the wheels on the 38inch and 42inch decks do not rotate but the deck are a heck of a lot lighter than the 48 and 54inch decks. as far as the AWS Lawn tractors models they are put together well. My younger brother works for a deere dealer and the mechanics there have not seen any problems with the AWS system on any of the lawn tractors yet that is including past models. the X304 and 324 AWS models steering system is rather heavey duty even more so than the X534 AWS. The X304 will stand up to what you plan on doing with it.

...ownership. Smart to think about that. On the other hand, if you need 4 wheel steering, then you need it.

Sure there probably will be some additional maintenance costs down the road since the system is more complex than the 300 ... perhaps some additional belts, adjustments, etc when you bring it in for maintenance. The manual or dealer could tell you what additional maintenance is required at various service points (hours) vs. the 300, and the dealer can tell you how much that costs.

As far as how the system itself will hold over the long term, that's anyones guess. But so far there are no problems I've heard of ... if there were I think this board would be full of threads. I'm no engineer, but IMHO I would suspect that if there was a major problem it would surface pretty quick. The other part of the answer is JD "green" ... part of what you're paying a premium for. As far as I know, JD has a reputation for standing behind their products. And they seem committed to AWS. So if an unforeseen problem arose far down the road, do you think JD would stand by the 304? If you say "no", then your decision is also made for you ... whay pay more for JD green? But I don't think your answer is "no" ... seems that you're already settled on a JD.

The reason to buy the 304 over the 300 is AWS. The K58 tranny is for the additional demands of the AWS... both will peform the same, so if the 304 is suitable for your terrain and weight, then so is the 300. If you say your reason to buy the 304 over the 300 is because of your terrain or weight, then I'd advise talking to your dealer about a more suitable JD ...

So it all comes down to one question: do you need AWS or not? If you don't, then you don't need to wonder about any additional maintenance or the possibility of a design flaw down the road. If you do, get the 304.

I don't believe the K58 is required for the X304. The X340 drives a much bigger engine and deck - yet it also uses the K58. Everything N of the X304 in the X300 series uses the same K58.

"I don't believe the K58 is required for the X304"

If it's not needed, then why would JD use it on the 304? Mfg's sqeeze every penny on components ... everything is challenged and has to be justified ... it's a profit thing. The K58 is added cost ... they wouldn't put it in unless it was necessary for the product to perform according to design specs.

"If it's not needed, then why would JD use it on the 304? Mfg's sqeeze every penny on components ... everything is challenged and has to be justified ... it's a profit thing. The K58 is added cost ... they wouldn't put it in unless it was necessary for the product to perform according to design specs."

They used it on the X304 b/c of a price point issue. To offer an X300, and a X304 with JUST the AWS and bigger tires would have maybe been a 3k tractor. It would canabalize sales of the X300. Logic being if you're already in $2700 dollar territory, why not go for the extra $300?

By putting the K58 in the X304, they were able to push the tractor up $700 dollars over the entry level X300. In this way it does not cannibalize sales of the X300, and the person who jumps up to the X304 actually gets something for their money; AWS and a more capable lawn tractor.

Just my 2 cents.

$300 for the K58 tranny? I don't know the incremental cost for the K58, but that seems quite a lot.

Again, I'm no engineer, but I'd suspect that most of the price diff between the 304 and 300 is the AWS itself. My 2 cents is JD market research says that folks will pay $700 more for AWS ... I don't think they would feel the need to add in a different tranny and more cost as justification ... I'd bet most buyers have no idea what a K58 means vs a K46 tranny.

I do know about brand management, marketing and price points. Looking at all JD's marketing materials (bought a new JD last year), none of the AWS tractors are positioned as "more capable" than their non-AWS sibling. JD wouldn't engineer them to be more robust, then not market it.

The most logical reason for the better tranny is that its necessary due to the added demands of the AWS.

Having ordered an X300 w/mulchimg deck originally, I changed to the X304 two days later. The dealer did not mind of course, and I believe I benefited from doing so myself. Yhe AWS & the K58 were both a blessing in my case. I have some steep slopes and a few obstacles. I do eoughly .75 acres. I have 4.8 hrs as of today and can't wait for more rain here in NW Ga., so I can use it even more. I put the mulching kit on as well since I live on the side of a mt. with many trees(which also means many leaves) and the kit does wonders. IMO, the xtra bucks were very wel{{gwi:326730}}l worth it.{{gwi:326727}}

Thanks for all the advice, y'all!

I do have obstacles in my yard as I live in my childhood home (circa 1950's ranch). Old, established shrubbery flanks all 4 sides of the 2100' sq. ft. home. In addition, several trees, more shrubs and 2 telephone poles are some of the obstacles interspersed on the nearly acre corner lot. That X304 would probably help when mowing around all of those.

Can someone please tell me how long JD has used the X58 transmission? I never buy a car the first year a new model hits the showroom and I would hate to buy a tractor with a new, untested tranny.

My price quotes for each model varies by $400. Bottom line for me: Does the larger transmission, slightly larger rear tires and AWS justify that amount?

Again, thank you!

... Is AWS worth $400 to you? If so, then the 304 is the answer.

I know I went for the X304 b/c of the tranny. AWS was a bonus to me.

If you have very many obstacles, the extra cost for the AWS will soon be forgotten. On the other hand, the few dollars you save in NOT getting the AWS would be remembered every time you use the machine.