Small ZTR mowers

[AndyM]

My parents are now down to only a city lot in town (50 by 120). A couple years ago, he bought a self-propelled push mower with electric start. It's still too heavy for him to push, and it moves faster than he can walk.

Now he's talking about getting a ZTR mower to cut his grass. What is the smallest one available? I see Dixon has a model with a 30 inch cut. Are there others available that small? I noticed New Holland has a 38 inch model (Toro). Even though it has a zero turning radius, I thought it seemed a bit large for a city lot. Any thoughts?

 

[Gatorboy]

My thoughts are maybe it's time to get a lawn service. If your dad's physical condition is what you say it is, I'm sure it won't be improving.

 

[sweettractors]

We sell the 30 inch Dixon for many applications similar to what you describe. Priced at under 3K, It is one of our best selling models in the entire line. --Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Authorized "Dixon" delaer 1 hour south of Louisville, Ky on I-65*

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I've bought 2 "WHITE" brand 30" riding mowers and given them as gifts to employees who bought new houses in the suburbs. They are about $1000 and available from as Craftsman, White or Cub Cadet units. Each brand has mildly different costs and different features, White & Cub have a headlight, etc. They do not look like a ZTR because they actually have a steering wheel and drive like a tractor, but the engine is in back under the seat and the mower deck is under your feet, they turn in a circle that makes them nearly a ZTR and they are simple, uncomplicated, and I think ideal units for someone who has a bit too big of a yard to push mow, but really is not a the type who wants to get into tractoring, they simply want to mow the lawn.

I actually need to order another one. Thanks for reminding me! I get them from the local Cub Cadet/Kubota dealership.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Andy . . . sorry but . . . I just got off the phone with the Cub Cadet dealer and he said that the White/Cub Cadet riding mowers have been discontinued. He believes the same mower is still available from MTD under their private lable contract brands as a CRAFTSMAN sold at any Sears store. He also said that he was told (and he admitted he did not double check) that John Deere used to make one, but they discontinued their small rider as well.

I will be checking that out to see if they are still available at Sears.

According to the dealer, the little riding mowers didn't have enough testosterone in them to make big burly men feel like they were working so most shoppers shifted over to the tiny little riding tractors with minature wheels and small mower decks for their suburban lots.

He did offer to sell me a small Cub Cadet ZTR. Their small model is a ZRT-17 and it has a "list price" of $2899, but I think for your needs it is too big. The deck is 42". I don't know about the Cub Cadet small units, but I did get my VP of Operations the largest Cub Z-Force ZTR and he loves it. It replaced his John Deere riding tractor and he says that if he wants to spend more time with his wife he can get the yard done in less than 1/2 the time of using the tractor (he has 1.5 acres), but that the only time it hits top speed is when there is a good game on the widescreen and his wife is not home. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Anyway, I've had really good luck with the Cub Cadets holding up, so if you want to go the route of a small Cub ZTR then I'm sure your parents would be happy. It just seems like overkill to have a 42" deck on their lot.

The post from Ken Sweet may be more appropriate with his 30" model. But I will actually be going past the Sears store later today, if I get a chance to swing in I'll let you know if they still have the 30" rider that I've been giving as corporate gifts.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Andy

This looks like the clone of the White mowers that I previously purchased. It is available at Sears under the Craftsman name. And it is on sale through Sunday. I don't know if you are interested in something like this, but it is pretty simple and I think might fit your dad's lot without busting a budget either.

Sears riding mower

 

[Bird]

Bob, for the Cub Cadet, it sounds like you're talking about the little one that looked like a turtle with a seat on top. Instead of a bag for grass clippings, it had a rigid basket under the seat. My brother bought one. I guess it wasn't bad for nice smooth lawns, but it wasn't very good either. The biggest problem my brother had was rolling those little front tires off the rims until he had them foam filled. He just bought it for his wife to do a very small lawn area right around the house, but didn't have it long before he sold it and bought her an electric mower that she liked better. And I don't think Sears even had such anymore.

Well, I'll have to edit this post. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That's the machine I was talking about, but I had just looked at Sears' web site and didn't find it.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Bird, you call it a turtle, I always thought it looked like a doodlebug. Either way it is the same little machine. And I've not heard of any problems with the units I bought. Granted, they are being used on your basic suburban lots that are glass smooth and fairly small.

 

[samisam]

Sam's sells a samll Swisher that has 2 pumps and motors which at $1900 is a good deal. I have a 34" Gravely which is a true commercial unit that I run on my Lawn service and it is awesome for the money. Unfortunately there are not many options on the small end of ztr's.
Samisam

 

[AndyM]

I just got back from Wally World...
They have a Murray with a 30 inch cut for $799.
It says it has a 12 inch turning radius.
I'll show that to him, along with the one from Sears.
We'll check out the 30 inch Dixon also at my local Ace Hardware store.