johndeere, That's pretty impressive that you have all that stuff in a 120 sqft shed. I just got mine a month ago so I'm still filling it up. Right now I have my JD225, the 30" tiller, 10 cu ft cart, 175lb spreader, 7 bushel bagger, dozer blade, table saw (that can probably go back to my garage), Karcher/Honda 3000psi pressure washer, 21" Craftsman/Honda push mower, Husqvarna 455 Rancher w/20" bar, Husqvarna 323 trimmer with manual feed head (I hate those bump feed jobs), shovels, axes, rakes, loppers, a fiberglass-handled Vaughn claw hammer, two bags of Quickrete, a half bag of 10-10-10, and my John Deere licensed sprinkler that drives around the yard using the hose as a guide. I built a 4x10 loft in the back, 5' off the floor, which will soon shelve Rubbermaid bins of junk my wife says we need to keep for God knows what reason, currently taking up precious space in the frog (finished room over garage). And underneath that loft is 1,000 board feet of black cherry in 8' lengths neatly stacked with spacers to dry, awaiting some project down the road. I keep all my mechanics tools in the garage. Even though I have a deadbolt on the shed, I'd rather have the Craftsman rollaway and powertools in the garage. I don't think I can fit another tractor in there, but I definitely like the idea of building another garage so I can use my current garage for a workshop (without having to pull the vehicles out and then try not to get sawdust everywhere).

I'd think parts for the JD318 and Kubota would be getting scarce if even still available. The JD GT275 is more contemporary but I agree with you that not knowing the hours or history makes me leery. Mowing 3 acres for 3-4 years you might consider the Sears DGS6500 garden tractor as disposable. Should last 3-4 years with minimal maintenance. Probably add the on-site 3 year warranty and you're covered for that 3 years. On sale you should get it out the door for $2800 to $3k. At over $3k you can find newer JD garden tractors used. Also used Toro Wheelhorse garden tractors. I'd personally go this route. Being cheap and getting a dollar's worth for a dollar are two different things. Do you want to this this once and be done for 3 years or buy a 20 year old tractor and spend some time hunting down parts and working on it? Again, where are you located?

"Big looking brute" --------------------- yeah it is rather substantial for lawn mowing ... But I didnt buy it solely for lawn mowing purposes... I will say the guy had quiet a few of these things stashed away and if I had the choice I might have gotten the 22x model instead. Mostly because I felt I didnt really need to climb up onto a big @ss brute GT (just a brute GT would have sufficed) . For the first couple of days afterward - I felt a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger driving around on the Humvee of garden tractors. I think that the 22x probably would have done me nicely. However the size of the machine wouldnt have changed, just the height - So I went forward with the purchase on the 444. They sure are a rugged machine - this morning I was out there and started it up to move it. Letting it warm up a bit - I was amazed at that cast iron Kohler motor and how it idles so lowww - you can almost count the revolutions as it fires. (they dont make em like that anymore). "GT engineering for granted" ------------------------------- I do believe that as well... I dont think the engineers are designing tractors so much as they are designing something with a predetermined life time... Instead of selling quality product, parts and services - they sell junk that needs to be replaced every few years. Its almost as if these guys should be taken to a tractor junkyard and shown what heavy duty really looks like, as opposed to making Sears tractors with plastic bumpers (to add automotive styling). Its a shame we (USA) cant build cars of this quality. Id be willing to pay a bit more for a truck that didnt have to have its tranny changed out 3 times over the course of a 119k miles. (and it didnt even get worked hard ). Let us prey that the bankruptcy procedures remove the chaff from the wheat within GM and Chrysler. Dave

I've got an LTX 1042 and it is a FINE lawn tractor. It ain't a tank like my old Wheelhorse, but it cuts rings around it and doesn't jolt the body doing it. It is most comfortable to ride and I really like the two blade vs 3 blade set-up as it makes for a really nice cut. I would think the 20 hp KW with 46 inch deck would be OK too. BTW, when I bought mine, I looked at the box stores and found the dealer to have the same price. I went ahead and bought from the dealer so if I had a problem during the warranty period, there would be ZERO hassle as would be if I stiffed him and bought from the box store. Originally I was going to get the LTX 1040, but that is a variable belt deal. The dealer pointed out the 1042 and full hydro drive and for a few more $$$'s, I felt it was worth it and it was. I was in the same boat as you with a limited budget and the LTX 1042 fit the bill. If you like that tractor and the price is good, buy it. Good luck, Bill