Stand on mowers?

[LoCo86]

Here in rocky, rooty, hilly New England I don't see many standers. Local Scag dealer doesn't sell many. As an older operator I would rather be sitting!!!! If I were 40 years younger I may go for a stander, but not now!!! I use machines with either a collection system or a rear discharge deck and standers don't have those options. Local Scag dealer used to sell Wright Standers but discontinued them when Scag came out with their standers, but they haven't sold well either. I can see an advantage to a stander on flatter and smoother lawns, but that don't happen much here in New England!!! I mowed for many years(25) with two Ingersoll GTs both with collection systems, these machines were very effective and compact, however slow. I still have the "low time" machine with 2,700 hours, 2nd engine. When I upgraded to a ZTR it took me a long time to get accustomed to its operational characteristics, but now I won't be without a ZTR with collection. Mad Mackie in CT

There are a few options for a collection system for the stand on units. Not many but the have them.

http://www.proteroinc.com/new-product-release.html

http://www.acceleratorindustries.com

 

[Parkmower]

The number 1 mower used commercially around here is the Wright stander. Almost every trailer has at least one on it, if not two or three. I'm not exaggerating in the least bit. Everyone here uses them.

 

[LoCo86]

In my region not many people use standing mowers. Other than myself I've only seen three others. Most just have ZTR's. My belief is that they are just too lazy to stand. You do see a lot of walk behinds most every truck has one but it's always in the front of the trailer with two ZTR's behind it. Which helps confirm my belief that they would rather sit than have three pieces of equipment that are highly versatile.

 

[Mad Mackie]

In my region not many people use standing mowers. Other than myself I've only seen three others. Most just have ZTR's. My belief is that they are just too lazy to stand. You do see a lot of walk behinds most every truck has one but it's always in the front of the trailer with two ZTR's behind it. Which helps confirm my belief that they would rather sit than have three pieces of equipment that are highly versatile.

Having been born last week, I will have to take your beliefs and opinions as "you can take it to the bank" fact!!!
Well------, some of us had been mowing for 20 years before the first ZTR was manufactured! Do you remember when the very first ZTR was made and who made it???? Do you know when the first stander was produced and who made it???
Do you know how bad it was, much worse than the first ZTR????
Mad Mackie in CT

 

[LoCo86]

Having been born last week, I will have to take your beliefs and opinions as "you can take it to the bank" fact!!! Well------, some of us had been mowing for 20 years before the first ZTR was manufactured! Do you remember when the very first ZTR was made and who made it???? Do you know when the first stander was produced and who made it??? Do you know how bad it was, much worse than the first ZTR???? Mad Mackie in CT

Though I like trivia. I do not know the answers to all your questions. I do know that the first ZTR was made by Hustler in the mid 60's. And I assume that the first stander was the Great Dane made around 15 years ago. I'm sure like anything that is produced and in its infancy that it will have its problems. I'm sure Henry Ford did not achieve perfection with his Model T in the first year. But now technology is so much more advanced that diagnosing problems with machines come at a much faster rate resulting in highly efficient and highly productive equipment in much less time, such as the Toro Grandstand which was started back in 09' and is now at the pinnacle of its design.

 

[Ric]

Though I like trivia. I do not know the answers to all your questions. I do know that the first ZTR was made by Hustler in the mid 60's. And I assume that the first stander was the Great Dane made around 15 years ago. I'm sure like anything that is produced and in its infancy that it will have its problems. I'm sure Henry Ford did not achieve perfection with his Model T in the first year. But now technology is so much more advanced that diagnosing problems with machines come at a much faster rate resulting in highly efficient and highly productive equipment in much less time, such as the Toro Grandstand which was started back in 09' and is now at the pinnacle of its design.

Actually the first ztr was Offered by Hustler Turf, it was invented In 1963, John Regier who eventually sold his patent to Hustler Turf / Excell Industry.

 

[LoCo86]

My 36" does well on hills not great but good. A lot depends on the guy on the back and his capability's on hill use. I can tell you it will do a lot more of a grade than a ztr and will do more than I'm willing to put it through. I mean I do retention ponds and things of that nature but as far as hills go, here in Florida we just don't have that many real hills. The mower itself is rated for 20 degree slopes, the engine is rated for 25 degrees which is more than most any ZTR and if your sales guy get nervous putting the thing on a trailer he has problems:smile: cause that's not an issue. Now I drive mine on and off the trailer standing on the platform not like a walk behind and the only thing you may need to do is adjust the height of the back of the trailer because if it is to steep you can drag the back of the platform on the pavement loading the thing but that's an easy fix. If your using the 60' V-ride you'll probably find the Grandstand super easy and more maneuverable being a smaller unit. The nice thing about the Grandstand is you still have the walk-behind advantage if you want it, goes through gates, is a great smaller area mower, it's the best all around mower I own and I hope to sell my ZTR and match it up with a 52" GS for next season.

You will be pleased with the 52" mower. It is very compact and gives you the feel as if you are using a 48". Definitely worth the money. I am very pleased with my 52" grandstand. The cut is excellent. Just took a little while to get used to the controls, like where to place my hands and how to uniformly position my lower body to maintain stability on varying terrain changes. Overall an excellent machine glad I made the switch and purchase. Also I am thinking of doing a reversal of you plans and getting a 36" grandstand to replace my smaller walk behind.

 

[Ric]

You will be pleased with the 52" mower. It is very compact and gives you the feel as if you are using a 48". Definitely worth the money. I am very pleased with my 52" grandstand. The cut is excellent. Just took a little while to get used to the controls, like where to place my hands and how to uniformly position my lower body to maintain stability on varying terrain changes. Overall an excellent machine glad I made the switch and purchase. Also I am thinking of doing a reversal of you plans and getting a 36" grandstand to replace my smaller walk behind.

Actually I purchased my 36" Grandstand to replace my Cub Cadet G1336 walk behind and my 44" Z-Force ztr. The Grandstand has a higher productivity rate than the 1336 and it is equally as fast as the 44" and it allowed me to have two Ztr's on the trailer and a walk behind at the same time in less space so for me it was a win win.

 

[LoCo86]

Actually I purchased my 36" Grandstand to replace my Cub Cadet G1336 walk behind and my 44" Z-Force ztr. The Grandstand has a higher productivity rate than the 1336 and it is equally as fast as the 44" and it allowed me to have two Ztr's on the trailer and a walk behind at the same time in less space so for me it was a win win.

On the Turbo Force deck what setting do you keep the discharge plate on (I.E. A,B,or C). I believe I have read that you mulch, but just to satisfy my own curiosity I would like to know. Personally I side discharge and find that I get the best results from a quality of cut and productivity stand point by setting the selector on "B".

 

[Hills2Mow]

I purchased the Toro GrandStand 52" early 2013. It took all season to get accustom to the power, zturn controls. I'm not a pro, just a homeowner w/an acre on a 18-25 degree sloped yard. I've rolled 3 riders on these slopes over the years..and had problems getting up or down a hill (usually down, loss of control), getting too old to walk behind, so went with a machine with guts. Damn, and I did get a machine with guts!! Biggest problems w/the Toro: 1. scalping the hill ridge, scalp rollers are on the 60" not the 52, so over the season kept increasing depth high until I got a good cut height and no scalping. 2. tire scalping when making sharp turns. Divits all over the yard the first month or so. Gotten used to the Y turn to prevent tire scalp. 3. No HITCH. That's a lot of machine and not able to haul wood, or other things. A very smart friend of mine said to place a bucket that would fit in between the two front bars that end with the front caster wheels, and bolt it down. Of course, would have to remove it when mowing but now I may be able to get a little more work out of the machine. 4. No easy access to clean under the deck....either do not mow when grass is damp or you will spend at least an hour on your knees reaching under the deck to pull large globs of grass...Again back to my smart friend, (I have a pressure washer) get a pressure washer adapter used for cleaning out roof gutters, it is the perfect size and angle to get under there and blast off the clumps, also purchased a mirror on an extended rod that angles, and now look under to see the areas that need more blasting. (Again his idea). He helped me put the machine on its back to clean for winter storage, yeap, takes two men. And again, if the grass isn't damp...all I see with it lying on its back is a green stained on the under deck, no clumps anywhere, very effective in removing grass. 4. It is limited on the degree of slope, going up it wants to flip (scary), going down no control (again scary). So the very steep parts of the yard have been landscaped to remove "the Threat", guess I could have weed eated those slopes also, but again looking to decrease the work load as I "wizen" into an older man. :=) When I retire from my full time job, this machine and I will go through this suburb and see if anyone wants their lawn mowed at a reasonable cost. Just to have a little spending $$.