Mowing why stand?

[davgreg]

Standing while mowing seems like an interesting concept, especially being able to transfer your wieght on slopes. Wright has been making stand on's for quite sometime now, toro, scags and even deere joined in. Why do they cost so much more, they are like twice the cost of a ztr mower. Does it have something to do with the controls? I cant imagine the standing platform would cost more to build than a siting platform. So why do they cost so much?

 

[radman1]

I am with you. Do not know why they are so expensive. They are smaller in overall size compared to a zero. Yet, are not a walk behind. I have a zero turn and prefer to sit compared to stand/Kneel.

 

[Runner]

I see lots of commercial guys using them, but it seems they would be hard to get under trees.

 

[LBrown59]

You can't wear the seat belt when standing up.
You can't also mow under trees and bushes while standing up unless you don't mind getting your head knocked off.

 

[Perplexed]

From what I understand, stand-up mowers impart less stress and fatigue on the body of the operator, especially if the mower is used for a long time. When sitting, the impacts of riding over uneven ground are concentrated mainly in the spine, whereas while standing up, the shock is distributed through the whole body. It's also easier and quicker to mount and dismount from a standing position, which translates to faster mowing and loading/unloading times - a big plus for commercial landscaping outfits.

 

[MoKelly]

From what I see around here from the commercial mowers is, the stand-up variety is used for the relatively smaller parcels of land whereas the Z-turns are used for the more expansive areas. Personally, I can't imagine standing-up on those things an mowing for 8 hours a day.

MoKelly

 

[Will_C]

I think I'd rather sit, but the young guy that mows at the school where I work says he would much rather use the stand-up Toro than a ZTR...he'll get on the stand up and get off 6 hours later.

Will

 

[avc8130]

The stand ups take less space in a trailer...so you can use smaller trailers or bring more equipment.

They also allow the operator to get on/off faster to move hoses and balls and lawn chairs and other obstacles.

For a commercial landscraper, they seem like the way to go...and afterall, that is what the market targets as they are the guys buying the lion share of equipment.

ac

 

[Spanky100]

Standing while mowing seems like an interesting concept, especially being able to transfer your wieght on slopes. Wright has been making stand on's for quite sometime now, toro, scags and even deere joined in. Why do they cost so much more, they are like twice the cost of a ztr mower. Does it have something to do with the controls? I cant imagine the standing platform would cost more to build than a siting platform. So why do they cost so much?

davgreg

We have had a 52 inch 23 HP Wright Stander since 2005. It is a very solid built Commercial mower with a 7 gage fabricated/welded steel deck, cast iron blade spindle housings, and each rear wheel has a separate hydraulic pump and motor. When we bought in 2005 the pricing was less (not much) than 52 inch comparable built commercial sitdown ZTR mowers. Even though it is smaller than comparable blade width setdown ZTRs, it still requires the same basic components (commercial engine, hydro system, spindles, ect). It did cost much more then the light duty non-commercial sitdown ZTRs with stamped deck and only hydro pump/motor. Our Church had one of the low end setdowns that would not make a true Zero turn as you could not reverse the wheel motors - only stop one while moving forward with the other wheel. It also had a stamped light gauge deck that would be ok for non-commercial use.

The standup does very good on smaller lots that the 21 walk behind mowers are normally used on. Our unit is 53 inches wide (rubber discharge deflector is in up position as we mulch mow and do not side discharge) for a 52 inch cut and IIRC not any longer that our 21 inch Toro walk behind. With separate independant wheel motors and pumps and front caster wheels you can work it in tight areas.

The issue of not being able to cut under trees is adressed by the operator lowering by bending knees with hands held in normal position on control bar. In fact one of the benefits for a standup is the ability to shift operator weight for operation on grades/slopes (side grades - weight to up hill side of platform, up grades lean forward chest to front, down grades bend knees and shift backside reward of rear wheel centerline). If you get into someing to steep that you should not have - step off.

My experience is standing up is easier on you back. Wright introduced a larger standup machine a few years ago that has a suspension platform to stand on which might reduce the effects of rough ground even better. If cutting very large large areas I would think a setdown ZTR or Tractor with a great suspension seat would be my preference.

 

[mjncad]

Why do they cost so much more, they are like twice the cost of a ztr mower. Does it have something to do with the controls? I cant imagine the standing platform would cost more to build than a siting platform. So why do they cost so much?

I am with you. Do not know why they are so expensive.

I doubt that the cost is dictated by the stand-up design so much; but by it being a niche product. Since they don't make as many units as they do ZTR's or Big Box Mart mowers, they cost more as there are fewer units to spread out the costs of engineering, designing, and manufacturing this type of equipment.