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I have 3 acres out of town that I mow at my home and 6 rental properties in town. I currently have an MDT 18 HP with a 46" cut and a bagger. It sucks! I go crawlingly slow just to hope the bagger doesn't clog.

I have tons of trees and ornamentals that need mowing around so I have decided on a ZTR but one that has a bagger than actually works without going ultra slow. I know I need a grass blower or booster. What brand is best for bagging grass and doesn't seriously bog down in heavier grass? I'd rather go a bit bigger and trim more by hand if I need to because of space constraints. My budget is $8000.00 but I would certainly like to spend less if I am able to. Any recommendations? Thanks.

I have not bagged a yard in the 40 years i've been in business,do your clients want you to bag?

They are my rental houses. We use the grass clippings around trees and in the garden and like to have them.

OK,thats a little more clear,I,m in florida and have never seen a bag on a ZT but i'm very sure the have them.I've them in books and they hang off the side so that would force you to mow clockwise around everything

John Deere, Cub Cadet, and Grasshopper all have ZT baggers. I'm sure there are more but wouldn't buy one without the grass booster/blower. I am super frustrated at how much time I spend mowing to keep the bagger from clogging that if I am going to lay out this much cash, I want something that actually sucks up the grass without easily clogging.

You want a ZTR with a powered collection blower attachment. Most collection blowers on ZTRs are powered via a V belt connected to a second pulley mounted on top of the right hand deck spindle, this is however an expensive attachment currently at $2,500. Check out the pics in my album under Mad Mackies Machines and you will see my Scag Tiger Cub with a Scag collection system. In the pics the Scag also has a dethatcher front mounted and without a collection system the dethatcher leaves a big mess on a lawn.
Notice the counterweights on the front and the size of the bags on the rear.
Mad Mackie in CT:smile::laughing::biggrin:

I have a cub rzt with bagger. No blower just blade powered bagger but it works great. It cost $300 extra. I know your prob looking for a more commercial machine but I thought id throw that out there.

I envisioned one with the blower powered by the mower deck belt. I cut zosia grass in some places and that stuff is thick! The Tiger Scag pics look really impressive. The Grasshopper/Cub Cadet dealer here in town told me I would not be happy with the Cub and wanted to sell me the smallest Grasshopper (model 128) with a bagger and a 52" deck for $7800. I just can't get passed buying the smallest model for that kind of money and want to know what I can get bigger or better for the same or less. I'm just looking for opinions of people who have been there. Not people who have a profit margin to maintain.

Mad Mackie, what do you think of this unit? 2010 Scag 61" zero turn w/ bagger | eBay

This machine is very similar to mine with two differences, a larger deck than mine and the Vanguard engine has the heavy duty particle separating air filter. With a collection system the dust quantity around the engine is very high and the particle separating air filter is a better system than is on my engine. Had I known this I would have bought the model with it. I think that Scag machines are well designed and manufacturered. It took me a while to get accustomed to a ZTR having mowed commercially with Ingersoll GTs with collection systems for many years, and after a season or so I grew to like the ZTR and have been improving my technic. All the lawns that I mow need collection except for my own which I remove the collection blower and install the plastic chute with spring pins and mow. The blower is easily removed and reinstalled and when removed I also remove the hose.
Machine maintenance is more intense with a collection system and engine oil changes may be needed more often and the blower V belt life is fairly short, I stock them and it is the same V belt that is used on my Ingersoll mower deck drive.
Check out the Scag thread here on this forum.
Mad Mackie in CT:biggrin::smile::laughing:

Hey Nemoi....
Where in Kansas are you located??
If you are close enough to the Wichita area ... I may have exactly what you need... :smile:KennyV

you need to look at the cyclone rake! I pull one with my snapper zrider and it works well, unless your on a steep slope. Then your subject to the traction of the zrider which is always questionable on a hill anyway.
Cyclone Rake Lawn Vacuum Systems

Not all belt driven hydrostatic lawn tractors will pull a vac of this type, too much belt slippage. Neighbor has a 26HP/42" deck Craftsman rider and it can't handle his powered/electric start DR vac on casters, he now has an 18 HP diesel Kubota and the Craftsman takes up room in his garage.
Mad Mackie in CT

I have a 2014 Craftsman Z6000 42" model 247.204110. I installed a Troy-Bilt RZT 6.5-Bushel Twin Bagger for 42-in to 46-in Zero Turn Mower. This mower will pickup anything and everything! I use mulching blades which makes the pieces a little smaller so I think it carries more.