One more time..LP or FC finish mower?

GarageSmoker · Dec 4, 2002

Let me prefece this with discussion by saying I have a very honest dealer. I got a call yesterday and they told me they had double charged me for the disc and rake I bought back in August. Seems the wife failed to catch it thinking everything justs "costs a lot". Cool... an $1100 dolar refund coming...but wait! This is money already spent, right? Knowing I will need a finish mower next season, and thinking business may be slow right now I tell him to look around his yard for a 6' RFM to sell me. He called back and has 2: A Landpride and a Farm King.

The Landpride is the rear discharge 2572 which seems to be pretty heavy duty and comes with a 3 year warranty. The pricing is high (he is honest but not cheap) at $2034.

My mowing need is currently 5 acres but will expand to around 20 over time as I clear the rest of the land.

I have received a quote from Carver for a FC 6' mower which is a lot less than this Landpride.

I have read all of the discussion about FC and to say I am confused (about who makes their stuff, is there a warranty, wil they even be in business next year) would be an understatement. It does seem that the few people here who have got FC implements are very happy with them, though.

So.... should I spring for the extra cash to get the LP, or go with the FC?

Also.. the LP at my dealers has solid tires? I am inclined to have him order the air filled and swap them out if I get the LP. Good idea? He says they never sell the air tires here in Fl. He also said they have never ordered the front roller as well. I want that too. Good, bad or indifferent?

Anyone want to take a shot at these questions?

Thanks in advance;

GS

JohnMiller3 · Dec 4, 2002

...Anyone want to take a shot at these questions?...

To stretch the almighty dollar... remove all the labels, put on color blind glasses... and pay $999. for a 6' finish mower by KingKutter... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

hazmat · Dec 4, 2002

My mowing need is currently 5 acres but will expand to around 20 over time as I clear the rest of the land.

20 acres is a lot for a 6' finish mower. Do you plan on mowing every week? or more like every month? Have you given any thought to a bat-wing mower (don't know if your tractor is big enough)

I had a 15 series (light duty) landpride 5' mower for 2 months while I waited for my MMM to come in. It worked great. I have a first choice aerator (made by midwest) It works great.

I think the First choice finish mowers are made in italy maybee by caroni or sicma?

Bottom line, the land pride is a great unit. But $2K is a lot of money to spend for something that you may be outgrowing.

Edit here:

Just checked your profile, you've got a brush hog, how much of the 20 acres will be "pasture" and how much "finish lawn"?

GarageSmoker · Dec 4, 2002

Good question. 5 will definitely be grass. Once I get the other 15 cleared I see no reason not to convert it to grass either since the only additional work effort will be in seeding. Understand my definition of clearing it will be to disc it, blade it and rake it. They have too may uneven spots to leave it as is, and just keep bush hoggin it.

So you think upwards to 20 acres is too much for a 6' RFM? What the heck do commercial landscapers do?

GS

hazmat · Dec 4, 2002

So you think upwards to 20 acres is too much for a 6' RFM? What the heck do commercial landscapers do?

They get PAID to mow!

Here's a chart that shows acres per hour <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.exmark.com/productivity.htm>Exmark</A>

At 4MPH you'll do 2.3 acres per hour at 80% efficiency. That's 8.5 hours to mow 20 acres!

GarageSmoker · Dec 4, 2002

Time is not a real issue for me. I wil be retired by the time the other 15 are done and you have to have something to do to kill all that free time. Plus there is always the kids... let them earn a few of mom's meals.

What I was concerned with was the mowers ability to handle the task, not mine. Is this too much to ask of a 6' RFM for any sustained period of time?

GS

hazmat · Dec 4, 2002

What I was concerned with was the mowers ability to handle the task, not mine. Is this too much to ask of a 6' RFM for any sustained period of time?

The landpride 20 series should handle it no problem, don't have any experience with the first choice mower to offer an opinion either way.

Kodiak · Dec 4, 2002

Well I have a First Choice GM30-72, 6' rear discharge, 3pt finish mower, that I pull behind my New Holland TC29. And yes, I do commercial mowing. Including one 18 acre estate, with a number of trees. It takes a good 11 hours to do that place. And I do it once a week.

Landpride 2572 versus First Choice GM30-72, well they are almost an exact clone of each other. FC has steel belt guards versus LP's plastic guards. Guage wheel spindles look beefier on the FC. And the FC has the far superior powder coat paint which holds up a lot better, looks better and keeps wet grass from sticking much better. Other than those differences and a price tag that is roughly two thirds what the over priced LP sells for you would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

My advice is to definetly go with the pneaumatic guage wheels and also get the optional front roller.

GarageSmoker · Dec 5, 2002

Thanks Russ. This is exactly the information I was looking for.

GS

Inspector507 · Dec 5, 2002

You might want to check with Jim at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.midwestequipment.net/finish_mowers/series_30_finish_mower_specs.htm>Midwest</A>.
He is going to have finish mowers available soon, if not already.

Jerry