The one thing that you wonder why you didn't buy sooner?

[5030]

A new inverter TIG welder and a new Inverter plasma cutter. Made out like a bandit too. Sold the Lincoln Square Wave TIG and a Hyper Therm 60 amp plasma cutter and bought a new Inverter TIG and an Inverter Plasma cutter and put 2 grand in my pocket in the end. Kept both of my Hobart 210 MIGS however. Hobart makes a great machine. Both of them are over 10 years old and never had an issue with either one.

 

[Hay Dude]

I use a handheld (Stihl BG-86) blower for blowing everything out of the flower beds and gardens, before mowing with Gator blades to pulverize the leaves. As we get into full season, with the maples and other heavy leaf load dropping, I will still use the BG-86 for clearing the gardens, but then follow that with a Little Wonder EX-27 Optimax on a JRCO Blower Buggy mounted to the zero turn.

I guess if there's a tool I wish I'd bought sooner, it'd be that JRCO blower buggy. My property is hilly, and pushing a heavy walk-behind blower (not self-propelled) up and down the slope more than a few dozen times is a recipe for a heart attack.

View attachment 828283

Experts told me “zero turns can only mow grass”. One even pointed a gun at me and told me that.

 

[WinterDeere]

Did you consider a vacuum and reject that in favor of the blower? If so, why?

I considered a vacuum, but when I bought this blower rig I had woods surrounding three sides of my property, so it seemed easier and less dusty to just blow the leaves into the woods. Things have changed a bit, maybe giving more merit to the vacuum idea today, but I still dislike the amount of dust they generate and the space required to store one in-season without breaking it down after each usage. The blower buggy hangs high on my wall, the blower is always parked in the aisle with the other walk-behinds. and already used to blow off the driveway and street after every mowing.

 

[two_bit_score]

I considered a vacuum, but when I bought this blower rig I had woods surrounding three sides of my property, so it seemed easier and less dusty to just blow the leaves into the woods. Things have changed a bit, maybe giving more merit to the vacuum idea today, but I still dislike the amount of dust they generate and the space required to store one in-season without breaking it down after each usage. The blower buggy hangs high on my wall, the blower is always parked in the aisle with the other walk-behinds. and already used to blow off the driveway and street after every mowing.

Im thinking the same way. Ive been looking at getting a new mower and possibly a vac collector, mainly for leaves. I bought the Stihl 700 backpack blower and love that thing but I know something like you have or the billy goat my BIL has would be more powerful. One thing I like about some of the vacs is the ability to use the hose by hand and suck up the leaves along curbs and in bushes, as well as discharge. So, I'm still studying. Also I like the new Stand On mowers and they can't acomadate any attachments like that.

 

[two_bit_score]

Here is a good video of the billy goat in action.

Wheeled Leaf Blower VS. Backpack Leaf Blower | Billy Goat

Billy Goat's leaf blowers have a wider range of motion than other leaf blowers. Check out the comparison in this video.

www.billygoat.com

 

[kenmbz]

I really love my Little Wonder 6HP, do the road of 600' at a nice walking pace and clean up the drive way in 2 sweeps.
Just having to replace the cracking B&S gas tank, but other than that it is totally stock and at least 20 years old, due an oil change too. Not much other maintenance.

 

[tradosaurus]

Experts told me “zero turns can only mow grass”. One even pointed a gun at me and told me that.

What's the background story to this statement?

 

[tradosaurus]

I really love my Little Wonder 6HP, do the road of 600' at a nice walking pace and clean up the drive way in 2 sweeps.
Just having to replace the cracking B&S gas tank, but other than that it is totally stock and at least 20 years old, due an oil change too. Not much other maintenance.

I had to look up the name. It's a leaf blower for those wondering.

 

[tradosaurus]

I like Race Ramps for getting cars into or onto the trailers, but for oil changes and other service I much prefer a lift.

And like Race Ramps, the 4-post can also be used for loading vehicles on trailers. Plus many other things as mentioned by others above.

And ramps are <$100 while the 4 post lift is a LOT more money. I would love the 4 post ramp but can't justify the cost.

 

[tradosaurus]

I have to include my 10,000 watt Champion generator and the soft start I had installed on my A/C. I can now run my A/C with this generator as the soft start lowers the starting amps of the A/C significantly (from about 95A to 25A).
The generator has been useful on more occasions than I would have thought.
My only regret was not getting the 15,000 watt generator.