Lawn tractors, yard tractors, garden tractors, SCUTS, and mowing

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

After sleeping on it and consulting SWMBO, I am looking for a Husky GT48DXLS. And a dealer. May have to go to Las Vegas.

For a simple economic standpoint that's a good choice. I'm confident the husky will last you a good long time and in 10-15 years when she wears out buy a new version that will most likely mow circles around this one at roughly the same price lol.

 

[Teachu2]

Teach, I sent you a PM with a possible contact for the Husky model.

Thanks!

 

[Teachu2]

What an interesting saga THIS has turned into! Called Husky Customer Service, they told me they had no info on a California version. My local dealer is a mom-and-pop, so they sometimes don't get time to run things down....no help there. Dealer in Las Vegas tells me this morning that the model was a one-off, a special run with limited distribution, no CA model, but he was trying to get me one from another dealer. I called a dealer in Reno (400+ miles away) and he had one in stock - non-CA version, so I would have to use my sister's Colorado address. I'm ready to do that next week, so I call the local guy - who was just about to call me and tell me he could get one. I told him what the Vegas dealer had told me, and he says "Strange that my rep didn't say that!". He called his rep back and was told that there is a CA version made and they have them in the Nevada warehouse. He's getting one shipped in, should be here in four days or so.

I called the Vegas guy back, and he offered me a smoking deal - I turned it down flat. Even if his rep had told him wrong info, I'd rather build a relationship with my local guy, who bought the business from the founder last year. He's just getting started with Husky, so I suspect he'll remember me if I need him, and I was not looking forward to driving 11-14 hours to get a garden tractor in Las Vegas, Reno, or Sacramento.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

What an interesting saga THIS has turned into! Called Husky Customer Service, they told me they had no info on a California version. My local dealer is a mom-and-pop, so they sometimes don't get time to run things down....no help there. Dealer in Las Vegas tells me this morning that the model was a one-off, a special run with limited distribution, no CA model, but he was trying to get me one from another dealer. I called a dealer in Reno (400+ miles away) and he had one in stock - non-CA version, so I would have to use my sister's Colorado address. I'm ready to do that next week, so I call the local guy - who was just about to call me and tell me he could get one. I told him what the Vegas dealer had told me, and he says "Strange that my rep didn't say that!". He called his rep back and was told that there is a CA version made and they have them in the Nevada warehouse. He's getting one shipped in, should be here in four days or so.

I called the Vegas guy back, and he offered me a smoking deal - I turned it down flat. Even if his rep had told him wrong info, I'd rather build a relationship with my local guy, who bought the business from the founder last year. He's just getting started with Husky, so I suspect he'll remember me if I need him, and I was not looking forward to driving 11-14 hours to get a garden tractor in Las Vegas, Reno, or Sacramento.

Wow! You must really love California lol. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the California versions of stuff.

But on the flip side of that I knew a guy that lives in California and he says he remembers when they used to have smog days in his school and it's gotten much better lately thanks to all the emissions regulations. He went off to Australia for schooling and that was the last I heard from him, we lost touch.

 

[plowhog]

Well I know the "no California model" isn't right because I own one. I've heard the rumblings about a special run or limited distribution, but I don't understand that. From what I can see, nothing on the market can touch this model regarding the features and capability you get for the price. Learning that this model existed quickly spun me right off from purchasing a Deere x380, and some of the others here are doing the same. Why a manufacturer would make only a limited run sort of goes against basic marketing. If you're on a winning horse-- ride it as long as you can!

If it truly is a limited production, either it is too costly to manufacture at the price offered, or it might be a precursor to yet another new model to succeed it. Or, they may have limited production capacity until they free up more assembly capability by closing out some other model. Regardless, I'm satisfied with my purchase-- all 1.5 hours of use into it!!!

 

[Teachu2]

According to my dealer, it is not a special run - it's a new model, and is basically a YT48DSLX built on a 7ga pan instead of an 11ga pan. That's about 50% thicker - right in the backbone, for $200 more. While I don't anticipate ever doing ground engagement tasks with this, I do expect occasional tree and/or rock engagements.

It IS limited distribution - available to dealers only, not Lowe's, Sam's, etc.

On a side note, my local shop just officially became a Husqvarna dealer - as of this morning. The new owner bought the shop from it's founders last year, and this is the very first new lawn mower he's sold. He's already carrying Echo chainsaws and string trimmers. It feels good to support an independent business. The previous owner did some work on my L120 - and the new one introduced me to a buyer for my L120. All in all, a good day.

 

[Teachu2]

Wow! You must really love California lol. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the California versions of stuff.

But on the flip side of that I knew a guy that lives in California and he says he remembers when they used to have smog days in his school and it's gotten much better lately thanks to all the emissions regulations.

We often rank as worst or second worst air quality in the nation. It is worth putting up with a different air filter and a carbon filter on the gas tank vent, and a $50 upcharge, to do a little to help. I live in the mountains now because the air in the valley floor was killing me. Every time I got a cold, it was double pneumonia within three days. In my las five years of living in Bakersfield, that happened seven times. Since I moved three years ago, two colds and zero pneumonia.

 

[plowhog]

Someone told me a major difference was the earlier Husky model had a K46 transaxle whereas the GT48DXLS has a K66. I looked around but could not find any spec on what transaxle the YT48DXLS has. I know a lot of people shy away from the K46. And I think I read elsewhere that the Deere X5XX models use a K66 also.

 

[Tractorable]

The Deere X500 series have diff locked K72's

 

[plowhog]

Thanks for correcting that about the X5XX series. Makes sense. But somewhere else on here there is a post describing the wrong transaxle in that series ....