John Deere are currently the best product for the $$ Kubota 2nd ! If your only cutting grass then lawnmowers are the simple solution Tractors are cheaper and Z-turns much more expensive . If you wish to pull a cart or use ground engaging accessories your going to need a Garden tractor . P.S. Caution , that many hydro tranny have limitations on extended hill use . I would suggest you only deal with a reputable dealer not a box store . A dealer will advise of the proper unit for your needs , rather than headaches after the Purchase !

ssewalk1, In General I would agree that a Dealer is better than a Box Store. My Wife and I went to a Dealer for our regretful purchase though. Through my personal experience in buying a Garden Tractor that wasn't, I have become very educated on the GT market. This is how I got to the place I am at now.

Armed with the information, I had spent a couple weeks learning about what a Garden Tractor really is, (there's a lot of misleading info out there) I went asking questions, and took a check list of most common things to look for, and spent time looking at parts diagrams to verify what I was being told. This was my list for minimums of a true Light Duty Garden Tractor;

Tuff Torq K66 with actual locking differential.

Verification in manufacturers product literature that the advertised GT is capable of "ground engagement work", and that the GT is warrantied for this.

23" diameter wheels and tires, preferably larger.

20hp or greater.

Verified product literature for the implements I planned on using, such as a front scoop to move sand and material around my property (including the johnny bucket jr)

(The Johnny Bucket jr had some warnings around the Husqvarna but the same tractor under the Craftsman brand (GT6000) did not have the warnings and I would ask if the GT could handle these things).

For more heavy accessories like light hydrualics in a GT;

K72

Drive shaft verses belt.

Horizontal shaft motor, traditional motor configuration.

just to name a few.

I was on a path of JDX500, Simplicity, or Cub Cadet X3 when I stopped at Sears to close the gap or make sure I was looking at everything. The salesman at the store recommended I give the Husqvarna Dealer a try because some of the Craftsman GT's were Husqvarna, (such as the GT6000) and it might be cheaper from Husqvarna.

The Dealer had the literature to back-up what he was saying and the JB jr was on current customer machines. After 2 visits I went back and purchased, because I felt I was mitigating risk by the included, very convincing, 5-year chassis warranty.

What I found out about Cub Cadet X3, they have most of the ingredients but the K66. The Yanmar produced (I think?) versions have hydraulics and are in the category of what looks like the very capable JDX700 to sub tractor class, and of course price.

So the real dilemma is in the gap in price between large glorified riding lawn mowers ($3,000.00 to $4,000.00 range) and real Garden Tractors ($7,000.00 to $9,000.00). The low end seems to be hiding something missing while putting out misleading information hiding this fact, and without any standard (or accountability), those new to the market can be fooled without recourse. I'm sure I've missed something but I actually wanted this to be half as long as it is.

To sofaspud, I to echo your thoughts on the manual trans. I believe more power gets to the wheels with the manual and they are so reliable. I prefer the reliability of the manual over the initial ease of the hydrostatic.

If the pump was on the outside of the hydrostatic with line filters and such, then maybe they would be impressive.

Doug , I agree you must decide on what you needs are . Manual transmissions are much stouter than hydro,s . If the dealer is reputable they will steer you in the correct manner . Box stores not so much ! However for the op,s grass cutting requirements the choice is much simpler . My only reservation was within the hilly acreage as sofa advised numerous hydro,s on lawn tractors have limitations . Garden tractor,s not so much . Anyhow , thanks for the additional info and price points it will assist in his decision making . P.S. I read your issues within the Husky tractor thread , terrible misrepresentation of fact on the Dealers part .

I agree with just about everything Doug said above, especially the diameter of the rear tires. As soon as the rear tires get smaller, climbing anything goes right out the window. My neghbor and I have nearly identical spec'd garden tractors. His is a newer Craftsman, mine a 20 year old Scott's. Both 25 horse, 54" hydros. His does well, cuts great, but struggles when it gets near the ditches where the angle gets extreme. Mine, nicknamed Agent Orange, loves the ditches. It turns into a big angry beast and you can hear when it digs deep and I'll come out of the ditch with the front tires in the air. The only real difference between the two tractors is my frame is much heavier his is stamped and cracking in several places, and mine has the big 24" tall 12" wide rear tires. I intend to keep this thing till I can't afford to fix it or until the PCH Prize Patrol knocks on my door, whichever happens first.

From the brief description, "hilly, rough, >2 acres," definitely a garden tractor. Focus in on what you actually want to do with it besides cut grass, after you have defined your needs we could offer some comments. You're probably looking at a minimum of $3-4,000 for a decent machine with a deck. If you're mechanically inclined, there's always CL, lots of old Craftsman, etc. manual trans GT's out there.

I have a John Deere LT 155, with a 15 hp kohler engine and a hydro transmission. While I have about 1/2 acre in grass, the lot varies about 15 feet from the low side to the high side. In addition I have a road grade ditch in front of the house.

The tractor was about 11 years old when we moved into this house, and for the last 7 I have been mowing this lot with the tractor. It comes out of the ditch slope of about a 45 angle with a 10 foot hypotenuse. And does not bog down going from one side of the lot to the other. (about 10 feet in 100. )

With 2 acres, you are going to want to use the tractor, Lawn or Garden, to move tools, mulch, fertilizer, wood chips, dirt, etc around the property as you work on the landscaping, The LT 155, is rated to pull a small trailer with a load of about 700 pounds. This is more that enough to do the landscaping chores on the slopes of my lot. Note: I have purposely avoided going directly up the steeper slopes and always tack (sailboat term) up the slopes. Going down you only have to worry about the brakes.