[magimat]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a small riding mower. I have a small yard and I need it to be small enough to go through a 36" gate so my options are limited.

So far, I narrowed it to 3 models:

Snapper RE 28"
Weedeater One (26")
Craftman Smart rider (30")

I'm really interested in the last one from sears (CRAFTSMAN®/MD 12.5HP 30'' Smart Rider Lawn Tractor - Sears | Sears Canada) which I was able to see tonight at my local Sears and I was really pleased with what I saw. It's a 12,5HP Briggs engine and it comes with mulch kit. Overall it is only 32" wide, so it would go through my gate.

I saw the Weedeater one too, but it looks a little more fragile and I read a lot of bad review about this unit, so even if it's a little cheaper, I would be a bit afraid of buying this one.

As for the Snapper, I read only good review about it, but it's a lot more expensive than the others for what seems really similar. I even read somewhere that Sears once sold rebranded Snapper, but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore, but I don't know if snapper is still involved in Craftman riding mowers somehow.

Anyway... I was looking for some advice on those models or maybe on some other model I,m not aware that would be about the same size.

Thanks!

 

[Brad]

No personal experience with any of those, but from reading the reports others have posted I would personally lean towards the Snapper. Let's see what the others think.

 

[qlty]

Consider this

I also have a small yard and a small gated part.I had a rider with a 42 in deck and went to a cub cadet 833R walk behind that has a 33 Inch deck that does a much better job,its does a zero turn and requires less triming (almost none)with a smaller mower.Its only 8 HP (much less gas)stears with 1 hand,has 4 speeds & reverse.Its built of steel not sheet metal and should last a life time if maintained properly.The only mods will be to add a fuel shut off and gas filter for $12. There are newer models of the same machine well worth your looking into.

Here is a link to newer models that replace mine http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gallery_10051_14101_1210164_33830_600000_-1_image

 

[mowerbeast]

Weedeater and Craftsman are both built by Husqvana now, so basicly they're the same thing.
I would go with the snapper. If you look around, there are a lot of 30+ year old snappers still mowing today, and they still make them the almost exactly the same as they used to.

 

[BOSMECH]

I have a Snapper and I too have to get it through the gate and it does with no problem. I would check craigslist you can find them all the time. They are tough easy to work on if need be and parts are still available every where.
Go Snapper you wont be disappointed.