Echo Or Stihl, Which To Buy

[burroughslawnservice]

I'm getting ready to purchase a blower, trimmer and edger.

ECHO PB751 (B/P BLOWER) $465.00
ECHO PB230 (HANDHELD BLOWER) $195.00
ECHO PE310 (EDGER) $375.00
ECHO SRM260S (TRIMMER) $285.00

OR

STIHL BR600 (B/P BLOWER) $433.00
STIHL BG85 (HANDHELD BLOWER) $219.00
STIHL FC110 (EDGER) $419.95
STIHL FS80R (TRIMMER) $289.95

I included the prices for comparison. Maybe the prices that were quoted to me are too high or maybe they are good. From my research, STIHL has the best power to weight ratio...hands down.

[Turf Guy]

I own the Stihl FC 75 blade edger and FS 80 Trimmer, love both. Can't go wrong with Stihl

[Marty]

Of the units listed I would buy Echo in each case, although I am not yet familiar with the new Stihl backpack.

[cut above]

I would go Echo too. To me , both their trimmers and blowers seem to be lighter and more reliable. Stihl is a good brand, but it seems like they just have unnessary weight on ther units, Echo is much more operator freindly.

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

I have alot of both equipment. When it comes to performace I have nothing bad to say about either. But stihl has a better design, my echos are constanly getting damaged because of all the exposed wires and hoses. The stihls have all hoses and wires enclosed in the plasitic housing keeping them from getting damaged. But in all they are both great machines.

[beano]

echo has easy starting engines

[Ihateweeds]

My 2 cents. the only thing I buy in stihl is chainsaws, echo backpacks imo are ok at best, I absolutely love the kawasaki backpacks along with there trimmers, the trimmers are lighter and seem quiter. Before choosing either echo or stihl make sure u check out kawasaki.

[burroughslawnservice]

Kawasaki Trimmers/edgers/blowers

My 2 cents. the only thing I buy in stihl is chainsaws, echo backpacks imo are ok at best, I absolutely love the kawasaki backpacks along with there trimmers, the trimmers are lighter and seem quiter. Before choosing either echo or stihl make sure u check out kawasaki.

No one ever mentions Kawasaki. I wonder why? We certainly trust Kawasaki engines in our mowers. Why not everything else?

FEEDBACK PLEASE.

[LLandscaping]

We run all stihl equipment: 3 BR420, 2 FS 85, 1 FS 110, 1 FC 85, 2 HS 80's, 1 HL 75, chain saws 029,026, 018.

[buster57]

the equipment my guys run

In my orchard we run:
one or two Ford or GMC trucks
2 Stihl MS 440 Chain saws
2 HT 100, one for Pole saw, one for trimmer
HRC-216 Honda commercial WB mower
JD 318 with 50� finish mower deck
Kubota L3010 with all the fixin’s(this is the real $ equipment investment)
FS250-king of the line trimmers as far as I am concerned
BR55 hand held blower (for my cars…or for J.D.-after all, he sure knows what blows!)
BR 600 Blower -soon to be 2, for the real work...
Stihl is best unless a Honda is there for the walk behind!
Have fun and make money guys!

[PTLlandscapingIL]

ok....
as far as blowers goes...
1. Redmax 8000
2. Stihl br600
3. br550
6. Echo 751
somewere around 125 kawi 700a
wackers
1. any shinidiwa
2 stihl fs85
3. stihl fs100rx
4. any tanaka
5.echo
6. kaw(ok at best)
now,i have test run all of these units side by side brand new on each when there were tested.i now personally run only stihl br600 blowers and stihl and shinidiwa weedies and stihl hegders

[Woody]

If you think Stihl has the best power to weight ratio, think again.

If you're looking for REAL power, coupled with reliability and dependability, go get yourself a RedMax EB7001. You will NEVER regret it.

Woody

[burroughslawnservice]

Redmax Engine Reliability

If you think Stihl has the best power to weight ratio, think again.

If you're looking for REAL power, coupled with reliability and dependability, go get yourself a RedMax EB7001. You will NEVER regret it.

Woody

I inquired about REDMAX at www.alamia.com. The gentleman there told me he wouldn't purchase/recommend REDMAX because they are having a lot of trouble with the new engines. That must be the reason they are offering a 2 year warranty. Kinda like Hyundia/Kia offering 100,000 mile warranty. Since they are building inferior products they offer a better warranty to compensate. Don't blow up on me....that's just what I was told.

[Woody]

Well, you were told a crock. The newer 8000's seem to have a few minor issues, but with things like the choke, not the engine itself.

First off, do NOT buy anything like that online. Secondly, take every SALESMAN or SELLER's opinion with a grain of salt (or a salt mine or 2). Third, ask the man that owns one. Or two. Or more.

Woody

[Woody]

I checked the above mentioned website.

For one, they DO NOT CARRY RedMax. Of course they are going to recommend against it! They are also in COlorado, quite a LONG way from where you are!

I also checked your profile. Since you are old enough to understand (and to know better actually), let me give you some real sound advice.

DO NOT BUY EQUIPMENT OVER THE INTERNET. GO find a REAL dealer that stocks not only the units, but also THE PARTS NEEDED TO SERVICE THEM! And, unless you are real mechanically inclined, look for one with a TOP NOTCH service department as well.

Should you buy online anyway, be prepared for all of the associated problems. THings like "do you have your reciept, because we can't find you in the computer", which really means "we don't do warranty work, call the manufacturer". Be prepared to wait weeks, or even MONTHS, if you need to have something repaired. Also be prepared to be SHAFTED BIGTIME on things like shipping (even if the online "dealer" provides for service or replacement of the unit, you will pay for the shipping in both direction).

Since there are 5 RedMax dealers listed in your area, I HIGHLY suggest you head on down to see at least one of them, and try out a nice EB7001 to see what it is like. You'll find that, while no longer the world's most powerful backpack blower, it is still up in the top ranks, is lighter than most, is VERY reliable, dependable, and starts easily. Save youself a LOT of headaches, lost time, lost money, etc., and purchase it LOCALLY!

One more thing.... If you build an inferior product, and then "compensate" with a longer warranty, you are dead. Inferior product+long warranty=BANKRUPT IN NO TIME.

As for the trimmer, I recommend the RedMax BCZ2600S. Light, powerful, and once again, reliable and dependable, and very easy starting. As for an edger, it's your call. I have the FC110 Stihl, but I don't think I would buy another one. Nothing really wrong with it, but it's a little on the heavy side, and until I played around with the carburetor for a while, it was pretty cantankerous about starting at times.

As for Kawasaki equipment, the last time I checked it was a little underpowered and heavy. It may have changed in the past few years, so the newer models could be different.

I could go on and on, but at this point you should be seeing the light.

Woody