Upgrading my mower

[Carscw]

I think for your needs the 30 inch would be best.
You take a lot of pride in your work and how the yard looks. I do not think you would be happy with a wider cut.
I believe if a yard takes you 45 mins with a 21 you should be able to knock 10 mins off that time with a 30
I have not used any of the mowers you have talked about so can not give any advice on them.

 

[Carscw]

I would get new. It will end up saving you money long term.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

You are at a point where you have to think about long term. Do you want to invest and do this for a living?
I have no clue how much $ you have. I recommend getting a 6x12 cash and finance the mower you want.

I don't know if I want to do this full time in the future, but I will definitely at lease do it part time. I love it, and after being my own boss for the past 5 years, it will be tough NOT being the boss. :laughing: I will probably get a larger trailer sooner than later (at LEAST 6x10), but I feel that since I got my trailer in December of 2013, I need to get some more use out of it. After the Exmark Metro 26, I am just hesitant of the Commercial 30. But it seems like it is a major improvement. The only way to find out is to try it. I figure I can always expand into an area with slightly smaller yards, where the Commercial 30 will be at it's prime. For some odd reason I want a mower where I walk behind it, I think part because I like physical fitness, and also because I like being able to be BEHIND a mower just to see how it performs and getting a view of everything going on with the mower. And at this point in my business maybe it's not smart to get a true wide area walk behind, until I can justify getting a true zeroturn.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I think for your needs the 30 inch would be best.
You take a lot of pride in your work and how the yard looks. I do not think you would be happy with a wider cut.
I believe if a yard takes you 45 mins with a 21 you should be able to knock 10 mins off that time with a 30
I have not used any of the mowers you have talked about so can not give any advice on them.

I would get new. It will end up saving you money long term.

I appreciate your opinion. Yes I do take tons of pride in my work, and a 30" might be better for me. I will need to time my mowing this year, maybe it takes around 40 minutes if I work quickly, BEFORE the trimming and blowing. Some yards I can knock out the mowing portion in maybe 30-35 if I am lucky. Honestly every lawn care business in the area uses a zero-turn on the yards I use a 21" mower, so any time improvement will be beneficial. Here is a picture of the average size backyard I do. It doesn't show the whole backyard, I have better pictures in some of my albums.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

And what is the Commercial 30 going for...somewhere between 16 and 1800, right? Is there anyway to get that a bit cheaper?

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I was reading some of the reviews for the Toro Turfmaster....and I've got to say a lot of them are not good! A lot of "Buyer Beware". I know a lot of people only post reviews if they have a problem, but that seems like a lot of thumbsdown. Some of the Exmark Commercial 30 reviews are better, but they still aren't great. Have you had any problems, Ric?

 

[Lawnboy18]

If it's Ric you can bet dollars to doughuts that he will say that it is very good and so on.

I have also red some iffy stuff about that mower. Too heavy, a pig to move, and tranny sucks (early version. The newer version is fine).

I say go 36"... But hey, it's just me.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

If it's Ric you can bet dollars to doughuts that he will say that it is very good and so on.

I have also red some iffy stuff about that mower. Too heavy, a pig to move, and tranny sucks (early version. The newer version is fine).

I say go 36"... But hey, it's just me.

This is why I hate making decisions.....it's so difficult! I don't mind a mower that is hard to move, I can get used to that. It's the mechanical problems that have me worried.

 

[Lawnboy18]

Mechanical? Once you work on it a bit you get use to the mower.

 

[Ric]

And what is the Commercial 30 going for...somewhere between 16 and 1800, right? Is there anyway to get that a bit cheaper?

I was reading some of the reviews for the Toro Turfmaster....and I've got to say a lot of them are not good! A lot of "Buyer Beware". I know a lot of people only post reviews if they have a problem, but that seems like a lot of thumbsdown. Some of the Exmark Commercial 30 reviews are better, but they still aren't great. Have you had any problems, Ric?

I learned a while ago that you can't really go by reviews. You know when I purchased mine (Turf-Master) and it was when they first hit the market. I purchased the first one the shop sold and yes I knew there was going to possibly be problems, just like anything new. Talk about reviews You said I was reading some of the reviews for the Toro Turfmaster....and I've got to say a lot of them are not good! A lot of "Buyer Beware" but that seems like a lot of thumbsdown. Some of the Exmark Commercial 30 reviews are better??????? That should make you think or question reviews a little bit and why, Think about it?

There the same frame, the same engine, the same deck the same belt set-up, for gosh sakes there made buy the same company so how is one going to be any better than the other. The big differences between the two mowers is the Toro has a different brush guard on it , the front end is enclosed and it has a two wheel height adjustment and the Exmark has a three wheel height adjustment an you buy either for $1699

People want to complain about there weight and yes it's 170lbs, but it's not a 21" mower but at the same time it's not a 500lb WB either.They like to complain about the drive, well guess what there adjustable speed and traction for the individual owner just like the WB.

I worked with the guys at the shop on the set up for the mower the first year I owned it and it was as new to them as it was me. Yes it had its problems and it popped a couple of drive cables, I went through a set of belts They even replaced the spindles with the Exmark and Toro with there recall cause they had a problem there but that was taken care of just like the re-call on the raptor when it hit the market. With the 3 year balls to the wall warranty I've never paid a dime for any part or labor.

The reviews you read are basically from close minded people not willing to except change. The Turf-Master and Exmark 30 are as good a mower as you want them to be. If you want a mower to get the job done and are willing to let it the mower do the job it's designed for it's a great mower but if you want to be one of those people who want to whine and complain and find fault about everything on a mower then you'll make the mower a problem, it wont be the mowers fault and I'd say don't buy it and don't think for one minute your going to take either of those mowers home and demo it and find out what you want and form an opinion because it ain't going to happen because your not giving it a chance. I've been very pleased with the mower and it's performance and its done me a great job and I sure wouldn't trade it for any other.