Help me come up with a mowing plan

[gamble77]

Well first of all that is not the best residential mower available in that price range...but secondly and even more importantly is the fact that something like that is not rated to cut three acres as you are hoping to do. They just are not designed to cut that much land and hold up over a period of time.

I would look at the Cub Cadet Z-Force machines. They are actually rated to cut that much land and will hold up. Cub is also offering a Z-Force with a fabricated 48" deck this year that will retail for $4,599.00. Either way to get a zero turn mower that is rated to cut that much grass you are going to spend 3.5K.

Now if you wanted a ridding mower you could get away spending about 2K...

 

[Spiffy]

If that's the same one Sears had last year, I liked the Z-Force [like Gamble77 just mentioned] much better.

If not for the exact combination of twice the area & probably more abuse than your initial requirements, and nearly 25% off [still cost about 25% more than the ZF50 though] a commercial machine with a few demo hours: I'd be able to give you a review of the Z-Force50.

A few other makes in that same class of machine seem to come up at TBN with pretty happy customers too; Hustler comes to mind, but no first hand here. All of them [in that price target] will have a lot in common and a few different trade-off's. Just have to play with a few and see what you like! Also, I think quite a few brands have their '06 financing offers out now.

Don't think that anyone's ever proven or disproven my theory, but numerically, it stands to reason that if a mower can cut a 1/3 of your mowing time, it should last 50% longer.

Have fun testing mowers! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="blue"> my 24 inch push mower quit. </font>
=========================
Better get it fixed or replaced before this happens to you.
L O L
=========================
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting
to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else
to take care of first -- the truck, the car, fishing, always something
more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily
snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short
time and then went into the house.

I was gone only a few minutes.

When I came out again, I handed her a toothbrush. "When you finish
cutting the grass," I said, "you might as well sweep the sidewalk."

The doctors say I will eventually walk again, but I will always have a
limp.

 

[fig]

LBrown59,

I will have to give you credit. That definately took guts on your part /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif! At least YOU can still walk /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!

Newton

 

[TwinWillows]

Something similar happened to us when we went from 1/2 acre to 30. We had been using a 20" push mower & thought a 48" garden tractor would work to maintain the 4 acres around the house/shop/barn/drive... WRONG! After about 2 months of just pure pain & agony resulting from the hours & hours it took to maintain the property we unloaded the GT & got a 60" Dixie Chopper ZTR. WOW it acutally makes mowing fun! So much so that my wife gets anoyed when I cut the grass. For mowing this much area I don't want to go back to the garden tractor ever! Of course there's a big jump in $ but sometimes you have to put family harmony above the $. My $0.02

 

[meledward23]

I suppose since you didnt mention it you dont consider this an option.

1) A Walk behind - Sulkie attached 60" or 72" Deck, Hydrostatic Drive, LESCO for the Cheapy brand or TORO for the machine. Main difference for a homeowner even with your acreage would be the quality of the cut (better than a cheapy tractor either way). Less than your 5,000 dollar ZTR but not much. Depending on the Deck size will cut a little faster, the same or just a tad slower. Depending on deck sizes, and the type of area, and your interest in standing. This is my personal favortie. I get spoiled sitting on the tractor, but running a sulkie at 6mph, can be fun. One last note, if you are starting to feel old this may not be the solution. But if you are young and energetic (state of mind) then this is good.

2) of course you could save about a grand off the above and go withh a belt drive. Good option if you dont have many slopes and lots of tight places.

3) ZTR would be my next choice. A bit more expensive but worth it. Not all machines are created equal. As a homeowner probably the most important thing in my mind would be the deck design. Roller placement. Floating deck, vs fixed. Blade speed, and dont forget to look at the machine cut speed. ZTRs can range in speeds quite drastically from one company to the next. Some while cut very nicely at top end speed while others dont.

4) Mowing with the 50 HP Tractor ? I have a 55 New Holland Psuedo compact. I use it when my legs are tired. (Actually now that I have the 30 I might try mowing with it)

5) Cheapy garden tractors arent worth the effort for that acreage. Period. IMHO.

GOOD LUCK have fun, and if all else fails, get your wife some garden shears instead of scissors!!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JDPN]

spend a 1000 bucks on a late 80's early 90's simplicity. we have a 1988 3120 i think, that we bought for 1000 6 years ago and it has a 16 hp B& S with 42 inch deck. very strong machine, it can power through and cut very thick grass and weeds over 18 inches tall. we use it on over 4 acres in the woods.

 

[andrewj]

That behavior seems self destructive, and reeks of self loathing, and perhaps results from some sort of deathwish. That woman knows where you sleep, and for God's sake, she prepares your food.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> my 24 inch push mower quit. </font>
=========================
Better get it fixed or replaced before this happens to you.
L O L
=========================
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting
to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else
to take care of first -- the truck, the car, fishing, always something
more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily
snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short
time and then went into the house.

I was gone only a few minutes.

When I came out again, I handed her a toothbrush. "When you finish
cutting the grass," I said, "you might as well sweep the sidewalk."

The doctors say I will eventually walk again, but I will always have a
limp.


)</font>