3-4 Acre mowing solution

[sbohan]

OK, after successfully killing both the craftsman pro and mtd, I'm looking for a mowing solution for around the house and two corrals which is about 3-4 acres. they're bahia grass which grows well even in low water, but needs cutting about every 5 days in the summer. Considering....

GR2010 - 48" maybe a little slow and narrow? found a good deal. the diesel I can get a 54" but is like $2K more.

Z series - pretty fast and wider if you step up to the 227, but over $2K more though can finance 2 yrs longer so pymt is lower than 2010 but for two more years-LOL; but singular in purpose, just mows.

BX1860 - about $4k more can do more things, speed in the middle, can finance longer so pymt would be about the same monthly as the 2010; can add other items later - not sure on handling on a lawn around the house and fences though.

was told F series really too much for this application....

Thoughts? Advice? Hints?
Thanks in advance.

 

[lutt]

This is the same thing I went thru several yrs ago. The zero turn mowers will mow circles around any tractor. But like you say they are good for one thing. I have alot of small acerage, my rent house has 4 acres, my mothers is a acre, we mow 5 out of 16 acres at my residence, and 3 acres at my family cemetary. I went with a zg 20 in 2007. It has 400 hrs of trouble free service starting the mowing season this year. Just maintence and blades. So now I am looking at a bx25 for the tractor end. But I couldnt buy both at the same time.

 

[radioman]

If you went with the BX, get the 60 inch deck, you wont regret it. After hearing words likee corral- I'd say make sure you get the FEL as well. You wil lwonder how you ever lived without. You will find more uses for the tractor then you ever realized.

 

[Will_C]

Nothing like a Z for mowing, but do you have other uses? If you do, that BX will be well worth it for you. I mowed a 2.5 acre property and a 3 acre property for 8 years with a BX, and it was a fine machine. I bought a Z in 2008, and a B2620 in 2009, so I have the best of both worlds-but if could only have one machine, it would be a BX!

Will

 

[timswi]

I cut a couple of acres with a BX23....Takes around an hour with a 54" mower.

As others have said, an FEL is the best part of the BX...If you currently use a dumpcart or wheelbarrow, you'll wonder what and why you did this if you go with a BX with FEL....

I'd love to have a Z but I have too many things with engines now. Don't want to add another just to cut grass, and that's all you can do with a Z.

Shop around and get what is most suitable for your needs. Good luck.

 

[sbohan]

Guess i should note. I have a L3700 with FEL, and BH, I don't wanna use it around the house as the hog is too rough a cut and don't wana driv eover the old concrete septic tanks.

 

[Bigkrank]

Pick up a good used ZD.

 

[zzvyb6]

JD F-935 diesel, 6' mower deck, really fast ground speed, low fuel consumption, hydro.

 

[jinman]

If you are willing to accept a few scratches and a few hours on the mower, craigslist is a great source for finding good Kubota, John Deere, and other premium mowers for a price reduction of 1/3 to 1/2 or more. If you can swing a cash deal and are willing to give up the new shine and smell, you can find a great long-lasting machine on craigslist if you are patient and willing to look and haggle a bit.

 

[sbohan]

Yeah, been doin cragslist for months now, only found like new prices or old beat up dogs.

Well if Kubota will finance a second machine, I think I'm going for the Z. F is just too much $ for what I'm gonna use it for and if I did GT I think I'd end up with a mower behind the 3700 anyways for the corrals. That and less time wasted changing the attachments on the 3700. The BX seems great but can't justify a second FEL, and I think the Z will run circles around it for mowing. Looks like it's the 60" Z!

Keep the cash for the old house which had been abandoned and I'm trying to get livable.

 

[lutt]

I think you will be happy with your choice, I would like a 60",but with cemetary mowing,there is places that a 60" deck would be a real tight fit. There is a few places the 48" is,lol. I have never run a F, but I think they would be slower than a comparable Z. Lutt

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

Guess i should note. I have a L3700 with FEL, and BH, I don't wanna use it around the house as the hog is too rough a cut and don't wana driv eover the old concrete septic tanks.

Then you need a Z. My mower would cut that in a couple hours, but you should get a 60". Dunno what you have around you but the when I buy my 60" in a couple years I'm going to look pretty hard at Ferris. Those springs look cool and hopefully they work!

 

[mcrimm]

I bought a ZG222 w/48" stamped deck 2 years ago to mow 2+ acres of very nice turf. I have at least 20 trees in the yard as well. This mower rocks........... Takes me about 75 minutes and I crank up the tunes on my ipod with noise cancelling headphones. I took a 48 month, zero percent loan and I couldn't be happier.

I wasted my money and time with 3 JD mowers - not zero turn. Never, never again will I own anything from this company. The last mower, at about 4500 bucks was total junk compared to my kubota.

I love the speed, smooth cut, ease of maintainability, stripping ability, precision steering.......I guess I'm out of accolades .............

I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

Good luck
Mike

 

[KJINTF]

Just test drove and purchased a NEW ZD326 w/60" deck
Love it!!!!!!
You can not go wrong with this machine

 

[gregkabob]

KJINTF, I bought the ZD326 with the 60" deck last fall. Wow what a monster of a mower. I just love it and it's so fast. I've cut my mowing time in half. The suction on the deck in unbelievable. Just don't get to close to anything loose, (like a tarp laying on the ground) or it will get sucked right in. Yep, did it.

I can't recommend the Kubota enough. An awsome mowing machine.

 

[KJINTF]

It's being delivered next Tuesday
Can't wait!
Too bad there is still snow on the ground

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I think you will be happy with your choice, I would like a 60",but with cemetary mowing,there is places that a 60" deck would be a real tight fit. There is a few places the 48" is,lol. I have never run a F, but I think they would be slower than a comparable Z. Lutt

I have two F's. One 4wd for home hillside and one 2wd for rental property. They are expensive but if mowing can be fun, they are fun and fast.
As far as speed, Kubota technical data shows the F to be faster as far as top speed but I doubt anyone could run maximum speed on either Z or F on other than a paved parking lot.
To me the money and coordination or lack thereof (levers vs steering wheel) will be the determining factor between Z and F on level ground. Steep hills then the 4wd F is the undisputed winner between the Z and F.

 

[marks146]

Pick up a good used ZD.

+1 :thumbsup:

 

[rankrank1]

...Keep the cash for the old house which had been abandoned and I'm trying to get livable...

Then I would simply use your L3700 that you already have with a rotary cutter (aka bushog) with the blades good and sharp. Granted it will not leave as good as a cut as a finish mower, but it would be acceptable enough for a house that I was not living in yet - assuming you keep it cut regularly like you are currently doing. (use a push mower to trim and to mow over the septic tank area). Best part is you will not have to mow every 5 days you could switch to every 7-10 days or so.

This would save you the most cash (and time spent mowing) to invest both into the house to get it livable sooner. Once the house is done then look into buying that extra mower for the ideal manicured lawn.

 

[lutt]

I have two F's. One 4wd for home hillside and one 2wd for rental property. They are expensive but if mowing can be fun, they are fun and fast.
As far as speed, Kubota technical data shows the F to be faster as far as top speed but I doubt anyone could run maximum speed on either Z or F on other than a paved parking lot.
To me the money and coordination or lack thereof (levers vs steering wheel) will be the determining factor between Z and F on level ground. Steep hills then the 4wd F is the undisputed winner between the Z and F.

I wandered about those, I never have been around them, always wanted to try one though. Top speed on my zg20 is 11 mph according to the book, my gps shows in between there and 10 fairly consistently. A Kubota zg is pretty stable on the hills, I can vouch for that personally, they are wide across the rear. I live in the hills myself. I mow a pretty steep ditch, I have to mow with the flow of the ditch, with rops up and seatbelt on:thumbsup:, and when she gets tippy, they are like a duel wheeled tractor, it will slide instead of rolling. Also for the f the steering wheel would be nice LUTT