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Hi all,

I own a large tournament paintball site in the UK with 5 "fields" all of which are flat grass (and then surrounding areas like carpark (also grass etc) which in total is around 5/6 acres.

This season, we've used a small simplicity regent to cut each field (each field is about half an acre), and had a friend of mine who owns a Diesel Bad boy come to cut the carpark/surrounding areas. In the off season, we're looking to buy something bigger to save on time and give a better finish. We need some element of manoeuvrability (so thinking zero turn) as sometimes we do cut around the "bunkers" we have on the playing fields and around each field we have steel posts/water pipes/netting all to avoid (see pics). Aside from the carpark, it's more a combination of small half acres rather than one big area to go at.

The fields are fairly flat (we are doing more work with rollers etc in the off season to get them even better), but the main factor is cutting our time down on the mower each week and keeping the fields looking great all year. We have access to red diesel, and our budget is around $5k.

Being in the UK we're limited to what we have - Toro, Scab and JD are readily available, but being in the paintball industry, I can get containers over to ship mowers from the US if needed.......then the only problem is sourcing parts if anything goes down.

If anyone has any suggestions it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Ainsley

Was that Scag? No Scabs here.

You would be better served getting a Pro model @ 10k, it will pay out better in the long run.

But Scag, Toro, John Deere are all good choices....

Sorry yes!

There are mowers like this going atm:

Ferris IS1000 zero turn ride on tractor mower 23hp Kawasaki petrol 52" cut 2 cyl | eBay

I'd prefer a diesel for obvious reasons, and willing to spend a little more if the right one comes along.......I just don't want to drop $5k + and have a mower that's not ideal for the task at hand. Reality is, the mower will be used once a week, and then stored in a container, so It's hard to justify spending the extra on a true commercial set up when it's mostly sat indoors.

Ainsley said:

Sorry yes!

There are mowers like this going atm:

Ferris IS1000 zero turn ride on tractor mower 23hp Kawasaki petrol 52" cut 2 cyl | eBay

I'd prefer a diesel for obvious reasons, and willing to spend a little more if the right one comes along.......I just don't want to drop $5k + and have a mower that's not ideal for the task at hand. Reality is, the mower will be used once a week, and then stored in a container, so It's hard to justify spending the extra on a true commercial set up when it's mostly sat indoors.

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IMHO, if you are mowing 5-6 acres weekly(it really doesn't matter that it is 1/2 acre times 10 or 12...you are still mowing 5-6 acres/week) you do need a more durable/Commercial ZTR(it's more about what you are mowing with it than where it is stored). And a problem as I see it with someone like me recommending something for $5k is.......is $5k over the pond the same as $5K here in the States????

djdicetn said:

IMHO, if you are mowing 5-6 acres weekly(it really doesn't matter that it is 1/2 acre times 10 or 12...you are still mowing 5-6 acres/week) you do need a more durable/Commercial ZTR(it's more about what you are mowing with it than where it is stored). And a problem as I see it with someone like me recommending something for $5k is.......is $5k over the pond the same as $5K here in the States????

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I don't think so. :frown: At least for push mowers.....a similar Honda mower to the one I have in the UK is 1050 Euros, which is 1,426 US dollars.....for a push mower!

I suppose we'd spend around ｣4k tops which equates to around $6.5k US.

Ainsley said:

I suppose we'd spend around ｣4k tops which equates to around $6.5k US.

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Sooooo, if we recommended a ZTR that costs $6K-$7K here in the States, it would be in your initial budget allocation? If you are intersted in Toros I consider the Titan MX series(high-end Residential) or the Z-Master 2000 series(entry-level Commercial) as very solid ZTR's for the money. No diesel offering on those models here in the States that I know of though. You almost have to get into the Z-Master 7000(high-end Professional) ZTR's to get the diesel option.

If I had that much land to cut I would not play with toy tractors, I'd go out and buy myself a MF35 and a set of gang mowers.

It's tempting - but when the nets are up and with the posts all in, it would take just as long with a set of gang mowers and i'd struggle to get into the corners of the fields with the nets up.

djdicetn said:

Sooooo, if we recommended a ZTR that costs $6K-$7K here in the States, it would be in your initial budget allocation? If you are intersted in Toros I consider the Titan MX series(high-end Residential) or the Z-Master 2000 series(entry-level Commercial) as very solid ZTR's for the money. No diesel offering on those models here in the States that I know of though. You almost have to get into the Z-Master 7000(high-end Professional) ZTR's to get the diesel option.

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Yes - around $6k/7k US. Will check those out, thanks. Any thoughts on Badboy mowers or the Ferris linked above?

Ainsley said:

Yes - around $6k/7k US. Will check those out, thanks. Any thoughts on Badboy mowers or the Ferris linked above?

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I seriously considered a Bad Boy Outlaw last fall, but I have read a lot of "mixed" reviews by owners(they either love them or hate them). I've not read any serious negative Ferris performance reviews(aside from a user that bought one to discover the cutting height setting..for maximum height..wasn't what the specs showed). I have no experience, but personally am leary of Briggs & Stratton products(they manufacture the Ferris and Snapper). Too bad you can't get Gravely's over there because the Pro-Turn 52 which has a MSRP of $6,899USD and is on sale at my local dealer for $6,199USD would take care of your needs. As you can tell, like most, I am brand loyal to what I bought(and am VERY happy with:0)
Since you have Toro's available, that would be my first pick over the Scags(VERY nice, but too expensive for me) and John Deeres(the green paint makes them cost more than they are worth:0)

Hi all,

Just an update and a question.

After much reflection, I think we're going to go for a new Ferris IS700Z on a Briggs 28.

The only thing we're now deliberating over is the deck size. My business partner is leaning towards the 52" deck, saying that it will put less strain on the engine, but to me, less hours cutting on the 61" off sets any extra strain. Does anyone have any thoughts on this????

Ainsley said:

Hi all,

Just an update and a question.

After much reflection, I think we're going to go for a new Ferris IS700Z on a Briggs 28.

The only thing we're now deliberating over is the deck size. My business partner is leaning towards the 52" deck, saying that it will put less strain on the engine, but to me, less hours cutting on the 61" off sets any extra strain. Does anyone have any thoughts on this????

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I would choose depending what the terrain will be. A 61" will probably scalp more than a 52", unless there are extra deck rollers on the 61". But from the pictures it looks pretty flat.

We're flat, but not what you'd class as sports field flat....we're getting there with rolling etc, but will take another year I think to get it something like, so maybe for that reason the 52" would indeed be a better choice.

Get a toro titan mx. I feel there built better. Can get a 60 deck with Kawasaki engine for about 6000. I'm going to be picking up a 54 deck for about 5500. Entry grade commercial. About the same as the ferris your looking at. And with your partners thoughts about more stain on engine is wrong. That's why they have a mower powerful engine on the machine. I would stay away from the briggs. That's just me. They don't seem to hold up. Get one with a Kawasaki engine. Way better. Built to last.