So....I may be in the market soon for a few landscape maint. tools. Not sold on any brand. But, my Husqvarna commercial grade tools have served me well for several years, now. Still, not emphatically sold on any brand. My question pertains to these "Kombi" (Stihl ref.) tools. I can buy a commercial grade power head for +/- $300. The attachments are across the board in price. I'd be interested in an: edger; chainsaw; hedge trimmer. My question is.....with the entire unit not being much more than the attachments, what's the draw to purchase the power head.......and the attachments, separately? Anyone use these that can give me some feedback?
I can't speak for the Stihl line, but I just bought a Troy-Tilt and the pole saw (TrimmerPlus) attachment. I've used it in conjunction with my Stihl 192 (limbing saw) and it's did a hell of a job. I'm through two tree's so far, and it's worked flawless. I bought the cheapest power head Troy Bilt made, because if it was junk I could take it back. I couldn't be happier. My draw to a seperate unit was the back up weedeater if/when mine dies, or if I need to run two (have help), they're there. I could have bought a pole trimmer for 179, i got the unit and trimmer for 220.
I will be interested in this thread. I have some tree limbs I need to take down by next fall or else risk some falls on my house. Thanks for the info NC>. Jeff, branching out at work huh? You seem to be busy which is a good thing.
I wish I didn't have this "branch", Brett. But, the money's too good to pass up. I'll be doing this kinda thing 1 day/wk, until I pay off my investment. Then, I'll sub it out.
Cool. I thought you doubled the size of your business in terms of employees recently. Make them "branch out". lol
Buy the power head with the attachments. I'll never own anything other than Stihl again. The stuff just delivers. I have ZERO complaints with anything I've bought from Stihl. I thought when I cost out the attachments I wanted the overall price was significantly higher buying sepearate units. I bought the head with 5 or 6 attachments and figured out how much I saved if I bought everything separate and it was A LOT!
My father in law actually owned the largest Stihl and the second largest Husqvarna dealer in the state of NY. After selling and servicing both of these lines for many many years he says that Stihl and Husquvarna are both of very similar high quality. The only difference is that the Husquvarna equipment is almost always noticably lighter in weight. I've got several Stihl saws that I got from him for cheap, and they are great, but definitely heavy. They actually kicked Stihl out of the shop last year, but it wasn't due to the quality of equipment, they just were a very difficult company to work with as a dealer.
I like Echo and Stihl accessories, but honestly if you buy commercial grade any brand can be good. The only Husqvarna equip I've owned is a backpack blower, and it was junk. Could have been a lemon, but junk none the less. I'll buy stihl from here on out, compare price vs longevity and IMO it is the best buy. The stihl power heads with interchangable accessories are awesome machines. And if you truly have a need for each accessory you purchase, they can save you substantial coinage over having a different unit entirely for each.
Well....the hedge trimmer attachment is $269. Can't I buy a new, complete unit for +/- $300 (and save a lot of stress on the one engine)? Just wondering. I honestly haven't gotten down to actually requesting a quote.
I agree. I own several commercial brand products and they're all good. Stihl, Honda, Simplicity and Echo. I love the Echo edging stick for edging around side walks. I live on a corner in the city...... 180 feet of side walk. It's great when my neighbors come out with their loud, under powered electric models! I come out, fire mine up and am done in 15 minutes or less. They're still going at it!!
Trevor: Off topic a little.....but did you ever carry your Husq blower on a trailer rack? I have a husq blower I've had for 7yrs now....and it rocks. Sorry you got a bad one. The husq has a post in the middle of the "handle" that would make hanging it from a single post a little weird. I don't figure it's a big deal. But, I thought I'd ask. Only reason I want the rack....is for security. I can lock everything in a rack up. Thanks.
I've been pricing a new trimmer. Stihl is offering a nice "double your warranty" promotion right now. If I had nothing right now, I'd likely get the Kombi system, but I have a Stihl hedge trimmer and a chain saw already and don't have sidewalk. I'm looking at a FS 90 with the bike handle. I don't plan on using it more than a trimmer, but I have some nasty striped maples on the logging roads at the cabin, that I plan to hit with a blade on that 90.
Nope, I have a lockable trailer basket on the front of my trailer I drop it down in, locked with the gas cans when we aren't out mowing. The carburetor is what gave me fits with the Husq blower, I finally gave up bought new ones and donated it to my parents house, lol. I'd recheck the pricing on your trimmers. For comparable models, I'd say the entire unit runs 4-500 when an attachment head is 270....could be wrong though.
I have an edger, weedwacker, hedge trimmer, pole saw and mini cultivator (probably could have got away without that but looked like a cool tool:p) It does it's thing, just not that often to justify buying one. Other than that no complaints with the others and they are used A LOT
