Comparison Best Garden tractor

outdoorrn · Aug 31, 2013

Looking to buy a new Garden Tractor. Have a 13year old craftsman ltx1000 18hp with Kohler Command Pro engine and is starting to die. But has been a workhorse as a yard tractor. Looking AT Craftsman
GT6000 which has a26 hp Kohler Courage engine and a premimum Hydrostatic ?? which is made by Husqvarna > The Other tractor is a GTH24K54 which is made by Husky also and has a strong 24hp Kawaski engine and a G730 hydro gear tranny . Which is a better buy Sears us a little more money but Im concerned about the Courage engine, have read a lot of bad blogs about it. Need any advice if someone knows the courage engine

will used the tractor for hauling firewood, mowing, snow removal(up North) and hopefully garden tilling etc

jenkinsph · Aug 31, 2013

Welcome to TBN outdoorrn,

I recommend you look at other offerings before limiting yourself to these two models. Maybe a Kubota BX, Deere 700 and 1000 series, Massey Ferguson 2400 series (unsure of these model numbers) and lots of other offerings. Lots of people seem to be interested in the small scut tractors in the last few years, Kioti and Mahindra are finding happy customers too. I like the Deere x749 I have with 4x4ws, 3ph and rear pto mighty well and think the 700 series would work for your listed uses.

mikehaugen · Aug 31, 2013

There was someone here a couple weeks ago with a similar question. Look under owning/operating at a thread titled "Looking to purchase first ever riding mower/tractor." A lot of good information there. I would post a link but am on my phone.

Are the mowers you mentioned at the top of your budget? How big is your yard? I personally will be looking at the jd x540 and simplicity in few years hopefully. No, it's certainly not because I have a lot of money... I just like to buy the best I can, even if it means buying used. The x700 series mentioned is even more money.

Toddao · Aug 31, 2013

Cub cadet 2165 I have had since 1996 still going strong 48" deck

LindenBruce · Aug 31, 2013

I have the Husky LGT2654 and I would not buy it again. The engine is a Briggs and Stratton and leaks oil like crazy. It gets serviced every spring with good quality oil and all the bolts are tight. Yet it still leaks. And no the crank case vent is not plugged. Plus, that 54" three blade deck bogs the engine down in the heavy stuff. I have had to replace three of the blade trunnions already due to a blade smacking a rock and breaking the trunnion. Cheap cast aluminum. And the blades don't mow in the same plane either. One blade mows at an angle leaving a narrow line of grass sticking up which you have to go back over to top off otherwise you end up with little mohawks all around your yard. And it's not a bent blade because even new blades do it. Plus, last year the rear axle snapped off. I tore the hydrostatic transmission apart to fix it and half the gears inside had large pits in their teeth and most needed to be replaced. And this is on a mower that was 7 years old. Our previous Monkey Wards mower went 25 years with no problems before we replaced it with this Husky. Big mistake. I would not buy another of these supposedly "Garden Tractors" you find at the big box stores. If I remember correctly the vast majority of these machines are made by the same company just rebranded with color changes for each brand. If you want a small tractor then buy one of the SCUT's. That's what I would have done if I could do it all over again. B.

outdoorrn · Sep 1, 2013

Thanks for all the Replys!!! Trying to stay around the $3K price range Anyone know about the Kohler courage engine GOOD BAD???? Sears has the GT6000 on sale this weekend

jenkinsph · Sep 1, 2013

If I were trying to stay around $3K a good used garden tractor is what I would look for. $3K will buy a lawn tractor but not "Best Garden tractor" as the thread is titled. Really if you can find a good used machine it will outlast a new cheap one in this price range. Heck they are all used once you get them home.

XSKIER · Sep 1, 2013

For $threeK the best garden tractor would be a 15 year old Deere 425 or 445. HOWEVER, you'd need patience and maintenance ability to enjoy one of those tractors. If you have to have a new tractor I'll bet the sears 6K would likely be the best new tractor at your budget level. The new Deere X758 would come in about $300% more than your budget, but it's also four times the machine.

I wouldn't sweat the courage motor too much. If it does puke 3-5 years from now just replace or upgrade the engine. Those vertical v-twin gassers are really cheap to buy and install.

Illini22 · Sep 1, 2013

You could get a decent kubota b7100 hst, 4x4 for around $2000. I know because that what I sold mine for. It will out work any garden tractor plus it's got limited slip. 3pt hitch, diesel that sips fuel, ground clearance. Mine was the newer, post 1996 version.
I know the deere 318 and the 400 series are considered the best garden tractors ever made, but a b7100 is at least 5 times the tractor they are, cheaper too!

Poopdeck Pappy · Sep 1, 2013

I agree with Illini22. A used diesel Kubota will outwork any garden tractor by far.

I've got a 2001 John Deere GT235E, which was made back before JD sold out to the big box stores and started producing junk to sell at low prices to compete with MTD and other junk. Mine has the Briggs Vanguard engine (which is their commercial engine and is MUCH better than the typical Briggs), and has the very beefy Tuff Torq K71 tranny. A lot of the box store riding mowers use the Tuff Torq K46 tranny, which is junk.

I like my GT235E, but nobody had better offer to trade me their Kubota B7100 unless they are serious.

jenkinsph · Sep 1, 2013

Illini22 said:
You could get a decent kubota b7100 hst, 4x4 for around $2000. I know because that what I sold mine for. It will out work any garden tractor plus it's got limited slip. 3pt hitch, diesel that sips fuel, ground clearance. Mine was the newer, post 1996 version.
I know the deere 318 and the 400 series are considered the best garden tractors ever made, but a b7100 is at least 5 times the tractor they are, cheaper too!

I think the b7100hsd for $2000 would be a very good deal, problem is finding one for that price. I haven't looked for a used garden tractor lately but I would have snapped that up when shopping in 2010. That is a nice garden tractor for sure. While I like it I don't think it is 5 times better than any thing else on the market. I don't think it is better than my x749 for instance. anyone know where the OP can find a good deal on any of these should chime in.

hr3 · Sep 1, 2013

On my way to work every day I see a Kubota G1800 with a deck and a blower for around 3 grand ,, If I didn't already have one I'd buy it in a moment...

murphy1244 · Sep 1, 2013

What do you plan to do with it?

msparks · Sep 2, 2013

Recently was looking myself. I determined if you need a lawn tractor you plan to keep a while, nothing under $3000 is a worth a ****. Look at the diesel Kubota or maybe the JD 7XX series. Also it seems that Simplicity makes a decent garden tractor as well.

buickanddeere · Sep 2, 2013

Deere 1023E. Has a real pto, real drawbar, a scv and a real three point hitch. FWD diesel for not any more $$$ than for some lawn mowers.
Tractor will take a loader, snowblower, run a pto generator when the power goes out. Enough weight and power to do some work too.

jenkinsph · Sep 2, 2013

buickanddeere said:
Deere 1023E. Has a real pto, real drawbar, a scv and a real three point hitch. FWD diesel for not any more $$$ than for some lawn mowers.
Tractor will take a loader, snowblower, run a pto generator when the power goes out. Enough weight and power to do some work too.

I agree with most of this but would say that I like the 4x4ws on my x749 better than the 1023 without it. The limited 3ph, 540 rear pto, genset capability and snow blower capabilities seem to make these very close in abilities. Some would prefer having a fel others prefer a tighter turning radius and hydraulic 4x4 with less scuffing in turns. Guess that is why they make a variety of choices.

buickanddeere · Sep 2, 2013

Have to wonder if there are parts common to both the x700 series of tractors and the 1 series ? That engine, layout and transmission look very similar.

XSKIER · Sep 2, 2013

Before you make another post about the X series and 1000 series being similar, put down the brochures, get off the computer, and actually go look them over. You'll see that they are much more different than similar. Yes they use the same engine, but so does an international school bus and ford 3/4 ton pick up. Your posts serve to spread misinformation, and I don't really appreciate it.

murphy1244 · Sep 2, 2013

I thought he was looking for a Garden Tractor? Does he want a SCUT?

buickanddeere · Sep 3, 2013

XSKIER said:
Before you make another post about the X series and 1000 series being similar, put down the brochures, get off the computer, and actually go look them over. You'll see that they are much more different than similar. Yes they use the same engine, but so does an international school bus and ford 3/4 ton pick up. Your posts serve to spread misinformation, and I don't really appreciate it.

I've been to the dealership within the past two weeks actually. That is where the similarity became stronger. I'm curious how there is such a hard and divisive line between owners of the X700's and 1000 series tractors?