Given the size of your backyard at more than 2 acres, it’s no wonder that you’re often tired after using a self propelled lawn mower to do the mowing when the logical option should be using a lawn tractor instead. Since lawn tractors are often expensive and they come in many shapes and sizes, getting the best lawn tractor that’s suitable for use on your backyard can be a painful experience so it pays to know how to get one.
Lawn Tractor Buying Guide
1) Automatic or Manual Transmission?
Just like cars, lawn tractors come in either the automatic or manual transmission types when it comes to gear changing. When you want smoother ride due to seamless gear change, it’s best to go for automatic transmission lawn tractors since you don’t have to manually use the clutch when changing gears at different speed levels and as such can focus solely on the mowing task ahead. Automatic transmission lawn tractors are best used on open fields that have practically little or no obstacles such as bushes, flowerbeds and trees at all and besides having lower power, sloping grounds should be avoided if possible. Manual transmission lawn tractors, just like the name says have clutch that needs to be engaged manually before a gear change can be executed at different speeds and as such the idea of changing gears when slowing down upon reaching a particular obstacle or picking up speed on unobstructed yard becomes such a drag considering that you’ll still need to concentrate on the mowing task ahead as well. Despite all the shortfall, manual transmission lawn tractors are ideal machines for use on large yards that have some obstacles such as bushes, flowerbeds, shrubs and trees that are planted along the way and are excellent especially on sloping grounds that require extra pick-up power.
2) Cutting Deck (Width) & Engine
When it comes to lawn tractors, cutting deck width and engine sizes often go hand in hand since a bigger engine is often required to power a bigger cutting deck width. When choosing a lawn tractor, do take note of the size of the yard first before considering these 2 specifications to prevent an overkill or underkill i.e. buying a lawn tractor that’s too much or severely less powerful that what’s required respectively. As a rough gauge, for a 1 acre yard, the sweet spot lies in getting a 14 hp engine lawn tractor with a corresponding 30″ – 42″ cutting deck width while for yards of between 1 – 3 acres, you should be looking for at least a 16 hp engine lawn tractor with minimum 42″ – 46″ cutting deck width for best mowing results.
Lawn Tractor Reviews
Best Residential Lawn Tractor – John Deere X304
Best Value Lawn Tractor – John Deere LA110
Best Lawn Tractor Brands
Bolens Lawn Tractor – Bolens Continues The Legacy Since their first garden tractors in 1919, Bolens has continuously strived to be at the forefront of lawn tractor technology. And that legacy continues till today.
Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor – Cub Cadet Is Simply Better, Easier Yet Tougher Such bold claims but Cub Cadet lawn tractors are simply that. They’re built to be ahead of their nearest rivals and you can count on that promises.
Snapper Lawn Tractor – Snapper Just Makes Sense When you have large lawns, you simply need to have Snapper lawn tractors to do the sensible thing. Never has mowing been this easy with the correct machine.
Troy Bilt Lawn Tractor – Troy Bilt Build It Tough Like Horse When you’re faced with challenging tasks up ahead, Troy Bilt lawn tractors can overcome them as they are built to last. And it gets even better.
White Outdoor Lawn Tractor – White Outdoor Has Always Been Reliable Solely dedicated to produce better equipments since 1887, White Outdoor lawn tractors are no different. When you want something that’s reliable to complete the hard tasks ahead, look no further.
Yard Machines Lawn Tractor – Yard Machines Makes It Easier Make your life easy when you mow big lawns. With Yard Machines lawn tractors you can. So hop on one and notice the difference. You’ll see.
Yardman Lawn Tractor – Yardman Races Ahead Of Time Nothing could be faster than driving across large lawns with Yardman lawn tractors. Built with cars in mind, mowing does not get any easier than this.