Ride-on mowers
Discussion
Good morning everyone,
I'm about to move and we're going to be lucky enough to have a sizable garden. The main element is about a third of an acre.
It's going to need a ride-on mower imo (I might be wrong?).
Is there a particular stand-out make to look at or is just about the engine and everything else is much of a muchness?
Budge is going to be about £1,500 so think second-hand is definitely on the cards.
All thoughts very much appreciated. The land is mainly flat with a slight incline (maybe a half a foot top to bottom). If that makes a difference.
The front lawn will need a push mower too - we're going from a stamp-sized lawn at the moment to this so my little fly-mo is going to come with us but will be of no use unfortunately.
I'm about to move and we're going to be lucky enough to have a sizable garden. The main element is about a third of an acre.
It's going to need a ride-on mower imo (I might be wrong?).
Is there a particular stand-out make to look at or is just about the engine and everything else is much of a muchness?
Budge is going to be about £1,500 so think second-hand is definitely on the cards.
All thoughts very much appreciated. The land is mainly flat with a slight incline (maybe a half a foot top to bottom). If that makes a difference.
The front lawn will need a push mower too - we're going from a stamp-sized lawn at the moment to this so my little fly-mo is going to come with us but will be of no use unfortunately.
I've got half an acre and do not have a ride-on mower. Some of the grass isn't suitable for a ride-on so a lot has to be cut with a petrol mower anyway. If I use the mulch setting it takes a couple of hours to do the lot. When I collect the clippings it takes longer as I dump them on a muck heap down the lane.
It's part of my Summer exercise regime.
It's part of my Summer exercise regime.
Unless the garden is over 1 acre I wouldn't even think of getting a ride on, yes the idea appealed to me at this particular rented house with 2.5 acres of lawn but due the slope of parts of the garden a ride on would not be safe, I therefor opted for a £250 Petrol Mower, Good cut but bugger to start. Sold it to the Landlord so he is keeping it.
Moving house tomorrow and have a 1/3rd of an acre as well but will be buying a flymo as they are lighter and not the pain to start, also can do slopes without breaking my back!
Oh and a flymo doesn't get stuck on ruts and humps like a wheeled mower on a low cut, which is really annoying.
My advice get a good flymo, and an extension lead, or pay someone to do it for you!
Moving house tomorrow and have a 1/3rd of an acre as well but will be buying a flymo as they are lighter and not the pain to start, also can do slopes without breaking my back!
Oh and a flymo doesn't get stuck on ruts and humps like a wheeled mower on a low cut, which is really annoying.
My advice get a good flymo, and an extension lead, or pay someone to do it for you!
Hearing you loud and clear on the 'get a push mower you fat git and mow it yourself' (!) but there are a couple of reasons why I'm thinking about getting a ride on.
1) I work away from home during the week (in London) therefore I'm hoping a ride-on will be quicker?
2) my 7 yr old son is tractor obsessed and want us to have a ride-on (with a trailer too!). Whom am I to deny him!!
3) I want one too to be fair
4) I don't want to spend over 2 hours of my precious weekend mowing - if a ride-on saves time - that would be a big help. debatable as to saving time though correct?
5) to be honest I do need the exercise but on the flip side - there's a lot to be said for a pot-belly - isn't there?
1) I work away from home during the week (in London) therefore I'm hoping a ride-on will be quicker?
2) my 7 yr old son is tractor obsessed and want us to have a ride-on (with a trailer too!). Whom am I to deny him!!
3) I want one too to be fair
4) I don't want to spend over 2 hours of my precious weekend mowing - if a ride-on saves time - that would be a big help. debatable as to saving time though correct?
5) to be honest I do need the exercise but on the flip side - there's a lot to be said for a pot-belly - isn't there?
As said - you big girl, get a self propelled. you'll find half the time you save with the speed of a ride on will be sucked up by the extra pre and post flight phaffing on that size of lawn! It's the edges that take the real time I have found and after you've dropped the ride on into the Mrs' flowerbeds a few times you'll be getting a selfie to do that anyway...
Anyway if you are dead set on a ride on (and I hear the boys toys calling) then I would get a s/h one in a month's time when you should be able to pick them up for buttons. The last time I had a house big enough for one I paid £270 for an old mid engine'd jobbie that I sold to the people who bought my house for £250 five years later. 9 years later I understand that they still have it!
Anyway if you are dead set on a ride on (and I hear the boys toys calling) then I would get a s/h one in a month's time when you should be able to pick them up for buttons. The last time I had a house big enough for one I paid £270 for an old mid engine'd jobbie that I sold to the people who bought my house for £250 five years later. 9 years later I understand that they still have it!
My father in law has a Toro. You can get them in 32" size, which is too small for his garden (so he upgraded), but would be good for yours I reckon. He's really pleased with his. You do have to get them serviced (or DIY it), and remember you're paying someone's hourly rate, so that bit's not cheap.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toro-Wheel-Horse-13-32-X...
Put put put put!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toro-Wheel-Horse-13-32-X...
Put put put put!
Thanks for your kind comments rude boy (! 
) - I am a big girl (slightly roomy) of course.
I also hear you about the pre-and post-flight phaff. But with 3 'helpers' (3,5,7 yr olds) that's all part of it.
The borders though - yes - they'll need a new machine! Brilliant! I've actually seen a border mower (or whatever the description is) on ebay - I'll have one of those too.....!
Thanks all the other replies - countach, toro, hayter - all need a look at. I've come across a thing called a Partner (next door neighbour has one) - never heard of them? Anyone?
) - I am a big girl (slightly roomy) of course. I also hear you about the pre-and post-flight phaff. But with 3 'helpers' (3,5,7 yr olds) that's all part of it.
The borders though - yes - they'll need a new machine! Brilliant! I've actually seen a border mower (or whatever the description is) on ebay - I'll have one of those too.....!
Thanks all the other replies - countach, toro, hayter - all need a look at. I've come across a thing called a Partner (next door neighbour has one) - never heard of them? Anyone?
Shop around for a Brush Cutter for the borders/Edging. Get one with the big handles like the ones the highways workers use. Its handy for the area that needs cutting back once a year. We let part of the garden grow long for butterfly's etc. Then once they have benefited then we use the industrial strimmer to cut it all back.
Also allows you to look like a man that really knows what he is doing when wearing ear defenders and a full face visor protector and chainsaw gloves.
Also allows you to look like a man that really knows what he is doing when wearing ear defenders and a full face visor protector and chainsaw gloves.
Why wouldn't you buy a ride on ?
There isn't a good reason if you can afford one.
I cut just under 2 acres and have 3 mowers, a cheap MTD for the paddock, a Countax for the main lawn and a Simplicity to use as a tractor pulling a trailer.
There is a HUGE difference in build quality.
I bought all mine from Ebay and £500 - £800 will get you a good mower if you look / wait.
£1500 will get a later / wider one.
You want a decent make: Toro, Countax, Simplicity etc (NOT Lawnflite / MTD) and a mulching deck - wider cut the better and check out the controls - some are foot throttle some are hand - must admit I prefer the hand type but my wife hates it.
There isn't a good reason if you can afford one.
I cut just under 2 acres and have 3 mowers, a cheap MTD for the paddock, a Countax for the main lawn and a Simplicity to use as a tractor pulling a trailer.
There is a HUGE difference in build quality.
I bought all mine from Ebay and £500 - £800 will get you a good mower if you look / wait.
£1500 will get a later / wider one.
You want a decent make: Toro, Countax, Simplicity etc (NOT Lawnflite / MTD) and a mulching deck - wider cut the better and check out the controls - some are foot throttle some are hand - must admit I prefer the hand type but my wife hates it.
I've got both a ride-on and self-propelled push along. They are both Massey-Ferguson, ride-on has a 127cm deck and side eject and the push-along is also the largest that they did at the time and that one has a grass collector box. I've got about 2 acres split into six separate areas and the bit at the back of the house I suppose you would class as the lawn as it's closest to the house and that gets cut three times with the ride-on then the fourth time with the push-along. To do all of the grass with the ride on takes almost 3 hours as there are some really awkward bits and you don't want to be shooting grass over paths and driveway etc. so there is a distinct way that it must be done which adds time. Doing the "lawn" with the push-along takes over two hours in itself due to the number of times the grass box has to be emptied.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
I have about 2/3 acre of grass,..it used to take me about 2h to do all the grass.
It now takes me about 45m, it gives a great finish - and hey, its got a petrol engine!!
Same numbers for me and I have a similar Hayter. The downside is that it doesn't pick up that well if there grass is not very dry.It now takes me about 45m, it gives a great finish - and hey, its got a petrol engine!!
Push mowers are better at the fiddly bits, sit-ons better for long runs.
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