[AT] Somewhat off topic: Pull behind lawn vacs

[Greg Hass]

Having started this topic I will update. I have not decided what to do 
yet but have some thoughts. First off, someone sent a picture of a deck 
with the blower attached. I have a John Deere Z445 zero turn mower and 
that very thing is available. I decided against it when I bought the 
mower for several reasons: it cost over a thousand dollars; it blows the 
material into big garbage can type containers which I do not want to 
handle besides which they would have to be emptied far too often; the 
price is too close to what a pull behind costs; the mower mounted blower 
is only good for that machine, should something happen or should I 
change  machines I lose my money. The pull behind has a downside also, 
mainly it restricts your maneuverability  with the zero turn and makes 
the unit wider with the chute. Also it is a job hooking and unhooking 
the unit; a job which as I get older I hate. A couple of days ago I came 
up with a bright idea (or maybe not). I have a 42 year old 109 Cub Cadet 
that still runs. I have only used it to spray with the last couple of 
years as a piece of the deck rusted through and is hitting the blades. I 
could probably patch the deck in a day or so. Because the whole lawn 
does not need picking up (I have no need to pick up leaves) and only a 
little over a third needs clearing up I was thinking I could put the 
vacuum on the cadet and after cutting with the zero turn, which usually 
the grass is thick and heavy, I would let it dry a day and run over it 
with the cadet and clean it up. Even when I try the lawn sweeper I must 
let it dry at least a day or the brush will not turn in the heavy, 
thick, wet grass. I realize it is sort of a second trip but would still 
be faster than trying to pull and maneuver the vac over the whole lawn. 
Also, the cadet would become my dedicated vacuum tractor. One thing I 
don't like it appears almost all vacs have a soft top and sides type of 
design which I am pretty such would need replacing in 10 years or less. 
It appears that the ones with a hard top (according to reviews) are hard 
to empty and a couple with solid back doors tend to pop open and scatter 
grass all over. A couple of reviews say they cured the problem by adding 
bungee cords (sounds bad for a new machine). I have looked at many 
brands online and so far the DR. brand looks best to me, unless there is 
something I'm not seeing. Also the problem of what size as the larger 
sizes are a lot more dollars. I have not decided for sure on brand as 
they all have there points. Enough for tonight.
      Greg Hass