What is your favorite brand?

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red">
Hey Bob... you give nice gifts. I'm getting married in spring so I'll need about a 30hp diesel 4WD CUT with a FEL and BH. Thanks in advance! </font>

First you will have to come work for me, then you will have to be in management. Most of the time I just give riding lawn mowers, I used to give WHITE brand (made by MTD) but sold by my local Kubota/Cub Cadet/Case dealer but apparently that is no longer branded under the WHITE name. The same unit, only red, is sold as a Craftsman, so that is what I gave this last time. But the most generous I've been so far has been a Cub Cadet ZTR, so I doubt I'd pony up for a 30hp CUT /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Killer_B]

Hey Gerard,

After several years of begging, my wife gave me the green light to by a Kubota. I first bought a BX2200. A year later I traded that for a "killer B" 7610. It's all diesel for me from here on out!

 

[Killer_B]

Bird,

It has a 14HP Kohler, one of the old cast iron jobbies. I don't think they make them that beefy anymore.

Killer B 7610

 

[Rainbow6]

Here is the link for MTD's home page. It says NOTHING about Craftsman, but I suppose there might still be a connection.
MTD

 

[Rainbow6]

Even as a former Kubota owner ( L3010, BX2230 ) I have to agree. Kubota is just getting started in the lawn care area and so far haven't impressed a lot of people.( even though their diesel zero turns are darn nice. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )

 

[Gunfighter]

Up till two years ago I would have said my favorite brand of garden tractors were
IH Cub Cadet and Wheel Horse.

I've since purchased a Steiner 230 Turf Tractor with 24 HP Kubota diesel, 2 sp HYDRO,
front wheel drive with rear wheel steer..

I'm amazed at the easy of manoeuvring around trees an other
obstacle. Changing implements is a breeze with the two point
hitch. It's hard to imagine how I did without it for the last 40 years..

Understand that John Deere, New Holland, an Kubota offer similar style tractor
but don't know if the attachments offered are as extensive as the 30 for the Steiners...

Picture tractor & finish mower..

Richard
West Michigan

 

[Gunfighter]

Here's a picture of turf tractor an snow blower...

Richard
West Michigan

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Gunfighter, I still like Cub Cadets, but this summer I looked at Steiner & Ventrac tractors. Both brands are amazing, and will do things that none of the "known" brands will do. I looked at the 230 and the 415 but ended up with a Ventrac 3000. I have to agree with you on how easy and fast these things maneuver around things, we've cut our mowing time down dramatically. Many of the Steiner implements fit the Ventracs, and visa versa. I know that Deere & Kubota make mower units that are similar in "look" to the Steiner, but I don't think they offer anything close to the functionality.

I have the leaf blower w/hydraulic directional control, the front bucket, and the finish mower. If I didn't already have a 60" snowblower for my CUTs, I would have gotten the snowblower for the Ventrac as well.

Ventrac 3000 with Front Bucket



Rainbow6 wrote: <font color="red"> Here is the link for MTD's home page. It says NOTHING about Craftsman, but I suppose there might still be a connection. </font>

MTD is also a contract supplier that makes private label goods, that is why the Craftsman brand is not listed as one of their brands, they don't own the brand, they just make some items for the brand. Or at least they did as recently as this summer because that is when I bought the Craftsman/MTD riding mower.

 

[Rainbow6]

Those look great, do you mind if I ask about how much that set you back? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Rainbow6]

Same for the Ventrac Bob, it looks like a fine machine. I'm guessing the one you pictured has to 8 grand or better. Am I close?