WHOLESALE LAWN MOWERS & TRACTORS

We are talking here in RETAIL PRICES. Shopping wholesale will result in an abundance of savings for you.

Many top-mowing tractors now cost closer to $1,000 RETAIL than closer to $2,000 RETAIL. While zero-turn-radius mowers have fallen below the $3,000 RETAIL mark, you might want a tight-turning tractor if you prefer a steering wheel and can live with a bit less agility. Guide to the Ratings Overall score is based mainly on cutting performance, handling, and ease of use. Evenness shows cutting performance for two or three modes; scores notably better or worse in any mode are called out in the Recommendations.

Mulching reflects how completely the mower distributed the clippings over the lawn's surface. Bagging denotes how many clippings the bag held before it filled or the chute clogged. Side discharging shows how evenly clippings were dispersed in this mode. Handling includes ease of operating the drive controls (for self-propelled), pushing and pulling, making U-turns, and maneuvering in tight spots.

Ease of use includes ease of starting the engine, operating the blade-stopping controls, shifting speeds (for self-propelled), and adjusting the cutting height. Most models have a deck size, or cutting swath, of 20 to 22 inches. Engine power (hp) represents the rated horsepower output of the mower's engine. The RETAIL price includes the cost of the bag and mulch kit, when not included with the mower.

Quick Picks

Best for most, with versatile mowing:

3 John Deere LA110, $1650 RETAIL, CR Best Buy

4 Craftsman (Sears) 28724, $1600 RETAIL, CR Best Buy

5 Craftsman (Sears) 27690, $2000 RETAIL

6 Husqvarna YTH2348, $1800 RETAIL

16 Craftsman (Sears) 28713, $1200 RETAIL

Between the low RETAIL priced John Deere LA110 and Craftsman 28724, choose the Deere for its high-back seat and visible fuel level, the Craftsman for its twin-blade, 46-inch deck. Also consider Craftsman 28713, which trades a hydrostat drive for a less-smooth gear drive for less RETAIL money. Choose the 54-inch Craftsman 27690 and 48-inch Husqvarna YTH2348 if wider mowing trumps cut quality.

For lawns with lots of obstacles:

1 John Deere X304, $3,500 RETAIL

18 John Deere Z225, $2,900 RETAIL

20 Toro Z5000, $2,800 RETAIL

All three offer tight turning. The 42-inch, four-wheel-steer John Deere X304 offers the familiarity of a front-engine tractor and a steering wheel, rather than tillers. Among tighter-turning, zero-turn-radius mowers, pick the 42-inch John Deere Z225 for its evenness and fine bagging, the 50-inch Toro Z5000 for its wider swath, high-back seat, and washout port on the deck.

Recommendations

AUTOMATIC-DRIVE MODELS

1 JOHN DEERE X304