What machine, or equipment, can mow an uneven grassy pasture the fastest? Zero Turn?

[dodge man]

I think mowing with your tractor is going to be the best, you be able to let it get longer and pull a wider mower. Unless you want it to look like a lawn I’d stay away from a zero turn.

 

[duffer]

I used to mow 10 ac (2 five acre lots) with a finish mower because I had it all in bermuda grass. A couple of years ago I sold one of the lots, and now mow 5 acres with my tractor & 7' PTO finish mower. Takes me 2:10 with significant hills and buildings to mow around.

When I sold the other 5 acres to the guy, I told him to get a tractor and finish mower so he could use the tractor for other projects he'll have, he said, "I can mow much faster than you with a ZT, probably ½ the time". Well, because the land is pretty bumpy, it takes him 4+ hours to cut it with a suspension SCAG ZT. He can't go 12 mph. More like 3-4. And he cuts it 4"-5" tall.

Just FYI.

 

[Tinhack]

I haven't cut my "front yard" for over a year. Little of no rain keeps the growth down. Except for Mesquite scrub and Cactus. That stuff must make its own water.

Once I get the tractor going (fuel leak), I'll cut the front with the rotary to get it down. After that, I use the flail mower if we get any rain. My flail leaves a cut like a finish mower. That's why I call it my front yard.

I can't imagine trying to mow 20 acres with a ZTR lawnmower. It would be stuck in the sand in about two minutes in places out front. The acreage I mow and trim around the house, buildings and trees is enough to keep me busy for a weekend. I just ran the tank of two-year old gas out in the Bad Boy doing that the last couple of days. It started right up after I replaced the battery. (Note: I treat my gas and diesel when I buy it.)

 

[Notforhire]

Well, because the land is pretty bumpy, it takes him 4+ hours to cut it with a suspension SCAG ZT. He can't go 12 mph. More like 3-4. And he cuts it 4"-5" tall.

Just FYI.

I didn't know that the Skag ZT had a suspension.

 

[hayden]

There hasn't been much discussion about how you want the field finished. Will it be like a lawn, in which case I'd use a lawn mower like a ZT or finish mower on a tractor. Or will it be a field, in which case I'd use a swing blade field mower.

You have been using a field mower so I'm going to guess you want to continue to maintain it that way. I would only switch to a lawn mower if you also want a lawn rather than a field. If you want to keep it a field but can't drive faster, then your only choice is to switch to a batwing mower and go wider. You could also switch to a tractor with suspension, but that's probably way overkill.

 

[Carl_NH]

I cut about 3.5 acres of which 2 acres of former forest floor and rocky/bumpy with my full suspension 52" Ferris (top speed 10 MPH). I used to cut with a 48" cub cadet - took 3 hours, now less than 1.25 hours.

Speed wise, on smooth ground I can run 7 MPH max and above that the cut isn't as good. On rough ground areas, usually its 5 MPH max but it is a smooth ride, vs my tractor over the same ground it rides much rougher.

Like Notforhire said, the suspension Ferris is smoother, but you're not going to match the ride with a large tractor with a 10' or so rear mower. Usually max width is 72" on the ZT.

Try one before you buy one.

 

[plowhog]

There hasn't been much discussion about how you want the field finished. Will it be like a lawn, in which case I'd use a lawn mower like a ZT or finish mower on a tractor. Or will it be a field, in which case I'd use a swing blade field mower.

My mowing is for visual appeal and to reduce fire danger. Everything is green now, but by August a lot of it will have died off. Even 1 foot tall material, when dead, is a huge fire hazard when you add in some slope and nearby forests that could ignite. So I don't need to precise/low cut of a ZTR such as for a lawn.

 

[plowhog]

now mow 5 acres with my tractor & 7' PTO finish mower. Takes me 2:10 with significant hills and buildings to mow around.

When I sold the other 5 acres to the guy, I told him to get a tractor and finish mower so he could use the tractor for other projects he'll have, he said, "I can mow much faster than you with a ZT, probably ½ the time". Well, because the land is pretty bumpy, it takes him 4+ hours to cut it with a suspension SCAG ZT. He can't go 12 mph. More like 3-4. And he cuts it 4"-5" tall.

That is really good feedback, thanks.

I'm leaning toward trying out a flail mower and taking the heavy grapple off the front of the tractor and maybe the loader arms also.

 

[plowhog]

You also have to remember that even though YOU may be comfortable with the operators station suspension, what kind of damage are you doing to the machine itself? Could be a “false sense of security”.

Good point. Except I can replace mower suspension parts. Vertebrae with reduced cushion between the joints-- getting jarred by bumps-- not so much.

 

[Hay Dude]

Good point. Except I can replace mower suspension parts. Vertebrae with reduced cushion between the joints-- getting jarred by bumps-- not so much.

Yeah, but neither one is a good thing.
Probably best to get a suspension machine, but operate it at a slow enough pace to avoid damage or rapid wear.