I own a landscape company and have always used my Ford Ranger with a ramp to load and unload my mower wich is rather heavy and commercial. A trailer is a pain if you dont have a spot to store it. I dont think your dad will lend you the garage for the whole summer
As for buying a Ford Ranger, PM me, I own one and know pretty much everything on these trucks from almost all the years so dont hesitate contacting me! I also have an awsome ramp that can handle a lot of weigh! Shoot me a pm!
As for mowers, check out YBravo, Ex-Mark and Toro. All very good companies. It all boils down to which dealer is the closest and has the best support for his products.