GRASSHOPPER brand zero turn mowers

[srs]

thanks to everyone for your responses.

 

[upgw]

OK, it's late on this thread but I'll jump in... I've mowed with my BX, my neighbor's big Scag, and another neighbor's older grasshopper... the Scag is a beast, it really is powerful and fast, but the ride is horrendous, due to the short wheelbase I guess. The grasshopper was surprisingly smooth, and I really liked the front mount deck for getting in and around things. This was an old 18HP 52 inch unit with a bazillion hours on it (no meter), but it's run through 3 engines. I have the smallest unit on my shopping list for the spring, I got a price of $7099 for the 16HP 44 inch front mount deck machine, which I suspect is full list, so I gotta shop more. I would only touch a Briggs engine if it was the Vanguard, made by Daihatsu (sp?) I think.. they are supposed to be quite good..

- Patrick

 

[karlg]

(Quote) of course it always comes down to the dollar bill.

Sorry I'm late on this, just noticed it.

If the dollar is the deciding factor, you will probably get a mid mount because as you say there are so many more choices and it seems all the front mounts are high dollar mowers. I think several companys make front mounts in their top end lines however. I know John Deere and ExMark make them and I think Dixon makes one.

I just bought a new mower and the top "must have" was it had to be a front mount deck. I wound up with a Grasshopper 620 which is a brand new model -I think it replaces the 618, It wasn't even on their Web site yet. It has a 54" deck with the electric control which will tip it up enough to clean it out and get at the blades easily. The only others I considered were John Deere (because of closer dealer) and ExMark.

The list on this mower was over $10,000 (unbelievable). I traded in a real nice little JD F525 and still gave over $6,000.

I wasn't afraid of the Grasshopper because I have a 721 with 61" deck that I bought 18 years ago! I have had almost no trouble with the 721 and it will go almose anywhere. It has hardly ever been used on a lawn, I am a farmer and it is used to mow road ditches with tall grass and weeds along with whatever happens to be growing in the farmyard. When I bought the 721 eighteen years ago the list on it was only $7000 and it's a LOT more mower.

I actually like the old 721 better than the new 620. The 721 has a Kubota liquid cooled 3 cylinder engine and the 620 has a Kohler.

Can't beat a Grasshopper in my book but they ARE expensive. My dealer is 70 miles away, but he's a good one.

 

[grasseatter23]

(Quote)

Can't beat a Grasshopper in my book but they ARE expensive. My dealer is 70 miles away, but he's a good one.

Grasshoppers may not be so cheap starting out. But in the long term then seem too be a bargin. Just what I have heard.

Another benefit about front mounts from grasshopper are the various attachments you can put on them. Snowblowers, dozers, arevators, sweepsters, and such and be quite handy.

 

[caseyhunt]

Interesting discussion — one thing I always think about with equipment like zero turn mowers is not just the initial price but also the ongoing costs of operation. Fuel usage over a season can add up, especially if you’re running a powerful commercial mower for large areas.
I’m curious if anyone has compared running costs of their mower year over year — not only thinking about power and maintenance, but how fuel consumption impacts total operating expenses. With rising fuel prices lately, that might even influence what model people choose.