Troy-Bilt 382cc vs Poulan Pro 960420182: Riding Mower Comparison

If you’ve never experienced the joy of switching to a riding lawnmower, it might be time to leap. Talk to anyone who after years of tediously cutting grass using a mechanical or gas-powered push-power hopped on the seat of a riding model and took a spin around the lawn. Sip some iced tea, enjoy nature, and relax on your Saturday instead of breaking a sweat bumping over rocks and clods of soil.

Troy-Bilt 382cc vs Poulan Pro 960420182: Riding Mower Comparison

Troy-Bilt 382cc

We’re going to take a look at two riding mowers that are a cut above the rest. Each of these machines packs a decent punch and makes taking care of your lawn a cinch, but depending on the size of your yard, one of these might be better suited for your needs. We’ll look at individual features and try to discern which would be best to add to your yard work arsenal. At the end of the day, efficiency is king, and we want you to pick the mower that’s going to make your life easiest.

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Power

Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-inch Premium
As its name suggests, this model sports a solid 382cc engine that can pull 11.7 horsepower. That’s enough juice to take care of a small-to-medium sized lawn with few problems at all. Using gas power, you’ll be slicing through overgrown grass in no time, all while sitting comfortably atop your new riding mower.

Poulan Pro 960420182 vs Troy-Bilt 382cc: Riding Mower Comparison

Poulan Pro 960420182

Poulan Pro 960420182 Briggs 15.5HP
Built for bigger and tougher areas, this machine uses a larger engine that can pull a fair bit more power, clocking in at 15.5 horsepower. This may not seem like a big difference at first, but if you’re dealing with stubborn weeds and grass, this margin might make a big difference for you.

Additionally, you’re looking at a much easier time rolling over rough terrain. This mower is built for larger lawns and mow areas, and with power like this, you’ll be able to overcome obstacles easily.

Verdict: We’d recommend going with the more powerful engine, plain and simple. The additional 3.8 horsepower can change the game if you’re dealing with rough areas that jam up push-mowers. While the Troy-Bilt model is lighter (and we’ll see how that can be advantageous in other areas), the extra power afforded by Poulan’s offering makes it a much more attractive buy in this case. Even if you have a smaller lawn, reserving a bit more punch for particularly frustrating mow-days might save you a lot of time and energy.

Troy-Bilt 382cc vs Poulan Pro 960420182

Troy-Bilt 382cc

Turning Radius

Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-inch Premium
The turning radius can be a huge issue depending on the size and shape of your lawn. You want to be able to hit corners with dexterity, covering as many areas as possible and leaving your yard with that impeccable, manicured look that everyone in the neighborhood is after. This model’s design gives it an 18-inch turning radius, which will certainly work on larger lawns but does leave something to be desired.

Poulan Pro 960420182 Briggs 15.5HP
With a third of its competitor’s turning radius, this machine manages to outstrip the Troy-Bilt in both size and maneuverability. Six inches means that it’s easy to navigate tough corners with this vehicle. Its wheels are designed to turn on a dime, and that can be a lifesaver for people with irregular yard shapes that require an agile hand.

Verdict: The larger vehicle comes through in this category with an unexpected win. Due to its size, we initially imagined that the Troy-Bilt would be easier to maneuver around tricky angles, but 18 inches is nothing to brag about. With a 6-inch turning radius, however, the Poulan takes home the prize for most agile and precise in this competition. Simply through thoughtful design, you’ll be able to utilize this mower in the most frustrating corners of your lawn.

Poulan Pro 960420182 vs Troy-Bilt 382cc

Poulan Pro 960420182

Cutting Deck

Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-inch Premium
Perhaps one of the most important features to examine with a new riding mower, the cutting deck will make a big difference in the time it takes to mow your lawn. This model’s 30-inch cutting deck is a decent size for small to medium-sized yards, cutting 30-inch paths through your overgrown vegetation. It could be larger, but for some people, this will be just right.

Poulan Pro 960420182
Since it’s a larger device in general, this model is proud to sport a 42-inch cutting deck. That’s a foot longer than that of its competitor. If the cutting deck’s width is important to you, this is probably the machine to get. It has to use all that horsepower somewhere, and the Poulan brand has designed it with this in mind. You’ll be able to cut 42-inch paths in no time, which also speeds up the mowing process considerably since you’ll have to go back and forth across your lawn fewer times if more is getting done on each pass.

Troy-Bilt 382cc vs Poulan Pro 960420182: Riding Mower Comparison

Verdict: A bigger cutting deck is usually a better bet, and that’s why Poulan wins this category of the competition. Even if you feel that the Poulan is a little too big for the jobs that you’re planning on doing, remember that a 42-inch cutting deck doesn’t just mean saving time. It also means a more uniform cut across the grass because you’ll have less opportunity for overlap and jigsawing.

Conclusion

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, both of these machines are heavy hitters when it comes to mowing lawns. Riding mowers are one of those items that first-time buyers never look back. Why push when you can drive. Either of these would do a terrific job at making your lawn beautiful after a wild summer of rain and growth, but one of them certainly has a better design than the other.

Our pick is the Poulan Pro. We looked at power, turning radius, and cutting deck, and this model managed to win in all three categories. The only scenario we could see where the Troy-Bilt 382cc would be better suited is a small lawn where it would be difficult to store the rather sizable Poulan Pro 960420182. In every other case, you’re offered more cutting power, faster mow times, and ultimate dexterity by sticking with a tried-and-true model that can tackle almost any situation.

Poulan Pro 960420182 vs Troy-Bilt 382cc: Riding Mower Comparison

Riding Mower | Recommended

Last update on 2024-03-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API


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