I'm trying to search for a garden tractor like the 318 but will consider other models besides john deere as long as its in the same class. Problem is I dont know how to search for it. If I look up "garden tractor" on craigslist I find 1000 used riding mowers for sale. What are some 318 equivilents from other manufacturers to help in my search?
Whatever happened to this class of garden tractors? Do they still make modern versions of the 318 or did the garden tractor class get taken over by home depot mowers?
What specifically about the 318 are you looking for feature wise? There are many brands of older heavy duty garden tractors out there that can take a variety of ground engaging attachments, tiller for example, or scraper blades, etc, even loaders though they're hard to find. I can't recall but I think the 318 may have had live hydraulics (outlets to connect hydraulic implements). If live hydraulics are required, that would limit equivalent options. I'm not even sure of any off hand, but I think older Ingersols had optional live hydraulics, maybe some of the older Simplicities - not sure. But, if live hydraulics are not a requirement, then you'd have lots of options like Case/Ingersol, Simplicity, Wheel Horse, older Cub Cadets (when made by IH), older Bolens, and others.
I have had several, and still have a 20 year old, Wheel Horse garden tractor. They are heavily built, most with Kohler engines and some with Onans. Implements are plentiful and cheap, relatively speaking, including snowplows, snow blowers, tillers, mower decks, etc., and they are very interchangeable over the years. One thing about Deere is that you will need to find implements more specifically for the 318 or any other models. Deere often changed the design and hook up of implements over the years as they changed tractor models. Let us know more specifically what about the 318 you're looking for.
