If you need a mower that will cut the lawn and turn some dirt in the garden, but don't have a lot of money to spend, consider the Troy-Bilt GT, also known as the Big Red Horse. It's the lowest priced popular-brand garden tractor out there. Yes, they've cut some corners -- but it's still a Budget Buy.

The most significant corner cut is the engine. It's a 23-hp Briggs & Stratton Intek two-cylinder model, an adequate engine without the life expectancy of other B&S and Kohler engines installed in garden tractors. It does feature full-pressure lubrication and a spin-on filter. If you're religious about regular maintenance you can keep this mower cutting lawn and working in the yard for many years.

The cutting width on the GT is 50 inches and the height is 1-1/2 to 4 inches set by moving the six-position lever on the right fender. Top forward speed is 5.2 mph and operator-controlled reverse (a safety feature) is 2 mph. There are three blades under the deck driven by a single Kevlar belt. The deck material, 12-gauge steel, is a little thinner than some models, but adequate. Four anti-scalp rollers are at the mowing deck corners. The front axle is cast iron rather than less durable steel. Clippings leave the mowing deck via the discharge chute on the right side of the mower. Note that the longer wheelbase on this garden tractor extends the standard 18-inch turning radius to 21 inches.

The list of standard features on the GT is, well, standard. The transmission is a two-speed constantly variable (CVT) transmission with cruise control; the rear wheels are 22 inches, and the front wheels are 16 inches. There's also electrical PTO (power take off) and a relatively comfortable high-back seat. A triple-bag rear collection system and a mulching kit are optional. Other options include a bumper, dozer blade, snow thrower, and sunshade. Before buying other options not sold by Troy-Bilt, make sure that they fit your new garden tractor.

What's NOT standard is the price. The Troy-Bilt GT is about the same price as a lawn tractor that won't handle ground-engaging garden tasks, such as tilling and cultivating. Of course, all the extra garden tools are extra cost. But if you were going to buy a tiller too, consider the Big Red Horse GT as the power source. You should be able to find lots of things to do with this Budget Buy garden tractor -- and some things to do with the savings too.


Pros: Adequate engine and transmission, sufficient power for garden work, value priced
Cons: Thinner metals, wider turning radius