Riding mowers

[Raoul Duke MU]

While our yard is only a half acre, I am tired of push mowing it, especially in the heat we get here. Oddly, this heat does not make the grass stop growing. No sir, it fires up random storms that keep the shit growing like weeds....probably because our yard has lots of weeds, but that is a thread for another time.

Those of you with riding mowers, I need advice. Do you use a lawn tractor, or a zero turn? What brand? What are the important things I should look for in a riding mower?

One note, our yard is flat, so climbing hills or weird terrain variation is not an issue.

I am considering this mower. Do any of you have experience with Bad Boy Mowers?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bad-boy-mz-rambler-42-in-briggs-bmz4219bg

 

[-CarlHungus-]

Holy smokes, I've never priced riding mowers before but those things are crazy expensive.

What would it cost you to hire someone to mow it for you? I'm sure you've done the math here, but I'm curious.

Though I do understand wanting to do it yourself. I mow my own grass as well and there's something therapeutic about it. I also have had my patients on their death bed and all they want to do is get strong enough to mow. So I get it.

 

[GeauxHerd]

While our yard is only a half acre, I am tired of push mowing it, especially in the heat we get here. Oddly, this heat does not make the grass stop growing. No sir, it fires up random storms that keep the shit growing like weeds....probably because our yard has lots of weeds, but that is a thread for another time.

Those of you with riding mowers, I need advice. Do you use a lawn tractor, or a zero turn? What brand? What are the important things I should look for in a riding mower?

One note, our yard is flat, so climbing hills or weird terrain variation is not an issue.

I am considering this mower. Do any of you have experience with Bad Boy Mowers?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bad-boy-mz-rambler-42-in-briggs-bmz4219bg

Don’t get a zero turn for half an acre. The dudes that do that look ridiculous

 

[MichiganHerd]

You don't need a zero turn for a half acre. I have 3/4 of an acre that requires mowing, and I just changed from a 46" rider to a 30" cub cadet. $2300.00. I have a bunch of trees and landscaped gardens to mow around and that 30" has made my life better, and only takes me 10 minutes longer to mow. Blaines Farm store sells them as well.

 

[herdfan06]

Build a larger house, problem solved.

 

[GeauxHerd]

Build a larger house, problem solved.

Or no grass landscaping or just pave it all into a basketball court

 

[raleighherdfan]

How long before the govt outlaws riding mowers? The damage these things do to the environment is immeasurable.

 

[MichiganHerd]

How long before the govt outlaws riding mowers? The damage these things do to the environment is immeasurable.

Forgot about raoul hugging trees.

Raoul, that 30" cub cadet is also available as electric. $3400.00.

 

[herdfan06]

Or no grass landscaping or just pave it all into a basketball court

Or artificial turf.

 

[ThunderCat98]

Cub Cadet XT1 LT46. Around $2600. You cannot go wrong with a Cub Cadet for the price.

 

[WV-FAN]

therapeutic

yes, yes it is. my problem is, though, it takes me about a 12 pack to mow my grass so i'd be typically half drunk by the time i was done.

i was going to buy a new mower spring '22 and was going to buy a fairly large JD rider that was going to cost ~$6K. did the math and figured i could get 5 years minimum by paying someone else to do it, so opted for that. the guy i got to do it is a client and i helped him bail himself out of a horrible business venture; he took up mowing grass after selling off all of his assets mainly for something to do. so, he's mowed my grass since for $40 per cut (no way i'd do it for that). and, we take it all in trade between me cooking his books and him mowing my grass. now, i'll get way more than 5 years by having him do it. plus, i get to sit on my 32,000 sqft deck that @riflearm2 is so jealous of drinking beer and watching him mow, so there's no chance of me getting shitty, falling off the mower, and losing a limb.

@Raoul Duke MU . . . flat land, get you a zero turn if that's what you want. they're much more fun to mow with than a regular lawn tractor. i'd probly get one with a steering wheel and a beer holder over the handle bars, though. i'd wreck one with the handle bars while trying to steer with my knees while drinking.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Holy smokes, I've never priced riding mowers before but those things are crazy expensive.

What would it cost you to hire someone to mow it for you? I'm sure you've done the math here, but I'm curious.

Though I do understand wanting to do it yourself. I mow my own grass as well and there's something therapeutic about it. I also have had my patients on their death bed and all they want to do is get strong enough to mow. So I get it.

It absolutely is therapeutic for me. Honestly I enjoy a push mower, it's good exercise, but Jesus it gets hot here. It turns into a four hour job because I take frequent breaks for hydration. Add in trimming, pulling some weeds, etc and it's exhausting.

Don’t get a zero turn for half an acre. The dudes that do that look ridiculous

Well, it is the smaller zero turn and not one of those 60" monsters. And truth be told, the seat on the Bad Boy is so damn comfortable. It's like a throne.

And frankly, most people here with similar lots do go with a smaller zero turn. So no one is going to look at me funny.

I'm also thinking the Bad Boy might be built a little better than, say, Cub Cadet. I looked at one locally and it just seems sturdy AF. The one I linked is a hell of a deal, end of season deal I guess. It's only about 35 minutes up the road too, last one at that Tractor Supply.

How long before the govt outlaws riding mowers? The damage these things do to the environment is immeasurable.

Sir, I live in Kansas.

@Raoul Duke MU . . . flat land, get you a zero turn if that's what you want. they're much more fun to mow with than a regular lawn tractor.

I might as well have fun if it's going to be 110°.

When it's that hot, I check the weather in Elkins and in Davis and feel like an idiot.

 

[greengeezer]

The cheapest riding mower costs more than my first three new cars. Plant evergreen trees.

 

[GeauxHerd]

yes, yes it is. my problem is, though, it takes me about a 12 pack to mow my grass so i'd be typically half drunk by the time i was done.

i was going to buy a new mower spring '22 and was going to buy a fairly large JD rider that was going to cost ~$6K. did the math and figured i could get 5 years minimum by paying someone else to do it, so opted for that. the guy i got to do it is a client and i helped him bail himself out of a horrible business venture; he took up mowing grass after selling off all of his assets mainly for something to do. so, he's mowed my grass since for $40 per cut (no way i'd do it for that). and, we take it all in trade between me cooking his books and him mowing my grass. now, i'll get way more than 5 years by having him do it. plus, i get to sit on my 32,000 sqft deck that @riflearm2 is so jealous of drinking beer and watching him mow, so there's no chance of me getting shitty, falling off the mower, and losing a limb.

@Raoul Duke MU . . . flat land, get you a zero turn if that's what you want. they're much more fun to mow with than a regular lawn tractor. i'd probly get one with a steering wheel and a beer holder over the handle bars, though. i'd wreck one with the handle bars while trying to steer with my knees while drinking.

Which side of the house is your huge deck on? It’s still not showing up on google maps. All I can see is the complicated roof line, concrete parking pad and the outdoor sex swing

 

[WV-FAN]

Which side of the house is your huge deck on? It’s still not showing up on google maps. All I can see is the complicated roof line, concrete parking pad and the outdoor sex swing

google map still shows the pool that I filled in 4 years ago.

the sex swing has been added on to.

southwest of the concrete pad is a new 38x48 garage with an apartment above it.

 

[GeauxHerd]

google map still shows the pool that I filled in 4 years ago.

the sex swing has been added on to.

southwest of the concrete pad is a new 38x48 garage with an apartment above it.

Looks like alot of folks have built around you. Including the nice chicken or hog sheds across the way

 

[Rock98Dog]

I bought a cheap ass 36” riding mower 24 years ago. I’ve replaced one drive belt and two deck belts and two batteries. It starts every year and cuts the grass every week.

Just get any one with a Briggs and Stratton or Honda motor. Riding mowers are not complex at all and they are all built essentially the same. My only real advice is buy one where they do service, not from Lowe’s or somewhere like that.

Oh, and a cup holder is essential.

 

[WV-FAN]

Looks like alot of folks have built around you. Including the nice chicken or hog sheds across the way

chicken houses were there when I built in the middle of 300 private acres bordering >10000 national forest acres.

 

[MichiganHerd]

Can't believe some of you assholes drink beer while you mow. I have beer on ice, and work hard out there in the yard, sweat more than Moses Malone at the free throw line. Once I'm done mowing, I move onto edging the driveway, edge around all the landscaping as well as my smoking shack. Then I get the blower out, and remove all the grass from driveway and sidewalks. Still sweating worse than Moses. Clean up all my equipment and recharge batteries, and by the time I hit the porch, the beers are happy to see me.

 

[WV-FAN]

Can't believe some of you assholes drink beer while you mow. I have beer on ice, and work hard out there in the yard, sweat more than Moses Malone at the free throw line. Once I'm done mowing, I move onto edging the driveway, edge around all the landscaping as well as my smoking shack. Then I get the blower out, and remove all the grass from driveway and sidewalks. Still sweating worse than Moses. Clean up all my equipment and recharge batteries, and by the time I hit the porch, the beers are happy to see me.

C'mon down, the price is right.

 

[GeauxHerd]

Clean up all my equipment and recharge batteries,

Recharge batteries? Sounds like something a hippy would do

 

[i am herdman]

My old man had one of these:

 

[GeauxHerd]

So did mine. Now he has cub cadet

 

[greengeezer]

My old man had one of these:

That looks like an old Gravley

 

[MichiganHerd]

I can't even find a Mexican willing to mow my grass these days. Anybody know if the hondorans are willing to work the field?

 

[i am herdman]

I can't even find a Mexican willing to mow my grass these days. Anybody know if the hondorans are willing to work the field?

Yes. They work as hard or harder than the Mexicans.. smaller stature and the women don't have those big type asses. Good people.

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

We have decided to go with the Cub Cadet lawn tractor. @ThunderCat98 wins a prize, as he named the model we are getting. Thanks to all for their advice.

Why the Cub Cadet? Well, first off I am a cheap bastard. It's a grand less than the zero-turn I was looking at. Second, the wife wants a cart to pull behind it. We do a lot of landscaping and planting, I agree that would be convenient. Third, the Kohler v-twin.

 

[ThunderCat98]

We have decided to go with the Cub Cadet lawn tractor. @ThunderCat98 wins a prize, as he named the model we are getting. Thanks to all for their advice.

Why the Cub Cadet? Well, first off I am a cheap bastard. It's a grand less than the zero-turn I was looking at. Second, the wife wants a cart to pull behind it. We do a lot of landscaping and planting, I agree that would be convenient. Third, the Kohler v-twin.

Change the oil, filter, and sparkplug before every season and it will not let you down. I would also recommend paying around $200 for the mulching kit. I don't have one, but my father-in-law does and it works really well.