Clueless about tractors

[DK35vince]

Mowing 2.5 acres - I maintain a property with just about that much area to mow. Guy on a zero turn 54" takes 4 hours. Experienced driver on a Ferris ZT. Me on my L3901 with 72" pull behind finish mower - 2 hours. Both together 45 minutes.

The guy running the zero turn needs to push those sticks ahead if its taking him 4 hours to mow 2.5 acres.

I recently measured my lawn.
The section I mow is 1034' long x 345' wide. So I'm mowing around 8 acres of lawn.
My 35 HP tractor with 84" rear finish mower takes me around 3 1/4 hours to mow.
My Hustler Super Z 35 HP 72" zero turn I can mow it in just over 2 hours.
My 3rd year with this zero turn and I'm still amazed at the speed it will mow.

 

[jenkinsph]

The guy running the zero turn needs to push those sticks ahead if its taking him 4 hours to mow 2.5 acres.

I recently measured my lawn.
The section I mow is 1034' long x 345' wide. So I'm mowing around 8 acres of lawn.
My 35 HP tractor with 84" rear finish mower takes me around 3 1/4 hours to mow.
My Hustler Super Z 35 HP 72" zero turn I can mow it in just over 2 hours.
My 3rd year with this zero turn and I'm still amazed at the speed it will mow.

Vince,
I would suspect you have a smoother lawn than some members have. If people would do the needed work on their lawns it would dramatically shorten the time spent mowing. It seems to me that some are hesitant to rework their lawns but still want a tractor. I don't get it because it is fairly simple to do and will look great after the new grass comes up.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince,
I would suspect you have a smoother lawn than some members have. If people would do the needed work on their lawns it would dramatically shorten the time spent mowing. It seems to me that some are hesitant to rework their lawns but still want a tractor. I don't get it because it is fairly simple to do and will look great after the new grass comes up.

An idea of what I mow.
I still have some rough areas, but much of the lawn I can mow at or near full speed with the zero turn. (full speed is 13-14 MPH)

 

[jenkinsph]

Vince,
Looks great, takes time to get everything smooth but once done it frees up time from mowing to get other areas fixed up too.

 

[DK35vince]

Vince,
Looks great, takes time to get everything smooth but once done it frees up time from mowing to get other areas fixed up too.

Thanks.
I tilled the entire yard an inch or 2 deep years ago to take off many the bumps.
It helped smooth it up a lot.
I would have really like to hit it with a Harley type power rake, but I never did.

 

[DK35vince]

3.) Subcompact tractor with front loader for snow, and a mower attachment...and wallet permitting, a backhoe for other work

For 4 acres and the work you have listed the sub cut with loader, mower, snow blower would be the way to go IMO.

 

[dragoneggs]

I always marvel at how many people recommend getying bigger tractors. They claim they love opetating and running their tractirs . . .yet they always use speed and less time needing the tractor as some of the bigger reasons to get a bigger tractor. In other words when an op states he doesn't want or need to hurry the effort because he wants to enjoy the process . . many try to convince him to hurry the process along by getting bigger.

Thats how a friend of mine got talked into getting the wrong size. He wanted the advantage of a tractor but he also wanted to use it. He got bigger and his time using it was shortened too much and it wasn't fun and it wasn't convenient . . just faster. He sold it and got the size he'd originally wanted and he enjoys it much more.

My point is . . Nobody desires to waste time . . But often people don't want to "rush their lives away" either. Everyone doesn't want to live with the slogan "get ur done" in every conversation.


Just a perspective.

If the OP really wants an all in one type of unit then a SCUT is a better answer than a CUT in my opinion. I run a SCUT w/BH and a couple other implements, but have to admit I love having a Z turn dedicated to mowing and not have to mess around with a MMM. My terrain and landscaping effort would mean I would be taking on/off the MMM. Swapping out 3pt implements is a enough for me. Maybe most importantly, there is no comparison when it comes to mowing maneuverability between the two.

 

[AxleHub]

If the OP really wants an all in one type of unit then a SCUT is a better answer than a CUT in my opinion. I run a SCUT w/BH and a couple other implements, but have to admit I love having a Z turn dedicated to mowing and not have to mess around with a MMM. My terrain and landscaping effort would mean I would be taking on/off the MMM. Swapping out 3pt implements is a enough for me. Maybe most importantly, there is no comparison when it comes to mowing maneuverability between the two.

All valid points of opinion dragoneggs . . but also opinions formed by the equipment you chose. Now lets assume you have a 2 acre yard with trees only on property edging and lots of garden type areas all landscape block edged (drive over) and numerous steeper sloped areas. Then you might find a zero turn to actually be slower than a scut with dedicated mulching mmm attached. Why? Because a true mulching deck has no chute or side exhaust . . so you have no concerns with which direction you cut near all the plant and rock garden areas. And trees are not an issue but comfort of ride and handling hills is.

A friend uses a very nice zero turn rider each summer cutting bike trail areas many hours each week. The ztr is an expensive one yet he'd never desire to cut my lawn with something like it because its too wide of a deck and too dangerous on hills . . and he's impressed how easily a dedicated mulcher deck on my scut makes it for mowing options . . . in other words . . a rught choice in scut ans a right choice in mmm combined.

My point is . . readers need to recognize that many opinions of posters are formed by their personal conditions and not always reliable for all circumstances being described.

Personally any zero turn that doesn't have direct control of the front wheels (steering wheel) and tread on the front tires (for grab) and better weight balance on the front end . . I wouldn't own myself.

By the way I own a zero turn tractor ( not a ztr but a ztt) that has those things I indicated . . and it's a fine machine . . but my massey scut with dedicated mulcher deck still beats it in time to completion of my lawn . . and in ride comfort and safe feel on hills and in fuel usage.

But again . . Its an opinion formed from a combination of needs and equipment choices. However . . Put a snowblower on that zero turn tractor and you're talking a whole different capability in snow removal. Stunningly manueverable to me

 

[jeff9366]

What is a Zero Turn TRACTOR? (ZTT)

 

[DK35vince]

What is a Zero Turn TRACTOR? (ZTT)

I assume he means some kind of thing like this.
zero turn tractor - Bing images