Riding Mower - Lawn Tractor for Big Guy?

[BigGuy]

Hi Guys,
thanks for the replies!
My local dealer will let me take a demo Exmark ZT home this week so I can check it out on my terrain. I am just waiting for the ground to dry out a bit more, we had a good rain over the weekend.
Good idea with modifying the seat, I have done that on my DK45 Kioti tractor. Added a steel frame under the seat to move it up about 2 1/2" and back about 3". Makes all the difference.
Of course, my "better third" now has a tough time on that tractor, even with the seat all the way forward she cannot lean against the backrest and touch the pedals at the same time! Needless to say we keep her seat time to a bare minimum.
BigGuy

 

[handirifle]

By the time you spend 3K on a garden tractor, you'll have half the money needed for a used BX. My 3 acres gets absolutely soggy until about June, so a BX would be stuck up tp the axles, but if that's not the case for you, it will out perform and out last ALL the riding mowers out there. Get a BX with power steering (if available) and a belly mower. On top of that, you'll have a real tractor, if you decide you need more than just a mower. The rear PTO and the 3pt hitch will really help. Just think how easy it will be when it comes time to till the garden.....

 

[jenkinsph]

By the time you spend 3K on a garden tractor, you'll have half the money needed for a used BX. My 3 acres gets absolutely soggy until about June, so a BX would be stuck up tp the axles, but if that's not the case for you, it will out perform and out last ALL the riding mowers out there. Get a BX with power steering (if available) and a belly mower. On top of that, you'll have a real tractor, if you decide you need more than just a mower. The rear PTO and the 3pt hitch will really help. Just think how easy it will be when it comes time to till the garden.....

The OP has a tractor and is looking for a mower. Seems that a lot of people always assume it is better to compromise the mower by trying to make it a tractor. Much better to have the correct mower for your own conditions and a separate larger tractor (or two) for the bigger jobs.

I use the X749 as a touch up tool with the 3ph and 540 pto working on lawns and find this size machine to be very handy but it and a BX make very poor tractors, neither is large enough to take on large tasks. For that you need a 40hp and larger tractor.

For most people a 1000lb riding mower and a 5000lb tractor is a better arrangement. This allows you to mow the lawn without damage and do some light ground engagement with the heavier tractor without so much compromise.

 

[BigGuy]

The OP has a tractor and is looking for a mower. Seems that a lot of people always assume it is better to compromise the mower by trying to make it a tractor. Much better to have the correct mower for your own conditions and a separate larger tractor (or two) for the bigger jobs.

I use the X749 as a touch up tool with the 3ph and 540 pto working on lawns and find this size machine to be very handy but it and a BX make very poor tractors, neither is large enough to take on large tasks. For that you need a 40hp and larger tractor.

For most people a 1000lb riding mower and a 5000lb tractor is a better arrangement. This allows you to mow the lawn without damage and do some light ground engagement with the heavier tractor without so much compromise.

You are correct, I have about 1/4 - 1/2 acre lawn around the house which I'd like to keep looking nice. The rest is more "grass/pasture/weeds" which looks ok when mowed, but I am not going for the manicured look here.
I can't use the Kioti around the house (way too heavy and not enough room to maneuver). I have been using the Kioti in my little apple orchard and along the driveway but again, the weight of the tractor (plus my weight ) and the fact that I only have a brush hog and not a finish mower is not ideal. I am using the tractor for other work but I'd like to get a mower just to keep the grass down, without compacting the soil too much.
I appreciate all the input and I'll post after I had a chance to test a zero turn.
By the way, how do you guys feel about Bob-Cat zero turns as compared to Exmark? These are the two main brands my dealer has and the Bob-Cat offers a 5 year warranty!

 

[BigGuy]

And before I forget, I have been looking at a CUT or SCUT (Massey GC2400 with belly mower) and while this machine is built much heavier than the Kubota GT, the maneuverability is that of a small tractor and not that of a zero turn.
I really hope the ZT will work for me and if I can mow on my hilly terrain, I feel this would be the best choice.

 

[jenkinsph]

Don't know if a zero turn will work for you but the 4 wheel steer works well for me and with 4x4 it is great on the slopes too.

 

[ae_ted]

after going to a ztr, i never ever want to go to a tractor type mower. I run a Kubota ZD21 60" now and that is great. for large hills consider demoing a grasshopper front mount and i think you will be pleased and that it will fit you.

 

[BigGuy]

I am going ot look at the Woods front mount FZ and FE series today - anybody have any experience with them?

 

[Carl_NH]

BigGuy,

I am 6'4 so like room too, and have had a Cub Cadet 1811 for 20 yrs which I moved the seat back 2".

Same last year when I got a Ferris IS 2000 ZTR. Moved it back 2.5" and raised the front 1/2" and now its very comfortable for long legs. Also on the Ferris, you can reverse the foot pedal for the deck height adjsutment. Then other machines like Kubota have hydraulic lift and a neat lift to change the blades.

On the ZTR topic I have several areas 10-15* slope and never feel uncomfortable on the ZTR - it has a low center of gravity and doesn't slip/slide.

On brands, Exmark is a known brand, along with Scag, Ferris, Hustler etc. I dont know the Bob-Cat ZTR but they are likely made by one of the major brands?

The other thing is the seat, get a "deluxe" high back, or a suspension seat with a ZTR - the dealer can easily swap out a seat for a better one.

The front mount mowers - Kubota, John Deere, Woods tend to be longer, larger than the ZTR but have benefits - some have 4WD, and since the deck is front mounted can get under trees and such. They also have multiple attachments possible other than a mower if that's a consideration. They do tend to be more $$$ than a ZTR tho..

 

[jimmyj]

My neighbor bought one of these and he loves it. It's very heavy duty and I fit on it pretty good (I'm 6'3" and 225 so you've got me beat).

Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower, Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Tractor