I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

[djdicetn]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

I for sure would not want to mow 12-17 acres on a stander!!:thumbdown:
If the smooth part is nice, then I would consider a Scag Cheetah which has selectable ground speeds up to 16 MPH. JMO
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing:

I hear ya...that's a lot of standing mowing that much!!! The Grandstand is a great mower, but I would think that for anything more than 4-5 acres in a single mowing that it would wear you out. User KYDan doesn't mention a "budget" but if he's looking at the Turf Tiger I would suggest he consider the Gravely Pro-Turn XDZ series which are right up there with the Scag Turf Tiger and Cheetah. My dealer sells both the Scag and Gravely and I would have liked to have gotten a Scag. Unfortunately, my pockets weren't deep enough. Gravely is the same commercial quality but aren't quite as expensive as the Scags. If money wasn't an issue(my Financial Adviser...aka, the wife had some input on this expenditure) I might be mowing with a Scag.

 

[Ric]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

I hear ya...that's a lot of standing mowing that much!!! The Grandstand is a great mower, but I would think that for anything more than 4-5 acres in a single mowing that it would wear you out. User KYDan doesn't mention a "budget" but if he's looking at the Turf Tiger I would suggest he consider the Gravely Pro-Turn XDZ series which are right up there with the Scag Turf Tiger and Cheetah. My dealer sells both the Scag and Gravely and I would have liked to have gotten a Scag. Unfortunately, my pockets weren't deep enough. Gravely is the same commercial quality but aren't quite as expensive as the Scags. If money wasn't an issue(my Financial Adviser...aka, the wife had some input on this expenditure) I might be mowing with a Scag.

A stander wearing you out? Well see that's where your wrong. Have you ever used a Grandstand? I can mow on the Grandstand all day long and at the end of the day I can walk away and not hurt because unlike a ZTR it doesn't beat you to death. I'm on a ride on cushioned platform which absorbs the shocks or bumps, unlike the lawn Tractor or ZTR in which ever bump is transferred through your spine. I can move on the stander when mowing slopes, I can step off to remove debris. You say I would think that for anything more than 4-5 acres in a single mowing that it would wear you out, just think about that a second I probably do that and more every day in 4 Hours time on my Grandstand.

 

[Mad Mackie]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

Hi Ric,
When you are over 70 and still mowing 2-3 days a week and gave up snow removal a few years ago, call me and let me know how it all worked out!!
No doubt they have some good attributes, but most of the dealers around my area, eastern CT, have stopped stocking them. I'm involved with several local cemeteries and had thought that a stander would be a better machine for cemetery use, but I was very wrong, not an easy machine to maneuver as I had originally thought. In time possibly it could work out, but not with multiple operators.
Just my thoughts and experiences!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

 

[Ric]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

Hi Ric,
When you are over 70 and still mowing 2-3 days a week and gave up snow removal a few years ago, call me and let me know how it all worked out!!
No doubt they have some good attributes, but most of the dealers around my area, eastern CT, have stopped stocking them. I'm involved with several local cemeteries and had thought that a stander would be a better machine for cemetery use, but I was very wrong, not an easy machine to maneuver as I had originally thought. In time possibly it could work out, but not with multiple operators.
Just my thoughts and experiences!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Well I'm 62 and I've never done snow removal and I mow 6 days a week because I choose too. I don't know what stander you're talking about or tried out but the Grandstand is one of the most maneuverable machines I've ever used and I've used plenty of ZTR's. It's no different than a ztr, drives the same way it's just smaller and you stand instead of sitting down and really for multiple operators it should be no problem because there are no adjustments to be made. :confused2:

 

[Carscw]

I been looking at the toro and the walker not sure what one I like better. Going to demo a walker next week.

I started getting a sore back sitting on a riding mower all day. Been using the snapper pro walk behind the past two weeks. Forgot how much time it saves over a riding mower even with old belts that slip going up hill.

 

[Ric]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

I been looking at the toro and the walker not sure what one I like better. Going to demo a walker next week.

I started getting a sore back sitting on a riding mower all day. Been using the snapper pro walk behind the past two weeks. Forgot how much time it saves over a riding mower even with old belts that slip going up hill.

That was the reason I went to the Grandstand was because of my back. Even my Chiropractor said the stander was better for my back.

 

[Mad Mackie]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

Hi Ric,
When the Wright Stander had been out for several years, probably 2006-08, one cemetery that I'm involved with had a dealer bring one for a demo. Two problems stood out quickly, not being able to easily raise the deck to pass over objects and not having arm rests that were height adjustable. The machine operated fine but over steering was a problem around the confines of the grave stones.
I understand about back problems as I have a herniated disc and torn rotor cuffs both shoulders. No doubt that the ridged frame ZTRs are hard riding, but there are seats available to reduce the jarring that a ZTR produces during operation. I lean forward on rough areas to reduce the jarring.
I would like to have a cemetery demo on a new stander, but no local dealers stock them as they don't sell in my area. My local Scag dealer has one new V Rider but they will not demo it as they want to keep it 100% clean as it has been in their showroom too long. They had been a Wright dealer but dropped the line as they were slow sellers at best. I use the collection system on my Tiger Cub about 90% of the time, a side collection box on a stander doesn't have the volume that I need, but I could put two standers, a mulcher and side discharge, in my trailer along with my wood chipper and I would like that, but not going to happen. I also use a JRCO 46" front mounted dethatcher in spring and fall.
There is no doubt that under different circumstances, standers will outperform any other type of machine, just not happening here in my area.
My local dealer sells Scag, Exmark, Toro and Simplicity machines along with Stihl, generators and a rental business.
Not far from them is a fairly large John Deere dealer with Husqvarna hand held items. Both dealers have excellent service departments although I do 95% of maintenance myself being a retired mech.
Mad Mackie in CT:smile:

 

[edd]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

ok......time to weigh in......the big dog r-754 that i bought 3 years ago clicked over to 380 hrs today and it is still running fine with kohler courage 24 hp...4600 out the door in october 2011.....fastrak super duty with fx 691 is a fine little mower...5500 otd in january2013....was a demo with 17 hours.......i am looking right now at a bobcat fastcat pro 52 inch deck...demo with 10 hrs.....he is asking 5800 but i think i can get it down some more.....only drawback is it dont come with rops.....i will have one made instead of paying 400 for bobcats rops which i really dont like.....if you can find a demo you can save money

 

[Ric]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

Hi Ric,
When the Wright Stander had been out for several years, probably 2006-08, one cemetery that I'm involved with had a dealer bring one for a demo. Two problems stood out quickly, not being able to easily raise the deck to pass over objects and not having arm rests that were height adjustable. The machine operated fine but over steering was a problem around the confines of the grave stones.
I understand about back problems as I have a herniated disc and torn rotor cuffs both shoulders. No doubt that the ridged frame ZTRs are hard riding, but there are seats available to reduce the jarring that a ZTR produces during operation. I lean forward on rough areas to reduce the jarring.
I would like to have a cemetery demo on a new stander, but no local dealers stock them as they don't sell in my area. My local Scag dealer has one new V Rider but they will not demo it as they want to keep it 100% clean as it has been in their showroom too long. They had been a Wright dealer but dropped the line as they were slow sellers at best. I use the collection system on my Tiger Cub about 90% of the time, a side collection box on a stander doesn't have the volume that I need, but I could put two standers, a mulcher and side discharge, in my trailer along with my wood chipper and I would like that, but not going to happen. I also use a JRCO 46" front mounted dethatcher in spring and fall.
There is no doubt that under different circumstances, standers will outperform any other type of machine, just not happening here in my area.
My local dealer sells Scag, Exmark, Toro and Simplicity machines along with Stihl, generators and a rental business.
Not far from them is a fairly large John Deere dealer with Husqvarna hand held items. Both dealers have excellent service departments although I do 95% of maintenance myself being a retired mech.
Mad Mackie in CT:smile:

The Standers from 2006-08 weren't the Standers of today. The Wright Stander IMO is one that I wouldn't own period. I don't like the controls or platforms and there probably the roughest riding stander made. As far as the deck adjustment goes the Wrights unless you buy the real high dollar units are still adjustable using the old pin or pin and spacer method adjustment the same as some other models on the market like World lawn and Encore and the new John Deere I'm guessing seeing that there stander is made by Wright. There platform is to confining for me, you really can't move around like you need to to shift your weight on slopes and there still using the old coil springs for there suspension.

The Deck adjustment on the Toro and Exmark are done with a lever on its side and they can be made while your moving, I do it all the time moving from front to back yards for different cutting heights for different type grasses. The big difference between the Toro and Exmark standers is the deck itself, Exmark uses there own deck and Toro uses the Turbo force. If I couldn't buy either the Toro or Exmark, Scag would be my next choice because I think that Scag makes the next best stander on the market.

You say there's no doubt that under different circumstances, standers will outperform any other type of machine and I somewhat agree with that but I don't believe there's any doubt or circumstances that a stander can't out perform any type machine on the market.

The one thing that most people don't realize about one big difference between the Toro and Exmark standers is they have a lower center of gravity than a ZTR and a lower center of gravity than most all other standers available. The Toro Grandstand and Exmark Vantage are better at that than any stander made to my knowledge. That's the reason they can mower a 20 degree slope and are capable of up to 25 degree which is what the engine is capable of doing.

 

[Mad Mackie]

Re: I'm shopping for a ZTR 60" --- Here's what I'm finding, your thoughts please

Hi Ric and group,
No doubt that improvements are made as experience is gained by manufacturers.
The fact that no dealers have any standers in stock in my area tells me something. The one exception is my local Scag dealer who are also Toro, Exmark, Simplicity dealers has one new Scag V Rider that they won't demo in hopes that someone will buy it or another dealer will want it on short term notice.
During this past fall/winter there was a more than usual amount of standers for sale of various makes on another lawn oriented web site that caters to a large group with many topics and deals more with commercial operators. Several of the standers did sell, but at much lower prices that the sellers expected. Last year and this year I have yet to see any make of stander on any lawn guys trailer. I'm one of the few that uses a closed cargo trailer, so most don't know what I use for machines unless they see me on one of my machines and notice my van and trailer, I don't have any signs or advertisements on my trailers.
In my current lawn mowing involvement, I need machines with rear discharge and collection and this is how it has been for many years.
I've spoke my last on this topic.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Mad Mackie in CT, SFC US Army Retired:smile: