Purchase new lawn tractor

howeyes · Apr 7, 2005

I am about to purchase my first lawn tractor. I live in the northeast and have approx. 3 acres of land (lawn, forest and wetlands). I will mow about 1 acre of lawn and use the tractor to pull a cyclone rake, as well as aerate the lawn. In the future, I may want to attach a front blade or snowthrower.

I've narrowed my choice to eithe a 2004 JD LX280 with 48" deck vs. 2004 Simplicity Conquest with the 44" deck. The Simplicity seems to be a more substantial machine with larger tires, more weight, and locking differential. The JD is no slouch either with th Kawasaki engine. I can get the Simplicity for about 1K less than the JD- but the JD has a more recognized name.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this topic and any help you can provide with this decision.

Much thanks.

bczoom · Apr 7, 2005

howeyes,

Welcome to TBN!!

Can you update your profile and narrow down where you live? It may help since some may have thoughts on the dealerships as well.

Brian

howeyes · Apr 7, 2005

Thanks for your reply. I live in Connecticut along the not too far from New Haven and there are good JD and Simplicity dealers whom I've been talking to about the purchase.

Golfgar4 · Apr 7, 2005

Hello, and welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I believe what Brian meant when he suggested that you update your profile is the profile page here at TBN that you can fill out with useful information. A person's profile can be seen by clicking on the persons Username, which is to the left of the post (message) that you're reading. That's where people can read information about you.

To update your profile, simply go to the top of this page and click on My Home . Then page down until you see Main Configuration . Then click on the word Edit to the right of Personal information, email, password, etc. . Then just fill in the blanks and your profile will be updated.

Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

GaryE · Apr 7, 2005

Howeyes,

You don't say what type of lawn you have. If it is rough, the heavier tractor with a smaller deck will be the better choice. If it is a smooth lawn, the JD will probably do the job just fine. Simplicity has been around for a long time.

Much of my land is pretty rough, I bought a garden tractor with a 54" deck, it was a mistake.

Gary

howeyes · Apr 7, 2005

Thanks for the info. My lawn is fairly smooth and level

GaryE · Apr 7, 2005

My lawn is fairly smooth and level 

Having grown up in CT, I know that is not all that common!

Good luck with your purchase,

Gary

bczoom · Apr 8, 2005

( I can get the Simplicity for about 1K less than the JD- but the JD has a more recognized name.)

howeyes,

I would say that either of these choices would work well for you. Although JD is a more recognized name, Simplicity has been making very good tractors for many years.

Brian

creeper · Apr 14, 2005

Both are great, but wich one feels better to you ? Is cutting in reverse important to you? If you spend time on them you will notice something on one or the other that you like or dislike. Good Luck!

BRIGUY · Apr 14, 2005

If you're talking about the safety feature on the electric PTO of the deere. I had a GT225 at work and every time you touched the reverse hydro pedal the PTO disengaged. you can hold up on the button to stop this but you end up driving around holding up on the button. A pain for me because I own a kubota with a rocker pedal and if I havent driven the Deere in a while I am always hitting the reverse on the JD, when I want to go forward.

I don't know what the simplicity has for a reverse safety. Small thing but it could bug you.

Both are great machines. I am probably a little more partial to Simplicity. I have not driven either of those exact models just there larger garden tractor brothers.