Realistic finish mower size - GC1715

[atsah]

He is looking at a used 5ft..

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/411869-used-landpride-finish-mower-price.html

 

[thefisherman]

We are full of many things -- certainly advice !

My opinion is that you should go with the 60" belly mower. You did not say how much area you mow on a regular basis (which is a big factor I think.)

I have a 72" finish mower and 2 other machines with 60" belly mowers, all with roughly the same size and horsepower as you are about to buy. I do not recommend the 72" finish mower for your size tractor unless you have a terrific amount of open, fairly flat area to mow on a regular basis. Other reasons too. That finish mower out there behind you is a VERY unwieldy/cumbersome nuisance much of the time and offers no advantage over the belly mower in any way as far as cut quality. Takes up storage space, involves craning your neck more, etc. My finish mower is a Landpride 72" which is heavy as He double LL and sucks considerably more power to run than the 60" belly mowers -- not just a little , a bunch. So much so that I moved it to a larger utility tractor for a few years and then just gave it a "very long-term loan" to another family member to get rid of it.

Not that you have to get as heavy a finish mower as my Landpride FDR2572 which weighs 718 lbs., half the weight of your tractor, but that is just not a good combo.

I think you are underpowered and light for a 72" finish mower.

Not that you CAN'T but more that YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Thanks for the detailed reply - as someone else mentioned I found a great deal on a 60" finish mower I hope to scoop up. At $1800 savings versus the new belly mower, I think it's a wise financial decision.

I have a zero turn for most of the detailed stuff in the main yard around the house, deck, chicken coop, etc. I'll be using the finish mower for about 1.5 acres of wide open yard with a small swale in the middle for runoff.

 

[jeepcj7]

It depends how you use it, I mow in low range and keep the lawn mowed low, the tractor tells you if you are taxing it, when I blow heavy snow with a 54 inch blower, it taxes it if I go to fast. The tractor tells you whats going on..

True - but if the tractor is telling you it is overloaded its already too late to avoid the excessive wear and tear.

 

[CADplans]

There are RFM's ,,, then there are RFM's,,, This one is the second type,,

I doubt the OP's tractor could lift this Woods PRD7200 if the loader is not on the front of the tractor.
We also have a Woods RD72,, his tractor could probably handle that mower,,
The RD72 is MUCH lighter,, we pull it with a JD 855,, it cuts perfectly,,,

 

[coldsteelva]

60-inch RD6000 is pretty much the max that a GC should be lifting without front-end ballast. I used the Woods for 1 season after I purchased my GC1720. On certain slopes, the tail wags the dog - Purchased the belly mower then next year. SAFETY > cost.