Looking to buy, suggestions wanted

[mwood]

If all you are doing is mowing, I would strongly suggest the ZTR route as well. They can be pricy, but they sure do cut down on mowing time and are fun to drive.

The top units around here seem to be Scag. (They are sold at a local JD dealership). I think it will run you close to $7000 but should last forever as it is commercial quality. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

There are also many less expensive ZTR options out there, but as others have mentioned here, lowest upfront price may not be cheapest in the long run.

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

An additional question. Finish mow or field mow? For finish get the ZTR. For field an 8N with a hog will work.

 

[seths]

Time to answer a few questions:
Currently we have a Bolens 17HP 42"
Looking for a finish mow, not a field mow, (they are both yards as opposed to fields)
We will both be splitting the cost 2/3 to 1/3 since we have 4 acres and they have 2, seems only fair.
I was hoping to stay under $5000 but product reliability and quality could very well cause me to go over that (willingly)
I would like to cut the 4 acres in around 2 hours, if possible which would cut the current time roughly in half.

Again I am open to hear arguments for why I should spend up to $7000 for a mower, but really if there is something that costs less and does what I want, it would be ideal.

 

[Soundguy]

You can pay from 3500 to 7k and up for a zt.. just depends on the size and quality. You can get into used tractors and chineese tractors in that range as well. Unless you are wrenchy.. I wouldn't suggest either of the latter two options.

If only mowing.. and NEVER doing anything else.. I guess a non-comercial ztr would do ya.

Soundguy

 

[DiskDoctr]

Seths,

I love tractors, everyone should have one...or two...or three.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

That being said, it looks like I'd have to agree with the ZTR recommendation.

Case in point: At my last place, the grass grew very fast and I worked long days at my real job. This meant that when I got home, I was either tired or it was late. It rains on many weekends, and on days I did go out to mow, about 1.5 acres were shaded from about 1pm on. This makes grass slightly damp.

I had a 20hp 48" riding mower. Wound out, it would still bog down or leave so much cut grass it looked like I was making hay /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif The mulching kit helped the cutting, but had to be very dry. I bought a lawn rake, but had to keep emptying the bag while raking- and this was a 42" rake...

Long story shortened... I hired a company to cut my grass (I was ill for a long period) and they showed up with 2 ZTRs and a weedeater. They cut ALL 2 acres and trimmed the house and landscaping (3 people total) in about 20 mins!

They must've been mowing at 10-12mph (guessing, but it was about as fast as my little garden tractor would drive wide open). Didn't matter if the grass was damp or even wet one day.

Granted, there were three of them and two mowers, but that would still make it about 1.5hrs for you, figure 2hrs because you'll mow around stuff.

ZTRs turn on a dime (hence the name /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). Makes cutting around trees, landscape, houses, etc easy.

They mow fast, clean, and are easy to transport with a smaller trailer.

I bought the tractor for here because we are doing landscaping and other farming related activities, otherwise I'd be using a ZTR.

Don't go cheap on a ZTR, there are major differences between the cheap ones and the commercial versions. I'd say between $5k and $7k depending upon what you want.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

-JC