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If you need a backup electricity source, a 6,000-watt generator attachment is also available, which DR says will simultaneously power a refrigerator, freezer, well pump and home heating system. This unique generator attachment gives you four 110-volt ground-fault outlets with 20-amp breakers, and one 220-volt outlet with a 25-amp circuit breaker. (For use in temperatures lower than 35 degrees, they also offer a winter engine cover.)

Other attachments available include a 30-inch snow thrower and a 42-inch snow blade. All mount and dismount effortlessly. A sturdy stainless steel shaft on the front of the tractor slides easily into the mounting rings on each of the devices, held in place by a stainless steel ring and pin. The DR uses belt drives for all the various tools, and it is a simple matter to put them on, though each device uses a different length belt.

The tractor itself features a lockable differential (a gearbox that sends power from the engine to the rear wheels; when it’s locked, they turn at the same rate) that is most useful when mowing across slopes. According to DR, this machine is safe on slopes up to 20 degrees. When you’re mowing on level terrain, the differential can remain unlocked, allowing for easy turning and handling.

The DR uses the same tires one finds on all-terrain vehicles, with very aggressive tread and liquid sealant to prevent punctures. It sits low and wide for a ground-hugging center of gravity.

The 15 horsepower V-Twin Pro has four forward gears and one reverse. On the left handle is a deadman, a safety feature that cuts off the engine if the operator loses control. It must be depressed for the engine to operate when the mower is engaged. That same handle also carries the clutch, which must be squeezed while running. (This was the source of the single complaint we had — squeezing it nonstop over long periods tended to cause hand fatigue for Lynn.) A control on the right handle actuates a powerful disk brake.

Joy Lominska, a market gardener near Lawrence, Kan., and her husband, Bob, used an earlier DR model for years. They used it to mow pasture and had many, many hours on it when it was retired. They now have a new model, and Joy appreciates its ability to mow through heavy, wet fescue, small stumps and saplings. She says she is a little intimidated by the newer, more powerful model, especially when maneuvering in tight areas — around her herbs, for example. Bob says he does not have the same problem, which mirrors Lynn and I’s experience with the DR.

Overall, the DR is a straightforward machine, easy to understand and operate. It is quite powerful, which translates to a quick run through most chores, without fear of bogging down.

The BCS Walk-Behind Tractor

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