jcmseven
Veteran Member
Fellow Posters:
Two years ago I bought my father a 335 John Deere GT with a 48" deck for Fathers' Day. He has enjoyed the machine a good bit, but also has an older (1982) Gravely 8199KT tractor he still uses. My Dad has about two acres to mow. He also pulls a cart, but has an ATV- which I also got him- to do that. He is 75 years old and is in reasonable health. This spring, I will be faced with making a decision about my own lawnmower. I have a large JD 4520 that I could buy a RFM for, or I could consider getting a mower myself. I have little grass on my personal property, but mow five-six acres for a local school on a "volunteer" basis. I do enjoy mowing, and find it relaxing to be out doing it. I also help my father about one-two weeks monthly with his mowing, which means I generally use his 335. My envisionment is that I would like to get a machine that my father and I could share, that would be easy to transport and we could keep at his home. I could use it when I need to mow, but he would have it other times. I live about two hours from him. Which should I consider most strongly: first, just getting a RFM for my existing tractor and keep things as they are; second, get a larger machine or perhaps ZTR for my father to keep at his house and use--but that I could "borrow" when needed; or three, get a smaller machine for myself that I could use on both places but not have to have my father depend on? I should note my father does not care too much either way; he likes his little tractor but says he would do any of the above. Finally, if I did make a change before spring, how much should a low (65 hour) 335 with that mower deck bring on trade or sale? It seems to me that we could probably share a mower, which my father also supports, but I do not want to spend a mint since I do not get paid for the predominance of my mowing. I suppose I could use his 335, but it would take forever to mow what I mow biweekly. Although I really enjoy doing it, I cannot spare the time to mow for hours on end. Thanks for the opinions in advance. I should note that I am not particularly "brand loyal" here. Many folks posting know I support JD green, mainly because I have good luck with their products and have a nice dealer, but I have also owned others and would not be resistant to them. Thanks.
John M
Two years ago I bought my father a 335 John Deere GT with a 48" deck for Fathers' Day. He has enjoyed the machine a good bit, but also has an older (1982) Gravely 8199KT tractor he still uses. My Dad has about two acres to mow. He also pulls a cart, but has an ATV- which I also got him- to do that. He is 75 years old and is in reasonable health. This spring, I will be faced with making a decision about my own lawnmower. I have a large JD 4520 that I could buy a RFM for, or I could consider getting a mower myself. I have little grass on my personal property, but mow five-six acres for a local school on a "volunteer" basis. I do enjoy mowing, and find it relaxing to be out doing it. I also help my father about one-two weeks monthly with his mowing, which means I generally use his 335. My envisionment is that I would like to get a machine that my father and I could share, that would be easy to transport and we could keep at his home. I could use it when I need to mow, but he would have it other times. I live about two hours from him. Which should I consider most strongly: first, just getting a RFM for my existing tractor and keep things as they are; second, get a larger machine or perhaps ZTR for my father to keep at his house and use--but that I could "borrow" when needed; or three, get a smaller machine for myself that I could use on both places but not have to have my father depend on? I should note my father does not care too much either way; he likes his little tractor but says he would do any of the above. Finally, if I did make a change before spring, how much should a low (65 hour) 335 with that mower deck bring on trade or sale? It seems to me that we could probably share a mower, which my father also supports, but I do not want to spend a mint since I do not get paid for the predominance of my mowing. I suppose I could use his 335, but it would take forever to mow what I mow biweekly. Although I really enjoy doing it, I cannot spare the time to mow for hours on end. Thanks for the opinions in advance. I should note that I am not particularly "brand loyal" here. Many folks posting know I support JD green, mainly because I have good luck with their products and have a nice dealer, but I have also owned others and would not be resistant to them. Thanks.
John M
