SLT 1554 or LT 1050

[dad_e_o]

I am looking to purchase a new lawn tractor and after endless searching I have decided that a Cub is by far the best bang for my buck. However, I am undecided between the SLT 1554 and the LT 1050. I have looked at the Cub website and the specs on both. The website shows little difference between the two. The SLT 1554 has 1HP more, 4" wider deck, high back seat, larger rear tires, a larger fuel tank, a front bumper, and a 3" wider turning radius. My question is, are those few things all that is truely different or is there something mechanically superior on the SLT 1554 for the price difference, ie. something in the transmission, or is it just a larger machine.

 

[JPPWNY]

I am a JD fan, but needed a good sized tractor that could mow more than acres with some of it being steep. The comparable JD was much more money that I wanted to spend. I bought the SLT1554 because I thought it had a lot to offer for the price. I have mowed 4 times with it and like it more every time I use it. One annoying thing did happen, I broke the parking brake and cruise control levers at the same time when trying to set the brake the first time I used it. I can still mow without those features and will get them fixed when I take it in for it's end of season service.
My friend has a 1050 which keeps losing it's belt, just like some other posters on this site.
There doesn't look like much different between the machines other than the 1554 is bigger than the 1050, has a black front grill and push bars in front.
I went for the 1554 just because you get 4 more inches every pass. For me, saving time is worth the extra money for the 1554. Also, reducing 'run time' might help the machine last longer as well.