Pros to having a riding mower over a zero-turn

[kozal01]

I tried to get comparable used value for an Exmark diesel mower recently and I could not find any. Only gas models.

The diesel ones are pretty rare which might explain why there isn't much to compare to out there.

 

[tradosaurus]

Clearly Tesla needs to build a FSD EV mower for beer drinkers!

Evidently. Hard to believe people are defending drinking alcohol and operating machinery.
There's a reason that can get you fired at a place of employment.

 

[4570Man]

I've owned my commercial zero turn so long, that now the homeowner grade mowers are selling for nearly the price I paid for the commercial unit. I think it was $7600, ca.2007.

Other than the rubber bits, they can easily outlast their owner, at least as long as the manufacturer maintains some train of parts availability.

I had arranged to buy a new Ferris 2100 for $8,000 about that same period. I ended up getting a smoking deal on a used Grasshopper 428 that I’ve been using ever since.

 

[ning]

With a riding mower you can get yourself into these situations because

well, only if you're an idiot, which apparently I am

That dry grass is like straw, very slippery as it turns out. About 10' in front of the mower it really gets too steep to go around; I was trying to back up and the front of the mower slid down and the rears (no locking diff on this one) lost traction.

I bought this mower for $800 on CL about 15 years ago; a mechanic was selling it as he took it from a customer to release a lien.. it was almost brand new at the time. It's been used and abused here but any more is mostly a garden cart puller and does small mowing jobs only now that I've got the tractor & rotary, I don't have to cut as much with this guy. And no, there's no seat. I keep thinking $100 for a replacement seat when this thing may die at any time? eh. It's also easier to hang off to the side without a seat, though my butt does hurt after a bit bouncing around

It's been pretty reliable. I did replace flywheel and starter a while back, and a couple years ago took apart the transaxle and cleaned it replaced filters, so overall I've got about $1200 in it for 15 years.

I suppose you could do ^^ the above on a zero-turn too but with the side-slope you'd be even less inclined to do so

 

[kozal01]

With a riding mower you can get yourself into these situations because

View attachment 880267

well, only if you're an idiot, which apparently I am

That dry grass is like straw, very slippery as it turns out. About 10' in front of the mower it really gets too steep to go around; I was trying to back up and the front of the mower slid down and the rears (no locking diff on this one) lost traction.

I bought this mower for $800 on CL about 15 years ago; a mechanic was selling it as he took it from a customer to release a lien.. it was almost brand new at the time. It's been used and abused here but any more is mostly a garden cart puller and does small mowing jobs only now that I've got the tractor & rotary, I don't have to cut as much with this guy. And no, there's no seat. I keep thinking $100 for a replacement seat when this thing may die at any time? eh. It's also easier to hang off to the side without a seat, though my butt does hurt after a bit bouncing around

It's been pretty reliable. I did replace flywheel and starter a while back, and a couple years ago took apart the transaxle and cleaned it replaced filters, so overall I've got about $1200 in it for 15 years.

I suppose you could do ^^ the above on a zero-turn too but with the side-slope you'd be even less inclined to do so

This does show the ONE thing I can think of that a lawn tractor may be better at, steep hills. Though in my case my ZTR still handles my hills as good as my JD used to and actually doesn't bog at all going up them like my JD did.

 

[WinterDeere]

This does show the ONE thing I can think of that a lawn tractor may be better at, steep hills. Though in my case my ZTR still handles my hills as good as my JD used to and actually doesn't bog at all going up them like my JD did.

ZTR's seem more stable than a riding mower, as they're generally wider and with a lower COG than a riding mower. They also have have pretty good traction when going up a hill, as all the weight is on the drive tires.

Where ZTR's suck is facing down a hill, as all the weight comes off the drive tires. I've slid that way a few times.

Cross-hill mowing can be a challenge, as well, as they always want to turn down. Your ability to keep facing across the hill can also be limited by traction of the uphill tire.

 

[kozal01]

ZTR's seem more stable than a riding mower, as they're generally wider and with a lower COG than a riding mower. They also have have pretty good traction when going up a hill, as all the weight is on the drive tires.

Where ZTR's suck is facing down a hill, as all the weight comes off the drive tires. I've slid that way a few times.

Cross-hill mowing can be a challenge, as well, as they always want to turn down. Your ability to keep facing across the hill can also be limited by traction of the uphill tire.

This is all true. My ZTR is almost as wide as the deck which is 50" so it is very stable on hills, but as you mentioned side hilling it has a tendency to want to slide if its too wet.

 

[sklunk]

With a riding mower you can get yourself into these situations because

View attachment 880267

well, only if you're an idiot, which apparently I am

That dry grass is like straw, very slippery as it turns out. About 10' in front of the mower it really gets too steep to go around; I was trying to back up and the front of the mower slid down and the rears (no locking diff on this one) lost traction.

I bought this mower for $800 on CL about 15 years ago; a mechanic was selling it as he took it from a customer to release a lien.. it was almost brand new at the time. It's been used and abused here but any more is mostly a garden cart puller and does small mowing jobs only now that I've got the tractor & rotary, I don't have to cut as much with this guy. And no, there's no seat. I keep thinking $100 for a replacement seat when this thing may die at any time? eh. It's also easier to hang off to the side without a seat, though my butt does hurt after a bit bouncing around

It's been pretty reliable. I did replace flywheel and starter a while back, and a couple years ago took apart the transaxle and cleaned it replaced filters, so overall I've got about $1200 in it for 15 years.

I suppose you could do ^^ the above on a zero-turn too but with the side-slope you'd be even less inclined to do so

If you have a lot of area like that to mow (and have an open checkbook), I would get one of these!:

Zero Turn Mowers With Tracks | Altoz

The world's first and most superior zero turn lawn mower with tracks from Altoz. Take on any angle, any terrain, any obstacle and get results.

altoz.com

Absolutely AMAZING on slopes and ditches, and definitely good on high grasses.

 

[JeepHead]

Evidently. Hard to believe people are defending drinking alcohol and operating machinery.
There's a reason that can get you fired at a place of employment.

I said I drink beer while mowing. YOU are the one who assumed that meant I was drunk off my a$$ doing so. You also went on to make assumptions that since I enjoy to drink beer while I am at home on my OWN property, that I am most likely out driving drunk on public roads. Not to mention you continued it further by suggesting I could possibly "take others out" on my own way out... I'm a grown man perfectly capable of judging what is and isn't safe for me and mine.

I have seen a few times people criticize you for your behavior here and I can absolutely see why. Hopefully, I too can make your ignore list. I don't need people like you judging me from delusional assumptions...

 

[ning]

If you have a lot of area like that to mow (and have an open checkbook), I would get one of these!:

Zero Turn Mowers With Tracks | Altoz

The world's first and most superior zero turn lawn mower with tracks from Altoz. Take on any angle, any terrain, any obstacle and get results.

altoz.com

Absolutely AMAZING on slopes and ditches, and definitely good on high grasses.

I "regularly" mow something we call a lawn - it was laid with sod in 1997, and all that ever happens to it is it get cut (mulching blades) and chickens/ducks/geese poop on it. It's still green and IMO looks good but will win no prizes though I can still play croquet on it. It gets mowed maybe once a week. Other mowing is doing some fix-up in a couple spots we sort of care about where the big tractor just misses because of maneuverability, but those are just mowed so it doesn't look wild... and only once the growing stops and everything's dried. I may mow the little orchard here or there...

so definitely no "open checkbook" for a mower! but as a machine aficionado that looks pretty awesome. maybe after i win the lottery i don't play?