Mowing 5 to 7 Acres - is ZTR the best approach

[clarkie]

Gentlemen,

I am cutting approximately 5 to 7 acres of grass around my house and barn. Currently I am using a Cub Cadet 2165 with 48" deck. This is taking me about 6 to 7 hours per week, and I need a better solution. Is ZTR the way to go? I already have a Century/Branson 45 HP tractor, bought with the assistance of TBN users two years ago, so I do not need to do anything else but cut grass with the new machine. About 20% of my mowing is on some hillside. (approximately 20% grade), and my terrain is fairly bumpy. If ZTR is the way to go, which of the following units comes well recommended.

Grasshopper 223/61
Bob-Cat (by Jacobsen) ZT-223
Kubota ZG23
John Deere 737 Z-Trak
Cub Cadet M54-KW
Ferris IS2000ZKAV2561

All units are 23 HP gas, except Ferris, which is 25 HP. All units have 60" Deck. I am overwelmed by the choices. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Any help would be appreciated. I remain open minded so other suggestions are welcome.

clarkie

 

[ronjhall]

I would ask the dealers to bring the machines out to your place to try them out.
I did this when I bought my front mower. Frist thing I found out was that the ZTR's will beat me up on rough ground.
I can cut about 2 acres per hour with my 60" front mower. Top speed is 7 mph.
My pick would be the <font color="orange"> Kubota </font>. Because they are the closest good dealer to my home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bontai_Joe]

If speed is a top priority, then you might want to check out pro turf cutting equipment like what is used on fairways of golf courses. Deck size up to 70" or wider with multiple decks, mower can be swapped out for a snow plow or blower for winter use. Both Deere and Toro offer top notch stuff.

 

[Gatorboy]

You need a bigger cutting deck. Not sure you need a ZTR, but a 60" or 72" mowing deck will help a bunch.

 

[jcmseven]

Clarkie,

I was surprised to find myself that the ZTR I owned did not mow that much faster than a John Deere X595 that I replaced it with. In my area, it is quite hilly and the terrain is difficult. ZTR's do not sell well here for that reason. Before I moved here I lived in an area of our state that had rolling hills, nothing too steep, but varied terrain. I had a Gravely P260Z, which I think is one of the better ZTR's on the market. It was fast, comparably fast, if not faster, than my neighbor's JD 757. I bought an X series 595 diesel with a 62" deck. It would mow withint 5-10 minutes as fast as my Gravely on almost all my mowing, and would mow better on really hilly terrain. Granted, I mow for look, not purely for speed, so provided I could have stood the ride, I could have mowed faster (a little) with the Gravely, but the difference was not huge. I also had the versatility of a small tractor when done mowing. I think you would be surprised how many uses you might find for an efficient tractor like that, even though you already have a larger one. I do not know a great deal about the other brands, but I can say the JD 595 I had would fit the bill nicely. I have nothing against ZTR's, but a few minutes here or there on your own property might not matter quite as much as it would to a commercial mower.

John M

 

[klm]

Sorry but I'm not buying that, no way a tractor mower of comparable size can out mow a good ZTR, hills or no hills.
I base that on owning two ZTRs, a Grasshopper and a Bush Hog
both 61".

 

[Spiffy]

If there are no obstacles and really rough ground, I can see a tractor style mower keeping up with a midmount ZTR.

Else, the ZTR is going to win; once you have a Z, it's amazing the obstacles you didn't realize you have.

Of course, a front mount ZTR (like the 700 series grasshoppers) combines many of the best features of both worlds; but the price is nasty.

Sounds like you need a couple dealers to bring out a demo! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

<font color="red">Just judging from your hills and bumps description, I think the Ferris w/IS would be fun to try. </font>

 

[clarkie]

Good feedback all way round. Much appreciated everyone!

I do have a fair amount of trees, 4 out buildings including the house and barn, and lots of mowing up against paddocks, so I suppose obstacles are an issue. Most of the runs are relatively short, so there is a lot of changing direction.

I should have mentioned my budget is around $9,000 to $10,000 give or take. It could be stretched for the perfect machine.

Spiffy, what is the advantage of a front mount vs mid mount?

clarkie

 

[jcmseven]

klm,

Sorry to say that what I found is what I found. Bear in mind that I did not say the tractor "outmowed" the ZTR. The ZTR WAS faster, just not by as much as I thought it would be. It simply was not the "half the time" I frequently hear advertised and touted. There are several contributors also. First, the areas I mowed were not flat, and they were largely free of obstacles and were fairly bumpy. This set the advantage more in favor of a tractor style machine than it might have been otherwise. I truly loved my ZTR; the only reason I sold it was to have something with a bit more versatility. I mentioned this primarily to let our initial poster know there are other options, particularly if he has unusually hilly terrain, or rough terrain. In my current locale, even the pro mowers use tractor or front cut type machines, mainly because ZTR style mowers do not do as well on the degrees of slope here. Our local green dealer recently sold 4 X585 tractors to a local university for grounds upkeep. What did they replace: two 757 ZTR's and an old 935 front cut. The primary reason for the change was the fact the ZTR's were not as efficient on steep slopes and changing direction on irregular terrain. They also could not plow snow well in winter, till the flower beds, tow the large trailers the school owned, spread mulch and salt when needed, operate PTO generators, etc. Where I lived before, 9:1 ZTR's for the pro's. I want to make it clear I am not against ZTR mowing. I think it is an excellent concept and having had one I have rarely enjoyed mowing so much, but I do not believe in all circumstance are they the clear choice. If a ZTR is a choice for our poster, I would also encourage him to look at the Gravely ZTR. It is an excellent, commercial level machine that I found to be a top notch ZTR.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Clarkie,

Spiffy makes an excellent point. The front cut ZTR's are nice too, and might add some ease of trimming because the mower is outfront, so it can go under things easier. They also are easier to trim with because the deck is outfront. The other nice advantage is that the deck is wheel supported to some degree. Most mid mount ZTR mowers have a suspended deck, which is fine, but can scalp if the terrain is highly irregular or if you buy a larger cut deck. The front mounted, wheeled deck make scalping a bit less of a problem. Grasshopper, for example, has made these type mowers a long time, and they have a good reputation. To me, their machines have a bit too industrial a look and feel, but that's just me. They have excellent engine and tranny options and are really durable.

John M