Crisswell
Bronze Member
Hi all
It's been a few years since I've posted here, but have been watching some from afar as issues have come up. I'm not much of an expert on anything, but find the information available here to be great!
I have something now, though, that I'd like to get some expert opinions on and hope you can help.
First a little background. I have 21 acres that we bought from a farmer. It's a combination of lawn (about 8 acres around the house) and the rest is tillable. In fact, the farmer we bought the land from continues to farm and maintain the other 13 acres. As it's evolved, we own it for privacy and he plants produce for his farm market and takes care of bush hogging, etc, when needed. Works for everyone.
When we bought the land in '05, I had no previous experience with having this much property and was anticipating all kinds of equipment needs. I read here about all the guys who "under bought" when they purchased their machines. So I bought brand new equipment - a New Holland 4X4 TC48DA with an 18LA FEL with pallet forks to swap with the bucket when necessary, a Land Pride 90" rear finish mower, a Woods 84" medium duty bush hog and 84" box blade and assorted related things. Right after moving in, I also picked up a JD X748 4X4 lawn tractor thinking that between the two, I could cover whatever came up. I thought the NH would get the most use and the JD would there for close trimming and back-up. But as it turns out, the NH is just too big for close trimming around the new landscaping and is too heavy in the spring and fall and other wet periods to use. Puts even more ruts into the turf and/or tears out the grass on turns.
With the addition of landscaping, the JD is getting all the lawn mowing duties and NH sits and collects dust in the pole building most of the time (101 hours in 3 years, most of which was the first year!). The JD does a nice job of cutting but only does about 2 acres an hour at top speed and with trimming around trees, flower beds etc. it takes a good 4.5 hours to mow. There's lots of reidual ruts from farming and lawn installation. My back and knees are taking a beating (56 and 6'4" tall). If I start daydreaming, I can get lifted 6 inches off the seat only to be slammed back into it again. No injuries yet, but as the years go on, who knows.
Anyway, I've decided to sell off the NH and attachments and am considering going to a ZTR both for speed and ride/rider comfort. I've just started the search and am interested in checking out the Dixie Chopper Xcaliber and the Ferris IS 5100Z. On paper, the features of the Ferris are more attractive to me. Coil over suspension for bumps should result in a smoother ride over spring loaded dampners on the DC, but as I say, I'm no expert. Also, the CAT diesel is a bonus, imo.
I'm in no hurry. I'm not doing anything until the NH and attachments are sold, which I anticipate taking awhile. So I want to use the time to research diesel ZTR's so I get the best combination of durability, reliability and operator comfort (ride and rider comfort for someone my size/age). I don't want to screw up the purchase again! Equipment is way too expensive to get it wrong again!
Any information on these two diesel ZTR's or others that may be comparable would be most appreciated. It would be great to hear about actual ownership experiences.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Andy
It's been a few years since I've posted here, but have been watching some from afar as issues have come up. I'm not much of an expert on anything, but find the information available here to be great!
I have something now, though, that I'd like to get some expert opinions on and hope you can help.
First a little background. I have 21 acres that we bought from a farmer. It's a combination of lawn (about 8 acres around the house) and the rest is tillable. In fact, the farmer we bought the land from continues to farm and maintain the other 13 acres. As it's evolved, we own it for privacy and he plants produce for his farm market and takes care of bush hogging, etc, when needed. Works for everyone.
When we bought the land in '05, I had no previous experience with having this much property and was anticipating all kinds of equipment needs. I read here about all the guys who "under bought" when they purchased their machines. So I bought brand new equipment - a New Holland 4X4 TC48DA with an 18LA FEL with pallet forks to swap with the bucket when necessary, a Land Pride 90" rear finish mower, a Woods 84" medium duty bush hog and 84" box blade and assorted related things. Right after moving in, I also picked up a JD X748 4X4 lawn tractor thinking that between the two, I could cover whatever came up. I thought the NH would get the most use and the JD would there for close trimming and back-up. But as it turns out, the NH is just too big for close trimming around the new landscaping and is too heavy in the spring and fall and other wet periods to use. Puts even more ruts into the turf and/or tears out the grass on turns.
With the addition of landscaping, the JD is getting all the lawn mowing duties and NH sits and collects dust in the pole building most of the time (101 hours in 3 years, most of which was the first year!). The JD does a nice job of cutting but only does about 2 acres an hour at top speed and with trimming around trees, flower beds etc. it takes a good 4.5 hours to mow. There's lots of reidual ruts from farming and lawn installation. My back and knees are taking a beating (56 and 6'4" tall). If I start daydreaming, I can get lifted 6 inches off the seat only to be slammed back into it again. No injuries yet, but as the years go on, who knows.
Anyway, I've decided to sell off the NH and attachments and am considering going to a ZTR both for speed and ride/rider comfort. I've just started the search and am interested in checking out the Dixie Chopper Xcaliber and the Ferris IS 5100Z. On paper, the features of the Ferris are more attractive to me. Coil over suspension for bumps should result in a smoother ride over spring loaded dampners on the DC, but as I say, I'm no expert. Also, the CAT diesel is a bonus, imo.
I'm in no hurry. I'm not doing anything until the NH and attachments are sold, which I anticipate taking awhile. So I want to use the time to research diesel ZTR's so I get the best combination of durability, reliability and operator comfort (ride and rider comfort for someone my size/age). I don't want to screw up the purchase again! Equipment is way too expensive to get it wrong again!
Any information on these two diesel ZTR's or others that may be comparable would be most appreciated. It would be great to hear about actual ownership experiences.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Andy
