Need garden tractor to pull tow-behind trailmower

Stephen_Byers · Apr 23, 2005

I am a first-time poster. Wow what a wealth of info on this web site.

I have 3 acres to mow on hills and rough terrain with a Swisher pull-behind 44" trailmower pulled by a 16HP Craftsman lawn tractor that is 7 years old. The Craftsman can hardly do the job and I am finding that I am replacing the hydrostatic drive belt almost every season. The terrain is rough and I broke an axle a few years ago as well. I'm basically asking my poor little lawn tractor to act like a big boy. But I sure love having an 80" swath with my trailmower!!!!!

I'm ready to get something new that can handle the job and be more reliable. It's not that my Craftsman has been unreliable, it's that I have really been using it on a very tough yard.

I am looking at either getting the top-of-the-line Craftsman (GT5000 with Kohler engine) or a Cub Cadet with a PowerShaft. My Cub Cadet dealer has some 2004 models for some discounted prices. For example, a GT2521 48" B&S 21 HP for $3200.

I think I really want a Kohler though. Thoughts?

I have one little spot where I must mow across on a slope. I would not want any of my friends mowing the spot, if you know what I mean. I feel I am capable of doing it but it requires me shifting my body weight to one side of the mower or else I "feel" like I might slide right off the seat (I never feel like the mower would fall over). Do Cub Cadets handle this ok?

Because I have been changing my drive belt so often, I feel the temptation to get the power shaft Cub Cadets. But I'm sure that a high-end garden tractor from Sears would have a much heavier-duty belt than what I'm dealing with now.

Traction is important to me but I am guessing these bigger tractors and big 23" tires will be very helpful in this area.

My price range really can't be more than $3500. The Trailmower weighs about 250 pounds and I pretty much carry it around full-time while mowing.

Thanks for any input you guys have.

GaryE · Apr 23, 2005

Stephen,

I bought a 25 hp GT5000 with the 54" deck last summer to cut the lawn and some of the fields once I level them out with the Kubota. My only real complaint is you cannot raise the cutting deck up high enough to run over any rough terrain. If you are planning on dragging a pull behind mower over anything but smooth ground you may have to drop the cutting deck. Other than that I am sure it will do the job just fine.

As far as the Kohler, I have not put that many hours on it but so far I am very happy with it.

Welcome to TBN.

Gary

frank_f15 · Apr 23, 2005

1st of all welcome to the forum! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and 2nd i think you may be asking a bit much of your LT , i have a crafstman 18 hp Gt going on 13 years now and it has been excellent. but no matter the brand name thier is a world of difference between a LT and GT. the sears bigger mdels a should be fine, and i was just looking at a huskavarna 22.5 hp GT with a list of $3000.00 rally looked like a nice unit,

billbill1 · Apr 24, 2005

I have a 17 hp Kohler on a C175 Wheelhorse and a 20hp Briggs on a Huskee Hydro, I've pulled a Swisher 44" mower behind both for several years without any problem. My yard is fairly flat though and that might make a big difference.

Keith_B · Apr 24, 2005

( My price range really can't be more than $3500. The Trailmower weighs about 250 pounds and I pretty much carry it around full-time while mowing. )

Stephen, with a $3500 budget and a need for power and traction I would recommend you think of going in a different direction.

I would go with a used ATV, that will give you plent of power and traction. You won't need 4WD for the work, so for under $3500 you should be able to get a used ATV in great shape.

Stephen_Byers · Apr 24, 2005

( I would go with a used ATV, that will give you plent of power and traction. You won't need 4WD for the work, so for under $3500 you should be able to get a used ATV in great shape. )

I also have tight areas in my yard, so I'd need to have something else to mow with if I went in this direction.
Thanks.

Keith_B · Apr 24, 2005

Stephen, can you not keep the Craftsman to mow the tight spots in, and use the ATV and trailmower for the steep and rough portions?

Stephen_Byers · Apr 24, 2005

( Stephen, can you not keep the Craftsman to mow the tight spots in, and use the ATV and trailmower for the steep and rough portions? )

Ha, great question. I _could_, but I busted my mower deck this past week hitting a stump. It owuld cost $450 for a new deck to put on my $1500 tractor!! So I am thinking, nuh-uh. And thinking, what a great time to go get me the right tool for the job!

rebelmedic · Apr 24, 2005

I have the 2004 Craftsman GT5000 25HP kohler 44" cut model. The only problem I`ve found is traction on the steep slopes with the turf tires.I`m goeing to put fluid in tires and perhaps chains. A set of chevron tread tires are also available that would be even better but i do not want to replace the new tires at this time. You may be able to have sears put the chevrons on in place of the turfs on a new unit.Other than that i realy like the tractor.It replaced a 12 year old Craftsman 18HP Kohler that was worked very hard.

Noodlearm · Apr 25, 2005

I have had a Huskee 22hp GT from TSC with the 60" swisher and that has worked great for 5 years. Cut about 100" wide combined. I have to replace the blade belt on my tractor about 2 time a year due to the abuse it takes out in the pasture. if your land is anything like mine in terms of roughness, you will still be replacing those belts. I now have a ck30 with a 72" rotary cutter (brushhog) which gets the job done much faster due to higher travel sppeds and less painful in my back due to severe bouncing on smaller machine. If your land is not very bouncy and rough, I would thing the GT 5000 would serve you very well.