New home...is this safe enough for hydrostatic zero turn?

[Cub 7274]

Nice house

 

[Tollster]

I run my Exmark on worse inclines here at home, I imagine you'll want to do some hardscaping and perhaps a few trees eventually. Biggest thing with a Zero is to pay attention, many buzz along like its a race, then at the first sign of wet grass, they forget it wet and end up in trouble.

Run slow until you feel comfortable, then think before you mow, just like any other piece of equipment.

Oh... nice house!

 

[lilranch2001]

I will tell ya.....
I will put my eXmark Lazer Z up against any Bota Zero Turn

As far as I am concerned, for durability, you cannot beat mine.

Of course mine is 14 years old, I am not quite sure if they are as well built now as they were back then

I plan on mine outlasting me.

14 years mowing 7-12 acres (depending how much I help my neighbors mow), using it as a bush hog in some cases, and all I have done to it is tune it, change fluids, put one fuel filter in it the first year, and two mule belts.
And put a new set of blades on it every year.

Best 9 grand I have ever spent.

Only thing I would do differently, would have bought the upgraded seat

 

[ericher69]

First post on here and I sure you are sick of this question. I just bought a new home and it's just over a acre but is hilly. I really want a zero turn mower to save time. Here is the pic of the lawn. I went around and marked the hills degree with a digital leveler. The mower I want is a Cub Cadet RZT L42. Let me know what you think. I believe the mower says up to 15 degrees but could be wrong.

Enough with the lawn show us the house!

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[Sportsman762]

I would do what MoKelly suggested and have a dealer bring a mower out to test. I would also suggest going with a 50" + deck, the extra couple of inches really make the job quicker. However I would not change the tires on the mower out. The tires that have little S shaped treads on them are a great all around tire for a zero turn. If you get more aggressive tires then as a novice operator you will create a lot of little divots in the lawn from turning around. Most likely you will create some divots with any tire you have until you get the hang of counter rotating the tires when turning but with the stock tires it will be less noticeable. After 500 or so hours I would consider getting new tires if you feel the need, as zero turns are really hard on tires and the ones with a s tread seem to loose some effectiveness then.

If you are really concerned about mowing a hill then get a mower with a roll bar. However I do not think it is necessary for the angle of your lawn.

Before someone claims that you must have aggressive tires, I have always mowed with mowers equipped with non aggressive tires with angles around 30 degrees. I mowed about a half mile of Dike this way without any problems using a Toro 72" ZMaster. That was not a job for those unfamiliar with zero turns. Had I been the one buying the equipment I would have bought a Hustler ATZ for that job. Past 30 degrees I would just go for a ride down the hill and find an easy way up.

As far as Exmark vs Kubota vs another brand, it really does not matter as you will never get enough hours on the mower to find out what is better only mowing 1 acre.
I respect a person who wherewithal to hire someone to do a job but instead decides to do it them-self.

 

[Scooby074]

Zero turn should have no problems (once you have a bit of experience)

Id also consider something with heavier axles. Something like a kubota ZD would be ideal (if maybe a bit of overkill)

Also consider upgrading the tires to whats called "Barrs" if you have any moisture issues at all! Your lot is far from the worst, but you have to remember that on a zero turn, if your rears gum up you are just a passenger along for the ride because all steering and breaking happen with the rear wheels.

 

[eddime]

Bird, thank you for fixing my duplicate I appreciate it!:thumbsup: Also I never.....well...almost never mow when the grass is wet. I dont like the way the cut looks when its cut it wet. My last house I had a Cub Cadet LTX 1046 which I still have but I didnt have a roller on it, but I had one on my push mower. So over the past 3 summers I only put 10.5 hours on the Cub Cadet. I mowed about 2x a week with the push mower cause I love the stripe effect, and I liked the exercise(first picture is my old lawn). I am definitely going to get a Checkmate Striping kit for my next zero turn because this lawn is way to big for a push mower. :S

Murphy1244 & groundcover, some days when I get busy I kick myself for not hiring, but I take alot of pride in the way my lawn looks.

Tollster, I have used a big zero turn Grasshopper, my grandpa inlaw broke his shoulder and had to mow his 10 acres all summer so I am pretty used to it already.

Thank you for comment about house my wife and I have enjoyed its thus far (only been here a month).

ericher69 haha! I would post pics of house but A. I dont have any except those with the lawn currently(I could 2moro if you really want me too) and B. I dont want to bore everyone LOL! :laughing:

Sportsman762, I will keep tires for now. I am not concerned with the hills but I got that way talking to the guy a HomeDepot saying stay away from hills and then I researched alittle and came across alot of negativity about zero turns and hills....and I dont want to be that guy used in a story on why you shouldnt use zero turns on hill, so I figured I come on here and get some answers from some knowledgeable people where if any doubt I wouldnt do it.
I have heard alot about getting commercial or a more expensive mower from people but I cant do it, I would rather spend/invest that money elsewhere. If I lived on a farm or had quite a bit more of land then no doubt I would definitely buy a higher grade mower. I agree with you about not being on it enough hours to buy more expensive.

The last comment you made I see it the same way as you. I take alot of pride in my lawn and want it to look a certain way. Thank you. :thumbsup:

Scooby074, I will how the mower works and if I am having issues I will be back visiting here soon!

Oh and while we are at it I originally said I was going to get the Cub CadetRZT-L 50 in. 23 HP V-Twin Dual Hydrostatic Zero-Turn, but then I just found the new 2014 Craftmans that look pretty nice 2014 Craftsman 54 Inch Model 20417 Prosumer Zero Turn, or the 2014 Craftsman 54 Inch Model 20414 Zero Turn. From what I have read I have found they all seem somewhat equal unless anyone wants to give that 2 cent I would appreciate it.

Just want to say thanks again everyone for your input I really appreciate it!! I also want you to know how great of a forum you have going on here. I am used to going to alot of bodybuilding forums and people are so rude on there. Props to all of you!!!

Note: First picture is my old lawn using a push mower with a pull behind roller I bought. Second picture is view off of my deck.....for those of you who like to compete with you neighbor.....this is what I have to compete against haha!:laughing: I hope the Checkmate roller works well.

 

[Coyote machine]

I'd get something like what I bought with low hours, used: Scag Wildcat, 61" Velocity deck, with rear bagger. It has a 26HP Kawasaki air cooled engine, rollbar and turf tires, twin tanks and 3 blade deck. 200 hours used a number of years ago, and it went for $12K when sold new; I got it for $8. Made in America. Works like the champ it is. I'd also put organic fertilizer on that lawn all over and in a couple of years you'll have the best greenest lawn. I'd also cut it on the diagonal without a striper/roller. You can get stripped effect by cutting it properly without any rollers/kits, etc. Exmark are good mowers as are Toro ZTs and Cub Cadet and Dixie Choppers too. Craftsman? Homeowner grade IMHO, but if that's what you want, that's what you should get, being aware it will not likely last as long as a good quality used pro grade mower for the same or possibly less $. YMMV.