Types of Ride on Lawn Mowers

A cheap ride on lawn mower will usually have a larger turning radius.  What this means is that when you turn around, you will leave a track of uncut grass that you will have to come back for on the next pass.  More expensive riding mowers have all wheel steering, which decreases the turning radius.  If you’d like to perform other tasks with your machine, such as pushing snow or plowing the garden, you will need what is called a ride on lawn mower tractor.  These small tractors can take attachments that can accomplish a multitude of tasks.  At the upper end of the price range is the zero turn ride on lawn mower, which can turn completely around without leaving grass uncut.  Which type of mower you need will depend on both the size of the lawn you need to mow and the number of obstacles you need to maneuver around.

Costs of Ride on Lawn Mowers

If you are looking for a basic ride on mower for home use, you should be able to find one for around $1,200 (£735).  Lawn tractors with bigger mowing decks, more horsepower, and other features increase the price.  At the high end of the spectrum are the zero turn mowers, which will cost somewhere around $3,000 (£1,838), depending on the brand.  If you are short on cash, you can usually pick up a used ride on lawn mower for about the same price of a good new push mower.  Of course, if you buy a used machine you won’t have a warranty if it breaks down.  A good place to look is on craiglist or in your local bargain hunter weekly.  Your best bet for ride on lawn mower parts is either at a large lawn mower shop, or directly from the company’s website.

Brands of Ride on Lawn Mowers

Although all brands of ride on lawn mowers will tout that theirs is “the best” and has this or that feature, the brands do differ a bit in terms of comfort, reliability, and warranty.

A John Deere ride on lawn mower is made by a company that also produces out mega-machines.  They produce quality, durable machines with a welded steel frame.  They also feature 4 year warranties and “drive free for a year” special.

Each Husqvarna ride on lawn mower is separated into one of three categories according to use:  Homeowner, Landowner, and Professional.  All models feature ergonomic seats and cruise control.  Most Husqvarna mowers get excellent customer reviews and the brand is known worldwide as a leader in quality.

Another great brand is Toro.  A Toro ride on lawn mower is built to last, and they are used by many professional landscapers to mow fields and golf courses.  They are famous for their zero turn mowers, and all of their products are covered by a two year limited warranty.

You can buy a Murray ride on lawn mower at stores in North America and Europe, including a few of the big box stores like Wal-Mart.  This brand does not have the variety of the above mentioned brands, and it definitely has received more customer complaints than other brands.  A good place to start getting ride on lawn mower reviews is with your neighbors and family.  Ask people you know about their machines, and you will get a great deal of information regarding price, quality, comfort, and dependability

Baggers – They will automatically suck up your lawn clippings for you to put them where you wan them.

Aerators – Many people rent one of these, but you can get one for around $100 that you can just pull behind your lawn mower.  Lawn aeration works well in areas with dense soil.  Getting an aerator attachment for your mower will let more more water and nutrients reach the grass roots.

Carts – Attach a cart to the back of your lawn tractor and you can use it for hauling heavy things around.

Lawn Sweepers — An alternative to a bagger, you pull one of these behind your lawn mower, and it automatically sweeps up grass clippings and leaves and puts them in a holding area.  If you have a large yard, getting a lawn sweeper will save a lot of raking and bagging time.

Snow Throwers and Blades — Lets face it, shoveling the snow off your driveway is a major chore in the winter.  Why not put your ride on lawn mower to use in the off season by putting a snow thrower on it?  If you live in a place that snows a lot , you will probably use it more in the winter than the summer!

Tillers and Cultivators — If you want to have a garden, a tiller or cultivator attachment can easily be hooked up and pulled by your ride on mower.  Although the tiller attachment costs about as much as a walk-behind tiller, it is a lot easier, since you only need to tow it.

Spreaders –  Hook up a spreader to your ride on lawn mower, and you will be able to plant new grass seed, fertilize your lawn, and spread sand or ice melting agents in the winter.  Tow-behind spreaders mean you don’t have to push a hundred pounds of seed or fertilizer around your yard anymore.

When choosing a ride on lawn mower, keep in mind which, if any attachments you would like to add, even if you won’t be buying them for years.  Planning ahead this way will save you money in the long run.  If you simply need to cut your grass without any attachments, then buy a basic lawn mower with an engine right for your needs.  If you won’t be needing the accessories in the off season, garden sheds or garage ceiling storage are  good places to put them.

You can find these and other accessories either online or at most large  stores that sell garden landscape supplies.  Choices and prices will vary from store to store, so you might want to check a few places before making a decision.

Here are a few considerations you must look into before making a decision.

Do you really need a ride on mower, or will a push mower be adequate for your needs?  If the area you are mowing is less than half an acre or so, you can probably mow it with a push mower.  If pushing a mower around is too tiring, another option is to get a self-propelled mower, which you walk behind but don’t have to push.  These types of mowers cost way, way less than ride on mowers, and work very well  They can even bag your lawn clippings as well.

Is your yard full of things like trees, shrubs, rocks, and other landscaping features?  Ride on lawn mowers definitely work best on large areas with few obstacles.  If your yard has a lot of things to maneuver around, and is less than an acre, you might want to consider just doing it with a push mower.  If you don’t want to push a mower around, consider locating most of your landscape and other items together in an island.  You can then make a little patio with a table, umbrella, maybe even a retro plastic chair in there for style.  This way you can easily mow around the island without having to maneuver around each item individually.   Even the best garden tractors won’t be able to cut right up close to everything, so you will need to use either a push mower or a weed-eater anyway.  If your yard isn’t too big, it might even be quicker to just use a self-propelled lawn mower and get everything at once.  It often helps to arrange have a good garden plan arrange your garden decor in a way that makes it easy to trim the grass.

Ride on lawn mower prices are not cheap.  Expect to pay at least $1,000 for a basic model and tractors with more features and bigger engines can be double or triple that amount.  Despite the price, it usually makes sense to purchase a ride on lawn mower.  Paying someone to come over and mow you lawn will cost a lot more over time than buying your own lawn tractor.  If you can’t afford the price of a new one, consider getting a used ride on lawn mower.

Think about whether you want your lawn clippings left on the grass, or if you want to remove it from the lawn.  Most ride on lawn mower accessories cost extra, and a bagger attachment will cost $200 or more, depending on your lawnmower and the size of the bag.  Once the bag fills up, you will have to drive it over to your lawn clippings pile, remove it, and dump it.

Ride on lawn mowers generally have a life span of 7 to 10 years, although this number can move up or down considerably depending on a number of factors  Things that will affect a riding lawn mower’s life include the amount of use, maintenance upkeep, type and size of engine, and the manufacturer.  Keep this life span in mind when purchasing a used ride on lawn mower.  You definitely want to get a machine in the early stages of its life to avoid costly repairs or having it just die on you in the middle of your yard.

Where to find a good used ride on lawn mower

If you don’t know much about mechanics and small engine maintenance, your best bet is probably to check out a lawn mower repair shop in your area and see what they have for sale.  Although mowers bought at a store will probably cost more, there are some advantages to buying one at a place like this.  First of all, you have more options if your mower breaks in a short period of time.  Many shops will give you a one year warranty on a used ride on lawn mower, and want to keep you as a returning customer.  In addition, the used ride on lawn tractor you buy will almost surely be checked for engine problems before you buy it.

Another option for buying a used lawn mower is by looking in the classifieds, either online or in the newspapers.  You can definitely get some great deals this way, but you can also get burned if you are not careful.  There is little you can do if a machine breaks the week after you buy it from another homeowner.  If you are thinking of buying a high end used ride on lawn mower from someone, consider either bringing someone knowledgeable in mechanics with you to check it out.  Another option is to take it to a repair shop before you agree to buy it and pay a small fee to get an expert opinion.

It is possible to find a one or two year old riding mower that still has plenty of life left in it at a great price.  People move all the time and riding lawn mowers are often sold as a consequence.  Finding a great deal on a used riding lawn mower takes both patience and knowledge.  Do your research on what you need before buying, and you will have a better chance of getting a great machine.