Wheel Horse weaknesses compared to other garden tractors?

[ibskot 37]

Now that I am down to one singular machine that runs, I was thinking about the differences between the WH and other garden tractors. Not the SCUT. For example, the Sears Suburban. I currently have a manual Johnny bucket on my front and am planning to plow a garden soon. If I want the lift for the plow to work I'll need to take the bucket off. Not to mention have a mowing deck setup. The Sears can have a snow plow, mowing deck and a 3pt implement and can operate independently. I am not familiar with other tractors of this class. I picked building a WH system because it was recommended to me by some people I respected as far as quality, parts availability and accessories.

Notice any other and if so, how to get around it?

[Geno 1,929]

I sure wouldn't want anything hanging out the front or back when I'm mowing.  Seems like an accident waiting to happen.      I also wouldn't want a deck on my Kubota that has a bucket and backhoe on it, it would hang the tractor in rough terrain or tear the deck up.  Just because someone sells something that does all of that at once doesn't mean it's a good thing. 

[Sean Keys 57]

I sure wouldn't want anything hanging out the front or back when I'm mowing.  Seems like an accident waiting to happen.      I also wouldn't want a deck on my Kubota that has a bucket and backhoe on it, it would hang the tractor in rough terrain or tear the deck up.  Just because someone sells something that does all of that at once doesn't mean it's a good thing. 

 

Agreed, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Just because it is possible to have three implements mounted by no means makes it ideal or favorable. This all of course depending on specific situations and the job at hand.

[ibskot 37]

A lot of people add weights or weighed tires to their tractors. A big steel bucket makes for good weight. If I were easily able to add my plow and drive it to the garden then that would make things easier. The deck part I am not convinced about. It might drag would probably drag while plowing, but not having to take off the bucket and plow to prepare to mow would be awesome. A Kubota is a different animal.

[Geno 1,929]

If you're old like me that bucket may find it's way into a tree or building. 

[ibskot 37]

I wish it was a real front loader...actually this helps a lot when driving through woods. Helps make a path.

[Geno 1,929]

I like it.    Where did you get it?  

[ibskot 37]

From a forum member. Bill in Va. Don't remember his forum name or his last name. Nice guy though.

[boovuc 1,090]

If Wheelhorse had a weakness, (besides not marketing their tractors correctly back in the 80's), it would be a lack of an optional 3 point hitch on the 400 and 500 series machines from the late 80's through the 90's.

It wouldn't have taken much more dealer showroom invoice money to offer the same tractor with an available 3 point option on their hydro models. IMO, this was a setback of Toro to companies like John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kabota and even Simplicity which Wheelhorse was competing against in the Garden Tractor categories. The Toro Wheelhorse ease of changing implements and the almost universal availability of implements that fit all the C-series plus the 300, 400 and 500 series tractors would have increased sales and put a lot of pressure on the other manufacturers.

There is my weakness verses other brands.

[Catmanii 36]

If Wheelhorse had a weakness, (besides not marketing their tractors correctly back in the 80's), it would be a lack of an optional 3 point hitch on the 400 and 500 series machines from the late 80's through the 90's.

It wouldn't have taken much more dealer showroom invoice money to offer the same tractor with an available 3 point option on their hydro models. IMO, this was a setback of Toro to companies like John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kabota and even Simplicity which Wheelhorse was competing against in the Garden Tractor categories. The Toro Wheelhorse ease of changing implements and the almost universal availability of implements that fit all the C-series plus the 300, 400 and 500 series tractors would have increased sales and put a lot of pressure on the other manufacturers.

There is my weakness verses other brands.

I agree with Boovuc that the lack of a three point hitch is the main weekness of the Wheelhorse tractors, compaired to others of the same years. A three point would make the addition of implaments much more universal as well as much easer to install and remove. A three point should have at lest been offered as an option, but really should have been part of the tractor package. 

[ibskot 37]

That was what I was getting at. That would have solved my issue with them. I wasn't smart enough to voice it that way.

[RMCIII 838]

If Wheelhorse had a weakness, (besides not marketing their tractors correctly back in the 80's), it would be a lack of an optional 3 point hitch on the 400 and 500 series machines from the late 80's through the 90's.

It wouldn't have taken much more dealer showroom invoice money to offer the same tractor with an available 3 point option on their hydro models. IMO, this was a setback of Toro to companies like John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kabota and even Simplicity which Wheelhorse was competing against in the Garden Tractor categories. The Toro Wheelhorse ease of changing implements and the almost universal availability of implements that fit all the C-series plus the 300, 400 and 500 series tractors would have increased sales and put a lot of pressure on the other manufacturers.

There is my weakness verses other brands.

 

That and front and rear hydralic couplers. John Deere 140H3 is king in this department.

[WheelHorse79 271]

Just to add to the list:

1) Power steering available on more models

2) At least one tractor with All Wheel Steer

3) Shaft drive available on some high end models (other than the D series)

[ibskot 37]

Locking rear differential.

[Geno 1,929]

Not that one, I have a 70 Raider 12 with a posi rear. 

[kayvonmansouri 10]

I have a JD 317 and a Wh 416 8. I feel like the JD wins in the Hydro department but the Wh wins in the ease of use and implement attach.

[Don1977 604]

The Wheel Horse wins in that they didn't change the design every two years, where you would need new attachments with a newer tractor.

[ibskot 37]

Geno, do all Raiders have that? Or is yours home grown?

[Geno 1,929]

I don't know if they all had it but there's lots of talk here on the board about the 10 pinion posi unit.