My uncle got a new Murray riding mower from Wal-Mart a little while back 14hp, 5spd, 38" cut, and today I had to use it to pull the little 4 x 6 trailer with the tools (3 shovels and a grubbing hoe) and dirt (maybe 1/2 what the trailer could hold) down to his new shed (on the side of a steep hill). That thing would not pull that trailer at all going up hill.
Now, being that I fix lawnmowers, I try to keep an open mind, but this lawn tractor is INFERIOR to everything else out there. I do NOT recommend Murray riding lawnmowers to anybody when asked what to buy (I have one waiting for attention behind my little shop). If you're on a limited budget, MTD's will work, but they are not much better (I have 2 of them, one is a basketcase, the other died on me last week, gotta check it out tomorrow), Craftsmans are the best bang for the buck on the low end, if not, Snappers are ok (got one that has seen better days), however; if money is no object, I highly recommend John Deeres, and I have the experience with them to say this, being that I own 2, one of them being 5 years old, the other 35 years old and doing well, and still running strong, although I am in the process of restoring it.
I've never dealt with a Skag, but I hear they are mighty pricy when new, and even more expensive to fix when they break down, even more so than John Deeres.
i agree about the craftsman. when we had 5 acres, i would use my 18.5 HP to mow down the weeds. tried to grow grass but i don't have a green thumb. worked great on the weeds, though. my favorite part of the mower was that it was loud. i used to get out there and mow and mow; pretending i didn't see my wife waving frantically from the back door to get my attention. LOL. i always turned the opposite way from the house. with 5 acres, i could be out there for a long time, untill i run outta fuel. then she got me. Craftsman with a Kohler engine and hydrostatic drive.
Scag, Exmark or Dixie Chopper just to name a few. These machines will mow a lawn 3-4 times faster than the consumer junk at wally world or Sears. You get what you pay for.
If you want to save time, buy one of the machines I named above. If you like to take your time and mow the lawn then stay with the Sears stuff.
My expertise, comes from 12yrs of owning a landscaping company. And from working on ALL of them. You have higher quality, and a sturdier built machine with the commercial grade equipment. Yes, they are pricey, but they are worth it.
Last edited by 8996EBBroncos; 06-14-2004 at 10:09 PM.
I use John Deeres because they hold up better than anything else out there, as well as being versatile, they can be used with tillers, loaders, rotary brooms, grader blades, and more, plus they have the best dealer network & support of all.
The brands you mentioned above may be good, but around here the dealers that carry them (that are not already JD dealers) have either gone out of business or they go to a major mfg. to sell such as Cub Cadet, Snapper, Kubota, New Holland, or Massey Ferguson.
The 0-turn mowers only mow. People want to do more with their mowers and that's why they choose a tractor style. If all I was going to do was mow, I'd have a JD 797.
I was actually thinking more of a mowing machine that can pull attachments more so than garden tractors. If you need the options that come with having a garden tractor with hydraulic hook ups, by all means go with the JD or Kubota.
I have a MTD 14.5 hp 42" cut i purchased 12 years ago and NEVER had any problems with it pulling a cart behind itself. There must be a belt out of adjustment or another problem. I pull a 350lb. lawn roller behind mine all the time up and down hills. By the way MTD make so many brands of mowers now days including, some lower end John deeres, cub cadet, yardman, murray, the list goes on. Something is a miss with the newer murray and i would have it checked before demeaning it.
I have to agree that I have never been impressed with Murray tractors. Wouldn't take one as a gift.
The best I've seen is the Ingersoll line (formerly Case). Finding a dealer is a little difficult but my experience has been that the machine is so good, I don't need no stinkin' dealer. And another advantage is they are American made.
You get what you pay for - usually. For the guy who has a half acre yard a Murray will do just fine. My neighbor has one just for mowing around the house and fruit trees and it was bought new in 1982. Mows the rest with his Cub Lowboy. When you start comparing prices the JD better be twice the mower at three times the price.
we had a ford lawn tractor as we had 20 acres to cut...that got old quick as it was like 53" cut 3 blade belly style mower with full hydro drive system and 20hp kohler motor...we got a john deere 4x4 3 point style with a bush hog deck and a turf master deck for the front part that needed to be cut clean....i think it was a 748?? diesel pretty sturdy tractor that could cut the manicured front lawn and tackle the heavy undergrowth on the back 15 acres and pond's muddy banks with the 4x4 locked in...great tractor not too sure what my dad paid for it but i think it cost about as much as our car
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not too sure what my dad paid for it but i think it cost about as much as our car
