After market grass catcher

[Collector]

I recently bought the JD SST18. May sound a little spoiled... However, I am looking for a 8+ bushel grass catching system that I can dump from the driver's seat. There are several mower models that offer this. However, I've not been able to find a "catcher" system that will allow me to dump from the seat.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance...

 

[Gatorboy]

Welcome to TBN.

My question is, why would you want to collect grass clippings anyway? It's free fertilizer, and good for the grass.

You posted this same question in two separate forums -- this is not a practice most of us here at TBN approve of.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( why would you want to collect grass clippings anyway? )</font>

Dave, while the clippings may be good fertilizer, there can also be a number of reasons for using a grass catcher (as I am doing):

1) If you ever have any small twigs, hedge clippings, or pieces of paper or other debris; i.e., gum or candy wrappers, etc. that get into your yard, you don't have to pick them all up before mowing; the grass catcher will collect them,
2) If you have any weeds that make seeds, the grass catcher will collect a lot of the seeds instead of spreading them around,
3) If you have small, shaggy dogs like my daughter's two Maltese on one side of us and the neighbor's one Maltese on the other side of us, they (and their owners) tend to track in lots of wet grass every time they take the dogs out in yard, and
4) In spite of the advantages of not using a grass catcher, the best looking lawns in any neighborhood almost invariably belong to people who use a grass catcher.

Actually, my preference is to NOT use a grass catcher because of the extra time and trouble of emptying it, and out in the country I never used one, and if I only had my own yard to mow, I wouldn't use one, but . . . in some cases it's preferable. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Collector]

Sorry about the double post gator... Thanks for the insight.

Kinda like bird said, I have always used a bagger. My yard looks much better when I collect the clippings. Also, there are times when I'm not able to cut the grass in a timely manner and the clippings end up killing my grass without bagging it even when I double cut.

Additionally, I have quite a few trees in my yard... Cut leaves make the yard look not as nice as when I bag the leaves, etc.

So guys... any suggestions on what I'm looking for?

Thanks again for your input.

 

[gsganzer]

A couple of us were discussing baggers (mainly PTO driven at $1000+) on another thread. My line of thinking is to get a tow behind lawn sweeper instead (a lot less money). When I started researching them, I found many models that can be dumped from the seat. This may be an option for you.

 

[Junkman]

Here is one that is manufactured by Kubota for the BX series tractors. Unfortunately, even though they are made in the states, they are not available in the states. I have tried unsuccessfully to get one for a few moths now. It is only sold for export..... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mark1]

Several years ago after first moving into our present house the wife and I spent all week raking and picking up leaves in November.I said we would NEVER do that again.I went to my local lawn and garden outlet and asked what they had for doing this.back then he had a 5 horse power Trac Vac. it's a trailer (32 cu ft) that is towed by the mower and a boot that receives clippings from the mower deck.sucks them into the blower and blows them into the trailer then you go and easily dump.Now if the lawn needs to be vacked I easily hook it on and it cleans up beautifully. It cost us 1400.00 back in 1988 but it was the best 1400.00 bucks I ever spent.Now there are several other cheaper makes on the market but I highly recommend them. (I know you cannot dump it from the seat! but you can sit there and have a helper pull the lever!") /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif