Can a Zero Turn mow high weeds in a bumpy pasture?

[plowhog]

I have about 15 acres of pasture. Gentle rolling hills, not steep except near the pond. Ranges from moderately smooth to bumpy.

I'm considering a new mower-- admittedly perhaps a stupid overkill-- 48hp diesel zero turn mower. Ferris IS6200Z

IS® 6200 Zero Turn Mower

Comfort, durability, and power are what make the IS 6200 more than a luxury, it's a necessity. The 48 hp* CAT^® turbo diesel engine provides up to two times more longevity than a traditional gas engine. Designed for the rigors of maintaining municipal and industrial properties, the IS...

www.ferrismowers.com

I currently mow using a 58hp tractor and 8ft rotary cutter, or a front mount 58" "tough cut" Ventrac mower. I've used each. Both have suspension seats, and after using either one I have an aching back at the end of doing mowing. From getting bounced around. This is why I am attracted to the Ferris product with the suspension system.

If I fall behind the mowing schedule, I can be mowing 3-4ft weeds and growth. I've once mowed 5ft growth. The ventrac struggles a little (25hp) and I have to slow down to accommodate. The ventrac is more nimble and less prone to bouncing compared to the tractor and rotary cutter.

48hp is a big bump in horsepower, but I've never owned a zero turn. Is such a machine suited for this or geared for more traditional lawn cutting?

 

[3Ts]

It's suited more for a lawn than a field. I have a John Deere 525E ZTR and I use it in places I probably shouldn't. It will handle some bumps but the ride is not comfortable, the suspension seats in the ones you're looking at will be much better, but I would not do a 15 acre field with one. I've only tried the 2' weeds and it does ok. I've found that the grass/weeds/brush needs to be shorter than the front to back dimension of the mower deck to allow what you're cutting to come back up after being pushed over by the deck. Otherwise it probably won't get cut just pushed over.

 

[WM75Guy]

I think you would be asking too much out of it. I have 2 Kubotas, the ZD1211 60" conventional ZTR and the F2560E 72" front mount mower. Both are 25HP diesels. I mow 2 acres around the house with my ZD1211. I mow about 4 acres with my F2560E, mostly turnouts and some rougher areas under an acre of trees next to the arena. If the grass gets over 12" it means going over it twice or having a crappy look with heavy windrows. If it gets too tall, I switch over to the WM75 with the 6' cutter.

 

[stevem5215]

The only mower that will do 5 ft weeds is a brush cutter / brush hog and it will not look like a lawn afterwards. I've never had the chance to try out a 48hp Ferris but that's gotta be an awesome machine. But I don't think it'll cut 5 ft high weeds. What does the dealer say about it ? He might know what the capability is.

 

[RandyT]

Will not mow 5 ft tall weeds very well, and even with the suspension will still kill your back after riding over that bumpy ground. Mower overall just will not stand up to that type of punishment for very long without leading to serious maintenance issues. And if the slopes are very steep and you loose traction it will spin around and start going back down hill and will continue until it gets to the bottom And you will not be able to hold the slope trying to mow side to side. Only up and down only

 

[YanmarFever]

If it were my pasture I would try to clean it up first with some sort of implement suited for that.
Then I would get a very heavy roller filled with water and smooth it out.

Then you could use your mower on it when it grows back.
I believe you would destroy your mower and have a sore rear from mowing it while its bumpy and real tall.

 

[mikester]

Yes you can. I would encourage anyone wanting to mow 15 acres with a 48" ZTR.

 

[Hay Dude]

It will do it, but raise the deck and take it slow. I have a crappy place I have to do 2X per year that I really shouldn’t, but I do it.
I set the deck at 5” and go slow and ready to raise deck in the blink of an eye if needed.

 

[YanmarFever]

It will do it, but raise the deck and take it slow. I have a crappy place I have to do 2X per year that I really shouldn’t, but I do it.
I set the deck at 5” and go slow and ready to raise deck in the blink of an eye if needed.

Yes, but when your name is HAY DUDE anything is possible!

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes, but when your name is HAY DUDE anything is possible!

How’s that Cummins running, YanmarFever????