14+ Acres of basically grass/pasture - Spend my money :)

[vanguard_anon]

I just bought a new house in North Carolina and I'm trying to pick out a mower. The yard is basically 14 acres of grass/pasture. It's not really bumpy but there are areas where if you cross it at 15+ MPH you'll think you should have slowed down. Once you get away from the house it's a field, not a golf course.

A little about me. I work from home on a computer. Part of why I bought this home is to add an outdoor component to my life. It's a little depressing to be indoors *all* the time. Having said that, I'm scared that I'm going to hate mowing in a year so I want to make sure it's not a horrible tasks completely devoid of fun. In my dreams, it's fun to get out there and I enjoy the process.

Regarding budget, I can open the purse but I don't want to be dumb. I'm checking for used stuff now. But if you want a number, maybe $12k for something new or $8k for something used? I don't know. I just don't want to regret buying this house/land and if it costs that much to tame the grass I'll happily pay it.

Maybe a 72" Ferris 3100? Maybe a used 104" Hustler Super Z? Maybe a 72" Exmark? Zentrac?

 

[Shughes717]

I just bought a new house in North Carolina and I'm trying to pick out a mower. The yard is basically 14 acres of grass/pasture. It's not really bumpy but there are areas where if you cross it at 15+ MPH you'll think you should have slowed down. Once you get away from the house it's a field, not a golf course.

A little about me. I work from home on a computer. Part of why I bought this home is to add an outdoor component to my life. It's a little depressing to be indoors *all* the time. Having said that, I'm scared that I'm going to hate mowing in a year so I want to make sure it's not a horrible tasks completely devoid of fun. In my dreams, it's fun to get out there and I enjoy the process.

Regarding budget, I can open the purse but I don't want to be dumb. I'm checking for used stuff now. But if you want a number, maybe $12k for something new or $8k for something used? I don't know. I just don't want to regret buying this house/land and if it costs that much to tame the grass I'll happily pay it.

Maybe a 72" Ferris 3100? Maybe a used 104" Hustler Super Z? Maybe a 72" Exmark? Zentrac?

All would be great options. You are looking in the right direction. Mowing with a ztr mower is about as much fun as you can have while mowing. The is3100 would give you the best ride, the super z is the fastest, and the laser z is a good all around mower. Try them all and go with the one that you like best. Good luck and tell us how it goes. Never used a ventrac myself, but I'm sure there are some on this site who could give you some great insight. Exmark offers an equine discount if you have horses on that 14 acres. All offer similar engines, and heavy duty transmissions, so it really comes down to price, feel, and dealer support.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

I estimate it will go something like this.

First mowing season:

1st mow - sure was fun
2nd mow - still kind of fun
3rd mow - not nearly as much fun

Second mowing season:

1st mow - man oh man that's still 14 acres
2nd mow - OH NO, not again already
3rd mow - I'll just mow half today and the remainder tomorrow
---------- - tomorrow never came
---------- - now it's too tall
---------- - I'll look for someone with a bush hog

3rd mowing season

12 acres for lease to someone that can hay or pasture calves.
For sale 72" mower
I lost my az on that sale
Wanted - pre-owned 48" lawn tractor in good condition

This is not in a manual or book anywhere but just from an older man that's just about seen it all several times over

 

[Shughes717]

I estimate it will go something like this.

First mowing season:

1st mow - sure was fun
2nd mow - still kind of fun
3rd mow - not nearly as much fun

Second mowing season:

1st mow - man oh man that's still 14 acres
2nd mow - OH NO, not again already
3rd mow - I'll just mow half today and the remainder tomorrow
---------- - tomorrow never came
---------- - now it's too tall
---------- - I'll look for someone with a bush hog

3rd mowing season

12 acres for lease to someone that can hay or pasture calves.
For sale 72" mower
I lost my az on that sale
Wanted - pre-owned 48" lawn tractor in good condition

This is not in a manual or book anywhere but just from an older man that's just about seen it all several times over

Lol, that is possible too. Mowing 14 acres every week will take some time even if the op gets a 72" ztr. At least 3 to 4 hours a week. Hopefully the op understands this before he jumps into a $12000 mower.

 

[vanguard_anon]

lol I hope SeniorCitizen is wrong.

How about me on the tractor pulling an 88" flail mower or 93" finish mower while my son is on the 72" zero turn. We'll knock it out as a team in no time and come back in for lemonade.

Or, we'll let it grow thigh high, mow a crazy bunch of turns and loops, and then use it as a go cart course.

Maybe both?

I'm convinced there is a way to enjoy the outdoors.

 

[possum]

If you want to get outdoors buy a push mower. Mow a couple hours a day everyday. Your son can do as well. On Sundays you can knock off a bit and finish what did not get done with the zero turn. The health benefits are incredible. The only fat guys I see working for pro lawncare outfits are the ones who ride those fertilizer sprayer outfits. All the others stay in great shape.

 

[vanguard_anon]

If you want to get outdoors buy a push mower. Mow a couple hours a day everyday. Your son can do as well. On Sundays you can knock off a bit and finish what did not get done with the zero turn. The health benefits are incredible. The only fat guys I see working for pro lawncare outfits are the ones who ride those fertilizer sprayer outfits. All the others stay in great shape.

Yeah, 14 acres with a push mower is crazy talk.

 

[Shughes717]

Yeah, 14 acres with a push mower is crazy talk.

If you did it for one season you would be in good enough shape to enter marathons and win. Lol

 

[deminin]

I just bought a new house in North Carolina and I'm trying to pick out a mower. The yard is basically 14 acres of grass/pasture. It's not really bumpy but there are areas where if you cross it at 15+ MPH you'll think you should have slowed down. Once you get away from the house it's a field, not a golf course.

A little about me. I work from home on a computer. Part of why I bought this home is to add an outdoor component to my life. It's a little depressing to be indoors *all* the time. Having said that, I'm scared that I'm going to hate mowing in a year so I want to make sure it's not a horrible tasks completely devoid of fun. In my dreams, it's fun to get out there and I enjoy the process.

Regarding budget, I can open the purse but I don't want to be dumb. I'm checking for used stuff now. But if you want a number, maybe $12k for something new or $8k for something used? I don't know. I just don't want to regret buying this house/land and if it costs that much to tame the grass I'll happily pay it.

Maybe a 72" Ferris 3100? Maybe a used 104" Hustler Super Z? Maybe a 72" Exmark? Zentrac?

No matter what you buy, You will probably quickly find that trying to keep 14 acres looking like a nice yard is a real chore. You would probably have time for little else. I, too, like to work outdoors, and we retired to 40 acres in the country....mostly heavy oak and walnut forest. I keep about 1/2 acre mowed and trimmed around the house, and another 1/2 acre meadow mowed, but mother nature takes care of the rest. I do brush hog a nice long walking trail through the woods 2 or 3 times a year, but that's it. As it stands, I can consume a full 6 hour day cutting and trimming all around the trees in the yard, and mowing the meadow. Keep an area around the house, for a nice yard, and let the pasture grow. You might even find a local farmer that will come in and mow it for the hay, and pay you for it.