help me understand finish mower prices

[kossetx]

I need a new finish mower. I would like one as big as possible, Why are the larger ones so expensive? IMHO, going from 6 to 7 feet is not that much of an engineering feet, but the price sure will make you think so. Here is an example from TSC. These are rear DC finnish mowers.

TSC # PRODUCT PRICE SHOPPING LIST
2120547 5 FT $1,295.76
2120555 6 FT $1,432.14
2120563 7 FT $2,188.22

What makes a 7' 50% more than a 6' and 5' to 6' onlt 10% more? I guess if you have a little more of a tractor you must therefore be able to afford more cost.

I've also always wondered why a FM uses a heavier deck than a Rcutter. My rc does a whole lot more work than my rfm.

Why do they cost so much more? I like the way the rfm cuts so I would rather go with it. Just a sticker shock rant I guess. Any of you Texicans know of any better prices? TIA MP

 

[hazmat]

Often the 7 footers have 4 spindles & the associated complexity vs. the 5 & 6 footers which have only 3 spindles.

I'm sure they sell a lot more of hte 5 & 6 footers as well leading to economies of scale.

10% Jump from 5 - 6 is mostly extra steel. 50% Jump from 6-7 is extra steel + extra spindle, pulley, blade, bearings, and upcharge for lower sales volume.

 

[thcri]

Often the 7 footers have 4 spindles & the associated complexity vs. the 5 & 6 footers which have only 3 spindles.

I'm sure they sell a lot more of hte 5 & 6 footers as well leading to economies of scale.

10% Jump from 5 - 6 is mostly extra steel. 50% Jump from 6-7 is extra steel + extra spindle, pulley, blade, bearings, and upcharge for lower sales volume.

Ditto on the above with a hyphen on the fact they just sell so many more of the smaller ones. Freight costs are probably less also.

 

[have_blue]

Agree 100% with Hazmat. Also, compare the weights. Each foot of width makes the weight jump way up. If you price them by the pound, the 7 footers look a little better.

 

[kossetx]

I don't agree at all?

Lets take a woods mower.

72"

FM72A
Cutting Width 70-3/4"
Overall Width 72-3/8"
Overall Length 58-1/4"
Cutting Height Range 3/4" - 5-1/4"
Horsepower Required 22 Min.
Gearbox Rating 55 HP
Tractor PTO 540
Blade Tip Speed (FPM) 17,991
Blade Overlap 1-1/2"
Blades 3, Updraft
Blade Spindles 3, Greaseable From Top
Hitch CAT I, Floating
Deck Thickness 3/16"
Side Skirts 3/16" x 4-1/2"
Driveline Size Cat 3
Extended Floating Hitch Std.
Tires and Wheels 4, 3-1/4" x 10", Solid Rubber or Pneumatic
Weight (Approx.) 599 lbs.

84"

FM84A
Cutting Width 83-7/8"
Overall Width 86-13/16"
Overall Length 72-3/4"
Cutting Height Range 3/4" - 5"
Tractor PTO 540 RPM
Horsepower Required (Min.) 30 HP
Gearbox Rating 55 HP
Blade Tip Speed 18,583 FPM
Blade Overlap 2-1/8"
Blades 3, Updraft
Blade Spindles 3, Greaseable From Top
Hitch CAT I, Floating
Deck Thickness 3/16"
Side Skirts 3/16" x 4-3/4"
Driveline Size Cat 3
Tires and Wheel 4, 13 x 6.5 x 6, Pneumatic
Anti-Scalp Roller Std.
Weight (Approx.) 815 lbs

100"

FM100
Cutting Width 100"
Overall Width 102-5/8"
Overall Length 90"
Cutting Height Range 1" - 5-1/2"
Tractor PTO 540 RPM
Horsepower Required (Min.) 35 HP
Gearbox Rating 45 HP
Blade Tip Speed 16,700 FPM
Blade Overlap 2"
Blades 3, 3/8" x 3", Updraft
Blade Spindles 3, Greaseable From Top
Hitch CAT I-II, Floating
Deck Thickness 3/16"
Side Skirts 3/16" x 6"
Driveline Size Cat 4
Tires and Wheel 4, 13 x 6.5 x 6, Pneumatic
Anti-Scalp Roller Std.
Belt Drive Power Band.
Rear Discharge Std.
Weight (Approx.) 1,175 lbs.

All 3 spindels. I've never seen 4 on a finish mower that wasn't designed for a golf course. Between a 72 and 84 a 33% increase in weight. But in manufacturing costs it would not be that much more. At .50 per pound, about 100.00. 1.00/lb 200.00. Manufacturers run about .50/lb, retail 1.00. Shipping between 600 and 815lbs is not that much more either since BOTH require equipment to load and move and even the smallest of loading equipment will handle 800#.

It is like when compact trucks used to cost so much less than full size. The both had about the same amount of manufacturng steps, but the small trucks were much less in cost. They aren't any more.

 

[DK35vince]

I was looking to upgrade from a 6' to a 7' rear finish mower a year or so back and was also suprised by the price of the 7' mowers compared to the 6'.
These are some of the prices I received on 7' rear finish mowers. LandPride $2650 , Befco $2500, King Kutter $1975, Kioti $2400 and First Choice $1700. (all of the above had only 3 spindles by the way.)
I went with the First Choice GM35-84. It was by far the best bang for the $$ and appeared to me to be as heavy built and as well made as any of the other mowers I looked at.

 

[greg_g]

What all those Woods numbers don't show are production figures. This was touched upon briefly above, there are far far more 5 and 6 foot mowers made/sold than are 7 foot and above. I'll speculate that 5 and 6 footers outsell 7 footers by at least 100 to one. Consider then that larger production numbers typically mean lower per unit cost. If equal numbers of 7 footers was made, then you'd likely see a similar price increase from 6 to 7 feet that you now see between 5 and 6 feet.

And I second the motion on the GM35-84. Excellent value for the money.

//greg//

 

[Typhoon]

greg_ g said it.. supply and demand.

 

[Timber]

Buy a 54 inch zero steer, It will move faster and cut better + it will free up your tractor for other tasks. Dealers of finish cutters are cutting there own throats with these prices. A nice Lawn tractor or Zero steer cost the same or less and you have a dedicated tractor for cutting grass