Buying house with 6 acres - Need help selecting a mower - JD or Dixon?

[Parkmower]

Do you really think the zero turn saves that much time vs a tractor? I've never mowed with a ztr so I am seriously asking. Even when we are comparing the same size deck - 60"? Is it because you can mow at a higher speed?

Quite simply YES

 

[RobertBrown]

The compact tractor is only a consideration because of the versatility. That is the trade off, time for versatility. If you don't need the tractor for other uses, it doesn't make sense.I can tell you truthfully you will find a myriad of uses for that machine. Once you have one for a few months you will wonder how you got along without it. But I would have to ask "Why are buying 6 acres if you don't want to work with it some how or another"?
I can't really say how much time you'll save with a ZTR over a CT but a conservative guess would be about 1/3. I would say you could cut 6 acres at least 33% faster with a ZTR, but that is a wild guess. It could be 50%.
Look at the long term goals, if you aren't going to have any livestock, large garden or landscaping aspirations than you should get the ZTR. If you want to have the ability to make your property more valuable, move dirt, snow and just about anything else, get a tractor with a loader, mower, and any number of attachments.

 

[RobertBrown]

Whatever your choice...pictures are obligatory at this point....OK?

 

[KennyV]

What Black Bart has said is correct... If that package had a blower rather than a blade.. it might be worth considering...
With the blade, it only 'Looks' like you could move snow.
A friend of mine was about to buy a blade for his Cub Cadet, I told him he could use my Garden tractor size blade... if it worked for him he could have it for about one tenth the price of the new blade. He did what Bart and I did.... After his first winter of snow... He now has a rig With a blower...

As to mowing, a ZT will be mowing at full width, almost all the time, at the turns (once you get the hang of it)... and along the straight runs... (since the deck itself is in front of you), you will gain a bit... But the big speed up on a ZT is any obstacles you have, are no longer going to interrupt your mowing...
That coupled with the faster speed & comfort you will find (on a well designed ZT) is why it is going to be a lot faster than a GT...
A Lot faster... :smile:KennyV
PS... and Like RobertBrown said... Pictures ...

 

[Black Bart]

Do you really think the zero turn saves that much time vs a tractor? I've never mowed with a ztr so I am seriously asking. Even when we are comparing the same size deck - 60"? Is it because you can mow at a higher speed?

This is something that needs to be a poll done on.

Only person that I know who thinks a tractor is nearly as fast is Robert, He had a ZTR and could not learn to drive it properly.

The tractor is heavy on the front tires and when you try to mow fast they mash the grass and it don't have time to come back up for a good cut if you go fast.

How fast depends on what deck but on a ZTR you save on the turns on the end also.
If the tractor is a hydro drive then it will be faster than a conventional shift because you can stop and back up quicker.

A tractor is nice for pulling a roller/aerator/spredder so that is why I have both but the ZTR will more than cut your mowing time in half.

In the spring when we get the rain you will need to mow twice a week that will be a lot of time mowing with the tractor.

If it was me I would buy the ZTR then pick up a good running old tractor for 500 bucks and use it for the towing jobs.

If you buy a tractor with all that mowing consider one of these. Swisher | Trail Mowers | Lawn Mowers | Grounds Maintenance | Northern Tool + Equipment maintenance&mkwid=sxmTbOUrC&pcrid=8761608191&mt=b

Years ago I had 2 of them and I pulled one on each side of my tractor.

 

[jmac1]

I will definitely include some pictures when I make a purchase.

While the property is currently 6 acres of grass right now, we do want to fence off part of it for some livestock. We'll start with a few pigs this spring and graduate to a steer or two in a year or so. I was talking with a farmer friend last night who said I'd probably come out ahead if I fenced off an acre or two. Plus we want a large garden...

And I'm not retired...34 with four kids...that is the reason for the house with acreage. I want our 3 boys to be boys. We live in town now, and I want them to have room to ride their bikes, have a go-cart, learn to care for livestock, etc. My wife grew up on a dairy farm, and wants to get back to the "country".

So with that said, I think the garden tractor would be put to good use over time. We could add a Johnny Bucket, a hydro tiller, the possibilities (and $$ to spend) seem endless. But I could also go with the ZTR and add a cheaper GT that would serve my needs well. I'm certainly not buying it to spend 8 hours a week on a mower.

Thanks again for all of the feedback and thoughts. This is a great forum! I'll make my decision soon!

 

[Black Bart]

I will definitely include some pictures when I make a purchase.

While the property is currently 6 acres of grass right now, we do want to fence off part of it for some livestock. We'll start with a few pigs this spring and graduate to a steer or two in a year or so. I was talking with a farmer friend last night who said I'd probably come out ahead if I fenced off an acre or two. Plus we want a large garden...

And I'm not retired...34 with four kids...that is the reason for the house with acreage. I want our 3 boys to be boys. We live in town now, and I want them to have room to ride their bikes, have a go-cart, learn to care for livestock, etc. My wife grew up on a dairy farm, and wants to get back to the "country".

So with that said, I think the garden tractor would be put to good use over time. We could add a Johnny Bucket, a hydro tiller, the possibilities (and $$ to spend) seem endless. But I could also go with the ZTR and add a cheaper GT that would serve my needs well. I'm certainly not buying it to spend 8 hours a week on a mower.

Thanks again for all of the feedback and thoughts. This is a great forum! I'll make my decision soon!

I think you are correct in wanting to live in the country.
The lawn don't make money it cost so I would use 1 or 2 acres max for lawn and the rest for other use.
Your kids could learn to feed the live stock it would be much better than them running the street in the city.

This idea changes everything you may want to get a Compact Utility tractor with a finishing mower it will be big enough to use a front bucket a blower and several other things that you may want to use.

The CUT will cost much more but in the long run would be a great piece of equipment if you can afford the price right now.

Doing away with mowing all that acreage makes sense mowing 6 acres in the spring will be a good 6 or 7 hours per week of mowing with the x485 .

If you can only mow after work then you would spend 1 1/2 hours per day 4 days a week.
You would soon get tired of that.
Cost of fuel and fertilizer would be awesome

 

[robert]

BlackBart, why would Scag specifically state in their faq section that the zt is, by design, prone to damaging turf and that even very tight turns (not zero turns) have a great potential to damage the grass- are you going on record as stating that this major maker of zt mowers knows not of what they speak?

I did 'learn' how to stop putting union labels all over my yard by making the recommended 'T' turn and I did learn something else when I got rid of the crappy Exmark and bought a Cub Cadet GT2000-the best deal by far in the heavy duty LT or GT market, no average homeowner will save a significant amount of time by using a zt over a quality LT/GT. Additionally I am convinced that any larger property owner would make a huge mistake by buying a zt over a cut as the single purchase. Not only will the cut offer more capability than any zt but will mow in just about the same amount of time as any zt-this cannot be intelligently disputed.

A quality LT/GT or cut is the better choice for anyone other than a pro, this type of machine offers far better comfort and safety; add in the additional capabilities and the purchase of a tractor over a zt SHOULD be a no brainer.

Please everyone, go to the Scag site, then to the faq and read for yourself what this maker of zero turn machines has to say about the operation of the zt.....

The do yourself a favor and go here to the Cub Cadet pictures (scroll down past the text to the Cub Cadet gallery) and see for yourself the real differences between this series Cub and ANY other maker,

http://www.betsy-tom.smugmug.com/

 

[reynoldston]

6 acres isn't enough land for livestock or pigs. That is the amount of land I have and I had the same idea. I tryed 4 steers for my first venture. First thing is you will need a building so they can get out of the weather. The next thing is to feed them. With only 6 acres you will have to buy all their food. You will have to keep them for at least two years before you can butcher them. I can almost bet on top of that they will get out of there pen and boy is that fun when you want to do something else beside chase steers. They also make a big mess. I also tryed pigs with all the same problems as steers. Only with pigs you can butcher them the first year. I found the pigs make a lot bigger mess then the cows . Then after the second year I got rats liveing with the pigs. That did me in I had it with livestock and pigs. I know you will try it anyways just like I did and I sure hope you better luck then I had. I will buy my meat at the store and let the farmers do the work. I also tryed a horse and that was a big money pit with no return.

 

[KennyV]

..., why would Scag specifically state in their faq section that the zt is, by design, prone to damaging turf and that even very tight turns (not zero turns) have a great potential to damage the grass- ...

I did 'learn' how to stop putting union labels all over my yard by making the recommended 'T' turn

...no average homeowner will save a significant amount of time by using a zt over a quality LT/GT. Additionally I am convinced that any larger property owner would make a huge mistake by buying a zt over a cut as the single purchase. Not only will the cut offer more capability than any zt but will mow in just about the same amount of time as any zt-this cannot be intelligently disputed.

A quality LT/GT or cut is the better choice for anyone other than a pro, this type of machine offers far better comfort and safety; add in the additional capabilities




....

Robert , I realize you have addressed your question to BlackBart... but your statements about ZT are not completely accurate...
First any piece of equipment, if not properly used, has the potential of a negative outcome... and even a wheelbarrow could damage turf in the wrong conditions...

I have a true ZT mower... With full Cab and a 72 inch, very heavy duty deck... It weighs Over 2000 Pounds.... I can mow and leave the turf undisturbed ... I'm by no stretch of the imagination a 'pro'... but it did take a bit of trial & error learning, how to nimbly operate this One Ton plus mower... I would never expect someone that had no experience operating a ZT , to jump on it and immediately have great results... BUT even with this Heavy weight Industrial ZT ... It can be done...
AND I can attach any implement to accomplish anything from aeration to seeding fertilization and spraying, snow blowing OR plowing plus several choices of Different Types of mowers... With the advantage that the majority of attachments are in Front of me, allowing easier and faster accurate use...

I do agree that most ZTs do not easily adapt for All jobs... My point is, if I can operate a ZT that weighs over a ton on regular turf without damaging it... anyone that applies themselves can quickly learn how to maneuver a light ZTR mower...
With a light Dixon ZTR you can Not damage turf even if you try...

As to speed,safety & comfort... commercial mowing companies do stellar jobs, using ZT's, mainly for the speed and quality results, while keeping employees on them 8 hours a day...

Homeowners have been using ZTs successfully for years...
The obvious use by 100's of thousands should say something for their ability... ZT's cost more, if they didn't provide additional value, you would not see them selling as well as they are.

The primary use for any mower is to Mow grass... no type of mower can cut grass faster than a ZTR.
If you need a compact Utility tractor... it will be handy... But it's ability to cut grass Fast is limited... And it really has the potential of damaging turf... I have a CUT and would never consider it the perfect lawn machine...
I know you had a bad experience with your ZTR, but look at ALL the others having Great results... :smile:KennyV