slower & wider or faster and narrower

jjj0923 · Apr 24, 2006

I have a budget of $6,000 for a zero turn mower.

there are two dealers in my area.

One wants to sell me a Hustler Fasttrak with a 52 inch deck and a 20 hp honda engine, but it only goes 7 mph. My yard is about .8 acres and flat! Price is $4,800 which is tempting.

Another local dealer wants to sell me a Scag Tiger Cub with a 48" deck and a 19 hp Kawasaki engine, but it goes 10 mph and the price is $6,000

In looking at the two; the Scag seems to be a much better built unit and I don't mind spending another $1,200 for it.

I can also get an Exmark Laser CT in 48" for $5,500, 52" for $6,100 or 60" fpr $6,500 - it goes 7.5 mph

what do you folks think?

or is there another brand I should be considering in the under $6k price range? (I have ruled out Cab Cadet's)

thanks in advance....

I did some math comparing the two.
The Hustler Fattrak can cover 364 inches at top speed (7 X 52)

The Scag can cover 480 inches at top speed (10 x 48)

Therefore at full speed the Scag can cut 20% more acreage in the same amount of time.

rdln · Apr 24, 2006

My advice is not to compare mowers only by this spec. The 60" mower with 23hp will not give as good of a cut as the 52" 23hp AT WOT, throw in taller grass and the narrower mower is the better.
look at seat suspension, you can only cut as fast as your body can handle the bumps.

beenthere · Apr 24, 2006

I'd agree with rdln. Ground speed isn't going to be a good criteria to make the decision. It's good to be able to quickly move from one area to another, like on driveways, parking lots, and golfcart paths - but doubtful you will like either the ride or the mowing quality of the higher speed.
But you do as you want, as its' your $$ and comfort and lawn.
If you get the faster speed one, hopefully the tire size is larger in diameter to give a smoother ride.

My son was home one summer and wanted to mow with my new Deere 445. Thinking only of the rpm of the mower when he asked for pointers, I said run it wide open. I meant WOT, not with the pedal to the floor. I could see him darting hither and yon, as fast as the tractor would go. It looked uncomfortable to say the least. When he finished ( 8 acres in record time) he commented on how rough the yard was in places. We chuckled when figuring out what he understood as "run wide open" meant. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Nasty135 · Apr 24, 2006

jjj, The previous posters bring up the most important issue, ground speed and surface condition VS. your age and genetic condition (how much can you take!!) Your mowing speed probably will never top the 7mph barrier that the first mower is capable of...

Also you asked of another brand , Gravely has been a reliable name for years and they are offering a 21hp 48" cut that might fall inline with .8 acre, It is based on their commercial line, so if you have a dealer near by? You could check one out as well before you decide.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

gamble77 · Apr 24, 2006

Not sure why you have ruled out Cub Cadet but if you have a good Cub dealer in your area I woud look at the M48 Tank...think it to be a better machine than either the Scag or Toro you have mentioned. List on the M48 is $6,199.00. Good luck and keep us posted.

jjj0923 · Apr 24, 2006

( Not sure why you have ruled out Cub Cadet but if you have a good Cub dealer in your area I woud look at the M48 Tank...think it to be a better machine than either the Scag or Toro you have mentioned. List on the M48 is $6,199.00. Good luck and keep us posted. )

The Cub Cadet dealers in my area will not carry the Tank line at all. There are three Cub Dealer and none of them will sell a Tank - each one said they're tired of fixing them under warranty.

It was actually my first choice after reviewing all of them on the web - too bad I can't get my hands on one...

would you like to sell me one? can you save me a few $$$. I'm a 7 hour drive from you.

- jeff

jjj0923 · Apr 24, 2006

( jjj, The previous posters bring up the most important issue, ground speed and surface condition VS. your age and genetic condition (how much can you take!!) Your mowing speed probably will never top the 7mph barrier that the first mower is capable of...

Also you asked of another brand , Gravely has been a reliable name for years and they are offering a 21hp 48" cut that might fall inline with .8 acre, It is based on their commercial line, so if you have a dealer near by? You could check one out as well before you decide.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )

thanks for asking...

I am 53 years old and in perfect health. I run 5 miles every morning in less than 35 minutes and bicycle 45 miles three time a week and a breakneck pace. I compete in at least 3 Triathlons every year and I know what it feels like to be bounced around... having gotten tossed down the track at Dyatona International Speedway in the Daytona 200 at 130 mph when I used to race motorcycles. Being bounced around does not bother me - I rather enjoy the rough treatment.

ps: no Gravely dealers nearby and I'm not a fan of their styling anyway.

thanks for asking...

ps: I also said my yard was FLAT in my opening post and I meant it. It's flat. Last summer I borrowed a friend's Super Z ZT and was able to cut my lawn at nearly 12 mph (it's top speed except on the turns where I kept sliding the back end and tearing up the yard, but it sure was fun /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

moss2940 · Apr 24, 2006

I use a Fastrac 52" to mow 3 acres.
I think the 10 mph mowing speed will not make much difference unless your lot is extremely narrow and long.
I think which ever mower has the most overhang is going to save you the most time on a lot that size. With a good overhang on one side of the deck you spend a lot less time weed eating, you will be able to get very close to any thing you normally use a weed eater on.
I went from a ztr with no overhang to one with 8" overhang and I was amazed at how much less time I spend using the weedeater to trim edges.

Spiffy · Apr 24, 2006

I don't think you'll be mowing over 7mph either. Moss2940 also brings up a good point about overhang; I wish I had more.

That said, the hydros and bearings would entice me to go with the TigerCub over the Fastrak.

Unless they were selling mostly the M50 or the Z-Wing, CC's two new Tank additions last year; I can't see where your dealers say Tanks are too new (though in the litteral sense of age, the likes of SCAG and Grasshopper have ZTR histories only a handful of others can even be mentioned with).

Spiffy · Apr 24, 2006

I just read your edit, about your flat lawn. Maybe you can utilize the 10mph; a great excuse to go with the true commercial machines (though the same reason probably dictates your frame and deck won't be needing the "abuse handling" ussually built into commercial machines). /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

On second thought, you like going fast being bounced around.....yep..... TRUE commerical frame, deck and drives would be requiredl. I'd say the SCAG fits the bill! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif