Ferris Diesel Mowers

[ae_ted]

I agree with Dargo. The front deck is the only way to go. You can do things with a front deck that a mid deck can never do. The new grasshoppers with front deck are what i will go to when my 98 Woods quits...if ever. I have used both mid mount and front mount and the front mount will simply out mow the mid mount. the room on trailer is only disadvantage i can think of. Ground speed wise, the new 30hp grasshopper front deck is very fast. I wish my old woods was as fast. I have a RD72 woods finish mower for my MF1040 tractor and it is nice but when you really want to get-r-done..go with a good Z-row turn.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I've also been Comparing two other ZTRs with Diesel Engines;
The Dixie Chopper XCaliber and the Scag Turf Tiger 28hp CAT Diesel 72" Mower

I'm gonna have to try both of these and a Kubota ZTR
I myself like the looks of the Dixie Chopper and I've heard it's a really tough and productive mower. I also like the wide track as we sometimes mow on some good sized slopes so it looks like it'd be more stable

As for the Grasshopper, they are very very nice but they only time we'd want a Grasshopper is for doing other tasks with its many attachments. I'm not saying its more of an attachment carrier than a more. Plus we already have machines for that purpose. All we need is a mowing only machine.

 

[threeman]

One of the main selling points of the Ferris line is the suspension. It is superior for comfort to stiff/ridge type frame mowers.

If you dont believe go demo three brands side by side on the turf. There is no comparison. Not just by me but the other half actually said it first.

I have had major back surgery at L5S1, have bulge now at L4, and degenerative at L3. My lower back is screwed. I cannot cut on mowers that are ridged. They make my arthritis flare in minutes. The Ferris doesnt. Wifey actually said her ***** hurt on the other two machines not on the ferris.

As for diesels, I am sure if you need the power they are worth it. I believe they are CAT diesels too. Cant remember but did demo one at dealer, not at home with the three we did demo.


Only downside to zero turn mowers is the amount of dirt they throw out front. All of them do it, in dusty dry ground it will coat your butt, killer with alergies. I wish there was a way to over come that other than to hire a lawn boy...
Not knocking other mowers each will have their own brand they prefer just stating about the suspension since some have it in question. I did before buying. Had it for three seasons now without any problems. We are rough on equipment.

 

[Dargo]

Plus we already have machines for that purpose. All we need is a mowing only machine.

I'm sort of confused by that statement. The front mount mower is by far the most efficient mowing machine. The only reason you have mid mount mowers is because they are cheaper to produce and you can get more of them on a trailer. I owned a mowing service for a while. A mid mount mower has no, zero, zip, nada, advantages over a front mount mower when it comes to mowing. It sounds like the exact opposite of what you are saying. If you want a pure mowing machine, you want a front mount mower; period. Especially if you mow on slopes, there is no comparison between the stability of the two types. I just wrote it down, and I've owned 6 mid mount zero turn mowers. The only reason I bought them was as I was growing my business they all were cheaper than a pure front mount mowing machine. BTW, Grasshopper is certainly not the only company that makes high quality front mount mowing machines. After having thousands and thousands of hours put on zero turn mowers by me and my employees, we just preferred the Grasshoppers over any other. For a mid mount ZTR we preferred the Ferris by a pretty good margin over the others.

 

[Dargo]

Only downside to zero turn mowers is the amount of dirt they throw out front.

That's easily fixed. On all of our mowers we bolted a strip of rubber across the bottom of the leading edge of the deck. What I had was old used conveyor belt from a coal mine. With that front skirt installed you get zero blow out the front.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Yeah I confused myself there.
I've seem to have forgotten how nice and productive the Grasshopper is.
I'd actually rather have a Grasshopper Diesel that a mid mount. A few days ago I saw that new upgraded Grasshopper 725D with the 25hp Kubota MaxTorque Diesel. And boy that is a sweet machine! I think they made the right move replacing the 22hp Diesel with a 25hp. If you ask me, 22hp is a bit small if your running a 72" Front Mower at 11mph. The 25hp has the power for that. It had a suspension seat I think off a Walker Mower!
I really gotta Demo a Grasshopper 725D. Have you heard about the new 72" PowerFold mower, Dargo?

 

[Dargo]

Have you heard about the new 72" PowerFold mower, Dargo?

I've heard, but not seen. My closest Grasshopper dealer is also a Ferris dealer. I've bought 8 or 10 new zero turn radius mowers from him in the last 15 years. I just happen to prefer the front mount Grasshopper and elected to keep 2 of them for my personal use when I got out of the mowing business...well at least the mowing business that paid me to mow. I have plenty to mow myself. Knowing that, the Grasshopper dealer is doing anything he can to get me to buy something new. My older Grasshopper does have 1800 hours on it. Unfortunately for him it hasn't needed a single repair yet. Heck, it's still on it's original deck belt.

Still, to be fair, in my opinion almost all of the current commercial zero turn radius mowers are extremely tough and durable.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

What model Grasshoppers do you have now, Dargo?

 

[wallace]

I wouldn't sell or own a ZTR Cat diesel (small engine) machine.
You will never know what waiting is until you are broke down with a small Cat diesel.
Very seldom are you going to find a -lawn and garden dealer that is Cat certified so if they are not certified then they can't touch the motor (under warranty)
You will have to wait for the local Cat dealer to find time to send a tech out or fit it in the BIG shop.
Sorry but for me as a dealer I want to be able to take care of my customers even if I have to stay late to make sure they are taken care of.

 

[RollingsFarms]

do you have an Exmark dealer close by? 90% of the commercial mowing outfits you see around here are running those. the other 10% are running Toro, Dixie Chopper, SCAG, Kubota & Deere. someone I'm friends with who makes his living commercial mowing once told me if you ever want to tear up a yard, get a Dixie Chopper. he said they have the worst cut out of all the z-turns he's been around and the tires are h*ll on a lawn. speed is what they're best known for from what he told me. I don't see many diesel mowers around here, but the few I have seen were Deere and Kubota's.