Need ecommendations for new, qulaity, gas powered Garden Tractor with bagger

KRiddick · Aug 19, 2013

My Wheel Horse 310-8 transmission quit on me today. It was a great machine, lasting 25-30 years. I was told it's not worth repairing due to it's age & difficulty getting parts.
I need a new quality, gas powered garden tractor that can pull equipment behind it as well as do a good job at mowing and bagging grasss (2+ acres) between $5,000 - $7,000. It needs to fit in a shed with a 4' 4" wide opening. I've heard that Simplicity, Husquevarna, Massey Ferguson, & Kabota are all good brands. Would anyone recommend any other quality brands? What order would you rate them in from best to worst? Thanks so much for your help!

KRiddick · Aug 20, 2013

It also needs to be good at mowing on the side of a hill. Thanks!

Sysop · Aug 20, 2013

Liquid filled tires and some wheel weights are all it takes to make most of them good on slopes. As for brands, I'd agree they're all mostly good machines. That being the case it's mostly a matter of what suits you the best. Just keep in mind that even though the mentioned brands are all great, they do occasionally produce some stuff not quite to the standards of their average equipment, you can get a dud buying any brand...

I find it is best to figure the specifications of my needs and go from there. You have hills, so good HP is required. You have a doorway you need to fit through, seems like a 48" deck would be the limit with a bagger chute coming off the side of the deck. I'd start finding all the various 48" models and comparing the higher HP models of the group. If you want to use a towable rake/bagger unit, you might be able to go a bit wider.