redhawk
Bronze Member
i'm looking and seriously thinking about a front mower model from grasshopper. anyone in the forums have one? the pluses and minuses please.
grasshopper mowers
- Thread starter redhawk
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Atch4115
Member
I have a Woods zero turn mower (about same as Grasshopper) and I love it.Cut my mowing time almost in half.The downside is you'll half to buy a CUT to do your other work.(Or would that be the upside?)
klm
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I have had a 721 gas, 60" for seven or eight years (lost track) and mow about 3 acres, plus sometimes more and don't have anything but good to say about them. They are an outstanding very well engineered mower.
jcmseven
Veteran Member
Redhawk,
Grasshopper makes an excellent product. Although I do not own one, several good friends do and they like them. The Grasshopper name tends to have a strong following and owners tend to be quite loyal, which speaks highly. Woods brand is currently offering a direct comparison between its Mow'n Machine and the Grasshopper on the Woods website. You may wish to check it out. The Woods front cut machine looks to be a worthy competitor. Interestingly, the Woods ZTR looks suspiciously like my Gravely P260Z that I sold last year, down to the hydraulic deck control. It seems Woods may have a good skill of producing quality equipment that looks a lot like its competitors (not that this is necessarily bad).
John M
Grasshopper makes an excellent product. Although I do not own one, several good friends do and they like them. The Grasshopper name tends to have a strong following and owners tend to be quite loyal, which speaks highly. Woods brand is currently offering a direct comparison between its Mow'n Machine and the Grasshopper on the Woods website. You may wish to check it out. The Woods front cut machine looks to be a worthy competitor. Interestingly, the Woods ZTR looks suspiciously like my Gravely P260Z that I sold last year, down to the hydraulic deck control. It seems Woods may have a good skill of producing quality equipment that looks a lot like its competitors (not that this is necessarily bad).
John M
Grasshopper used to make the mow-n-machines for Woods. I guess they had a falling out and now they are made by someone else. Woods has a full comparison of their mower to the Grasshopper mower here:
http://www.woodsequipment.com/dare_to_compare/d2c_riding_mowers.asp
http://www.woodsequipment.com/dare_to_compare/d2c_riding_mowers.asp
Dargo
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I bought a new 721D G2 front mount diesel powered Grasshopper new several years ago. When I first bought it I had a problem with a heat shield on the outside of the muffler rattling off. That was 600 hours ago. No problems since.
Based on my own rear side's experience this last week in demonstrations, a front mount mower will ride much better than every mid mount ZTR except for one, and that one is the only mid mount ZTR with independent suspension. I had no idea that the front mount mowers (at least the Grasshopper) rode that much better than the mid mount models.
I would have purchased another front mount Grasshopper yesterday except I would have had to order it. I bought the one ZTR that didn't knock me silly on my (apparently) rough lawn. Time will tell if I should have stayed with Grasshopper. Oh yes, I didn't sell my Grasshopper that I have. I plan to use it for many more years to come.
The one downside; none of the quality front or mid mount ZTR units can be had for what I consider to be a reasonable price. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I nearly had to triple my budget for what I wanted to spend. I guess having that Grasshopper all these years kinda spoiled me. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I just can't see paying 3 to 4k for something that I feel will last one or two seasons at my place.
Based on my own rear side's experience this last week in demonstrations, a front mount mower will ride much better than every mid mount ZTR except for one, and that one is the only mid mount ZTR with independent suspension. I had no idea that the front mount mowers (at least the Grasshopper) rode that much better than the mid mount models.
I would have purchased another front mount Grasshopper yesterday except I would have had to order it. I bought the one ZTR that didn't knock me silly on my (apparently) rough lawn. Time will tell if I should have stayed with Grasshopper. Oh yes, I didn't sell my Grasshopper that I have. I plan to use it for many more years to come.
The one downside; none of the quality front or mid mount ZTR units can be had for what I consider to be a reasonable price. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I nearly had to triple my budget for what I wanted to spend. I guess having that Grasshopper all these years kinda spoiled me. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I just can't see paying 3 to 4k for something that I feel will last one or two seasons at my place.
Dargo
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I like that comparison that Woods does. If it rides better than the Grasshopper, that would be great. However, for many of it's comparisons, Woods must have used a Grasshopper model different than what I have; my Grasshopper has most of what Woods is saying they have that is better. I guess I like it because it makes my 5 or 6 year old Grasshopper compare well to the new Woods and, I suppose, the new Grasshoppers.
I'm a little disappointed that my local Woods dealer didn't have one of the Woods front mount ZTR units for me to demo on Friday. Since I like my old Grasshopper so well, they very possibly would have sold me one. Oh well, I guess I'll have to see if I stay satisfied with my mid mount ZTR with 4 wheel independent suspension. Hopefully I didn't make a mistake. If I did, it won't be the first time. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I'm a little disappointed that my local Woods dealer didn't have one of the Woods front mount ZTR units for me to demo on Friday. Since I like my old Grasshopper so well, they very possibly would have sold me one. Oh well, I guess I'll have to see if I stay satisfied with my mid mount ZTR with 4 wheel independent suspension. Hopefully I didn't make a mistake. If I did, it won't be the first time. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Spiffy
Veteran Member
Certainly, don't think you made a mistake Dargo; of course, only time will tell if the midmount will always be your second choice.
Around here, the State Parks switched to Grasshopper, while the city just went from Grasshopper to Great Dane [claimed the latter was nearly twice as fast]. If there is logic, I'm guessing the State Parks have plenty of evergreens to mow under, while the city with with its gently landscaped parks probably can better utilize "high speed mowing".
Should note one other name sells IS ZTRs; Simplicity, who is actually the parent company of Ferris and Snapper. Assuming it went through, Briggs bought Simplicity, but whether you like Briggs or not, I doubt any radical changes will happen, espcially in the commercial lines.
I hate to spend more than 5K, even on a car, but if you're doing more than "a couple acres" or have some "abuse", thats where the ZTR ballgame seems to start [for the smallest units; new]. After that, I'd say its a mixture of features for personal taste combined with your location's availability.
Around here, the State Parks switched to Grasshopper, while the city just went from Grasshopper to Great Dane [claimed the latter was nearly twice as fast]. If there is logic, I'm guessing the State Parks have plenty of evergreens to mow under, while the city with with its gently landscaped parks probably can better utilize "high speed mowing".
Should note one other name sells IS ZTRs; Simplicity, who is actually the parent company of Ferris and Snapper. Assuming it went through, Briggs bought Simplicity, but whether you like Briggs or not, I doubt any radical changes will happen, espcially in the commercial lines.
I hate to spend more than 5K, even on a car, but if you're doing more than "a couple acres" or have some "abuse", thats where the ZTR ballgame seems to start [for the smallest units; new]. After that, I'd say its a mixture of features for personal taste combined with your location's availability.
thanks to all for the replies. a sales rep is bringing over a grasshopper 723K with a 61" deck on wednesday to give me some seat time, which as we all know will make or break a sale no matter what the sale price is. they're pretty confident that they're going to leave it with me after i give it a go! we'll see /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif again thanks
p.s. anyone use the sprayer attachment for the grasshopper?
p.s. anyone use the sprayer attachment for the grasshopper?
