42" or 48" deck

[Crusher]

Residential. About one acre with a dozen trees and some flower beds. What would most of you choose? A 42" deck or a 48". For this application does it really make that big a difference?

 

[LandN]

A 42" is plenty for a acre yard

 

[Carl in CT]

42" is good but 48" is faster. Doesn't sound like you have that many obstacles and unless you have a lot of odd bumps and hills I see no reason to use a deck that will take longer to get the job done. I have an acre and a half with obstacles and hills and I have used a 48" for 13 years, just now got a new tractor with a 50" deck and still have no problems getting around anything. I'd go with the 48".

 

[fastback]

I'm with Carl on this. While 42 will get the job done, 48 will do it quicker. This will equate to less fuel usage and longer tractor life.

 

[Ric]

I think it depends on what you're going to run the deck on. Are you talking a ZTR or a Tractor because it can make a big difference. I'm assuming the one acre were talking about belongs to you and you're not using the mower for a business application if so then Deck size is really irrelevant.

Your time gain with the 48" over the 42" will be minimal at best. I can tell you I run both a 44" and a 48" ZTR, although the 48" is somewhat faster the 44" is cheaper to run, fuel cost is something you may want to consider in your choice.

 

[Crusher]

Thanks for the reply's. It will be a ZTR ride on and my property is flat. No hills, inclines or rough terrain....

 

[Jim Lahey]

I just ordered a 50" for 1.5 acres

I want to free up as much time as possible and have a lot of open space to traverse

 

[steved]

I'm with Carl on this. While 42 will get the job done, 48 will do it quicker. This will equate to less fuel usage and longer tractor life.

Actually its a trade off...

While it takes longer to mow with a smaller deck, it is also less stressful on the tractor to use it. On the same note, its more stressful to run the larger deck, but you spend less time mowing.

Fuel consumption will be almost the same...takes the same power to mow the same grass. I proved this with my own yard...it took two gallons of fuel to mow my roughly 2.5 acres with a 70s 14HP/48 inch Jacobsen and it now takes me two gallons of fuel to mow that same yard using my 25HP/61 inch Grasshopper. Almost double the engine HP, and uses the same fuel...but I get done in about 1.5 hours versus three to four hours.

Make sense...

 

[CajunCub]

I went with the largest "2" blade deck...46". The reason is 2 blade decks give a smoother cut than a 3 blade deck. Because the blade tip speed is fastest on these decks 38", 42" 44" 46"......over that is 3 blades.

 

[Crusher]

I'm looking at an Exmark Quest. I can buy the 42" for $600 less then the 48". Does this effect anyone's opinion?