Please point in correct direction for ZTR or stand-behind mower

[Shughes717]

If the hill on your property is steep a residential ztr won't handle it well. What you are being told is spot on. If you want commercial cut quality it will cost more than 2k. Commercial mowers come standard with high lift blades and the blade tip speed is much faster than residential mowers. If you find a commercial mower for 2k that is in good shape it is probably stolen lol. Even the semi commercial snapper pro s50xt will cost around 4k new. With only 3/4 of an acre there may be a small deck (36 to 42" deck) commercial ztr in the 3 to 4k range.

 

[Shughes717]

If you hire your lawn cut at $35 you will be spending $140 a month for at least 5 months a year. That's $7000 in ten years. If you want to do it your self take the $2000 go to a commercial ztr dealer put it down on a $5000 mower and finance the rest at 0% interest for 48 months. You will save money in the long run. Any brand commercial mower will be a quality machine. we can give you insight as to why we picked ours, but it really comes down to what you have available in your area. Bobcat, gravely, ferris/ snapper pro, hustler, john deere, kubota, toro/ exmark, grass hopper, etc. they all make fine mowers.

 

[katit]

With only 3/4 of an acre there may be a small deck (36 to 42" deck) commercial ztr in the 3 to 4k range.

Small deck ZTR sounds good to me. It will be easier to park and go around corners. I assume it won't be slower than current 46" deck just because of the way I can turn and move faster?
What about mulching ability? Will smaller decks do as good job?

 

[Shughes717]

Small deck ZTR sounds good to me. It will be easier to park and go around corners. I assume it won't be slower than current 46" deck just because of the way I can turn and move faster?
What about mulching ability? Will smaller decks do as good job?

As long as it is a commercial grade deck it should cut and mulch much better than a residential deck. Look for a welded deck with a bts of at least 18000 fpm. The only problem I see is if the hill on your property is steep. You may have to go with a small walk behind. You just need to price them at your local dealers. If there are none you can afford then look online for used mowers. I would be careful buying used. Many of the used mowers for sale have been abused and will cause a lot of problems.

 

[Ric]

Ok, then it looks like ZTR is what I need.. What is their footprint (parking)? My JD in 50 inch wide and 68 inch long. ZTRs look bigger, but I wonder if that is true.

What about hills? Can ZTR mower handle hills OK? Right now we have Z225 JD ZTR for sale at $2400 almost new. I assume this is residential model? How do I know the difference?

Would you say that 10yo commercial ZTR will be better (in proper work order) than new residential ZTR?

I know that deck on my JD is low speed and has bad suction, so many new things will do better. But I want to try and get best. I don't mind doing some restoration but need to know..

The footprint on a ztr will vary with the size of the mower, they aren't all the same. Most all ZTR mowers are rated up to a 15 degree slope and the Toro Grandstands are rated up to a 20 degree slope, so if the mower will handle your slope or not will depend on what you buy. The smaller the mower the least likely it will be that it will handle the slope. The nice thing about the standers and walk-behinds is the fact they have a lower center of gravity than a ZTR, that's the reason they will out perform and be more productive than a ztr on slopes and in many other situations.

As far as the differeances between a Residential and a commercial unit goes there's a majority of differences. With a commercial unit you'll get a heavier built unit, heavier grade stock, commercial drive units (maybe separate pumps and wheel motors) instead of the Hydro-gear stuff, along with a commercial grade engines and chain hung fabricated decks (not a stamped deck). Along with a few other things like a ROPS or a nicer seat, the bells and whistle stuff that really isn't going to make a lot of difference but is nice to have.

 

[katit]

I'm taking this hill with my JD right now. Yes, I have to lean my body to the side but it works and doesn't feel like I'm close to tipping or anything like that. ZTR's at least LOOK like they have wider stance and planted better than my lawn tractor.

 

[Ric]

I'm taking this hill with my JD right now. Yes, I have to lean my body to the side but it works and doesn't feel like I'm close to tipping or anything like that. ZTR's at least LOOK like they have wider stance and planted better than my lawn tractor.

Doing or mowing a hill with a tractor is a lot different than doing it with a ZTR. Your weight is distributed differently on the tractor for one and you can steer a tractor with the front tires, not so with a ZTR. The ztr mowers that have been mentioned like the 36" or 42" are not going to have a much wider foot print, base or stance than your JD, for instance the Dixie chopper 42" cut is only 51" wide with the chute so the wheel base itself is going to be somewhat more narrow than that and a 36" ztr will be even smaller.

A ztr's weight is all in the back of the mower, the engine, the drives, wheels and yourself. Your front wheels or castors do nothing as far as having any control over the unit. If I were you and this may sound like over kill but for the money you want to spend I'd look into a Hustler Raptor 54" deck, the cost is like $2799 and it would last you forever.

Hustler Turf

 

[Shughes717]

Doing or mowing a hill with a tractor is a lot different than doing it with a ZTR. Your weight is distributed differently on the tractor for one and you can steer a tractor with the front tires, not so with a ZTR. The ztr mowers that have been mentioned like the 36" or 42" are not going to have a much wider foot print, base or stance than your JD, for instance the Dixie chopper 42" cut is only 51" wide with the chute so the wheel base itself is going to be somewhat more narrow than that and a 36" ztr will be even smaller.

A ztr's weight is all in the back of the mower, the engine, the drives, wheels and yourself. Your front wheels or castors do nothing as far as having any control over the unit. If I were you and this may sound like over kill but for the money you want to spend I'd look into a Hustler Raptor 54" deck, the cost is like $2799 and it would last you forever.

Hustler Turf

Agree with your post. Except for the part about the raptor. I think hustlers are fine mowers, but the raptor is made a little too light in the back end to handle much of a hill. Would do everything else he wants well though.

 

[Ric]

Agree with your post. Except for the part about the raptor. I think hustlers are fine mowers, but the raptor is made a little too light in the back end to handle much of a hill. Would do everything else he wants well though.

It would sure handle the hill better and safer than what he is using now and he would sure get a better cut than the tractor. It would also be new with a warranty.

 

[Shughes717]

It would sure handle the hill better and safer than what he is using now and he would sure get a better cut than the tractor. It would also be new with a warranty.

I don't disagree that it would cut better. Hustler mowers are great products. I don't know what kind of hill he is talking about, but I do know the raptor doesn't have the trannys to handle much of a slope.