2006 Husq

[Incurorish]

I was just wondering if anyone has any info on the new Husqvarnas. I heard they're supposed to be redesigned but that's about all I know. My local lowes still has plenty of 2005 Husqvarnas.

[CatDaddy]

Slammer was talking about that (the redesign) just the other day. I haven't seen the new Husqies yet either. Then again, I haven't been to Lowes for a couple of months - nothing's broken around the house lately. ROF ROF ROF

[debitagedigger]

I was at the rural king here in lafayette Indiana today and spotted a 2006 Poulan Pro Lawn tractor. Looks like the lift lever is out for 2006 models. Only real noticable change. I wonder what the new GTs will look like.

[Olds455]

The Lowes here only has JDs. And they have a BUNCH of them! There appeared to be a few 2005 left overs of MTDs, but no Husqvarnas. They had about 15 or so out front and another 10 as soon as you walk in.

[Incurorish]

Really Olds455? I wish my Lowes would get the Deeres in. The leftover Husqvarnas are gone now. They must have marked them down. They have some leftover Cubs just sitting there. I wonder how long they'll sit there?

[Olds455]

I was kinda hoping to see a new Husqvarna. Oh well. You can easily tell where Lowe's focus is going to be this spring!

[debitagedigger]

Look at the craftsman forum for a picture of the 2006 poulan pro gt

[Incurorish]

I don't know if anyone cares, but if anyone does, I snapped some photos of the Husq on my cell phone.

[Olds455]

That's an UGLY hood.

[DYT4000]

I see they went with the "oh $h!t" handles...LOL

[dirtybernie]

I see they went with the "oh $h!t" handles...LOL

:eck16: ROF

[Incurorish]

That's the GTH2448T. It stickers at 2099.

[debitagedigger]

Lowes.com has the New Husqvarnas listed

[debitagedigger]

Powerful 24 HP Briggs & Stratton twin cylinder engine for a more efficient run
18" turning radius for improved steering and maneuverability
Welded chasis accommodates ground engaging attachments



Horse Power: 24
Cut Width - In: 48"
Engine Type: Briggs & Stratton
Mulcher: Optional
Grass Catcher: Optional
Number of Height Positions: 6
Fuel Tank Capacity - Gal: 4
Transmission Type: Hydrostatic
Electric Start: Yes
Weight - Lb: 716

[jdkubotamurray]

Well, less steel in the body for sure!

[kingearnhardt]

Did they do away with the nice guages from 2005?

[Splicer]

:Welcome1: kingearnhardt :trink39:

[kingearnhardt]

:1221: [QUOTE=kingearnhardt]

[johndeere]

Is that a plastic hood on that Husqvarna?

[Incurorish]

Yes, that is a plastic hood.

[johndeere]

Did they go with a foot control hydro?It apears they did not because it has a lever on both sides of the fender.One must be the lift and the other a hand controled hydro lever.

[Incurorish]

On the GT, it has the hydro lever. On the LT, they went with a foot control. I'd post a pic but the Lowe's only has the GTs in.

[Olds455]

Did they go with a foot control hydro?It apears they did not because it has a lever on both sides of the fender.One must be the lift and the other a hand controled hydro lever.


I thought someone said the GTs were available with foot control. I can't say that I like the plastic hood, though. For one thing, it's ugly. Second, the plastic ones get scratched too easily and look pretty nasty after a couple of seasons.

[beaker1024]

Well it's just my luck that Husqvarna would do a major overhaul right after I had to buy a tractor last Sep (05). I finally decided on the: Husqvarna YTH1848XP mainly due to the Kawasaki engine and I like the tractor itself too. It's my first Hydro transmission. Mowed 3-4 times but got 12 hours on it thanks to pulling a cart duty. Like I said I really needed a tractor last fall.

Now I see these new 06 Husqvarna and the talk about the frame improvement has of course caught my eye. I have to agree though that the hood and the fender handles look silly and I prefer the looks of the my '05 XP model. I'm not sure if I'd prefer the foot hydro of the hand control that mine has. Just haven't tried both (wasn't an option on the tractor with a Kawasaki engine in my price range).

I think I need Spring to come so I can get some more seat time on my '05 model and not be looking / reading about the '06 "improvements" while the '05 sits in the shed.

Ok, Sorry for the rant. Just had to vent as this always happens to me once I make a purchase of this size.

BTW I haven't heard any talk about the '06 XP model line? Is Husqvarna putting a Kawasaki engine in a '06 tractor?

[johndeere]

I went to Lowes yesterday.They had a GT Husqvarna so I checked it out.The plastic fenders and a different hood desighn and they moved the lift lever to the fender.Is about the only thing I noticed they changed.The hood is still metal.The frame is still the same as far as I could tell.The hydro shifter is still on the fender.The lift lever is a second lever on the opposite plastic fender so you can get jabbed in the rear end no matter what side you exit from.

[Splicer]

:Welcome1: beaker1024 :trink39:

[Incurorish]

I'm glad you said something johndeere. I went back to Lowes to look at the hood again and I'll be darn if it was metal. The lift on it is plastic and says Husqvarna and the air intakes on the side are plastic but I tapped the main orange part and it was metal. I stand corrected.

[daniel419]

Does any know if the new 2006 XP's have a foot control hydrotransmission instead of the fender mount control? Thanks.

[Topdj-com]

I think I will perfect a foot control for 2004-2005 GTH,

[dgt6000]

If you want a foot control that bad, you could swipe it off the Sears models somehow and make a conversion as all the Sears units, which come out of the same factory have foot pedals from the mid level yard tractors and up.

About the frame...I'm not excited...On the Sears units at least, not sure about the Husky's yet, the heavy duty rail frame is dropped and a channel frame is used and it appears the only difference between a garden tractor and a lawn tractor is the angle of the drawplate in the back...so we'll see..what happens. I used a yard tractor with a channel frame so hard for so many years I bent the frame :fing20: so I always was sold on the rail design. Of course with the rail design you cant have the convenient "step-thru" feature which is what everyone wants (I guess) ROF

And on the Sears units the guages are dropped so I assume on the Husky's as well. I just checked the husqvarna usa site and the new tractoirs are up so I guess I'll take a look http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/

[Mrwiggles2]

:homer: I dunno, I think I like it.

[lawn toad]

I noticed that sear Gt the 2004 the fram was 10 gage,now the 2006 Gt are 12gage,most if not all tractor are 12 gage, but what about husq gt are they still made with 10 gage ?????

[beaker1024]

Looks like they have the 15 and 18 hp XP models updated as XPT to have the new hood and the foot pedal hydro. Also the new fender "ohhh-sh*t" bars and other astetic changes. And the deck lift on the fender.

I have the '05 18hp XP and here's my thoughts:

1) I really like the '05 astetics better than the '06 XPT
2) I'm not sure if I care about where the hydro control is...
3) I guess it would be nice to have the large deck lift lever be smaller and on the fender.
4) As far as I can tell the deck and Kaw engine are exactly the same....

Bottom line: For mowing the lawn the '06 is likely to be exactly like the '05 in quality and ability, IMO. The creature comforts and control changes don't effect the cut quality and while they may enhance user comfort and controls, I do not feel uncomfortable with the fender hydro and old deck lift.

Even though I don't have a GT model I do find it disturbing that the frame was changed out to a thinner guage and weaker style.

[mocher]

I also was worried about the frame as well as the 22" tires. I almost bought the GTH2448 from Lowes, but I ran out of patience when they could not verify that a sleeve hitch would fit on it. I ended up buying a Craftsman GT5000, last years model for $1800. Couldn't find an 05 Husq w/hydro.

[Splicer]

:Welcome1: mocher :trink39: :wwp: