Why don't ZTR's have headlights?

[MesquiteMan]

Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

I am shopping for a ZTR and noticed that none of them have headlights. Why is that? Believe it or not, during the heat of the summer I like to mow at night. Will the electrical system on a Cub Cadet ZTR handle a set of headlights if I rigged them up?

 

[gamble77]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

Sure you could rig them up...

The only ZTR's that I know of that have headlights as an option from the factory are commercial units, mainly because they are used day in and day out and often times into the night.

 

[Nasty135]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

MesquiteMan, Well The Gravely 200Z series (260-272 and maybe even 252) do offer lights , If you go to the Gravely site and look at the ZTR's you can see a 260 with lights.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Also the CubCadet M60(tank) also has a headlight option which will fit the Lesco mower as well because they are cousin's.

But if you are looking to add headlights to another model it should work fine ,because most regular style riders have lights and no special charging system ... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif As long as its not sealed beam landing lights /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bczoom]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

MesquiteMan,

I too have thought about putting lights on my ZTR.

One thing to consider is unlike a tractor, you can quickly change direction so lights may be required that point out the sides and maybe the rear as well.

Brian

 

[SkyPup]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

Out at our farm it would be extremely dangerous to be operating our ZD-21 at night even with headlamps since the stumps, rocks, and snags would be a major problem, not to mention low lying limbs.

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

<font color="blue"> Believe it or not, during the heat of the summer I like to mow at night. </font>

Have you considered mowing early in the morning before it gets too hot? I wonder how your neighbors feel about trying to get some sleep while you are cutting at night in the summer? I know it doesn't get dark until around 9:00p by me.

 

[Spiffy]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

If he has 1111acres, I don't know whether 0111 AM or 1001 PM matters much, but I too wonder about the lights.

The idea of several angles sounds perfect, but I think you'd want to pay real close attention to the current rating before turning it into a Christmas tree; probably 1111Amps for everything on it (make that 15A so somebody doesn't fry it and blame me). The one Tank I seen with lights had just the two headlights, each angled slightly outward, maybe that's enough!

This isn't fair, why are lights an acceptable mod and the front axel isn't?! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Chad

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

<font color="red"> Why don't ZTR's have headlights? </font>

Because the dang things mow so fast that if they had a headlight all the bugs would be attracted to the light and you'd be picking "bug splatter" off your forhead for days. At those speeds, if you have a headlight, you also need a windshield and a bug deflector.

 

[larso1]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

I don't think I've heard a plausible answer to this question yet. They put two headlights on a cheapie $900 lawn tractor (that do help late in the day) and they only offer them as an "option" on a few $4000 "residential duty" ZTR's?

 

[Bird]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The only ZTR's that I know of that have headlights as an option from the factory are commercial units )</font>

Sounds right to me. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I have one of the smallest Toro ZTRs and the dealer mentioned an optional "light kit" for it; however, on Toro's website, they do list a light kit, but also a note that it's only for the biggest model. I didn't ask the dealer if he could actually put one on mine since I had no need for it.

 

[Bird]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( that do help late in the day )</font>

But not much, unless they're brighter than the ones I've had on $1800-$2200 mowers. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spiffy]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

I think SkyPup touched on the answer to the "why" question:

If you have serious obstacles (and just straight ahead lighting), with ZTR in the dark it would likely be easier to "find" unseen trouble than with a less manuverable tractor.

Manufactures probably figure that the commercial user is less likely to blame the machine if he does something stupid with it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Could also be that ZTR is, by itself, enough of a selling point right now; then they can save the gimmicks for later (though some of us would find lights really useful).....

Chad

 

[Egon]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

Do any of you have " Dew " in your area. The damp grass may not cut the best and the catchers may not catch.

Egon

 

[Bird]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

Yep, Egon, I like to get started at first light on whatever I'm going to do that day, but the dew frequently makes me start mowing much later than I wanted. It also made us start a lot later than I preferred when we were cutting and baling hay.

 

[sportzkat]

Re: Why don\'t ZTR\'s have headlights?

Another brand of ZTR that comes with lights is Simplicity. The Citation and Stallion both have lights. Other than the Gravely 200 series, those are the only two I know of with lights, other than those aimed purely at the residential market. It does seem cheesey that they can put them on the $3000 ZTRs but not on an $8000 one. I have been told by several dealers that they are not on there because there simply not a demand for them by the commercial guys. Same reason that they don't put deck props and some other things on these machines. To me they look like nice add-ons, but I guess to a commercial guy they are just something to go wrong...