Lawn tractor

[YadKareNNN]

My daughter just bought her first house. This is in southern Virginia. For a housewarming gift I'm going to buy her a lawn tractor. It has about an acre to cut.

Because of the slopes I'd like to get one with a locking differential. It will also allow her to use a snow plow. Three possibilities:

Cub Cadet XT2 Gx54D
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/riding-...owers/ts354xd/

Both look nearly identical in features and are basically the same price.

For $300 less I can go with the Husqvarna 348XD. It has a 48" deck vs. a 54".

[GTOguy]

Check the reviews. I had a Cub Cadet that gave good service for about 3 years, and then all the gaskets turned to mush. Making new gaskets and replacing them fixed it, but still.....

[YadKareNNN]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

Check the reviews. I had a Cub Cadet that gave good service for about 3 years, and then all the gaskets turned to mush. Making new gaskets and replacing them fixed it, but still.....

These both have the same Kawaski 24HP engine. Which gaskets leaked?

[MadInNc]

WTF, this really can’t be YadKaren

Go research who make them might be the same now…. Who has best Customer Support and Parts system?

Talk to BabyDoll about your 6”

Any “recent” on line reviews.

Buy worst if ya want to start Fiddy threads of the POS ya bought and time w daughter

Congrats to daughter

[GTOguy]

Mine wasn't a rider, it was a small 4HP engine. Cylinder base gasket and garb gaskets went south. Yours is a totally different animal. Congrats to the daughter on the cool new digs.

[YadKareNNN]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

WTF, this really can’t be YadKaren

Go research who make them might be the same now…. Who has best Customer Support and Parts system?

Talk to BabyDoll about your 6”

Any “recent” on line reviews.

Buy worst if ya want to start Fiddy threads of the POS ya bought and time w daughter

Congrats to daughter

Thanks.

The lower range of Cubs, XT1, are sold through Tractor Supply. Lower range of Husqvarna, Lowes. I'll likely have to find a local farm supply center and purchase through them.

I'll be training my future SIL to do the routine service and repairs.

[YadKareNNN]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

Mine wasn't a rider, it was a small 4HP engine. Cylinder base gasket and garb gaskets went south. Yours is a totally different animal. Congrats to the daughter on the cool new digs.

Thanks. She has been looking for about two months in this crazy market. This is on the high end of what she can afford but has a two car oversized garage, mountain views, and a substantial creek on the property. None of the neighbors have fences, no HOA so they must be cool.

[Rodnok1]

Mtd makes 90% of the mowers around, need a garder tractor so it'll accept attachments and has a pto. Screw the snow plow get her a snow blower attachment, chains, weights will be needed with with either so make sure the rear wheels are big enough. If it's a lawn tractor frankly they're all junk from mtd.
I had a 54 cut husqvarna garden tractor that had 26 hp briggs, lasted 15 plus years.
Depending on soil there get the thickess gauge deck you can, only bitch have about mine was the deck was too thin.
That one listed may be garden tractor, like i said all those brands made same plant so buy cheaper if same specs.
I mowed steeper than that with non locking diffs for many years.

[YadKareNNN]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

Mtd makes 90% of the mowers around, need a garder tractor so it'll accept attachments and has a pto. Screw the snow plow get her a snow blower attachment, chains, weights will be needed with with either so make sure the rear wheels are big enough. If it's a lawn tractor frankly they're all junk from mtd.
I had a 54 cut husqvarna garden tractor that had 26 hp briggs, lasted 15 plus years.
Depending on soil there get the thickess gauge deck you can, only bitch have about mine was the deck was too thin.
That one listed may be garden tractor, like i said all those brands made same plant so buy cheaper if same specs.
I mowed steeper than that with non locking diffs for many years.

I like the locking diff for snow removal.

MTD owns Cub, but from what I can see Husqvarna is its own company. Cub has more information on why this line is better that their XT-1 models. For instance the XT1 has a 3/4" axe and the XT-2 a 1". So I would not plow snow with an MT1.

No info on the Husqvarna axle size.

I looked at the snow thrower attachments. The one for Cub looks better, three stage and has good reviews. The one for the Husqvarna is a two-stage and not as nice. The area only gets 13" average snow annually so a plow may be faster. I checked and Cub sells the chains and weights, not sure about its competitor.

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

I like the locking diff for snow removal.

MTD owns Cub, but from what I can see Husqvarna is its own company. Cub has more information on why this line is better that their XT-1 models. For instance the XT1 has a 3/4" axe and the XT-2 a 1". So I would not plow snow with an MT1.

No info on the Husqvarna axle size.

I looked at the snow thrower attachments. The one for Cub looks better, three stage and has good reviews. The one for the Husqvarna is a two-stage and not as nice. The area only gets 13" average snow annually so a plow may be faster. I checked and Cub sells the chains and weights, not sure about its competitor.

Husq made all craftsman until craftsman brand sold off now mtd makes them.
Cub was made by someone else many moons ago until mtd aquired them so no better than an mtd or walmart mower.
Husq parts are more expensive than mtd brands as just not as many around amd can be harder to get but i think they used heavier belts and pulleys/hubs myself but you pay a premium.
Also is she going to use for leaf collect or collect grass clippings, aka will she get a bagger attachment or similar. Some brands are stupid expensive and don't work for didly. Just a thought.

[markids77]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

Thanks.

The lower range of Cubs, XT1, are sold through Tractor Supply. Lower range of Husqvarna, Lowes. I'll likely have to find a local farm supply center and purchase through them.

I'll be training my future SIL to do the routine service and repairs.

None of the box stores do warranty or other service. Get her something there's a local dealer for.
If you buy a hydrostatic unit you won't have to worry about a locking diff.

[JRD77VET]

Spend a couple bucks more and purchase from a DEALER. Then when it needs work, you'll be to the front of the line.

For snow removal, get a lawn and garden tractor. It will last longer and is built heavier.

Single stage snow throwers also work just fine. This is my 1968 Cub Cadet 125 ( 12 hp hydrostatic trans with hydraulic lift) powering a 42" single stage snow thrower.

Weighted rear tires with chains and skinny front tires

1968 Cub Cadet 125 with QA-42 snow thrower - YouTube

[Black94lt1]

I love my XT2, 46” fabricated deck, Kohler engine, I wouldn’t buy anything else. I don’t use it for snow, Ariens snow blower for that

[ratflinger]

Snow?? WTF is snow?