Teachu2
Platinum Member
So it's not any better, except it is?
Comparison Husqvarna GT48DXLS Compared to John Deere
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So it's not any better, except it is?
s219
Super Member
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- Kubota L3200, Deere X380, Kubota RTV-X
You could look at any of their numerous models on that same frame and they only differ by options. Not a fundamentally different mower other than that. The GT48 happens to be better optioned in my opinion, but it does not cross over into something radically new and better. They really need a better frame and other fundamental changes before this is something new and truly groundbreaking.
Teachu2
Platinum Member
I don't think anyone claimed that it was new or groudbreaking, or even ground-engaging. It is well-equipped for those of us who need a 48" deck and a manually locking differential, at a value price. The frame is heavier than the YT series, and I believe it up to the tasks I would use it for. Anything beyond mowing grass, weeds, and brush would best be left to a SCUT or CUT, but I'd venture to say that also applies to the Deere offerings until at least the x7xx series. At that point, it's a shootout between the Deere x7xx, the Kubota B and BX, the Massey GC1715, and a host of small tractors from many manufacturers.
The previous owner of my property used a L130 to mow what he could, borrowed a neighbor's BX for what he couldn't, and left the rest overgrown. I mowed it with a Mitsubishi MT2301 and a 4' rotary cutter, which was pretty scary on steep grades. The L130, in spite of it's weaknesses, never had a frame failure - and that was a lightweight frame. It had a Kohler Command, which was outstanding, and a K46, which wasn't. It is now enjoying the easy life, mowing 1.5 acres of flatland lawn.
The GT48DXLS is better - heavier frame than the YT, bigger tires than the YT, manually locking differential (better than the YT and the JD x380). Better than anything else in it's price range. For my application, it is nearly as good as the JD x590, and half the price. Had the difference been less than a thousand dollars, the Deere would have been a contender. At over three thousand more, it just made no sense. I couldn't justify a $6000 weed mower, and the x590 would have been exactly that for me. My actual lawn is very small - takes about 15 minutes with a Honda self-propelled walk behind rotary, and is really too small and oddly shaped to make effective use of a rider. I will soon be seeding the back yard, roughly a quarter-acre of hillside, and will probably mow it with the GT.
I have a tractor for tractor work. This is a dedicated mowing machine, and predominately a weed mower for areas that are not easily accessible with my tractor. The GT exceeds my expectations in this role.
The previous owner of my property used a L130 to mow what he could, borrowed a neighbor's BX for what he couldn't, and left the rest overgrown. I mowed it with a Mitsubishi MT2301 and a 4' rotary cutter, which was pretty scary on steep grades. The L130, in spite of it's weaknesses, never had a frame failure - and that was a lightweight frame. It had a Kohler Command, which was outstanding, and a K46, which wasn't. It is now enjoying the easy life, mowing 1.5 acres of flatland lawn.
The GT48DXLS is better - heavier frame than the YT, bigger tires than the YT, manually locking differential (better than the YT and the JD x380). Better than anything else in it's price range. For my application, it is nearly as good as the JD x590, and half the price. Had the difference been less than a thousand dollars, the Deere would have been a contender. At over three thousand more, it just made no sense. I couldn't justify a $6000 weed mower, and the x590 would have been exactly that for me. My actual lawn is very small - takes about 15 minutes with a Honda self-propelled walk behind rotary, and is really too small and oddly shaped to make effective use of a rider. I will soon be seeding the back yard, roughly a quarter-acre of hillside, and will probably mow it with the GT.
I have a tractor for tractor work. This is a dedicated mowing machine, and predominately a weed mower for areas that are not easily accessible with my tractor. The GT exceeds my expectations in this role.
Topcat14
Bronze Member
Quick question- how do you know it’s a heavier duty frame?
Good luck to you-- I get people get excited with a new tractor, and justifiably so. The Husqvarna GT48DLS is a nice “entry” level tractor. I’m sure all you guys that have one will enjoy it. Hope it last for you!!
Good luck to you-- I get people get excited with a new tractor, and justifiably so. The Husqvarna GT48DLS is a nice “entry” level tractor. I’m sure all you guys that have one will enjoy it. Hope it last for you!!
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ThirdMan
Gold Member
You wouldn't consider the JD 1 family at all?
Teachu2
Platinum Member
Quick question- how do you know it’s a heavier duty frame? Went to Lowe's and looked under the YTH on display. Thinner steel and less of it. Mine is thicker by about 50% and has more and larger reinforcements. This confirms my dealer's observations and the Husqvarna reps claims. Couldn't inspect a Deere - the dealer doesn't stock them.
The Husqvarna GT48DLS is a nice “entry” level tractor. I disagree. The GT48DXLS is not a tractor in my eyes - it's a riding mower. It's a tougher, better equipped riding mower than most, but it's still a riding mower. I wouldn't consider putting a FEL on it, it doesn't have a 3pt hitch, or a PTO, or hydraulic hookup - so it's really not a tractor. Sure, it'll pull a trailer, but so will a tricycle. The x7xx Deeres are tractors, the Kubota BXs are tractors, even some of the older garden tractors were tractors, but in spite of marketing labels, this is not a tractor. It's a mower - lawn, weeds, grass, small saplings. It climbs like a goat, and will shove pretty hard, but it's still a riding mower. That's what I bought it for. If I wanted a small tractor to compliment my Kioti, I'd have bought a smaller diesel 4x4 with HST and power steering that fit the wife. Didn't need that, and she didn't want that. She runs the new mower like a champ.
There's always something bigger/better/badder/more expensive out there. Doesn't make them a better match for a particular application. I've got some very nice, accurate, powerful, expensive rifles, but I shoot the .22s in the back yard much more often.
Topcat14
Bronze Member
I think the problem comes in when owners of the GT48DXLS try to compare their tractor to a X380/390 or even a X590- Trust me the build quality isn’t even close. I get your dealer didn’t even stock any so I don’t blame you. Well I’m not going to bad mouth your new tractor. Suffice to say we can agree to disagree on build quality. Good luck!!
Teachu2
Platinum Member
I don't know what you disagree on build quality about - maybe Deere has slipped in their build quality. Are they not assembling parts correctly? Cross-threading bolts? Leaving off the armrests? Not installing the front brushguard? I don't know, having not seen a new Deere above the L1xx in person.
I can attest to the build quality of my GT48DXLS. I've been over and under the machine, and ridden it hard on challenging terrain, and it's perfect. Every fastener was installed properly, deck was adjusted perfectly, and it all works perfectly. The dealer did an excellent job prepping it, so I had no issues at all when it was delivered to me. Kawasaki and TuffTorq seem to have held up their end of the deal, as well.
I'm not bad mouthing Deere's build quality - I believe that I could buy a x590 sight unseen and have a fine machine delivered. I believe it to be a slightly superior machine to what I bought, but what I bought exceeds all my expectations and certainly meets my needs exceptionally well. The x590 would do so, too. The x380/390, assembled to perfection, would not - the lack of a locking differential in my application makes it the wrong tool for the job. It's like comparing a Porsche 911 to a Ford F-350 - Porsche is far superior, until you need to tow a 28' gooseneck stock trailer.
I admire John Deere as a company. They have worked long and hard to build their brand, and have used their reputation and brand recognition to expand their market. They have built a parts network that is second to none. They have a huge, intensively loyal customer base. Those customers are offered a huge variety of products to spend vast amounts of money buying. The brand carries a premium price, and the company remains profitable. If my local dealer provided the quality of customer service in the consumer lawn and garden section or the small tractor arena that they do in the Ag tractor area, I'd probably own a green tractor and a green mower today, and be about $20k lighter in the bank account.
I'm not claiming Husqvarna to be superior to John Deere in any way except in my specific case. The particular model I purchased meets my needs in every way, and exceeds them in some. NONE of the other Husqvarna models do that. There are many, many mowers on the market that do not meet my needs, and only a very few that do. Of those, only the Deere x590 and the Husqvarna GT48DXLS have local dealers, and that mattered to me.
If I had to make the decision again today, I'd be unhappy. I believe the supply of GT48DXLS models is likely exhausted - they were a limited run this year, and many others recognized the value. Maybe they will be a regular production unit next year, maybe not. I'm glad I got mine!
Teachu2
Platinum Member
I would consider it, along with Kioti, Mahindra, LS, Branson, and all the rest.
s219
Super Member
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The GT48DXLS (and other Husky GT models) I have looked at all seem to be built fine, as in, they properly put together the machine per design. It's the components themselves that are behind a higher end Deere. Advantages to the GT48DXLS compared to other Husky models include some of the options like the engine, transmission, and deck, but it's the same basic GT frame, components, and design that's been around for several years now in various GT52 variations and various Craftsman Pro Series garden tractor variations.
I think what it comes down to is that a lot of people don't want to pay a premium for some of the advantages Deere brings to the table in terms of design, quality of components/frame, etc. I can understand that. Maybe it doesn't matter to everyone, or maybe things like engine and transmission are all that do matter. All I can say is that when I shopped these machines in 2015 and again in 2016, I really noticed that the Deere's were so much better made all the way around. I actually found it frustrating that none of the other brands were making something that could compete, regardless of price. I think Deere knows that, which is why they command and get more money. But it's not always a huge difference. Back when I bought in 2016, the GT52XLS was $3400 at Lowes and I got the X380 discounted to $3700 after rebate. For $300 more it was a much better/nicer machine and a no-brainer to go with Deere.
I think in another thread, tk_tom, who is a Husky dealer, noted that it's Deere's market, and theirs to lose, because nobody else is really challenging them when it comes to 300 series and up. I completely agree with that. Husky would impress me if they took a shot at it. I don't think it's on their radar though -- they seem to just make different variants on the same GT platform whether the models are to be sold at Lowes, Sears, or dealers.
I think what it comes down to is that a lot of people don't want to pay a premium for some of the advantages Deere brings to the table in terms of design, quality of components/frame, etc. I can understand that. Maybe it doesn't matter to everyone, or maybe things like engine and transmission are all that do matter. All I can say is that when I shopped these machines in 2015 and again in 2016, I really noticed that the Deere's were so much better made all the way around. I actually found it frustrating that none of the other brands were making something that could compete, regardless of price. I think Deere knows that, which is why they command and get more money. But it's not always a huge difference. Back when I bought in 2016, the GT52XLS was $3400 at Lowes and I got the X380 discounted to $3700 after rebate. For $300 more it was a much better/nicer machine and a no-brainer to go with Deere.
I think in another thread, tk_tom, who is a Husky dealer, noted that it's Deere's market, and theirs to lose, because nobody else is really challenging them when it comes to 300 series and up. I completely agree with that. Husky would impress me if they took a shot at it. I don't think it's on their radar though -- they seem to just make different variants on the same GT platform whether the models are to be sold at Lowes, Sears, or dealers.