What is the Differences Between a Ride-On Mower and Garden Tractor? A riding mower is a great help if you’ve got a large garden that needs cutting regularly. Instead of spending hours pushing a lawn mower around your garden, you can actually sit back and let the mower do all the work. When looking at different riding mowers, there are two common options you’ll come across, ride-on mowers and garden tractors. While they both look very similar, they’re built for slightly different tasks. Ride-on mowers and garden tractors vary in power, size, and versatility. Ride-on mowers are smaller machines built specifically for cutting grass, while garden tractors are built for more demanding gardening jobs. Let’s take a closer look at each option and see how they differ. What Is a Ride-On Mower? Ride-on mowers are self-explanatory, they’re lawnmowers that you ride on. Instead of pushing it manually around your garden, you sit on it and drive it like a car while the cutting deck does all the hard work for you. These machines are great for small to medium lawns, and owning a ride-on mower can save you a lot of time when you compare it to using a push mower. Due to their compact size, ride-on mowers can be perfect if you’ve got: Trees Flower beds Narrow pathways Lots of obstacles or little room to manoeuvre Small ride-on mowers are easier to drive around obstacles, giving you a more efficient way of cutting your grass. At Mowshop we stock a wide range of ride-on lawn mowers from big name brands such as John Deere, EGO, Stiga and Mountfield. What Is a Garden Tractor? A garden tractor is like a ride-on mower, just much more heavy duty and built for larger gardens with tougher jobs. Garden tractors are still just as much focused on cutting grass as ride-on mowers, but they have more capabilities than a standard mower. These machines have more powerful engines and robust construction, giving them the ability to tow attachments and other equipment. Garden tractors are useful if you’ve got a large estate or property with uneven ground. Common garden tractor features include: Higher towing capacity Big, powerful engines Heavy-duty build Ability to use attachments You can buy attachments that attach to the front or back of your garden tractor including trailers, rollers, aerators or even spreaders. That means garden tractors allow you to tackle more jobs than just mowing. We stock many different garden tractors from big name brands, with products such as the Cobra LTX92HR2L, John Deere X127, Cobra LT86HRL and the Cobra LT102HRL. Difference Between Ride-On Mowers and Garden Tractors Both ride-on mowers and garden tractors have their benefits, but there are some key differences you should also know about. Engine Size Ride-on mowers feature smaller engines, but they still provide enough power to cut through your grass with ease. Garden tractors have more powerful engines. This extra power allows for greater torque meaning you can tow trailers and use additional attachments. Size Due to their uses, ride-on mowers are generally more compact than garden tractors, making them ideal for cutting around obstacles. Garden tractors have beefier builds, giving them more stability when towing equipment or working on uneven surfaces. Cutting decks can differ Ride-on mowers are designed to easily drive around objects, making them perfect for lawns that have lots of obstacles. Garden tractors commonly have mid mounted decks which work great for cutting larger areas of grass. Uses Ride-on mowers have the simple job of just cutting grass, however some models can also tow small trailers. On the other hand, garden tractors are more versatile as they are compatible with many different attachments. Cost Ride-on mowers are cheaper than garden tractors, so if all you want is an easier way to cut your grass, a ride-on mower will be sufficient. Garden tractors are generally more expensive due to their versatility and power. Should You Buy a Ride-On Mower or Garden Tractor? The decision really comes down to how big your garden is, and what jobs you need it for. Buy a Ride-On Mower If: Your garden is small to medium size You only need it to cut grass You have lots of obstacles like trees or bushes You’re looking for a more budget-friendly option Ride-On Mowers are great for homeowners that want an easier and faster way of cutting their grass. Buy a Garden Tractor If: You have a large garden Your garden has lots of slopes or uneven ground You want to tow equipment or use attachments You’re looking for a multipurpose gardening machine Garden tractors are best if you want one machine that can do it all. Conclusion Ride-on mowers and garden tractors can both make maintaining your lawn much easier. Ride-on mowers are better for those that want to simply cut their grass, while garden tractors are better suited for larger properties and tougher jobs. If you start by considering what you need it for, this will set you off on the right foot with deciding which one is best for you. And if you’re still unsure, get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to help.
