Used a zero turn today.

[dodge man]

It seems like common advice, buy a zero turn for mowing the lawn, mid mount mowers are awful, use the tractor for tractor stuff. My JD 2025r is under the bellcrank recall and mine is cracked so it’s a no go. I normally mow with it, a 60” mid mount.

I borrowed a friends zero turn Scag, a Patriot model, 22 hp Kawasaki, 52” deck. The good things. It rides good, it has a decent suspension seat and is more comfortable than my JD. It also cuts really good, it must have high lift blades. It’s a very nice machine, he paid about $7500, it lists for $9200.

The bad. I mow about 2 acres, maybe a little more and half of it’s pretty hilly, a lot of side hill. If you were just going along a side hill it was ok but if you were going downhill and turned along the side hill you had to be really careful. It also cut up the lawn some. I’m sure my skills would improve with use. It also used a lot of fuel but I consider that a small thing, maybe almost twice as much as my JD would have used.

My opinion on them is unchanged. If you have a relatively flat yard, the money and the storage space, I’d recommend one. If you want a mid mount with your tractor to mow with or have some hills, it’s a solid choice too.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

AGREE!

 

[kozal01]

It takes some seat time to get the hang of it. I will NEVER go back to any other mower now that Ive had my ZTR for 10 years. I have hills too, never had any issues. They will out mow almost anything in both speed and cut quality.

 

[drumminj]

Regarding side-hilling, check out the Cub Cadet ZTXS mowers. The front wheels have traction and controlled steering

 

[BnRidge]

Maybe it depends on the model. We have a 1987 deere 935f, mow 3 to 7 acres that varies from flat to 20% slope. It does it all, with little to no trimming, raking etc. 1-1/2hrs for the 3ac. The rest gets trimmed a couple times a year with the deck at 5", 1-1/2hrs there too. Hills don't seem to matter, and gets everything done fast and efficient.

 

[Skeletor]

Took me a couple hours till I felt ok on it. I don’t think anything of it now and I got it in July. One of the lawns I cut has a steep hill and you can still do pretty good on the hills after some practice.

 

[Rdrcr]

My opinion on them is unchanged. If you have a relatively flat yard, the money and the storage space, I’d recommend one. If you want a mid mount with your tractor to mow with or have some hills, it’s a solid choice too.

Well, with the right tool for the job and enough budget, perhaps your opinion would change…

I have ZERO issues side-mowing my steep hills, even with wet grass. And, it delivers an excellent cut.

Mike

 

[4570Man]

I put AT-101 tires on my zero turn and it makes a huge difference. I can mow any hill that’s safe to do with a regular mower.

 

[DK35vince]

I put AT-101 tires on my zero turn and it makes a huge difference. I can mow any hill that’s safe to do with a regular mower.

I did the same with my mowers.
I mow hills with the AT-101 tires no problem that I struggled with or couldn't mow at all with the turf tires

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[Seachaser]

Also don’t cut hills with a heavy dew or rain. Tires and skills are important. I’ll never go back to a non ZTR.

 

[Runner]

See this thread for a ZTR that mows sidehill on 25 degree slopes and turns tight circles around trees on 20 degree slopes without losing traction and feels completely stable while doing it.

New 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54

Pulled the trigger on a new 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54. This thread will be to document my experience in this journey. Everything about this machine, including the buying process is completely different from anything I've done before. First, a little background on my needs. I have a 6...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[Yander]

Maybe it depends on the model. We have a 1987 deere 935f, mow 3 to 7 acres that varies from flat to 20% slope. It does it all, with little to no trimming, raking etc. 1-1/2hrs for the 3ac. The rest gets trimmed a couple times a year with the deck at 5", 1-1/2hrs there too. Hills don't seem to matter, and gets everything done fast and efficient.

I believe it depends on the model, the operator, the conditions (Wet/Dry), tires, and the grade, etc. I have a ditch in front of my house that is so steep I wouldn't take my garden tractor or my SCUT on. I mowed it for a few years with my Gravely ZTHD 60" Zero turn with HydroGear 3100 drive pumps on both wheels. It was a pucker factor type of situation and I didn't like it but of all the things I've mowed with, the ZTR was the only thing I would put on that steep ditch bank.

Here is what I could not do with the ZTR: Mow with even a little bit of moisture, dew, or mow with the soil under the grass still soft from rain the previous day or two (even if grass was dry). It had to be bone dry and then and only then could I keep the Z from sliding down the ditch bank. But if it were bone dry, I could run the ditch bank all the way down and had no issues. That was about a #700lb ZTR. I will not mow that ditch with my tractor.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evening,
I bought a new Toro ZTR this year to replace my 1982 C125 Wheel Horse garden tractor ! The Zero Turn gives an excellent cut and is really fast compared to my old Wheel Horse ! The property is relatively flat so I can’t really comment on mowing on hills !

To be truthful i still have a sentimental attachment to the old Wheel Horse and will probably do an overhaul on it at some point ! 42 years is a long time to be with your garden tractor !