14 Common Riding Lawn Mower Questions

A riding mower can prove to be a worthwhile investment for property owners across the United States. As its name suggests, this user-friendly machine is driven like a vehicle to mow the lawn. If you are considering a riding mower to help you tackle yard maintenance, Tractor Supply is here to point you in the right direction with our 85+ years of knowledge and experience. Here, we answer 14 of the most frequently asked questions about the riding lawn mowers for sale at Tractor Supply. 

1. Are gas riding mowers or electric riding mowers better?

Tractor Supply believes in the quality and integrity of the riding mowers we sell, whether they are gas-powered or electric. When choosing between gas and electric riding mowers, your decision should simply depend on your lawn care needs and preferences. Here are the main differences:

• Gas riding lawn mowers: These mowers are controlled by a gas pedal and steering wheel, operating similarly to a car. They are a more powerful option for those with thicker grass or troublesome terrain, and one tank of fuel often lasts longer than mowing times for one electric battery charge. 
• Electric riding lawn mowers: These mowers are battery-operated, produce zero emissions and are quiet to use. They eliminate the hassles of fuel and maintenance related to fuel systems, and though they produce minimal sound, they are powerful enough to mow through large areas with ease. 

2. What is a zero-turn riding mower?

A specialized type of riding lawn mower, zero-turn mowers operate like traditional riding mowers but have additional capabilities and features. They are able to pivot 180° without a circle of uncut grass left behind. With the ability to make narrow, quick turns nimbly and efficiently, zero-turn riding mowers are operated by levers or lap bars, which control the front caster wheels for complete turning mobility. What’s more, they can easily cut around tricky areas, such as:

• Garden beds
• Pathways
• Shrubs and plants
• Tree lines
• Other landscaping obstacles

There are gas and electric models of zero-turn riding mowers at Tractor Supply.

3. What are the pros and cons of zero-turn riding mowers?

There are many upsides to zero-turn riding mowers. For one, they handle mowing jobs faster thanks to a more efficient design, with the ability to handle tight corners or hard-to-mow areas. They are also built with larger fuel tanks and have higher horsepower, so you can mow more with fewer refueling stops. On the other hand, zero-turn riding mowers are usually more expensive due to advanced features. All riding mowers, especially those operating on gas, will have long-term maintenance costs to consider, as well.

4. What are the pros and cons of gas riding mowers?

Gas riding mowers boast powerful engines capable of handling most mowing jobs. They have longer run times than electric mowers, cutting up to 14,000 sq. ft. on one fuel tank. Gas mowers are often more budget-friendly upfront, but on the downside, there are ongoing fuel and motor maintenance costs to consider. Common gas mower issues should be addressed as soon as they arise, and these may include:

• Won’t start
• Stuck or hard-to-pull starter cord
• Lost power while mowing
• Excessive vibration
• Smoking

5. What are the pros and cons of electric riding mowers? 

As a sustainable and eco-friendly tool for maintaining your lawn, electric riding mowers have a rechargeable battery, so there are no fuel or oil costs to factor in. Because they don’t have heavy engines, transmissions or fuel systems, electric mowers are lighter in weight, quieter to operate and easier to maneuver, especially if you’re a beginner. 

While they can have long lifespans of around 10 years, requiring simple maintenance on a routine basis, their batteries are costly to replace every few years. When it comes to upfront costs, electric riding mowers are typically more expensive than their gas counterparts. They also have shorter run times than gas models and may not have enough torque to handle tougher areas.

6. What are the best riding lawn mower brands?

To deliver viable solutions for those living Life Out Here, Tractor Supply carefully vets every product and brand we carry in our inventory of lawn mowers. We are proud to offer the following:

• Bad Boy zero-turn riding mowers
• Cub Cadet riding mowers and Cub Cadet zero-turn mowers
• Greenworks zero-turn mowers and Greenworks traditional riding mowers
• Husqvarna zero-turn mowers and Husqvarna riding lawn mowers
• Toro zero-turn riding mowers

7. What are the top engine brands for riding mowers?

Constructed with V-twin or single-cylinder engines, riding lawn mower manufacturers rely on engines from top brands. You can find the following leading mower engine brands in our selection at Tractor Supply: 

• Briggs & Stratton
• Cub Cadet
• Greenworks
• Kawasaki
• Kohler

Learn more about riding mower engine types in Tractor Supply’s riding lawn mower buying guide. 

8. What riding mower deck size do I need?

Also referred to as the cutting width, a mower deck size indicates how many passes it takes to cut grass to the desired height. Wider cutting decks mow more grass in fewer passes, while narrower cutting decks result in more mowing time. Tractor Supply typically recommends the following mower yard size ranges: 

• 21” to 52” cut width: For yards up to 2 acres
• 52” to 54” cut width: For yards 2 to 3 acres
• 54” to 60” cut width: For yards 3 to 4 acres
• 60” or greater cut width: For yards 4 acres and above

9. Do riding lawn mowers come with features?

Yes, they do! At Tractor Supply, find riding lawn mowers with features such as:

• Adjustable cutting heights
• Cruise control
• Cup holders
• Headlights
• Manual, automatic and hydrostatic mower transmissions
• Powerful engines
• Zero-turn capabilities

10. What is the right riding lawn mower for my terrain type?

First, determine your terrain’s type and difficulty. Tractor Supply carries riding lawn mowers designed to tackle various terrains, including:

• Flat
• Most terrains
• Sloped
• Uneven

You’ll also need to determine which mower drive type is right for your property. Our selection includes all-wheel-drive (AWD) riding mowers, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) riding mowers and front-wheel-drive (FWD) riding mowers. 

11. Do I need riding lawn mower attachments and accessories?

This is totally up to you. Depending on your preferences and needs, you might find useful or desirable mower attachments and mower accessories at Tractor Supply. For example, you can invest in dump carts for the easy hauling of debris, materials and more. Bagging attachments or mulching kits make managing leaves and clippings more efficient. If you get a lot of snow in your area, consider snow plows. 

12. Who are riding mowers intended for?

Riding lawn mowers are great solutions for homeowners with yards from .5 acres up to around 10 acres. Those with smaller lawns may also prefer them for their convenience and versatility. Outside of lawn maintenance tasks, riding mowers also make great year-round tools, helping with everything from mulching to snow removal. Some models, such as zero-turn riding mowers, are also trusted by professional contractors to get their tougher mowing jobs done. Ride-and-mow models are an ideal next step for those looking to upgrade from a push lawn mower. 

13. Do I need a single-cylinder mower engine or V-twin mower engine?

It comes down to your exact needs and terrain type, but most people will require V-twin engines in their riding mowers. Single-cylinder engines might be sufficient for flat, small yards with thin grass, and though these models are less expensive, there isn’t enough torque for tougher jobs. V-twin engines have longer lifespans, better gas mileage and faster operating speeds, as well as more horsepower to handle most mowing jobs. 

14. What are the advantages of riding lawn mowers?

There are more than a few reasons to consider a riding lawn mower for your yard maintenance needs, including:

• Being user-friendly and easy to operate
• Covering more ground faster than push mowers
• Having heavy-duty tires for traction and control
• Offering comfort and convenience features
• Providing efficiency and versatility with the option for mower attachments
• Reducing effort and time required for mowing and other tasks
• Replacing the need to hire professional lawn maintenance services

Shop for Your New Riding Lawn Mower at Tractor Supply

If you’re not sure where to start when picking the right lawn mower, Tractor Supply is here to assist. As America’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, we have the expertise to help you feel confident in your decision. Tell us your budget, terrain type and mowing needs, and we’ll point you in the right direction. Get your new riding mower by shopping with us online or visiting your local Tractor Supply location.