Anybody got any idea of a reasonably priced mower or lawn/yard tractor that can cut grass on a steeper lawn AND push a plow or blower in the winter? My 25 year old rear engine rider has hard to find parts, and my 20 inch Ariens snow blower was bought 20 years ago when we lived in northern Virginia, not upstate snowbelt NY! I probably need something with a locking drive axle? And I really don't need a zero turn because the yard is wide open.... as is the driveway.
I don't want to spend more than I need to.... but don't want junk.... obviously.
You are asking for a tall order that will not be cheap and likely not reliable as well. Digital gauges and electronics are all the rage on modern rider equipment. Winter weather and electronics don't play well together.
What is the prevailing brand of equipment folks in your area use and trust? Network with folks and get the "good and the bad" stories about their equipment brands and choices.
From your initial post, you might be better off with a compact garden tractor that will have the weight and power along with attachment capabilities.
Kubota and John Deere (dealer level models) come to mind.
Most others will be similar off brands that are usually Korean built and have parts availability and repair issues later after the purchase.
As the saying goes: "Buy once and cry once" for something that will fit all your needs for years to come.
Stay away from the big box stores, they usually carry the low-end models from different manufacturers and have no repair network. They are just storefronts.
Lawn service isn’t going to help me blow snow/plow and clear ice in winter. They also have gotten tremendously expensive and none want to deal with our hill and wet beach. It’s a weird location. It’s less than an acre. Hence the question. I am willing to spend what it takes on high quality machine. I’d like a smaller mowing deck machine with locking differential, which seems to be a difficult thing to find.
