am always pressed for time either before I start or after I finish. Plus, I am usually tired and/or distracted at both ends of the effort.
I also feel that mowing is a major abuser of equipment. Unless you have a golf course lawn, the bumps, the rock and tree hits, the holes, the dips, the slopes, and the grass itself most certainly hammer the best equipment out there. Add HST and the speed at which you hit all of these obstacles increases thereby increasing the abuse factor.
I would not want to rely on a piece of equipment that also cuts grass - and vice versa. Down time for repairs could turn a yard into 18" hay, or leave me without a tractor at a crucial time.
For me, two machines is the minimum: one for grass and one for everything else. Ideally, the "everything else machine" would be a TLB. For grass, my first and only choice would be the F3680 with a cab so it could double as our snow blower. I really like the front deck design of the F-series mower and the massive, 72" deck. Plus, access to the under side of the deck for cleaning and for blade sharpening or replacement is unmatched.
As for a TLB, the BX24 is fabulous. My next door neighbor owns one. It's impressive. For us and our acreage, the B26 is my target. I need more ground clearance, more lift capability, and a hydraulic thumb for a lot of rock wall work.
I fully understand.
Mowing is a time consuming effort for me. I have almost 4.5 acres of varied terrain that I grind out using a riding mower until funds permit an upgrade - and we'll be clearing another 3+ acres to field.
That said, I will always choose to have a dedicated lawn mowing machine. I want to sit in the seat, turn it on, cut the lawn, turn it off, and exit the seat. I have little time and less patience to fiddle around with a mower attachment. It seems that I am always pressed for time either before I start or after I finish. Plus, I am usually tired and/or distracted at both ends of the effort.
I also feel that mowing is a major abuser of equipment. Unless you have a golf course lawn, the bumps, the rock and tree hits, the holes, the dips, the slopes, and the grass itself most certainly hammer the best equipment out there. Add HST and the speed at which you hit all of these obstacles increases thereby increasing the abuse factor.
I would not want to rely on a piece of equipment that also cuts grass - and vice versa. Down time for repairs could turn a yard into 18" hay, or leave me without a tractor at a crucial time.
For me, two machines is the minimum: one for grass and one for everything else. Ideally, the "everything else machine" would be a TLB. For grass, my first and only choice would be the F3680 with a cab so it could double as our snow blower. I really like the front deck design of the F-series mower and the massive, 72" deck. Plus, access to the under side of the deck for cleaning and for blade sharpening or replacement is unmatched.
As for a TLB, the BX24 is fabulous. My next door neighbor owns one. It's impressive. For us and our acreage, the B26 is my target. I need more ground clearance, more lift capability, and a hydraulic thumb for a lot of rock wall work.