Is Using A Riding Lawn Mower As A Plow A Good Idea
So, is using a riding lawn mower as a plow a good idea? It depends on your individual circumstances. If youre comfortable using one and you live in an area that doesnt get too much snow, it can be a cost-effective way to clear your driveway. But if you live in a region that gets a lot of snowfall, its probably best to invest in a dedicated snow plow or snow blower.
Gas Versus Electric Mowers
Many riding lawn mowers are gas-powered, meaning they require gasoline to operate. Others, meanwhile, are electric and use a battery-powered motor that needs to be charged. Though gas riding mowers are more durable and typically better suited for large lawns, Hill cautioned that theyre usually much louder than their electric counterparts and are less eco-friendly since they emit fumes.
Electric riding mowers can be cheaper and easier to maintain since they dont require purchasing or changing out the engine oil, among other upkeep requirements. However, electric riding mowers do have their downfalls: Their functionality is limited to the amount of time they can be used in a single charge if you have several acres of land , the power may not be enough to cut your entire lawn in one sitting.
How Did We Choose These Riding Mowers
Aside from price, I chose both gas and battery-powered riding mowers to give you a choice in how you handle yard work. Gas-powered models give you better run times and more horsepower, while battery-powered ones save you time and money on engine maintenance and help reduce your carbon footprint.
I also chose a variety of cutting deck widths for handling everything from 1 to 10 acres, including a commercial-grade model for large rural properties and landscaping businesses.
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What Is The Best Way To Cut Grass With A Riding Lawn Mower
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to the best way of cutting grass with a riding lawn mower. Some prefer to do it in spirals, others in rows. To choose the best technique, you need to consider a few factors, such as square footage and distance. The number of turns is of importance, too, unless you can find zero turn mowers under 1500$, in which case this does not matter.
Ultimately, it all comes to your preferences however, specialists claim that it is a good idea to change your mowing patterns regularly so that your mower does not wear grooves, which is often the case with heavier models.
Riding Lawn Mower Safety Tips
Lawn mowers are built with safety in mind at every turn, so almost all lawn mower related injuries are through improper use.
When using a lawn mower, ensure any blade guards are in place before use, and when you service the mower, or clean the blades, ensure the key is nowhere near the ignition to prevent accidental starts.
Where possible, rake over the lawn before first use too, as large stones can blunt the lawnmower blade and flick out from beneath the machine.
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Is It Time To Get A New Best 30 Inch Electric Riding Mower
Youre looking for a new best 30 inch electric riding mower. Think about it. It’s impossible to foresee pricing fluctuations in the future. The sooner you buy, the better off you’ll be if manufacturing doesn’t slow down. If, on the other hand, production is falling and prices are expected to climb, you might want to hold off on making a decision until the hype has calmed down.
Best Electric Riding Lawn Mower
The cordless Ryobi RY48130 Riding Lawn Mower lets you get on with yard work without sacrificing the power of a gas engine. Electric riding mowers require a little more oomph than push mowers, and the Ryobi RY48130 steps up via a 48-volt battery with impressive 50Ah life. That means that a single charge should be enough to mow most lawns of an acre or less.
The 30-inch twin-blade cutting deck is wide enough to reduce passes but small enough to be nimble around obstacles. This mower has a trio of brushless motors. It also comes with a bagger and, for those hot summer days, a cup holder.
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Top Ten Reviews Verdict
You can’t go wrong with the John Deere E180 Lawn Tractor. It has everything you need and makes cutting your lawn a downright pleasurable experience.
Pros
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Widest cutting path of all the riding lawn mowers we reviewed
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Small fuel tank
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Editor’s note: The John Deere E180 Lawn Tractor is now unavailable and has been replaced by the John Deere S180. We are currently working on reviewing this updated product.
The John Deere E180 Lawn Tractor is a durable mower that navigates difficult terrain. Designed with professionals and serious lawn-care devotees in mind, the E180 Lawn Tractor has several features that make it an attractive option for heavy-duty jobs, and also one of the best rider lawn mowers you can buy. For example, this lawn tractor boasts a front-mounted V-twin engine that delivers 26 hp to take on hilly and uneven terrain.
The riding mower tops out at 5.5 mph for an easily controlled ride. The fuel gauge sits in easy view as you mow so that you always know how much gas you have left. If you’re wondering what you need for your specific space, check out our guide to what to consider when buying a rider lawn mower .
We’ve also broken down the difference between rear riding lawn mowers, lawn tractors, zero-turn riding lawn mowers, and more.
Riding Lawn Mower Buyers Guide
Grass grows fast, and Is there anything worse on a super hot day than spending hours pushing a lawnmower around the yard? Even with a self-propelled mower, its a workout.
The solution: offering much higher speeds and cutting paths than walk-behind mowers, the best riding lawn mowers featured today will make cutting your lawn a quick, efficient and dare we say fun job.
Our riding lawn mower buyers guide below explains the most important features to consider when buying a riding mower:
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What Are The Different Types Of Lawn Mowers
Dont let the jargon confuse you. Mowers are fairly simple.Heres a rundown:
Mowers can be either walk-behind or riding. Walk-behindmowers are also called push mowers. Theyre easy to operate and store. Becausethey dont take up much space, they work well for many suburban homes.
However, push mowers are slow. Plus, walking and pushing themower can quickly grow tiring, especially if you have a medium-sized or largeyard.
Riding mowers are vehicles with a seat, steering wheel, andengine. They let you sit in comfort and style. Riding lawn mowers allow you tomow large areas quickly and easily. Theyre popular for both commercial andresidential use you dont need a massive estate to benefit from a ridingmower. Theyre useful even in small backyards.
Riding mowers have three different types:
- Rear Engine Mowers
- Zero Turn Mowers
Rear Engine Mowers
Rear engine mowers are compact, zippy mowers that arepopular for residential use. As the name implies, these mowers have theirengines in the back of the vehicle, which increases maneuverability andfront-facing visibility.
Additionally, rear-engine mowers have a low center ofgravity. They can handle uneven terrain and short hills. They typically have atop speed of about five miles per hour.
On the downside, theyre not the best option if you want topull any attachments such as a wagon.
Tractor Mowers
Zero Turn Mower
Riding Lawn Mowers For Sale Near Me:
If youre interested in a particular mower featured in this article, just click any of our links, and you will be directed to Amazon or Home Depot. There, you can review more details about that riding mower or place an order and set up free delivery .
Note: Most riding lawnmowers are shipped within 7-10 business days an exact date will be confirmed at check-out.
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Best Riding Lawn Mowers
- Best Mid-Size Zero-Turn Mower: Husqvarna Z248F
The Expert: Roy Berendsohn is our senior test editor who has been reviewing outdoor power equipment at Popular Mechanics for over 30 years. From his decades of mower testing, hes learned youve got to cut a lot of grass and mow under a wide range of conditions to get a sense of what a mower is worth. He cuts grass throughout the mowing season to evaluate the latest machines, including riding lawn mowers. And hes intimately familiar with industry players, big and small, having tested all types of tools over the years.
Best Riding Lawn Mower For Small Yards
If you have a small yard but want a riding mower anyway, take a look at the Snapper RE110 Riding Lawn Mower.
Its the smallest mower on this list with a 28-inch cutting deck. While it lacks the on a dime turn capability of a zero-turn mower, the Snappers small deck and a relatively tight 20-inch turn radius allows it to weave in and out of tight spots in even the smallest yard.
The 11.5-hp Briggs and Stratton engine provides plenty of power, and the included mulching option takes care of clippings. The Snapper comes with a three-year warranty.
via merchant
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Best Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower
If you crave nimble, zero-turn type control without the high price, consider a rear-engine rider like the Troy-Bilt TB30R CA Riding Lawn Mower.
The 30-inch cutting deck puts it closer to a wide push mower than the enormous widths of some other riding mowers. But for all that compact size, this Troy-Bilt can still tackle big yards the manufacturer recommends it for up to 1-1/2-acres.
It ships with a kit to facilitate easy switching between side discharge and mulching. Bagging kits are sold separately. This mower is covered by a two-year warranty.
What Types Are Available
There are 3 main types of ride-on to choose from, each of which is suited to a specific type of lawn:
- Lawn and garden tractors. These mowers use the traditional design most people think of when they picture a ride-on mower. They feature an engine at the front, steering wheel and pedals, and they usually eject grass out the side. They feature large cutting widths and are usually best suited to lawns without too many obstacles. “Garden” tractors are typically bigger than “lawn” varieties and boast more power along with wider cutting decks.
- Rear-engine ride-ons. The most basic and usually the cheapest option, rear-engine mowers also feature a steering wheel and are known for having a smaller chassis and cutting width. They can’t match the power of other ride-ons, but their size and manoeuvrability make them worth considering for smaller lawns and those with limited storage space. Think of them as the next step up from a self-propelled mower.
- Zero-turn mowers. Known for their tight turning circle, these mowers feature a rear engine and are controlled using a pair of levers. While these levers can take a while to get the hang of, the manoeuvrability of zero-turn mowers is a big selling point. They also boast large cutting widths and lightweight frames, allowing you to cover more ground faster.
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Cub Cadet Cc30 Review
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Whats that yellow drive-around thingy? Its always a Cub Cadet. Their bestselling rear riding mower, the Cub Cadet CC 30 is once again back in circulation. It seems towards the end of the last year, this particular model was removed from stock in all stores and the reason being that Cub Cadet unlike other manufacturers does not mindlessly make machines. They work with a limited quota. And after running out of stock, the Cub Cadet Factory begins producing their most demanded products again and again. And the CC30 model is thankfully one of them. 2015 starts with plenty of this rear rider in stock and the Cub Cadet CC 30 is once more among the top picks on all lawn and garden websites. One disclaimer before I begin diving into the nitty-gritty of my review the Cub Cadet is probably one of the most expensive rear engine mowers on the market, but it is well worth every penny spent. And, with a price below $2000 it is still a very cheap riding mower.
- 11.5HP, 420cc, OHV 6-speed engine
- Non CARB-Compliant
- 5 cutting height positions from 1.5 in. 4 in.
- 18 in. turning radius
In-Depth Review of the Cub Cadet Cc 30 Rear Rider
Exmark Lazer Z: Best Riding Lawn Mower For Large Spaces
If you have a landscaping or lawn care company, you need a riding lawn mower that will work every single day for years without fail, and one that you can expect to perform at the highest level consistently.Exmark Lazer Z X-Series is the perfect fit for such a situation. It has 12 models to choose from that feature powerful engines and solid, heavy duty construction that can withstand a daily beating. Additionally, they utilize eMarkâs unique RED technology.It has on-board computer that helps different parts of the machine communicate with each other and optimize the performance based on whatâs happening at the moment. It monitors engine temperature, oil pressure and electrical components. If thereâs ever a problem, it will automatically correct or shut the machine down if it gets too dangerous.
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Best Riding Lawn Mower For Large Yards
For the biggest yards, we love the Toro Timecutter 75756 Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower. The sizable 54-inch cutting deck dramatically reduces the number of passes needed, and the mower comes stacked with features. You can find larger zero-turn radius mowers than this, but those are better for the pros.
Toro has been in business for more than 100 years, so its no surprise theyve found ways to make mowing more enjoyable. Toros MyRide suspension system reduces the bumps and bounces that come with uneven terrain, and its Smart Speed settings let you choose among straight-out mowing , towing or trimming .
This mower ships with a padded back seat, arm rests and a cup holder. Its backed by a three-year warranty.
Cub Cadet Cc30 H Riding Mower
The Cub Cadet is an American company specializing in riding lawn mowers since 1961. This unit runs using a 382cc Cub Cadet OHV engine equipped with an auto choke feature and a 30-inch cutting deck made of highly durable gauge steel.
Similar to John Deere S100 mower, the Cub Cadet riding lawn mower is an excellent choice for anyone with a medium to large yard. Despite its size, we are surprised by its exceptional performance, comfortable design, and ease of use.
On top of that, this Cub Cadet lawn mower has comfort in mind. The comfortable seat and steering wheels make it easier to maneuver for prolonged periods. We find this one a reliable and cost-efficient lawn mower for most residential homes.
What We Like
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Best Overall: Ryobi Ry48111 100 Ah 38 Electric Riding Mower
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Great performance, even in thick grass
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Quiet operation
Who else recommends it? Bob Vila also picked the RYOBI Electric Riding Mower,
What do buyers say? 1,300+ Home Depot reviewers rated this 5 stars.
It may surprise some people, but our top pick is this battery-powered model from RYOBI. The zero-emissions model easily matches gas mowers in terms of power, cutting through thick grass with ease while demonstrating impressive maneuverability. Plus, it’s fume-free and practically silent, generating only minimal noise.
The RYOBI electric mower has a 38-inch deck, and its 48-volt batteries can run for two and a half hours per charge, allowing you to cut up to two and a half acres in a single session. The two-blade deck has 12 different cutting heights, and the mower offers convenient features like cruise control, LED headlights, and USB charging. There are no belts, spark plugs, or filters, making it easier to maintain than a traditional riding mower.
Our only complaints? The seat gets uncomfortable if you’re mowing for long periods, and it doesn’t have a mulch setting. Still, if you’re in the market for a reliable ride-on mower and ready to switch to a battery-powered model, this is your best bet.
Price at time of publish: $3,199
Cutting Width: 38 inches | Power Type: Battery | Weight: 678 pounds | Cutting Options: Bag, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 1 to 2 acres
Ryobi 75ah Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower
Most Eco-Friendly Riding Mower
Welcome to the future of mowing with this electric mower! The greenest, most eco-friendly of our riding lawn mower options includes 75Ah rechargeable batteries with incredibly easy charging access at the rear end. It’s virtually silent, gas-free, and fume-free. There are 12 cutting heights to choose from with manual desk adjustment. This modern-looking and convenient lawn mower also includes a USB charging manifold for smartphones, Bluetooth headphones, or speakers. It has a fantastic appearance and impressive cutting power for an electric mower model! It runs for about 2 hours and roughly mows 2 acres per charge.
This electric riding lawn mower keeps up with gas-guzzlers. It’s a triple-threat for its sleek appearance, excellent power, and quiet operation. The nature fans will love it!
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