Questions about lawnmower options

[WM75Guy]

I started with a Cub Cadet RZT50 with the 22HP B&S that I bought it at TSC. It was OK in the yard but not heavy duty or a smooth enough ride to mow rough areas. It also bogged down if the grass was wet or too tall. Sold it off and bought the ZD1211 diesel, which I can use like a small rotary cutter. Spent 3 hours on it yesterday.

If you are buying from a big box store, see who does their warranty work. That could be the difference for me.

 

[jyoutz]

I started with a Cub Cadet RZT50 with the 22HP B&S that I bought it at TSC. It was OK in the yard but not heavy duty or a smooth enough ride to mow rough areas. It also bogged down if the grass was wet or too tall. Sold it off and bought the ZD1211 diesel, which I can use like a small rotary cutter. Spent 3 hours on it yesterday.

If you are buying from a big box store, see who does their warranty work. That could be the difference for me.

We have a local power equipment repair shop that does warranty work for most of the major companies.

 

[jyoutz]

Well I pulled the trigger today and bought a Stihl RZ152 zero turn mower and my first impressions after testing it on about a half acre of native grass is very positive. These are new for 2023, but not new technology, just new with a Stihl badge. They are made by Ferris and have the 4 wheel shocks and suspension and serviceable hydro transmissions. After mowing some rough ground, my back really appreciated the suspension system. The deciding factors for me were the suspension system and serviceability, and the fact that the local Stihl dealer I bought it from does full warranty service and stocks parts. I think I’m going to like this machine.

 

[1Mech]

Unless you are going with a wide cutting swath like 60", what is the advantage of a zero turn over a garden tractor type mower. I know the zero turn has a substantial price premium. What can you do with a ZT that I can't do with the garden tractor of equal size cutting width? My little brother has used a Grasshopper for quite a few years west of Wichita and really likes it on his 5 acres. I see neighbors using them on city lots, I think it is just their big boy toy, am I wrong?
Gathering opinions, as I will be needing to get something for my new acreage.

 

[RjCorazza]

Unless you are going with a wide cutting swath like 60", what is the advantage of a zero turn over a garden tractor type mower. I know the zero turn has a substantial price premium. What can you do with a ZT that I can't do with the garden tractor of equal size cutting width? My little brother has used a Grasshopper for quite a few years west of Wichita and really likes it on his 5 acres. I see neighbors using them on city lots, I think it is just their big boy toy, am I wrong?
Gathering opinions, as I will be needing to get something for my new acreage.

Deck size, ground speed, maneuverability, and efficiency are the basic factors involved. A zero turn generally has a higher ground speed than a garden tractor, and will cut circles around an equivalent deck sized garden tractor. The maneuverability of the zero turn adds to its efficiency, with less time spent in turns and direction changes.

The difference boils down to acres per hour. A garden tractor can cut just as well as a zero turn, just not in nearly the same time.

My retirement gig is mowing about 30 acres per week across 18 rural properties on a 72" commercial zero turn. No way I would cut that with a garden tractor. On smaller properties the waters get muddied. My subjective opinion is that a zero turn may not be as advantageous on say 1 acre or less, but would still cut mowing time.

 

[tradosaurus]

Depending how big a yard you are mowing will decide lawn tractor or zero turn. I personally would use a zero turn if cutting more than 1 acre.
When I moved out to the country I bought a 48" ZT and cut 3-4 acres. In about 4 months I traded that in on a 60" ZT and saved 45 minutes of mowing time.
I have the Toro Titan HD 20000 and my only regret was not getting the MyRide suspension.
Since it's not my money I recommend you get this one: Z Master 4000 MyRide

 

[2manyrocks]

The advantage of a zero turn is in the ability to navigate around obstacles and precise cutting that reduces trimming time. I had a 3/4 acre lot with a bunch of trees. Switching to a zero turn reduced my mowing time by half.

If someone is mowing an open soccer field, a zero turn doesn't have much advantage over a normal mower of the same cutting width and ground speed.