When it comes to taking care of your yard, the first thing that comes to mind is a conventional mower. However, if mowing your lawn on an early Saturday morning isn't your favorite chore, you might want to consider a walk-behind mower sulky. A sulky can provide homeowners with a means to regulate their yards into decent shape without expending much effort. 

Moreover, sulkies can be attached to your standard mower to increase efficiency and even mow large spaces without getting fatigued quickly. This makes them convenient mainly when landscaping a big lawn. Therefore, if you're looking to spice up your mowing experience as well as enhancing your yard's appeal, here are a few pros and cons of using a walk-behind sulky.

Types of Lawn Mower Sulkies

Before opting to settle on one particular lawn mower sulky for your mowing needs, it’s essential to understand the various types. Each variety comes with its pros and cons, which could prove crucial to your particular lawn structure and trimming needs.

Single Wheel Walk-Behind Sulky

A single wheel sulky is a common sight in most homeowner's yards. These essential and useful devices are reasonably cheap, ranging from $100 to $250. They come equipped with an extended arm and a central wheel underneath the platform, allowing you to walk behind the lawnmower when operating the sulky.

• Pros: One advantage of the sulky is its robust single caster wheel, which can hold up well against a fair amount of weight. They are also easy to operate, cheap, and can be maintained without stress.
• Cons: Due to its single wheel, the sulky produces a dark stripe when mowing. Furthermore, operating a single wheel sulky attached to a walk-behind mower can be a safety risk when cutting on a slight slope or steep hill.

Wheel or Dual-Wheel Sulky

Their simple design and addition of a second wheel make these sulkies an everyday favorite. They also help alleviate some of the issues found in one-wheel sulkies by improving stability and balance. A fairly decent dual-wheel walk-behind mower sulky can cost anywhere from $230 onwards.

• Pros: Besides adding more balance thanks to its second wheel, they also alleviate the dark line created by single-wheel sulkies.
• Cons: Jackknifing and knee or ankle injuries are common problems associated with prolonged use of this sulky. Furthermore, maintenance costs and the risk of bearing issues are higher than a single-wheel sulky as you have a second wheel to repair.

Platform-Style Sulkies

There are two typical platform sulky types for commercial or residential walk-behind mowers: the Goslide and Proslide XT. On average, these sulky options can cost $388, proving to be the most expensive of the bunch and for good reason.

• Pros: Platform-style sulkies don't have any wheels. This alleviates bearing replacement and knee-shaking when operating a wheeled sulky. Furthermore, users don't have to worry about unnecessary line imprints on their lawn.
• Cons: The sulky comes with a plastic exterior. It's easy to wear out if not used on turf. Moreover, the initial cost and repairs of a platform-style sulky tend to be more expensive than other variants.

Summary

Deciding on a suitable walk-behind lawn mower sulky all boils down to your preference. If you're not looking to save money or are more open to spending, a single wheel or platform-style sulky are both valuable lawn investment options that can enhance your curb’s appeal. Plus, you won't dread mowing the lawn.

If you are looking for a great investment as a landscaper, buying a sulky could be one of the best decisions you make. Sulkies can be easily pulled around the job site, and they can allow you to transport a large number of tools. Furthermore, unlike golf carts and other fuel powered vehicles, they do not create a carbon footprint. 

Not only that, but the fact that you will not need to pay for fuel can save you a significant amount of money over time. Here's what you need to know about buying a sulky as a landscaper.

1. A Sulky Can Be Resold If Necessary

If you need to resell your sulky, that will be easy to do since there is always a market for them. Numerous landscapers use them to transport tools around the job site, and they are also gaining popularity among the general public. 

That's because they can allow you to avoid spending money on fuel, and they can also help you reduce your carbon footprint. As years go on, they are likely to gain popularity, which could even increase their value. However, the fact that they can be resold is far from the only reason why they make a good long-term investment. 

2. You'll Be Able to Transport a Lot of Items

A sulky will allow you to transport an extremely large volume of items, which can allow you to more easily complete jobs. This can help to make your days more productive as a landscaper, and this can significantly increase your income. Fortunately, investing in a sulky is a relatively small initial investment. Therefore, there's no good reason to avoid investing in one. 

3. There Are Many Different Types of Sulkies to Choose From

As a landscaper, it will be important to make sure your sulky is well suited to the type of work you do. Fortunately, most brands that sell sulkies offer a large selection of products to choose from, which can ensure that you are able to get the right kind for your landscaping brand. 

4. You Can Save a Lot of Money on Fuel Expenses?

Using a sulky can be a great way to reduce your fuel expenses, and this makes them a much cheaper alternative to golf carts and other commonly used vehicles to transport tools around the job site. If you consider the fact that a sulky can last for many years, you will be able to save many thousands of dollars over time by buying one. Furthermore, the initial investment tends to be quite low.