Small Tractor or Zero Turn Mower?

[tedpenn]

Hi all,

I'm laboring over the decision between these two categories of machines and would welcome any input you may have.

My Situation: Approx. 2.3 acres to mow, much of it open field with 10-12 fruit trees and a few other isolated trees. A small part of it is on a pretty steep hill. To access the area around the house, I must currently climb a VERY steep rocky hill and then be able to get in and out of a gated area and a couple narrow spots.

Currently I've been using a Scotts branded Deere lawn tractor with a 42inch deck which is miserably slow (pretty much takes a full day to mow it all, trim and blow; sometimes I'll split between two days). To get this machine up the hill to the house area I have to either use an electric winch or a come-along (takes about 20 min. to set either up).

I've been considering something like a Deere X729 (4 wheel drive and steering) or even a 2000 series, or a fast zero-turn like a Dixie Chopper, etc.

As I see it,

PROS to the tractor:
-Wide mid-mount mower deck combined with fairly fast ground speed (~8mph) yields around a 4+ acre/hr mowing speed; not too bad.
-Plenty of power and traction to get up the hills and mow on them.
-Able to use implements such as a tiller or loader (I'm about to plant a garden).
-Can tow cart or spayer
CONS to the tractor:
-Not nearly as fast as the zero turn
-Expensive (depending on model)
-May not be able to cut as tightly around trees, requiring extra trimming time

PROS to the ZTR:
-Fast as **** at its primary task of mowing, saving me time
-Available in Diesel just like some of the tractors
-Kinda fun to drive

CONS to the ZTR:
-Mowing is all she does
-Not sure if I can get it up the hill or mow on steep hills
-No implements available, requiring purchase of tiller etc.

With EITHER machine type, there are problems that I may have to solve in other ways.

1. The hill may simply be too steep for either machine, requiring me to build a switchback style road for better access.
2. Some areas will be too narrow to enter (gated backyard, and narrow strips of grass) meaning I will have to purchase some type of push mower (all 3 of mine are broken at the moment).

With all of this being said, can anyone offer any thoughts or experience with this type of decision?

Thanks!

Ted

[whistlepig]

Can't beat a ZTR for mowing grass. Both my neighbors have them. They can spank my tractor and RFM. A tractor was a compromise for me. I needed something to mow with and a tractor but couldn't afford both. I think that's why most of us that do mow with a tractor do so.

[ChuckinNH]

From what I have heard ( no personal experience myself) the zero turn mowers aren't so good on hills like that. On the other hand, the X729 / X749 have very good reputations in the same environment.

[NSBound]

Originally Posted by tedpenn

Hi all,

With all of this being said, can anyone offer any thoughts or experience with this type of decision?

Thanks!

Ted

Hi Ted, I'm debating the very same issue right now. Zero Turn or used Honda RT5000 with mower deck, front blade, and snowthrower. Money would be about the same for either one. No decision yet! I'll likely go with what I perceive to be the "best deal" after I visit both dealers. Good luck deciding!

[sld]

ZTR's are great, I have one. But if I had to chose between it and the tractor, I would take the tractor without blinking for the 5 acres I maintain.

Mowing would be slower, but many other back breaking jobs could be handled easier. Making a large mulch area around the trees would help as does liberal use of Roundup.

Get the tractor, and later on when money allows, get the ZTR.

[Scooby074]

Originally Posted by NSBound

Hi Ted, I'm debating the very same issue right now. Zero Turn or used Honda RT5000 with mower deck, front blade, and snowthrower. Money would be about the same for either one. No decision yet! I'll likely go with what I perceive to be the "best deal" after I visit both dealers. Good luck deciding!

Those 5000's are really nice. 4ws and 4wd. Both Neighbours had one each. There great snowblowers.

IIRC they were EXPENSIVE in their day. Too bad Honda no longer sells ride ons in north america.

Wasnt there an optional loader available for them,?

Front mount or mid mount mower? Im pretty sure one neighbour had a front and the other a mid. Id rather front for mowing around trees etc.

[dex3361]

Originally Posted by ChuckinNH

From what I have heard ( no personal experience myself) the zero turn mowers aren't so good on hills like that. On the other hand, the X729 / X749 have very good reputations in the same environment.

I tried a Bad Boy 60" 28 hp ZTR and I had a 30 day trial with a no questions ask return deal. I have hills and this type of mower is not for the hills. I took it back and got a good deal on a BX1500 54" HST and this is the machine for me and the type of property I have. I would recommend a trial first and let that speak for itself.

[art]

It would be nice to know how wide of strips, and how small the openings could be? Could the gates be made wider?

Would be nice if a 60" deck could be used to mow it all and maybe the loader would give you the option of making it that way

A sub compact with a 60" deck with a loader is about the same money as a Zero turn!

This would also be an advantage with the tree's for clean-up. The loader would make an easy job of installing mulch about three or four foot out from the base which would be enough to make them easy to cut around.

[kthompson]

We really live in basically a flat area. But there is a slop in my mother in laws side lawn that will get run off. ZTR mower can not climb it but compact tractor and rfm has no problem.

If you can cut by all four sides of a tree it leaves very little to trim. If you go with tractor and rfm look at rear discharge so you can cut near the trees with either side.

OH yes on flat ground the ZTR is the machine.

[whistlepig]

Our land is flat and I can go around all four sides of my trees. That's why a RFM works for me also. ZTR's don't do well on hills. Even a 2WD tractor will do better on small hills than a ZTR. If you want something that mows fast on hills go with a front mounted mower with four wheel assist. If you get a 4WD tractor it's going to get mowed. Mountains, hills, or soft ground ain't going to stop it.