What would you buy for mowing only??

[UpNorthWi]

I have a compact tractor with a rear finish mower, a loader and other attachments. I have a lot of acres, some level, rolling sloping and various obstacals like trees, bushes, pond, buildings and landscaping.

It is very slow and time consuming to mow, especially with all the trees. The tractor and finish mower is becoming a pain. Our small riding mower seems better, but I'm a bigger guy and like to feel stable on inclines and uneven terrain.

What would be the best tool? A rider, a zero or a front mount mower?

I hear zero's aren't stable and lack traction, the front mount mower seems as big as my tractor so is a better rider a better choice?

I like the thought of AWS, it looks fast and effortless. Do I need 4 WD?

What is the difference between the X500- all terrain and the X700?

What would you buy?

My only other potential use may be a snow blower, but otherwise I need the best tool to mower faster and better.

Thanks for any help and thoughts.

 

[jbooth]

Although I have a garden tractor 20HP 54" deck type, I am inclined to recommend a Zero Turn. A zero turn will cover the trees/buildings/obstacles. I believe the larger ones are fairly stable on slopes. Zero turns are fast. I don't know of any type mowers that can't get stuck in and around ponds. Snow blower; don't know if there are snow blowers for zero turn mowers or not. Our city mows a park adjacent to our homewith a zero turn; it is fast and does a good job. City's mower is a grasshopper and a bit pricey. Larger diameter wheels are always good on rough ground.

Might be some dealers willing to give you a test run for a prospective sale. Also might be worth your while to try to find a rental to see what works for you.

The final decision is going to be yours and it sounds like you are doing your homework. Good luck.

 

[david76]

I have a X595, so I am biased, but I would look for one. They can be found with low hours, diesel engine, reasonable price (X748 or X749 for newer model) are comfortable (5'7", 300lbs) and wiyh the 4wd and HDAP tires is really really tough to get stuck. Plus does a great job on a 47 thrower

 

[Jeff56]

I have a lot of obstacles and some slope to my yard including some pretty steep stuff. I've decided to just cut that small area with my trimmer because it's getting rougher there because of water and erosion. But I bought a 4WS X324 and I couldn't be happier. It has cut the time it takes me to mow in half compared to my LX172. It cuts trees fast enough that it makes my head spin if I do a few of them quickly. I like the way the rear wheels turn out while the front wheels turn in. It wraps the deck around a tree like it was on a rail. From what I understand it takes a good bit of course correction to get a zero to cut around a tree because the deck is always moving out away from the tree if you don't.

But a zero certainly mows faster in a straight line and they will trim obstacles very well. If it wasn't for my slope I might have bought a zero. Plus the difference in the warranty meant a lot to me. I'd like to have that faster cutting speed but my yard doesn't really give me much of a chance to mow in a straight line all that much. It seems my yard is one obstacle after another.

I'd say if your slope isn't too bad a zero would serve you well. But those caster wheels on the front made me nervous thinking about even the slight slopes of my yard. The last thing I need is to get going around like a top and sliding downhill at the same time. I also mow a graveyard on the farm and it has a big hill. If it gets wet you can take a long ride down that hill. I've even seen a truck with a trailer going around in circles going down that hill.

I even thought about the Cub with the 4WS on a zero turn. But it's a Cub and I've always been a Deere guy. My family has had Deere's since before I was born and I'm 55. I've never seen a Deere that didn't live up to what we paid for them.

 

[charleyfarmall]

If that's all I wanted, x748/749 if I had to have green. Some of the orange tractors might be ok too. I don't know much about ztr's but people keep saying that they aren't good for hills. It seems to me that 4wd/aws would be the cats butt.

Like how we spend your money?:laughing:

 

[radman1]

I have a JD 2305 with deck mower and Toro(Exmark) zero turn. The zero turn is at my house and the JD 2305 on the farm. The zero turn has will mow 25% faster than the subCUT and it has a smaller deck. Zeros do ok on hills, unless the grass is wet. Takes a steep hill to slide down, but even sliding downhill is usually caused by operator trying to stop or slow down too fast when going downhill. It can be difficult to mow sideways on a very steep hill. Not enough traction to hold the front.

There is a reason why lawn mower guys use zero turns. All most no mower can match them for mowing a larger lawn. Nothing can turn around faster than a zero turn and nothing can get around a tree faster or creep along next to a wall. Little physical effort is required to run a zero turn for a few hours. I mow about 1 acre as a nice lush lawn. I mow another 2 acres occassionally 2-3x's/year and mow around 200 windbreak trees.

 

[beenthere]

I'd recommend an AWS 425, 445, or best the 455 with a 54" deck. Work horses, and will get around trees no problem. Slopes no problem. I haven't had the trim mower out of the shed in 6 years. Any close trimming gets done with a string trimmer two or three times a summer.
We each like our own toys and decisions we've made for various reasons.

 

[North585]

I have a X748 (4WD, but not AWS) and had an X585 for many years (same as the X748, except gas), with a 62" deck. It is a mowing machine. Fast, powers through tall grass with no speed/quality loss, and with the 62" zips around trees very well.

I have a 54" front blade on it for snow...it is excellent. When the snow gets too deep, on goes the 47" blower and it doesn't power out, even when the snow is above the top of the blower.

As David says, we're biased, but the ride is fast, comfortable and with excellent traction/stability.

 

[tomslawn]

I hear zero's aren't stable and lack traction.

People need to think about fluid in the rear tires, i have done this and it works very well ,i love the jd ztracks except they should mount the darn engine verticly so it can cool itself better. fixed 3 heads last week do to valve guide issues.

 

[grsthegreat]

I personally have a riding Huskvarna lawnmower for a few acres of grass......anybody with more grass acreage and especially with trees and rocks should get the zero turn. My neighbor has maybe 5 acres of grass and a zero turn.......way faster.

It would be overkill for me, but not for him. My husky has run flawless for 5 seasons except for 2 broken Mandrels as the wife likes to mow over large rocks. At least there not too expensive and easy to replace.