Northern Virginia Roll Call

slowly morphing into randyfab

 

#fakenews. On a completely unrelated note I'll be bobbing 7" out of my bed.

 

Haven't really been into the concept of a bed cap or topper but I do like the look of that soft one.

 

When did you get this. I was looking at the ones with the steering wheel. Overcomplicating it for my son haha

and building your own bumpers?

 

@Superman910 hey u still
Interest in the airbags and day star cradles?

 

Nice Snatch!

 

She's served me well and lived a good life. I think it's time to retire ol girl soon and buy a new one.

 

Old snatches die hard!

 

My truck was also eaten on this same day I believe. Nick said I'd be ok with my steps on. NOT!

Edit: Nick = @Darkgoatracer as I forgot we’re talking two Nicks here!

 

Not right now. Just moved and kinda have all side projects on hold.

 

A lot of factors need to be considered.

Cost, terrain, secondary use, ease of use, maintenance.

There are two types of riding lawn mowers aka "tractors" for residential use. Lawn & Garden.

Lawn Tractors are very basic, lower cost and cut grass perfectly, but you're limiting yourself to doing just that, and using basic accessories, like a snow plow, aerator or cart, for example. The engine will be more than adequate for cutting your grass but not designed for any heavy duty use.

Garden Tractors are all of this on steroids. Heavier frame, better engine, more power, more advanced features.

The brake-over is when you up the ante and switch to a "Sub-Compact Tractor". Price will go up considerably but you're basically getting a garden tractor sized machine with a lot more capability. If you have a decent amount of property and can benefit from things like a PTO driven tiller, a front end loader, a PTO driven snow blower, etc, and have the room to store all these implements it could be beneficial to skip the lawn and garden tractor series and jump into a sub-compact. Again, this is not a inexpensive choice. You should "have" to need this.

Depending on what you're going to use it for, there are other options. If all you want to do is cut grass and do it quickly, and don't have a lot of steep slopes, and do have a lot of obstacles, then you might want to consider a Zero Turn. They may look hard to drive but actually after 5 minutes you can be a pro. The disadvantage, even though they have the lowest center of gravity is that I've heard they suck on steep slopes. And honestly, the only thing that doesn't is AWD or something with a locking rear.

There's also a type of mower similar to a zero turn called a "stander" and it's literally that. You stand up on it and control it like a zero turn, like a tank. The difference is, these are the most nimble and manoeuvrable of all commercial mowers. They are also not cheap.

I often wonder if I made the right choice a long time ago not getting an ATV, to use with a front mounted finish mower. Anything with a front mounted will cut grass closer to and easier than a belly mounted deck, especially up to and under bushes. You can also add a plow, snow blower, a front end loader, and basically pull anything a sub-compact, or riding mower can pull. The biggest benefit.......it's a big boy toy if you want it to be. Yes, now you're looking at prices equivalent to a sub-compact but again, the versatility can't be beat. Or the fun.

Cub Cadet is great, Kubota, Deere are also very nice. When we moved up here 20 years ago (2.5 acres with about 30% to cut) all I could afford was a 22" walk behind. I bought a JD with a aluminum deck and a pressurized, spin off oil filter because of our grades which are severe in areas. Then I bought a used Scag 42" with a sulkie. That was dangerous and as I got older my knees said no. I bought a Deere Riding mower. It also had a 42" deck. It was nice. It worked well. I flipped it over. It was useless on the bad slopes. I upgraded to a Deere garden tractor. It had a locking rear diff. It also had a 48" deck. It was used and older and all I could afford at the time. I flipped that one over too.

I ultimately traded that, a nice walk behind snow blower and that Deere 22" walk behind for a Kubota BX1860 sub-compact, 4wd (locking), diesel tractor with a 54" deck, a 54" blower and a front end loader. All told it cost as much as a compact car but I should have it forever. I can take the deck off and go up in the woods (14" clearance) but without any suspension it's no fun on the woop-di-doos. So that's why I wonder if I shouldn't have gotten an ATV........

If you just need a riding mower to save time cutting your grass and don't have the need for awd, or accessories, then go to HD or Lowes and buy the nicest machine they have that you can afford. But the extended warr and never look back. If there's a Sears still open near you selling out, go get a Craftsman.

 

I actually told you that you would have problems.

Chaotic Evil Nick is me.

True evil is Goat Racer Nick

 

And here I thought it was challenging keeping track of all the "Daves" in here!!!!

 

Snorkel, check
Speakers, check
Sound deadener, delivery this afternoon at the house

Tomorrow's a mod day for me!

 

anyone want a bed mat? Installing the decked system kind of negates me having one

 

In case you weren't aware: the template for the snorkel is a little off. At least it was when I did mine not that long ago. I put the studs in the snorkel and held them against the template while it was on the truck to adjust. Did you get the hole saw? And I'm sure you have a body saw. Goes through the fender like crazy! My favorite new air tool.

 

Awwwww snap, Friday mod day for the win!!!!!

My wife saw my phone screen when I was looking at their Snorkel thread and immediately said, Wooooohhhhh that is certainly ugly. You won't be doing that, right?

So it's looking like a cowl snorkel wanna be or just wait for another big water crossing.

Considering she freaked out the first day I owned it crossing this flooded road/overflowing River on our way to our friends kids 1st birthday...I figured that once the function was explained she'd be all for it. Looking like it won't be on the mod list for a while!

 

I'd be interested in the mat. I'm close by

 

Yeah, my wife thinks they are ugly also...do I care? Nope!