Comparison Grasshopper vs Ferris vs John Deere vs Snapper

[palanzana]

Hello to all,

I'm undecided on the tractor to buy.
I have to mow 1 hectare of land with ups and downs, some holes, not quite homogeneous.

I would choose between these 4 models

Grasshopper 226v or 124 - no shock - fab deck - very massive chassis
Ferris is700z - shock
Deere z540r - stamp deck
Snapper ztx550 - fab deck


What do you recommend?
On the one hand I like the ferris for the suspension, but I seem to have understood that it is a brand too commercial and not up to the Grasshopper
:confused2::confused2:

 

[AxleHub]

Hello to all,

I'm undecided on the tractor to buy.
I have to mow 1 hectare of land with ups and downs, some holes, not quite homogeneous.

I would choose between these 4 models

Grasshopper 226v or 124 - no shock - fab deck - very massive chassis
Ferris is700z - shock
Deere z540r - stamp deck
Snapper ztx550 - fab deck


What do you recommend?
On the one hand I like the ferris for the suspension, but I seem to have understood that it is a brand too commercial and not up to the Grasshopper
:confused2::confused2:

I don't know how big a hectare is and amnot current on the grasshopper 221 or 226. But I can tell you the Grasshopper product line is some very desirable choices. The font mount deck units are edpecially apealing if you have slopws because the deck is out front and gives good baance to the unit. The dive wherls are centered and then their are back heels to hlp keeping the unit upright. This makes for great stability going up or diwn hills and makes for freat viewability because you are looking down at that yu are cutying.. These machines are also ecvellent units for snowblowing because again . . You are right there to see the area being cleared.


I don't know that what Ive saidhlps you soecifically, bu I knowpople hve bought new orused grasshopes and they get great satisfaction from using them daily. Easy maintenance and reluable for 1000s of hours and numetous attachments are avaiable too.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have the Ferris IS700 and am quite happy with it. For the money, I don't think you can beat this mower, it has the 3400 Hydro-gear transmission which is serviceable(it has oil filters and requires oil changes to keep contaminants contained). The suspension which is why I bought mine certainly smooths out the rough areas. I did look at a Grasshopper but the only smoothing of ride it had was the tires and a not so great seat. It did look substantially built but that only looked to contribute to a rougher ride. I am going on my third season on my Ferris and so far no problems.

As for stability, it can climb a 30+ degree slope with no indication of tipping and even a steep side slope is no problem for the Ferris to hold a straight line. After mowing my hilly yard a few times and determining that at no time was I going to tip or roll, I removed the ROPS because it was damaging my trees when mowing close to them, even with it lowered.
I do recommend that you get one with the Kawasaki engine (it does come with B&S and perhaps Kohler too). It is very good on fuel consumption. I can mow almost twice the acreage on the same fuel that my 26 HP B&S powered mower uses.

 

[davesl708]

I can't speak the new mowers but my Brother's 40 year old Grasshopper is still cutting and the front deck is easy to remove for maintenance or other attachments.

He has the 1822 model.

 

[big bubba]

my vote would be grasshopper given it's heavy duty fabrication and commercial grade quality. ferris if your ground is exceptionally rough. but it may come down to service dealers in your area...i'd visit them both for your take on future ease of serviceability of the mower you choose. good luck

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I do like my Grasshopper mower...

As for the ride quality, it depends on what model of GH and what seat it has on it... They offer more than one option, of both of these things...

My 725-D has a Grammer seat on it, it's hard to beat those for comfort...

SR

 

[murphy1244]

I like the Ventrac 4500 series but don't know if you can get it there.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I don't know how big a hectare is . . . .

It's roughly 2.5 acres.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I've got a Grasshopper front-mount and I love it.

However, the 226V is a mid-mount. It's a very strong, well built mower that should last for many years. BUT, here in the U.S. they are putting the Briggs Commercial Turf engine in that model, and I've not heard great things about that engine.

The Ferris IS700 also comes with the same Commercial Turf engine as standard, but can be had with the Vanguard engine, which is a MUCH higher quality engine. The suspension on the Ferris is really nice.

I think the Grasshopper and the Ferris outclass the others you listed. Given the choice between those two, here's how I'd rate them:

1. Ferris with the Vanguard engine.
2. Grasshopper with the Commercial Turf engine.
3. Ferris with the Commercial Turf engine.

In other words, you need to find out which engine each machine uses and then do some research on those engines. Your engine choices may be different than the ones we have here.

 

[Huskerfan]

Grasshopper 725D. Been mowing, blowing snow and collecting leaves with Grasshoppers for 20 years, they are amazing machines, especially with the Kubota diesel. Extremely durable and well engineered.
You won't regret owning one.

 

[palanzana]

Thank you all for the reply

are the machine frount-mount more difficult to drive?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thank you all for the reply

are the machine frount-mount more difficult to drive?

Absolutely not!

SR

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

No, they're not. The deck is out in front of you so it's easier to see what your cutting, especially when you're trimming next to a fence or going around a tree.

The front mount mowers are longer and the tail wheels stick out the back, so you have to remember that when you're turning next to a fence or building. If you turn too sharp you can swing those tail wheels into the fence or building. But you get used to it pretty quickly.

 

[AxleHub]

Thank you all for the reply

are the machine frount-mount more difficult to drive?

One of the things to note about a grasshoper front mount . . Especially if you get power lift . . . is hwyou can acess the blades for easy maintenance AND tilt the deck for trimming and tree/fence/culvert access for cutting.

But stability on slopes with a front mount is good. Deck is in front, rear trailing wheels are behind, and you and engine and drive wheels are all in the middle. Normal zero turns are drive wheels and rngine in rear. Grasshoppers combo gives you better leverage on slopes and spinn from center means easier on turf and better slope stability. And if you have a snow situation . . What a snowblowing machine. If you see a front mount with a snowblower attached . . you'll instantly see why.

 

[palanzana]

I saw that in the side slopes, the mid-mount tends to slide sideways

with the front-mount I have the same problem of slippage?

example Grasshopper 428-61R - YouTube

 

[woolyAcres]

example Grasshopper 428-61R - YouTube

Are these units built for the kind of mowing/brush cutting shown in that video?

I've got similar terrain, roughness, and brush I'd like to get cleaned up and mow a few times a year. It's under trees and on slopes so tractor with brush hog is difficult and slow. I've been watching for a ventrac or steiner with a rough cut mower, but if a zero-turn could handle this occasionally, they seem to be more available and that would be nice to know.

 

[AxleHub]

I saw that in the side slopes, the mid-mount tends to slide sideways

with the front-mount I have the same problem of slippage?

example Grasshopper 428-61R - YouTube

I watched the video you linked to showing a mid mount grasshopper attemoting to be a bush hog of branches and small tree stumps. That mower is not a front mount as I have discussed and that land is not a yard or lawn or even pasture. Its not even suitable for a rear finish mower.


A mid mount grasshopper is a world of geometry apart from a front mount grasshopper.. a front mount has the weigjt in the center and a mid mount has the weight in the rear. Its a world of difference

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The machine in the video is a 428D with the Kubota diesel engine. It's a great machine that probably costs $13,000 - $14,000 these days. I would be proud to own one, but I'd sure take better care of it than the guy in that video.

As AxleHub said, they are tough, dependable machines, but they are not designed to replace a brush hog. Mowing over large branches and small trees is abusive.

 

[palanzana]

the seller offered me a grasshopper mod. 620 frount-mount with 780h worked, are too many?

 

[AxleHub]

the seller offered me a grasshopper mod. 620 frount-mount with 780h worked, are too many?

In the world of Grasshopper . . Users talk in 1000s (with an S) of hours. Espevially in front mount units in lawn care businesses . . We're talking 3000 and 4000 hour benchmsrking . . .