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What’s The Best Riding Lawn Mower To Buy

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Transmission Of Riding Lawn Mower

Best Place To Buy A Lawn Mower [Professional & Residential]

Each riding lawn mower model has varying types of transmissions. With a manual transmission, you would be able to select a range of speeds that a riding lawn mower already has. The second type of transmission is called the automatic transmission, which operates similarly as the transmission in a vehicle or a car. With this transmission, the operator has the ability to control the speed with the gas pedal. Lastly, the hydrostatic transmission operates similarly as the automatic transmission, but it makes use of fluid instead of belts in order to transfer power to the wheels from the engine. These can be equipped with cruise control, which makes working on big flat areas easy and simple.

John Deere E180 Lawn Tractor: Mowing Experience

This lawn tractor features a cutting width of 54 inches no other mower we reviewed has this wide of a cutting path. The impressive width subtracts the number of passes over your grass to finish mowing faster.

The blades adjust to 11 different positions between 1 inch and 4 inches high for a custom cut. This allows you to get the exact lawn height you want. And its easily adjustable, so if you have zones in your yard that you want to keep at different lengths, it only takes a few seconds to adjust so you can get on with mowing.

With a wide turning radius of 18 inches, this riding mower works best in large, unobstructed yards or open fields. Some mowers can turn as tight as 14 inches, while others such as the Cub Cadet employ zero-turn technology for navigating around trees and other obstacles.

A pedal-operated hydrostatic transmission frees your hands from fiddling with a shifter knob while you steer. Cruise control allows you to set the speed you like and focus on what’s in front of the riding mower instead of your speed.

The headlights on this riding lawnmower are bright and provide good visibility in low-light situations such as at dawn and dusk. However, you should never mow in completely dark situations. Even these powerful lights wont make it safe enough to do that.

Run Time: Battery Cell Capacity

If youre like me, you always want to be able to finish yard work in one fell swoop. To help you determine if an electric mower can accomplish all your yard work without a recharge, you should examine the battery cells storage capacity, which is represented in amperage hours Ah.

Amp Hours Explained

Ah is a number representing how many amps the battery exerts in one hour of work. In laymans terms, a battery pack with a higher Ah rating will store more power and therefore run for longer.

Mowers dram amps from the battery at different rates and depending on how hard the machine is being worked at any one time. So again, it is not as simple as saying this mower will run for longer as it has a higher Amp Hour rating, as the mower may be less efficient by design, and simply draw more power to run for one hour straight.

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Husqvarna Yta24v48 Tractor Mower

If you have a medium to large-sized property up to 3-acres, the Husqvarna YTA24V48 Tractor Mower is the perfect ride-on mower for you. The powerful 24 HP Briggs & Stratton engine is famous for its reliable long-term performance, a better cut, minimal vibration, quieter operation, and reduced overheating.

There is no need to prime the engine as the choke-less start key allows for a highly responsive start. At just the push of a pedal, the fast automatic hydrostatic transmission provides fast and smooth, variable forward and reverse speeds.

Built strong for tough tasks, the durable 48-inch steel-reinforced spring-assist deck has 6 height positions to choose from, which can be easily adjusted to suit any kind of terrain or grass level you have on your property. Special Air Induction mowing technology also improves airflow within the deck, thus ensuring a clean, consistent cut every time.

A heavy cast-iron oscillating front axle provides superior balance and a 16-inch turning radius helps you to maneuver the mower around trees or other obstacles.

When it comes to cutting thick grass, the Electric Blade Engagement system can be operated by just a pull of a switch that is located on the control panel.

The Maintenance Minder reminds you when it is time to service your tractor, and there is a convenient cup holder for your drink. You will enjoy a comfortable mowing experience as Husqvarna has included an ergonomic seat and a soft-grip steering wheel.

Pros

Who Makes The Best Riding Mower

What Is The Best Riding Lawn Mower To Buy

In our opinion, the top 3 riding lawn mower brands for the money are Husqvarna, Craftsman, and Toro. Its important to note, however, that the best riding mower for you will depend on your needs, preferences, and budget.

Honorable mention: Troy-Bilt built in the U.S.A and founded in 1937, is an outstanding lawnmower company with years of service and dependability, which happen to build a more affordable lawnmower line.

Be sure to take the size and slope of your yard, the price youre willing to pay, and the amount of maintenance youre ready to perform into consideration before selecting the mower that best suits your needs.

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How Are Riding Mowers Beneficial

  • A riding lawn mower allows you to continuously take care of your lawn even if you have back issues.
  • With the riding lawn mowers, you can buy extra attachments that can help you do the other gardening jobs.
  • A riding lawn mower allows you to do a variety of jobs, such as you can cut short grass, tall grass, and brush too.
  • The most important benefit of a riding lawn mower is the ability to use the equipment for snow removal whenever the need arises.
  • Once you buy the riding lawn mower, you never need to rent another landscaping tool again.

Final Words

There is neither a one-size-fits-all approach to purchasing the best lawn tractor nor is there any specific brand or model that will suit everybody. But a high-quality vehicle can help you with a variety of tasks, making landscaping easier and even more pleasant. This guide aims to help you choose the best lawn tractor that meets your requirements and keeps your lawn cleaner.

What Is The Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills

A sloping or hilly landscape might add tons of character to your property, but its certainly not easy to mow. In fact, a lawn with hills can be up to 20 times tougher to maintain than a flat yard, especially if youre using a walk-behind model to mow uphill or downhill. Trusty push mowers wont be able to deal with it. You need to look at riding mowers such as self-propelled mowers or zero-turn mowers to tackle hills.

Luckily, this is why these mowers are so convenient for tidying up your lawn and collecting grass clippings. While these powerful models make mowing the grass easy, its best to make sure you purchase one thats perfect for uneven terrain. This will ensure that your rider is both efficient and not prone to slipping or tipping over.

One of the best options for tackling hilly areas is the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 Zero Turn Mower. With a command center optimized for comfort, youll find this riding mower a breeze for mowing over rough terrain.

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Terrain And Yard Size

As experts noted, the size of your lawn will determine whether you should invest in a riding lawn mower its usually not worth it for homeowners with less than half an acre. However, the type of terrain can also affect how the mower is used. A lawn tractor will work well on any relatively flat lawn and on landscapes with a lot of uneven sectors, especially if it features a steering wheel that provides more control. If you have a relatively flat yard with obstacles like rocks and gravel, a ZTR will probably show better results as it can turn 360 degrees on a small spot and pivot at sharp angles, McKenzie said.

What Is The Best Husqvarna Riding Lawn Mower Of 2018

Top 10 Best Riding Lawn Mowers Reviews 2022

The Husqvarna Riding Lawn Mower 2018 is a multifunction mower that offers high power, excellent performance, and durability. This lawn mower has variable speed for smooth cutting and mulches leaves with ease. The riding lawnmower 2018 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a ride on the fields.

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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.

What’s The Difference Between A Riding Mower And Lawn Tractor

Riding mowers and lawn tractors can look the same and they both cut grass but the main difference is the jobs they’re able to perform effectively. Riding mowers are designed primarily for cutting grass, and their front-mounted decks make them well-suited for it. This design allows you to easily maneuver around obstacles and makes it easier to see exactly what you’re cutting.

Lawn tractors, on the other hand, have their deck mounted farther back in the center of the machine. This design results in a larger turning radius that can struggle with tight turns but also makes it easier for them to be used as a multifunctional machine. They can be customized with snowplows or blowers on the front and can easily pull spreaders or dump carts behind them.

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Best Riding Mower Overall

Cutting width: 42 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic variable speed | Power source: Gasoline | Mow in reverse: Yes | Mulching/bagger capable: Yes

The Husqvarna YTH18542 snagged the top spot on our list of the best lawn mowers, and it also takes the crown here as the best riding mower you can buy. Personally, I have a slightly older version of this model, and I absolutely adore it.

The 42-inch cutting deck has two sets of blades for more even and consistent cuts, and you can fit it with a mulching kit or bagger attachment for easier cleanup or to re-feed your lawn with ultra-fine clippings. You can set the cutting height to six different positions to get the best cut all season long, and a deck wash feature lets you hook up a garden hose to clear dried grass clippings to maintain optimum performance.

The hydrostatic transmission works like a car: the harder you push the pedal, the faster you go. Which means using this riding mower is much easier than variable speed manual models. It even has a mow-in-reverse feature that keeps the blades engaged when you back up, making it quick and easy to go over spots you may have missed or navigate tricky areas around garden beds.

Pros:

Riding Lawn Mower Safety Considerations

Best Riding Lawn Mower

Make sure you take the following precautions while operating your rider or tractor.

  • Look for mowers that automatically stop the blade from spinning as soon as you stand up to minimize the potential for accidents.
  • Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry that may get tangled in moving parts.
  • Clear debris from your yard prior to mowing to avoid damaging the mower and blades and eliminate possible projectiles.
  • Make sure you’re wearing the proper safety gear for hearing and eye protection.
  • Consider a mower that provides safeguards that must be disengaged before you can mow in reverse, allowing you to pause and check behind you to make sure there are no kids or pets in your path.

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Best Craftsman Riding Mower

Why We Like It

Next on our list of best riding lawn mower reviews is the Craftsman T225 Riding Mower. The super-dependable T225 Riding mower combines a powerful 19 HP Briggs & Stratton engine, and a large 46 mower deck with a built-in power wash. A powerful combination of size and power, that checks all the boxes, and could well be the best mower for your own needs.

Featuring turf-saver wheels, pedal-operated hydrostatic transmission, and a High Back adjustable seat the Craftsman T225 surely checks all the boxes a homeowner could need.

Specifications

  • Ready Start
  • 19HP Gold Briggs & Stratton Engine
  • High Back supportive adjustable seat
  • Responsive handling
  • Bright headlights

Our Take Away

In terms of convenience, its tough to beat this Craftsman riding mower. The mow-in-reverse feature is especially helpful when cutting in reverse through wet grass or in other demanding conditions. Overall, we were extremely impressed with this mower and can recommend it as an excellent runner-up to the Craftsman T225, and is only named runner-up, as its a bit pricier than our Editors Choice from Husqvarna.

CRAFTSMAN T225 46 Riding Lawn Mower

Husqvarna Ts 354xd Garden Tractor

With unbeaten design features and capabilities in its class, the Husqvarna TS 354XD Garden Tractor is perfectly suited for a medium to large-sized property that has harsh mowing conditions.

The reliable Kawasaki 24 HP engine produces maximum power, quieter operation, and low emissions, so you can mow fast anywhere with a consistent result every time.

Built like a tank, the TS 354XD has a rugged 10-gauge welded steel ClearCut cutting deck and the additional welded reinforcement strips ensure long-lasting durability. Instead of painted plastic that can fade, Husqvarna has made the hood from solid steel.

The commercial-grade electric locking rear differential keeps both rear tires moving in unison without overheating and provides unmatched traction on inclines and wet, slippery conditions. Six anti-scalping tires also prevent any damage to your lawn.

You have a lot of cutting versatility at your disposal as the cutting deck has 6 height-of-cut settings that range from 1-4-inches.

Adjusting the mowers maximum speed of 5.5 MPH and 2.5 MPH in reverse can be done quickly via the pedal-operated Tuff Torq hydrostatic transmission. Cruise control and a 16-inch turning radius make it easy to maneuver the riding mower in a tight yard. A cast-iron front axle and dual draglinks allow for improved balance and stability, as well as a tighter turning radius.

Pros

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How Do I Ride A Lawn Mower

Ride-on lawn mowers are relatively easy to operate because they dont require as much elbow grease as other types of mowers out there. Pretty much everything you have to do is climb into the drivers seat and turn on the power switch or press the start button. A ride-on mower with automatic transmission doesnt require shifting gears to change speeds.

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How To Choose The Best Riding Lawn Mower

Finding the Perfect Lawn Mower | Consumer Reports

Toro riding mowers are built to last longer and perform better than any others you can find, but for many people, its hard to narrow down your choices to find whats right for your lawn. The lineup of Toro riding mowers is solely zero-turn mowers because we believe they offer the most comfort, durability, and capability compared to others such as lawn and garden tractors, and allow a better mowing experience for our customers.Because of their maneuverability and comfort, zero turn riding mowers are ideal for lawns with many obstacles including garden features, trees and landscaping. Consider the acreage of your lawn that needs to be cut, and the versatility you need, such as if you need to tow anything or mow different types of brush or grass. To start with, consider the size and grade of your lawn. Now that you know the benefits of buying a zero-turn mower, here are the 8 key things to consider when buying a riding lawn mower.

  • Durability look for designs that are inspired by commercial machines
  • Engine Design single-cylinder and twin-cylinder options are available, with twin-cylinder being the choice of professionals
  • Cutting Height look for easy adjustability without intricate parts which could break over time
  • Wide Tires wide tires offer the most traction and weight distribution for better stability
  • Comfort seat construction, suspension, and accessories make all the difference
  • Property Size
    Mowing Deck
    Terrain Type
    Creature Comforts

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    Best Lawn Tractorjohn Deere Riding Lawn Mower

    This John Deere is a great mower for large yards up to four acres. Most riding lawn mowers cant boast a V-twin hydrostatic transmission with three blades that can cut grass with a more even and smoother cut like this one can. The sizeable 2.4-gallon fuel tank capacity guarantees it can cut most lawn sizes without refueling.

    It also has a rear-wheel drive that allows it to grip sloped or uneven ground with ease. One buyer wrote, Using it at a camp in Maine that has some pretty tough, uneven terrain as well as a field. So far, so good It performs really well. Cuts through large amounts of grass and leaves post-winter with ease. Easy controls to use. Very powerful.

    Specifications

    Acres covered: 24 acres

    Cutting width: 48 inches

    How Do You Decide Which Riding Mower To Buy

    Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

    The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similar to how a car drives: you push the pedal and it moves forward or backwards. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. More stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to “set and forget” your speed so you can focus on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

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