Time to mow an acre. Zero-turn vs Tractor

[tallguy104]

Got a bit of a newbie question for y'all.

We've got 3 acres of land to look after.

I keep hearing that zero-turn mowers will mow an area faster than other types of mowers.

Why is this?

Is it just that zero turns are faster where you have a lot of obstacles to manoeuvre around? Or are they just faster generally?

i.e. would it take a 52" zero turn mower about the same amount of time to mow 3 acres of unobstructed grass as say a subcompact tractor with a 52" mid-mount mower?

 

[rademamj1]

#1. Speed. My Gravely 60" Zero-turn mower, has average mowing speed of 12 mph and a top mowing speed of 15mph. My HST tractor mows with a 60" rotary cutter at 5 mph.

#2. Turn Around time. A zero-turn will turn around in a very efficient 3 to 4 seconds, and begin mowing again, compared to my tractor, which reverses and commits very wide turn around in 20 seconds.

So I have mowed a 3 acre field with no trees in about 1 hour 50 mins with a tractor, and then mowed that same 3 acres in just 25 minutes with my zero-turn.

 

[RalphVa]

We had about 5 acres of church property in Whippany, NJ with lots of mature oak trees. It took about 7 hours to mow it with some Sears garden tractors with underbelly mowers. Got a Scag ZTR and cut the time in 1/2: 3 1/2 hours. Could go ZIP right around every tree at full speed.

Ralph

 

[MF243RedTop]

Likes been mentioned above ZT are just very efficient at what they do. When you're mowing on a weekly or biweekly basis, it's wide open cutting. Zip around turns, wigs and wags around trees, shrubs and buildings... Knock out the valley of a ditch in minutes.
Commercial rated ZT are the bomb, when I trim my shrubs I just
Throw it out in yard and mulch it up. No picking up and hauling and dumping.


^^^^^
The one that started it all
Everyone needs to thank this guy for this awesome invention.

 

[tallguy104]

In our case we've got very few trees, ditches, or other obstacles, just a few acres of open grass.

Will a zero-turn mow this much quicker than a tractor (assuming same sized cutting deck on both)?

 

[tallguy104]

More specifically we're considering something like a Kubota BX1880 with a mid mounted 54" cutting deck, versus a commercial zero-turn with roughly the same size deck.

I know, I know, there's lots of other considerations, like the other tasks a tractor could do....but for now I'm just interested in the relative speed at which each of the above would be likely to knock over 3 acres

 

[BoylermanCT]

Whatever time it takes you to mow with a lawn tractor, a residential zero turn will cut that in half. A commercial zero turn will take a third off that. Don't do what I did when we started out mowing 5 acres. I bought a good lawn tractor for $3K, then 5 years later bought a residential zero turn for $4K and then 2 years later bought at commercial zero turn for $7K. If you are mowing an acre, go with a good residential mower.

 

[Deere Dude]

I mowed a church lawn with a JD X740 2 WD with 25hp diesel and a 62" deck with a nice turning radius.
Then for various reasons I used their 22 HP commercial 60" JD FMM quite often. 5 acres, maybe 25 trees, a big building and parking lot to go around.
Could mow with each one almost wide open at maybe 4-6 MPH max. Not golf course smooth.

I don't really recall myself thinking, "Boy, this FMM is really fast and nice." Maybe I could shave off 20 minutes on 2 hours with the FMM. If all I wanted to do with it is mow, most people around here would get a FMM.

 

[jaxs]

More specifically we're considering something like a Kubota BX1880 with a mid mounted 54" cutting deck, versus a commercial zero-turn with roughly the same size deck.

I know, I know, there's lots of other considerations, like the other tasks a tractor could do....but for now I'm just interested in the relative speed at which each of the above would be likely to knock over 3 acres

Yes,a commercial zero-turn will run circles around the BX1880. You are wise for thinking through this before spending money on something that only does secound rate work. Many newbies run out and buy a compact tractor and all the impliments then realize it just won't cut it in the real world. If you eventually decide to buy something to do dirt work,land clean up,handle hay bales,dig post holes and that sort of stuff,buy a skid-steer. A skid-steer not only does things faster,it does things that compacts find impossible and force's you to hire someone while the compact rest's.

 

[jeff9366]

Mowing calculator: Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

 

[Popgadget]

A zero turn mower is a one trick pony, and does that trick very well. For the task of mowing, it’s much faster than a small tractor, and has a lighter footprint on wet ground.

I mow with a combination of a 60” Lazer and a 15.5 foot progressive behind a Kubota L6060. Both are great at what they do, but not in any way interchangeable. I will mow along fences trees and buildings with the Lazer and knock out the open areas with the progressive.

I would say that the Lazer is at least twice as fast as a tractor with the same size mower.

 

[lman]

In our case we've got very few trees, ditches, or other obstacles, just a few acres of open grass.

Will a zero-turn mow this much quicker than a tractor (assuming same sized cutting deck on both)?

It doesn't take long to mow an acre with my 12 foot mower. My wife uses the 60 inch zt to finish.

 

[crazyal]

I wouldn't buy a CUT just to mow. So looking at which one is faster for mowing is kind of pointless. It's like asking whether a full size truck or a 2 seat car would make a better commuter car. The truck can do it but it'll burn more gas, be more difficult to change lanes, and harder to park. OTOH the truck has a bed that can haul stuff. You need to figure out everything you think you may need to do with a CUT and if you can afford to have a CUT and a zero turn (not just now but in the future as a properly sized CUT will last you decades). If you don't see much value in the other tasks a CUT could do then even if mowing times were similar I would still say don't go with the CUT. Define the job(s) and then pick the proper tool.

 

[dodge man]

The question is can you mow faster with a zero turn? Is you yard smooth enough? If it is a zero turn is fast. The only advantage a BX would have is if you needed 4 wheel drive because of hills. If you need an end loader or other implements that a tractor has than a tractor might be for you.

 

[Hay Dude]

The question is can you mow faster with a zero turn? Is you yard smooth enough? If it is a zero turn is fast. The only advantage a BX would have is if you needed 4 wheel drive because of hills. If you need an end loader or other implements that a tractor has than a tractor might be for you.

^^^^^

I had a 2 acre property I used to mow with a BX2200 with 60" deck. Took 1.5 hr. I now mow it with my ZD331 72" and it takes about 40 minutes. Now the ZD331 has a 12" bigger deck, but even if the BX2200 had a 72" deck, it would still take 50-100% longer.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

My dad has a 21hp tractor with a 6' finish mower, and a zero turn. I don't know what size his zero turn is but it's bigger than my 48" mower. He has 3 acres to mow. We can do it faster with the 0 turn and it's mostly just all open property.

Once you start getting into the short rows it just takes too long to turn the tractor around. Stabbing the inside brake helps but it seems hard on the tractor, the mower digs in, and if you're not careful the 3ph swings to one side and digs into the tire.

 

[metalbender]

Hot topic of the day. Never mowed with a rfm or a mid mount. I like my tractor too much to beat it up using it as a lawn mower. The zt is soooo much faster than a run of the mill garden tractor mower. Have experience with a small JD, Case and Sears. The old 60" Deines zt worked well but also beat me up in the process. Now with the Toro Titan 60" having the MyRide, I look forward to mowing.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have a 61 zero turn and a 72" rotary cutter on a tractor. I mow a 5 acre flat field several times a year. I have done it many times with both machines and it is pretty close. I think I save about 10-15 min with the tractor. I would say if decks were the some size, it would be about a draw.

 

[Rebeldad1]

a zero turn mower would be perfect.but if you have other things that need to be done around the farm they are not good for anything else.

 

[jaxs]

My dad has a 21hp tractor with a 6' finish mower, and a zero turn. I don't know what size his zero turn is but it's bigger than my 48" mower. He has 3 acres to mow. We can do it faster with the 0 turn and it's mostly just all open property.

Once you start getting into the short rows it just takes too long to turn the tractor around. Stabbing the inside brake helps but it seems hard on the tractor, the mower digs in, and if you're not careful the 3ph swings to one side and digs into the tire.

You should have an experienced tractor operator help you install stabilizer bars or chains on the tractor to prevent this from happening. Not only can the tire be damaged,the operator can be killed or injured.