The Catskills get a lot of snow. Do you plan on using any attachments to deal with the snow? Will you garden till with the machine? Do you have a trailer to haul firewood, dirt, etc.? Or do you just need something to cut the grass with?

I ask these questions because a basic lawn tractor in the 42" range is the minimum you need if all you want to do is mow. The bigger the deck, the faster the chore will go but it may not be as nice a cut as the 42". Are you looking for a well manicured yard or is it weeds you want to keep down? How severe is the slope because a heavier transmission usually found on garden tractors rather than lawn tractors will do better depending on the slope. What is your budget? Since this is a secondary residence would you be interested in buying used rather than new? Do you have a lot of trees and flower beds to go around? If so, a tight turn radius is something you should look for. You see, there are many factors to consider. It is really not as easy as it looks at first glance because all these questions have to answered before you go shopping.

Having said all this, keep in mind a couple of things. Look for an auto type transmission rather than manual gears because most people prefer that. Don't worry too much about the motor but a twin is usually preferred for its smoothness. Motors are reliable these days and all will last a long time with good maintenance. Also keep in mind service and parts. I like Sears/Craftsman mowers because I think they represent the best bang for the buck but service can be a problem. They'll even come out to your property but it may be a month before they can get to you. If there is a John Deere dealer near by that may be your best bet because you can walk right in and parts are stocked; they have to be ordered at Sears. Sears is good but it is a pain to deal with service appointments at your house let alone a vacation home where you visit only occasionally.

But if these service issues are not all that important then do look at Sears tractors. They are the most popular and would not be if they were junk. If you compare stats you will see they represent a better dollar value (at least initially) than almost anyone else. I recently bought a Craftsman Professional 42". I used it a few times to scalp my lawn and cut down some weeds and the 12" turn radius and overall performance and comfort were great. They are not making this model anymore and you can get a great deal on a 2010 at Sears right now.

There will be a lot of people giving you different opinions and advice. The best thing to do is write down your needs and shop around. Try to test drive for comfort and ease of handling and then look for features such as the turn radius I spoke about earlier, cruise control, assisted PTO, etc. Good luck in your search and let us know what you decide to buy.

Thanks Milacqua, that is great advice. There certainly is a lot to consider. We would probably like the flexibility of using the tractor to deal with the snow, but don't know if that kind of tractor would have a much higher cost. Mostly we want to mow the lawn areas to keep it neat, but don't necessarily want a totally manicured look. There are a few trees on the property so that turning radius would certainly be a feature we would want, as you mentioned. We had heard good things about the Sears machines, but didn't know about that service issue - that would definitely be a concern! Is it really that bad? And yes, we would consider used as well as new.

Are there specific features to look at for mowing on a slight slope?

here are more thoughts.
I also believe the craftsman tractors are a good inexpensive line. The 42" deck provides a good cut and the decks are easy to handle if removal is needed for maintenance. Belts are easier to change than some of the other brands.

Here is the detail that you need to watch. For many years the craftsman was manufactured by AYP - part of the Husqvarna group. I see many of these still going after 15 years. Last year some of the craftsman tractors were supplied by a second manufacturer. In my opinion, you should look these over carefully before choosing. The model number will help you determine who the manufacturer is.

If you went with Craftsman, for the money I would say the model at the link below pretty much has it all. That is, a 46-in. 2-blade deck with cut quality rated high by Consumer Reports; a 24-hp V-twin Briggs engine for smooth operation; tight turn radius; and, what they call a "premium" hydrostat transmission, which may mean it's at least better than entry level quality. All for $1700.00 Not the cheapest, but has most of the desired features. Also, probably won't handle a snow blade very well or a pull-behind tiller. But, that's what "garden tractors" are for and they cost another $1,000.00 at Sears.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craftsman 46-in. cut V-twin

Thank you, everyone, for the thorough and extremely helpful advice! It seems that many folks are recommending the Sear's machine and the price does seem fairly reasonable. It looks like there is a sale on these right now,f rom the link that Larsol sent. Does anyone know if sales are regularly offered by Sear's for their tractors?

sears sales have been a common thing in the past. You might ask one of their salss types when their next sale is scheduled for what interests you... good luck.

Yes, they do have regular sales events. A flyer in the paper today shows you can save an extra 10% if you use their Sears credit card.