Re: (ET) Reliable, heavy-duty electric tractor?

[Dave Stensland <evmailbox frontiernet net>]

Hi Steve,

It may not be available yet, but here's another possibility... 
http://www.zeromow.com/ (Shawn Lawless is a great guy who does great 
work on his electric drag racers and parade floats.)

Right now I'm using an I5 with a 42" mower deck and a 48" snowplow. It 
works well but I do spend a bit of time fixing "little things". It's 
still way cheaper than those other options and it's not too hard to 
find useful attachments here in the NE part of the country. I think 
your total cost of ownership will be less with a good-old Elec-Trak 
workhorse. They're old but cheap and darn near indestructible. Plus 
there are still quite a few people selling parts for these. It's good 
to support them, but parts are available elsewhere when necessary.

I restored an E-12M a few years back. That model was less complicated 
and thus probably a bit more reliable than the I5, but I prefer the I5 
for it's power and control. The deck doesn't gouge the lawn as much, 
either.

-Dave (on the other side of Ithaca)
http://www.megawattmotorworks.com

On Jan 24, 2006, at 1:42 PM, Steve Gaarder wrote:

> Our gas tractor just died, and we're wondering about a replacement.  I
> really want to get another electric - we have an E-15 also - but I 
> have to
> convince some skeptics.  The key issue is reliability - people are 
> nervous
> about the age of the Elec-traks.  The next issue is ruggedness for 
> mowing
> trails - the E-15's front deck does not do this well.
>
> I can think of a few options:
>
> 1.  Find an E-12M in really good shape (if I can).  The mid-mount mower
> will be better for the trails than the front deck, I think.  The trick
> will be getting something reliable, and convincing people that it will
> stay that way.
>
> 2.  The Electric Ox.  Lotsa bucks, and the front-mounted mower is not 
> so
> good for trails.  It seems designed for groomed lawns, which we do not
> have.
>
> 3.  The Gorilla.  It will go anywhere by the looks of it, but can it 
> mow?
>
> Wasn't there a company mentioned a few months ago that was going to 
> sell
> conversions?  Other ideas?
>
> thanks,
>
> Steve Gaarder
>
>
>
>
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