Riding lawn mower or rmm

WCarlson · Apr 21, 2003

I found that using a 2900 pound JD 4200 was a little tough on the lawn near the house. My solution was to buy a lawn tractor (JD 176) that I use to mow around the house and that my wife uses with a 10 cuft trailer as a mechanized wheel barrow for her landscaping, etc. I use the JD 4200 with a MMM for the other 2 acres where a rut or two isn't so obvious. When I mow with the JD 4200, I remove the front loader and the ballast box and avoid sharp maneuvers. However, if the ground isn't dry as a bone, I still leave tracks.

Bill

arkydog · Apr 22, 2003

I just bought a home with 3 acres, only 7 medium size trees, and bought a commercial ztr (zero turn radius) mower used, 60" cut, 25 hp EXMARK and can cut all three acres in less than 1hour and 30 minutes. Still learning how to make straight lines , but they are getting better every time. Cut it last week after lots of rain and sun, (a third was over 7-9" long and had no problem at all with it clumping. Turned out great. Cut it the first time with the 48" Kubota mmm and took 4 hours to cut. Paid $4400 for the ztr , second best investment after the kubota.

arkydog

bartman · Apr 23, 2003

ZTR's are the way to go when just cutting grass
I bought one but my wife won't let me use it . I can't kick her off of it I still use my old Cub Cadet 123

Bartman

Mosey · Apr 23, 2003

( ZTR's are the way to go when just cutting grass)

I won't disagree with that. But, they're very pricey and only good for one thing. If a guy already has a tractor, then it's much cheaper to get a rear mount mower.

chrisjbell · Apr 23, 2003

My solution was to buy a lawn tractor (JD 176) that I use to mow around the house and that my wife uses with a 10 cuft trailer as a mechanized wheel barrow for her landscaping, etc. 

That was our solution, too. Less expensive than a mower deck (either MMM or RFM), better for the grass (I don't care how dry it is, the heavy tractor compacts the soil, which ain't a Good Thing). Plus, you get a second tractor out of the deal /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, which is really nice.

We got the JD LX255, 17cft wagon. Use it for all kinds of stuff - mowing around the house, it'll handle some of the less nasty areas (like along the driveways). Its really nice when I have the BH or something on the big tractor and need to mow. Does a fine job.

Unless you're finish mowing several acres I'd suggest the lawn tractor route over an expensive mower deck every time. Please note that this does not negate the need for a large tractor /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

Soundguy · Apr 23, 2003

( I'm concerned with as well with my L3130 at 3300#'s. I won't have a lawn )

My NH 1920 is in the same weight class as your tractor. I mow our pasture, and unless I'm making circles, I don't leave marks in the grass.. unless it is raining or wet.
I mow in 2wd only though.. and have no loader anyway...

Soundguy