Buying Advice Am I nuts? Thinking of leaving ZTR for SCUT?

[chim]

.........................The ZTR takes 2.5 hours (not going as fast as I can), the 2620 takes 3.5 hours (going full speed in M range). I am sure that a 72" finish mower would be quicker, but I am not sure it would be faster than my ZTR.

Will

They are about even. Using the numbers we both posted, 2-1/2 hours for 6 acres works out to 25 minutes/acre or 2 minutes/acre longer with the ZTR.

Deck width and a little more speed make a big difference. When I went from a 5' deck to a 6 footer (and 11 more HP) it took close to 15 minutes/acre off my mowing time.

 

[DK35vince]

They are about even. Using the numbers we both posted, 2-1/2 hours for 6 acres works out to 25 minutes/acre or 2 minutes/acre longer with the ZTR.

Deck width and a little more speed make a big difference. When I went from a 5' deck to a 6 footer (and 11 more HP) it took close to 15 minutes/acre off my mowing time.

It works that way with a ZTR also.
To get those numbers Will-C is using a 23 HP zero turn with a 52" deck and a top mow speed of 8 MPH.
I'm running a Hustler Super Z with 35 HP a 72" deck and 13 mph mow speed.
The thing will mow circles around a tractor w/6' deck.

 

[94BULLITT]

I think zeroturns are way overrated for mowing grass for the average homeowner. All you can do with them is mow grass. Most people probably only save 15-30 minutes with a zero turn. With a SCUT you can use it to mow your grass and much more. SCUTs can be used year round.

 

[dragoneggs]

I think zeroturns are way overrated for mowing grass for the average homeowner. All you can do with them is mow grass. Most people probably only save 15-30 minutes with a zero turn. With a SCUT you can use it to mow your grass and much more. SCUTs can be used year round.

Agreed... and yes two different tools are a luxury so if you can afford them both, great. But two also means twice the maintenance, storage, etc. But dang, we all hate to compromise and if you can do it with a BX or B alone, think what other toy could you have selling the ZTR.... maybe a boat (I know, I know... we are talking tractors). I don't think anyone here can really know your situation but it seems to me that the ZTR is one dimensional. A SCUT or CUT can do so much more. So what if it takes a little longer. Use your cup holder!

 

[TSO]

Agreed... and yes two different tools are a luxury so if you can afford them both, great. But two also means twice the maintenance, storage, etc. But dang, we all hate to compromise and if you can do it with a BX or B alone, think what other toy could you have selling the ZTR.... maybe a boat (I know, I know... we are talking tractors). I don't think anyone here can really know your situation but it seems to me that the ZTR is one dimensional. A SCUT or CUT can do so much more. So what if it takes a little longer. Use your cup holder!

Not necessarily. I cut 5-6 acres/week with my ZTR. It takes me roughly 2 hrs/week, for lets say 6 months out of the year, so 48 hours per year. Those hours will add up on either machine (if I use a ZTR or a tractor) but the hours will add up more quickly on the tractor because it'll take more time. Regardless, Oil is Oil and Filters are Filters... you'd have to spend money for them for either machine. Tires, belts, all those things will wear out on both machines for the hours you're putting on them, but those wear items will usually be more costly on a tractor.

Now, if the OP didn't have ANYTHING yet (no mower or tractor) then the discussion would change I think. He could then decide on the debate of "1 machine or 2"... But since he already has a ZTR, and it's paid for, it seems the best option (unless money really factors in) is to keep it and get a tractor to handle the "Tractor" work he needs. He'll save money right off the purchase because he won't need a mid-PTO or mowing deck. That'll probably equal the money he'd get from selling the ZTR anyhow.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would keep the mower you have and buy a separate tractor for the other jobs. I mow and for the most part maintain my lawn with an x749 and try to keep the heavier tractors off of the lawn. If you wan't a tractor and fel and it is ballasted properly then it would be too heavy to use on the lawn. Better to have two machines.

 

[DeereMann]

Yup - if you can afford two specialized machines, by all means go for it & be happy. For those of us that can't, we end up with a compromise machine like a SCUT. But I must say, I am not at all disappointed.

It's kind of like a big game rifle - if you can't afford a number of them, you get a .30-06 caliber rifle. It doesn't do any one thing excellently, but it does many things good enough. I tell friends, the deer ain't any deader with your perfectionist deer rifle setup than with my .30-06. Same holds true with my SCUT vs. my previous L&G tractor for finish mowing.

 

[DK35vince]

Now, if the OP didn't have ANYTHING yet (no mower or tractor) then the discussion would change I think. He could then decide on the debate of "1 machine or 2"... But since he already has a ZTR, and it's paid for, it seems the best option (unless money really factors in) is to keep it and get a tractor to handle the "Tractor" work he needs. He'll save money right off the purchase because he won't need a mid-PTO or mowing deck. That'll probably equal the money he'd get from selling the ZTR anyhow.

Exactly.
His z turn is paid for.
By the time he added a mid PTO and mower to a tractor it may cost as much or more than he would get a out of the ZTR.
Keep the Z turn for mowing and look at the B series size tractor w/loader for everything else

 

[gnawbone]

My 52" zero turn is much faster than either my BX 60" MMM or the B2620 with a 60" RFM. I am currently mowing a rough, wide open 6 acres. The ZTR takes 2.5 hours (not going as fast as I can), the 2620 takes 3.5 hours (going full speed in M range). I am sure that a 72" finish mower would be quicker, but I am not sure it would be faster than my ZTR.

Will

I have a Grasshopper 61" front mount zero turn and a 72" finish mower - if I mow both 'fields' (they are side by side) it would be about 8 acres. It takes at least an hour more to mow with the 72" finish mower .... at least

 

[94BULLITT]

Exactly.
His z turn is paid for.
By the time he added a mid PTO and mower to a tractor it may cost as much or more than he would get a out of the ZTR.
Keep the Z turn for mowing and look at the B series size tractor w/loader for everything else

I was starting to think the same thing. A MMM for a SCUT it $2,000+. If he traded the ZTR the stealership would not give him anything for it. He probably is best of keeping it and steeping up to a small compact.