[dave6672]

Definitely stay away from "lawn tractors" if you mow much on hills. As mentioned, regardless of brand they have weaker transaxles (no oil filter, no way to change the oil, essentially a throw away unit). A "garden tractor" has a much beefier transaxle with a spin on filter, etc. and can handle pulling hills and other harder work. Of course you get what you pay for so a garden tractor is much more expensive that a lawn tractor.

I bought a 54 inch cut Husqvarna lawn tractor from Lowes a few years back to mow my hilly yard but after one year, the transaxle was shot. Thankfully it was replaced under warrantee, but I knew I had to get something else. I bought a used Cub Cadet garden tractor with 600 hours on it. It pulls the hills with authority and every year I change the oil and filter in the transaxle and have had no problems.