Help me understand (zero turn -vs- tractor)

[dalola]

ZTR's not good on side hills.....another fallacy. I mow my pond bank which is 20-25 degree slopes without any issues at all.

If that is really degrees and not percent, you've got a bigger set than me! I wouldn't mow 25 degrees with anything!

 

[LD1]

If that is really degrees and not percent, you've got a bigger set than me! I wouldn't mow 25 degrees with anything!

Yes it is/was degrees. Had no problem with a ZTR when dry. Didnt like the tractor though...never flipped it, but was uneasy.

I have since done some reshaping so its maybe 15-18 degrees now

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

This mower does just fine on slopes.View attachment 556672

I've got a 729BT also, and yes they handle hills and slopes great. Very stable.

 

[Texasmark]

I mowed a 2 acre field yesterday (not my lawn) with my Ferris IS700Z, BS 26 Vanguard on 1.5 gal of gas....measured the refill amount to top off the tank. Looks like my lawn. Field looks like a rectangle cut in half diagonally. On the point, the ZT just passes the corner, a little back pressure on the short side handle lining up with the new direction, both handles forward and away you go. Square corners are.....just turn the corner and keep on going.

With my tractor and 3 pt cutter I used initially, it was a lot of looping at the corners, rough cut, tractor tire marks, missed grass/weeds when present, and coming back with the final X to clean up the corners. Took twice as long. Didn't measure the fuel.....diesel Ford tractor....just runs and runs and every once in awhile you fill it up. But on the Vanguard, at 3 bucks a gallon, less than 5 bucks to do 2 acres and get the results I got.....yepper I'll take it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

This mower does just fine on slopes.View attachment 556672

Mine do too,

This is a GREAT feature too,

Another great feature,

SR

 

[Omega Woods]

The original poster's concern has nothing to do with slopes. His concern is speed and quality for mowing grass primarily.

I have a ZTR, which I paid $3000 for four years ago and am very happy with. When I bought my SCUT recently, my (sensible) wife asked me why I thought we needed a MMM for (her) $14000 SCUT when the $3000 mower does a great job faster. I didn't have a good answer for that so we are still (sensibly) putting mowing hours on our mower and tractoring hours on our tractors. When my ZTR dies, I'll get a slightly bigger one with a diesel engine but I won't be buying a MMM for our SCUT.

Sometimes it makes sense to combine functions and sometimes it makes sense to have specialized tools. For something weekly like mowing three acres, I suggest a specialized tool would be a better choice.

 

[IH3444]

Question? Can you drink a beer while running a zero turn? Can you drink a beer while mowing with your tractor?

 

[ddbackhoe]

Question? Can you drink a beer while running a zero turn? Can you drink a beer while mowing with your tractor?

Yes, ztr tends to get foamier, yet in a skid steer not so much (difference in ground speed?) these were only test runs to decide if it was possible, under no circumstances should drinking and mowing/tractoring be a combined activity :licking:

 

[AxleHub]

Question? Can you drink a beer while running a zero turn? Can you drink a beer while mowing with your tractor?

In my particular situation - I have a zero turn tractor - so that means a steering wheel - so yes if I was on flat land. With my scut the answer is also yes because I have a steering wheel - and if I'm on flat land.

However even drinking water means - only on flat land - because on my sidehills or slopes - its one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the grab handle as I lean with either unit.

Now for those with a zero tern rider that have two handles to operate the differentials - I can't imagine how they can drink even on flat land - unless you have no turning requirement at all for long long straight runs LOL.

 

[4570Man]

Question? Can you drink a beer while running a zero turn? Can you drink a beer while mowing with your tractor?

No, but I can finish on the ZTR in half the time. Then you can go drink all the beer you want.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Now for those with a zero tern rider that have two handles to operate the differentials - I can't imagine how they can drink even on flat land - unless you have no turning requirement at all for long long straight runs LOL.

I have NO problem having a drink on my GH, in fact it has a very nice adjustable cup holder right on it. I don't drink beer, so IF I have anything on my GH, it's water.

On my GH's, you don't have to move the handles very much to keep it going straight or make turns, so one handed is very possible, I do it quite often...

SR

 

[dragoneggs]

Now for those with a zero tern rider that have two handles to operate the differentials - I can't imagine how they can drink even on flat land - unless you have no turning requirement at all for long long straight runs LOL.

Drink on the straight aways. More importantly is the installation of a gyro suspension cup holder when you are not drinking! :laughing: