steve -

I'm going into my third year with my Conquest. I have the 44" deck with the B & S Vanguard engine - 21 HP. I haven't found anything I don't like about it.

The floating deck is fantastic. I have a few uneven areas to say the least and I have no scalping at all. And I do have some hills and slopes to mow. Removing the deck is very easy. Takes 5 to 10 minutes doing it myself and not being in a hurry. Just as easy to put back on. The ride is very comfortable and the tractor handles very well.

The locking differential was the big selling point for me. It works like a charm.

I do pull a 10 cubic foot trailer with wood, dirt and rocks and what other stuff I need to. Never a problem. I also use the Conquest in the winter. I have a 42" single stage blower to clear an 1100 to 1200 foot driveway. The lights are good for night time work.

I also consider myself fortunate to have an excellent dealer who services the tractor for the big stuff like tune ups. I change the oil and filter, which is really easy to do.

I can't address the factory closing or what is happening on that front.

Hope this helps.

eal51 in western CT

eal51,

Thanks for the informative info. I had forgotten about the locking differential. That was another reason I was considering this mower. Just this past weekend I was aerating a 1-1/2 acre lot I own. It has some slope to it and its uneven. Anyway that one wheel spinning gave me fits at times. Having a locking differential will make life easier for me.

I may have a problem finding a good dealer here though. The dealer I had in mind seems to have went out of business which suprised me, I'm not sure why they did. I am just starting to call around to get prices and an idea of dealer support. First call was not encouraging. Will call more later in the week. Thanks again.

I echo eal51. I am also on year 3 with my Conquest, not one problem. I have the 20hp 44 deck and I mulch which works fine unless the grass is wet. I also use a small cart to haul everything from recycleables to dirt, rocks, shrubs and the occasional kid.

I find the tractor very comfortable - though the LX 280 you mention is also a good sized machine.

My dealer is also the key, he is excellent. He picks the tractor up in the middle of winter for servicing when I am not using it. That way its ready for spring and he gets some $$ during the winter when his business is slow.

I have a 4 year old conquest. It's been a great machine. Good luck.

A Conquest was on my short list, but the dealer was too far and too hard to get to so I chose another. Have you considered a Wright Stander? If I had one good tractor for chores, then the Wright will outcut most any tractor and the fun factor should be high.

My Conquest is 4 years old. I can't speak more highly of it. I really love mine. I had it on a 3/4 acre lot for it's first two summers and now have it on my 6 acre lot with a little over an acre to mow.

Simplicity is shutting down their Wisconsin plant and moving to the Snapper plant that I believe is in Georgia. They had plenty of space at this plant and it is a new more modern work place from what I have heard. Simplcity had bought Snapper and then sold everything to Briggs. I wouldn't worry too much about the move. That's the nature of manufacturing. At least they didn't move to China. Another tractor compay that recently moved is Ingersol. most view that as a good move. Briggs got some bad pulicity about the plant closing, and they probabaly deserve some if it as many long time Simplicity workers will now be without a job. But, in the grand scheme of things, it probably makes a lot of sense.

Here is some pictures of my Conquest of intersted:

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of my Conquest.. Bottom of page two and three.

Thanks for the feed back guys!

bogey123, that was another question I was going to ask, did anyone here mulch mow, as that's all I ever do. I use gator blades and a mulch kit and it also does well unless the grass is damp. Do you use gator blades? Will this mower take gator blades?

oldtiredbob, Thanks. Glad to here everyone here is satisfied with this mower!

soccer dad, I did give thought to a Wright Stander but $$$$ is a factor.

aesanders, thanks for the pictures and company update information.

Update: I called a dealer this morning that once carried JD. They dropped him as his business was not large enough for JD. There is a really big JD less than 10 miles from him. Anyway 2 years ago he started carrying Simplicity. Talked to him for a while on the phone, nice guy . Going by friday to look and ride the mower and if everything goes well setup a demo at my house and hopefully make a deal for it.

Mines a 2005 20/44. The traction on these are great. It pulls this 10 cu. ft. cart of firewood like its not even there. I'm looking at getting a 17 cu.ft. cart now.
Also check out the video I made of it plowing snow. This is without using the diff lock. I rarely use it. Great mower.

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Kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: Conquest Plowing

I'm planning on beating the crap out of my Regent so I can convince my best half I absolutely need a Conquest. That is one heck of a tractor at a good price.

vangeliss,

Impressive video of snow plowing. Wow!

NE PA huh, my inlaws live near Scranton, in a little town called Carbondale. Love to deer hunt up there. Cold winters though. Thanks for the video.

Swimjim...good luck beating up the Regent. Even 40 yrs on my '67 broadmower did'nt kill it. I have to admit...I sometimes chuckle about what people pull & plow. I pulled a 10cuft cart filled with dirt...I estimate 1000+ lbs, as well as plowed deep snow...with my old 8hp Simplicity and it was plenty strong. It "felt" the loaded cart, but did the job well. I just bought my Regent....and I have little reason to doubt it's toughness.

Hi Steve. I'm a 1/2 hr. north of Scranton in Factoryville, Pa. Yes, Carbondale is nearby. Right over the mountain I guess you could say. Yeah we have a few deer around. This buck was in the yard last year. Click the link!

Kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: Deer Family

Kevin,

Now that's cool. A young buck with a nice rack already!

I have the dealer installed mulch kit and blades, it works great except in wet grass - but then again you are not supposed to try and mow wet grass.

The first year I had it, I realized an even larger benefit to mulching - it turns the fall leaves into dust so no more raking leaves!

Oh, I forgot. They really do a nice job of striping.

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Kevin

I've had my Conquest for four and a half years now. Never had a problem. It's still feels like a new mower every time I use it. It works great in the fall for leaf pick-up too.

Don

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I would reccommend against the 54" deck. I have the 22 horse 54" and I think the deck is too much for the tractor. If the grass is heavy it leaves an intermittent stip between the blades. It also pulls the engine down some in heavy or damp grass.

I also have a 25 horse 60" Legacy and it is nearly unstoppable. If you have a lot of beds and turns the Legacy has power sterring that works like butter.

I looked at a 23hp vanguard with a 50" deck this past saturday. I didn't get to spend much time looking at it as I had my little boy (2 1/2 yr). He had to get on each mower at least once and didn't want to leave the store. He's a pistol in every since - my parents claim the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Anyway, I am going back one day this week to better evaluate the mower and ride it around the parking lot and finally setup a demo for my yard. We got so much rain friday & saturday this weekend was a total wash.

I was considering a 54" Deck but may I may stick with a 50" after your comment bubgump. Especially since I plan on primarily mulch mowing.

One thing I did notice was the tires on the mower seemed to have a "little" rougher tread than say the typical turf tire. Anyone have any trouble with it tearing the grass in their yards? Now I don't plan on going through the yard like Richard Petty. I typically take my time but I do turn around alot in my yard.

Anyone have any stability issues on slopes with this LT? It definitely sits up higher than my JD.

I have a couple of short but steep slopes and just go slowly. I have never had it tip (thankfully). When going up those slopes the diff lock helps if its a little slippery.

I had some pretty steep hills to climb at my last property. The Conquest handled them like a champ. It's a heavy machine and felt solid on the hills. My old Yardman that sat way lower always felt tippy to me.

I bought a 2014 Conquest 50" with floating deck etc. ( no power steering or tilt wheel ) but will tell you I am totally pleased with it. The rear shocks and seat are a nice addition and with the

K-66 tranny and locking differential it's been able to handle any task I've thrown at it nicely. A big advantage with the 50" deck is the commendable 18" turning radius which is great when it comes to cutting around trees, shrubs etc. The 25 h.p. comm/turf has been trouble free so far and has all the power I need. I do use the standard blades after my first spring cut and then use the Gator blades on it in fall which even makes the mulching kit a little more efficient.

Hope Simplicity never changes its quality and Briggs never interferes with that as the parent company. P.S. I bought a T-111 Allis Chalmers ( actually made by Simplicity ) in 1984 and except for the normal maintenance and expected minor replacement parts I traded it in when I got my Conquest *** 30 *** years later. Try going to any big box store brands and finding that kind of quality and performance. I promise you wont,,,, spend the money and get the quality and longevity.