In my opinion you made a very good choice. And you know you by the response you had in your earlier thread that you got a higher duty rated transmission than the same 2008 model. Although some may scoff at Consumer Reports, they rated it at the top of the models that they tested, and they can be pretty picky. Have fun!

Bill

In my earlier post I just wanted reassurance that I was correct on what the differences were - being a girl and all :) I guess that is what I was looking for here again as well - I am so in love with the X304 I can't wait to hop on it next weekend but reading various posts about their hills and thinking about all that I do with mine got me thinking if I shouldn't have gotten a larger machine but from what I understand is that the torque is what really makes the difference not so much the HP so I am pretty sure I made the right choice. I don't do snow blowing or anything like that, we have a great rear tine tiller for the garden so what I did was eliminate what I wouldn't use it for and it came down to the X304. The hubby has a Craftman 26hp garden tractor that he really likes - yup, his and hers tractors, if hubby does it then I do it to, including chopping wood. I love JD equipment and I just didn't want to find myself in the same boat I am with my POS Husky - blech.
Thanks for you post, it does make me more excited to get mine next weekend - they are waiting to deliver it until my bagger comes in.

Ellie

Ellie,
I don't know how big your trees are, but I have a lot of juvenile trees that I've planted over the past five years. I have four oak trees within the perimeter of my Bermudagrass which are about twice as old as me and tower over the house, and two dozen ornamentals (cherry, pear, dogwood, and a bunch of maples) which aren't more than 10 feet tall and 4" around. I spent a lot of time last year mowing around them, but for this season, I have a plan. I broke down and bought two dozen of those permanant mulch mats which are made of recycled tires and look just like regular mulch from ten feet away. This should do two things, 1) kill the grass around the trunk which steals all the water, and 2) eliminate trimming around all the little trees.
They sell them at Lowe's for $15 for the small ones, $20 or something for the bigger ones. I found the smaller ones at Sam's Club for $10. Seems like it will be worth it. Time will tell.
-Chris

I got so tired of mowing around the trees - turn, back up, turn, back up, turn, back up, missed a spot, back up....SO end of season last year when I was doing my final perimiter total vegitation killer spray I also sprayed the grass in a circle around the trees so between that and the new mower I am excited to mow again. I have all sorts of desiduous trees, hemlock, spruce, fir and a about 4 apples & 5 plum trees. There is a mix of all sorts of trees around our property.
Here is a URL to some pictures of our property - the pictures do not show about 1/3 of the width of the property or the slopes & hills.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Hi Ellie,

I think you made a great choice for what you're doing. That's a really nice property! We also live in Washington and have a property (nearly three acres) that is very similar to yours except that we have some hills that are as much as a 22 degree slope. So I had to replace a 27hp Craftsman garden tractor that I first bought (it would slip on the damp grass going up the hill) with a 20hp JD GX335 with a 54" deck that has a locking differential and I've never been happier.

Like you guys, we mow together and we have "his-n-hers" tractors. My wife has an LT160 with a 42" mulching deck and she catches most of the flat areas and around all the trees and planter areas while I get the hills and help with the open field when I'm done. Together we can do the entire yard in a couple of hours. And also like you, I do our trimming with a backpack sprayer once a year. We live in east Olympia.....where are you located? Enjoy your new tractor when it comes!

John

Howdy neighbor! I am just 1hr south of you in Kelso - beautiful Rose Valley area, rolling hills, trees, great neighbors and a piece of heaven. Our property is sloped but we really only have 3 or 4 hills on our property to even think about and most of the time when I mow I'm going down not up.

I cannot wait to hop on a circle a tree or the barn or the garden just to see how it mows! But before I can do that I have to wait for our new garden rake attachement to come in. Every year we pick up branches, manuually, from winter storms prior to our first mowing but this year we found 48" (or is it 42"??) garden rake attachement, we drive it scoops em up then all we have to do is load them in to the carts.

Is it an actual rake or a lawn sweeper? I have a 42" lawn sweeper that I bought a couple of years ago from Sears. I've only used it a couple of times though.....when I waited too long between mowing's I used it to pick up the grass clippings. I did not get a bagger as we mulch all the time.

I'm a little bit familiar with Kelso and it is a nice place. Your 4% slope (around 2.5 degrees) is nothing to be concerned about, whereas mine is 30-40%. If you've been mowing with a Husky, you will be amazed at how different the X304 feels! Just don't let your husband use it or he won't give it back to you!;0)

Here's a pic of part of our back yard. You can't see the steepest hill 'cause it's blocked by the trees on the right. {{gwi:315217}}

I have to say its the hubby that says our slopes are 4%, it is actually more like 15% as you are right at the limit of comfort when mowing sidways before feeling like you might tip over....but I usually mow down not up or sideways and we only have 2 this steep and they are fairly small.

Man, your piece of property is beautiful. I can't wait until I get my grass looking like that. While I have been learning about proper maintenance that last couple seasons I've focused on the front and side lawns - which now look as pretty as your lawn, now to work on the back 1.5acres or so to get it so lush and green.

We have a lawn sweeper, also purchased at Sears. It works great for when I dethatch or the lawn is slightly wet but I still cut then let it dry and sweep later - we got it 2yr before we bought a bagger for one of the riders. Works pretty good. We are ordering a 'landscape rake', it is " Craftsman 48 in. Landscape Rake Sears item# 07124537000 Mfr. model# 71-24537 ". This will be great for more than just picking up the limbs, hell, more attachements are always fun!

Well even at 15% the equivalent is about 8.5 degrees, still no worries. Most manufacturers instructions say 15 degree maximum. I go either straight up or straight down on my hills and don't believe I could go across without rolling over.

Thanks for the compliment on my place but it looks better than it really is. I just mowed the field grass (former pasture) that was there and so it's still bumpy in places and there's as much weeds as grass but it still looks pretty good when it's all green. I have only seeded small areas with pasture mix that were bare and I do spray occasionally to get rid of some of the dandelions.

I hear you about attachments! Probably the one I use the most is the trailer to haul stuff around and next would be the JBJr scoop for moving gravel, dirt and bark. I believe I have seen that rake you're talking about online. Let us know how well it works when you get it.

Ya know, people just don't understand....I was being teased at work today because I have been excited about getting my new mower & couldn't wait to drive it around a tree to test it out, also, they had no idea there were so many things you can do besides mow and that there were many attachements that you can get. A few people just shake their head and keep muttering 'I don't get it, it's JUST a lawn mower"...nope they just don't understand. I almost feel like I am getting a new car but for as much time as I spend on the thing in spring & summer it is like getting a new car.

Yeah, those people all probably have a yard service! Anyone who hasn't sat on one and mowed, tilled, hauled, pushed, scooped or whatever wouldn't understand how it feels to be the owner and operator a machine that is built to do a job and does it well.

Maybe this story will make you feel better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mower Power To Him

Great article, varmint_304! Thanks for posting the link.

Love the article, at least he has an understanding wife to indulge him.
My mower was delivered yesterday - wow is it strange to turn circles or even just make a 90deg turn,, very very strange sensation. Of course I had to drive it around the house since I can't mow or do much else right now. I am so impressed with how well and easy it steers without any effort. As soon as the rake comes and we pick up all the limbs on our property I'll be out fertilizing for sure - plug in my ipod and I'm good to go. Neighbors laugh at me because I'll be dancing on my mower while on the tractor but hey, just makes it all the more fun.

"Neighbors laugh at me because I'll be dancing on my mower while on the tractor but hey, just makes it all the more fun."

I never thought mowing could be so enjoyable until I got a tractor!

Can't claim credit for the article. Someone else posted it here a few months back.

FWIW, I know the feeling. The AWS on my X304 makes the trac more entertaining to drive. There are many places in the yard where I don't need, but tossing the thing into a turn is just plain fun.

I dont like either of them- just my opinion. A buddy has a used john deer 138 ( i think)with a kawasaki motor- its heavy (800 lbs)- hes had some issues with it- electrical problems, tire problems( due to the original front axle being replaced- but was wrong one- how does someone break a cast iron axle anyway?)- biggest issue was the plastic fan on the hydrostatic trans kept getting shattered when reversing( talk about pricey! Each one cost $20)- clearance issues. It took him a while- but he sorted out the problems.
My neighbor bot a new Cub a few years back- besides the dealer jerking her around- the tractor seems to be a serious maintence hog - it too is a very heavy machine( heck the deck weighs a ton alone)- it constantly has grass clippings clogging up the top of the deck ( after every mowing it needs claening) - goes thru blades like crazy ( nothing to hit in the large yard- its entirely flat- they just wear out)and - its SLOW. I do admit tho it cuts the grass nice.
I nearly bot a new Cub tractor Z turn ( I series)- would make a neat looking modifed tractor- wife wouldnt let me tho.

LOL!

Biggest problem with owning a Deere is it makes people think you have something they don't. There is a cure for poverty... called WORK. If I'm self-centered riding my big green machine then I make up for it by giving to charity. For every sin there is a virtue that counters it.

Enjoy your JD!