Just saw my first $80,000 lawnmower

[jjp8182]

I think you partially answered your own question with "...as much as a 75hp tractor" -- without a finish mower. So considering for example a 12ft+ mowing width; a PTO-driven trailed mower can be >$20k (haven't bought one, but have looked at the prices out of curiosity before) ...and any flexing multi-deck mower is likely going to be more costly per foot of cut than a rigid mowing deck.

So depending on the size/configuration of deck included it might actually be the cheaper/easier option if all a person needs to do is mow grass and transport it on a trailer. Also considering a compact/utility tractor pulling a trailed mower tends to take quite a bit of space, and given the difficulty some have backing even a straight-body/framed vehicle (without a trailer) loading/unloading a single machine can be faster (& possibly lighter too) with less skill required.

On the other had it'd seem to require some relatively large open areas to make good use of it even with it being a zero turn, but mowing contracts for large sport complexes, parks & even shopping malls (or entire neighborhoods) could probably use it -- especially if a company has multiple contracts of that sort. Of course being able to potentially halve labor costs (or double productivity) could make for some quick recouping of the expense too....

Though I'd be interested in how a trimming crew would get around to support such a large area in a timely manner (assuming it's also part of the mowing contract). It'd seem like having to wait on them to walk would negate some of the advantages of being able to mow that much acreage that quickly and move a whole crew at once.

 

[bgr]

I have run a Kubota ZG with 54 mower with mulch kit for 10 years commercially. The people who like the Ferris mower with suspension are right. Without suspension, zero turns are very rough rides. If you lower tire pressure to smooth the ride and go too far, the tire grips the ground too much, and you rip out grass with every turn.

The reason for diesels in commercial service, beside knowing it will always start, is torque and blade tip speed = cut quality. My ZG 27 hp gas won't get through grass which is more than three inches over cut height, and it is slowed a lot at 2 inches. My friend's ZD with 21 rated diesel HP does not even slow down with the same mower.

Our grass grows fast and is a challenge for any mulching mower. Mulching takes a lot of torque to produce a clean cut and look good and Diesels work better in these conditions. Also, if you have a crew of yahoos abusing your machines, diesel is not worth the cost as they get broken before the long service life pays off.

 

[TC25Dave]

These mowers can be had in up to a 144-inch width - with a 12.5 mph ground speed, you cover lots of turf in a short period of time, and time is money. Definitely not for your average weekend lawn cutting crowd - compare and contrast to cost of a new pickup truck and it doesn't seem so outrageous.

 

[Indian Territory]

I'd tell them to go pound sand: No Interest 48 Months | Financing Options | Ferris

This is common at tractor dealerships. The financed price is higher.

 

[Fields_mj]

I think you partially answered your own question with "...as much as a 75hp tractor" -- without a finish mower. So considering for example a 12ft+ mowing width; a PTO-driven trailed mower can be >$20k (haven't bought one, but have looked at the prices out of curiosity before) ...and any flexing multi-deck mower is likely going to be more costly per foot of cut than a rigid mowing deck.

So depending on the size/configuration of deck included it might actually be the cheaper/easier option if all a person needs to do is mow grass and transport it on a trailer. Also considering a compact/utility tractor pulling a trailed mower tends to take quite a bit of space, and given the difficulty some have backing even a straight-body/framed vehicle (without a trailer) loading/unloading a single machine can be faster (& possibly lighter too) with less skill required.

On the other had it'd seem to require some relatively large open areas to make good use of it even with it being a zero turn, but mowing contracts for large sport complexes, parks & even shopping malls (or entire neighborhoods) could probably use it -- especially if a company has multiple contracts of that sort. Of course being able to potentially halve labor costs (or double productivity) could make for some quick recouping of the expense too....

Though I'd be interested in how a trimming crew would get around to support such a large area in a timely manner (assuming it's also part of the mowing contract). It'd seem like having to wait on them to walk would negate some of the advantages of being able to mow that much acreage that quickly and move a whole crew at once.

Throughout the Midwest, there are a lot of manufacturing facilities that are either located in the middle of the country, or on the edge of small towns. These facilities often have a substantial amount of open area (grass) that needs to be maintained. A contract for the lawn care for a single facility would likely pay for one of these machines. Of course the contract also includes snow removal in the winter which is a completely separate story.

My dad spent the better part of 3 decades working for a local rural school corporation. During the majority of his career there, one of the things he was responsible for was the grounds for all 5 of the schools in that part of the county. I spent one summer working for him mowing the yard using a Kubota F2100 with a 7' deck. I took care of the middle school and highschool which were the only 2 buildings that were adjacent to each other and was also where all the equipment was stored. I averaged mowing 15 acres per day for 4 days a week, plus a little on Friday. The remainder of friday was spent maintaining the 2 machines. The 3 elementary schools were spread across half the county and sat on slightly smaller tracts of land. Another guy spent the week taking the other Kubota around and mowing those locations. We averaged around 1,200 hrs per machine per year, and replaced them every other year. Back then (early 90s), those machines were pushing $20k each, but I don't EVER remember hearing about one of them breaking down or otherwise having issues. Speaking from experience, it was also a challenge to get one stuck. It wasn't impossible, but it took some effort (or a fair amount of negligence in my case).

Many years later, they bought a larger utility tractor with a batwing to do most of the mowing at the HS and MS, and that cut the mowing time down drastically. They still used the Kubota F series for the elementary schools though just because it was easier to trailer them down the county roads. My understanding is that shortly after my dad retired, they bought some big zero turns. Not sure if they had the bat wings or not, but I'm guessing so. Anyway, from the sounds of it, they had a hard time getting through an entire season with them.

 

[QSYB]

It's an Exmark Lazer Z 37hp diesel. No fancy cab with AC. Looks more or less like any other zero-turn I've seen.

I'm hoping someone who knows more about these things can answer a question for me. Is there ever an actual business case to be made for a mower that costs as much as my 75hp tractor? I just can't make sense of it.

I work for a university that has a hospital attached to it. In all, the grounds likely have ~200 acres that are mowed bi-weekly in the growing season (Bermuda grass, mostly). This includes intramural athletic fields like softball, soccer, and football; numerous greenscapes and greenways and large street right-of-ways and medians. They regularly use machines up to 120" for this work. The way most of it is laid out, a ZTR will probably do the work in half the time a tractor could. This doesn't include a large number of small courtyard type areas that are mowed with much smaller ZTRs or even push mowers, in a few cases.

There is definitely a business case for these units.

 

[tracdoc]

That’s quite the beast. Going forward, the market for them may shrink in the West and Southwest as water conservation efforts are ramped up. States like NV, AZ and even CA are ditching grass in parks in effort to save water.
Henderson, NV just joined the bandwagon:

Henderson converting and removing park grass in effort to control water usage

KSNV NBC Las Vegas covers news, sports, weather and traffic for the Las Vegas, Nevada area including Paradise, Spring Valley, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Indian Springs, Sloan, Searchlight, Laughlin and Nellis AFB.

news3lv.com

 

[bluetim0]

40 years ago a Toro 3 wheeled 6' front deck mower cost over $30K. We used these on large reserves play grounds etc for the city. As long as you had the work they paid for themselves and made money.

Oh And they had no cab or even a canopy lol.

 

[ruffdog]

If I was going to spend that I would buy the Bobcat Toolcat go on UTube and check them out. air conditioned and heated cab

They also have 4 wheel independent suspension and a 2 person cab. It was the best choice for what I use it for.

 

[workinghard50]

Thank You!! Finally someone is making me feel better / less guilty about owning a "cheap" Kubota ZD1211 zero turn -- game changing awesome machine btw.

Now I feel so poor AUD $5,000 for S/H Grillo hillside mower ,go anywhere , outrigger leg for steep work ,left or right leg ,low center of gravity.,reach out and pick up sticks