Snow Equipment Owning/Operating snow plows for zero turn mowers.

[Sawyer Rob]

Grasshopper sells a plow, sno-blower and even a rotary brush for their front mount mowers... I've used my blower in 18" of snow and it just eats the snow and keeps on going...

My drive is gravel...

SR

 

[tcartwri]

Front Mount machines are no problem, in fact it is a very common setup.

My zero turn won't even move itself on snow and ice never mind push a blade and it's a tank.

 

[AxleHub]

When you see a GrassHopper front mount unit in person . . . its hard to imagine it as a ztr because

a. You sit on top of the drive wheels.

b. The support wheels are behind you . . Not in front of you.

This is not what most people think of ztr units. Whether its mower deck in summer or snowblower in winter . . the unit is designed well for hills and slopes and steering control. Its wide stance is also a benefit. The normal ztr has the weight in back and the drive wheels in back and steering is typically in back.

Grasshoppers also allow you to be able to see very well because you can look down rather than "over" the snowblower.

And for clearing typical width sidewalks, its hard to imagine a better machine for that purpose.

 

[LD1]

ZTR's actually do quite well but only if it is a flat drive. They dont do well on hills. And better tires help, and/or chains. Something like AT101 tires.

The Landscape company I work for in the winter plowing uses ZTR's with the rotary brushes to plow. They use them on sidewalks and at alot of the factory lots doing in front of the dock doors between trailers where a truck plow and back dragging suck.

 

[LD1]

ZTR's actually do quite well but only if it is a flat drive. They dont do well on hills. And better tires help, and/or chains. Something like AT101 tires.

The Landscape company I work for in the winter plowing uses ZTR's with the rotary brushes to plow. They use them on sidewalks and at alot of the factory lots doing in front of the dock doors between trailers where a truck plow and back dragging suck.

 

[Ford850]

When you see a GrassHopper front mount unit in person . . . its hard to imagine it as a ztr because

a. You sit on top of the drive wheels.

b. The support wheels are behind you . . Not in front of you.

This is not what mist people think of ztr units. Whether its mower deck in summer or snowblower in winter . . the unit is designed well for hills and slopes and steering control. Its wide stance is also a benefit. The normal ztr has the weight in back and the drivevwheels in back and steering is typically in back.

Grasshoppers also allow you to be able to see very well because you can look down rather than "over" the snowblower.

And for clearing typical width sidewalks, its hard to imagine a better machine for that purpose.

And, because the drive wheels are centered (front to back) it is a true Zero Turn Radius machine. When you spin it, you and the drive wheels are at the center of the circle footprint, and the front wheels are tracking in the same circle as the back wheels. Most "ZTR" mowers aren't really zero turn.

 

[AxleHub]

Or there is yet another choice in a zero turn mower for winter purposes . . . But its not a ztr (zero turn rider).

Its a ztt (zero turn tractor). They look like a lawn tractor and have the stability on hills or attachments but behave like a zero turn.

Cub Cadet made a 42" 18 hp, a 46" 20 hp, and a 50" 25 hp units. The picture below is my I 1050. 25 hp zero turn tractor. Not shown is a very normal looking snowblower that attaches to it.

 

[LD1]

And, because the drive wheels are centered (front to back) it is a true Zero Turn Radius machine. When you spin it, you and the drive wheels are at the center of the circle footprint, and the front wheels are tracking in the same circle as the back wheels. Most "ZTR" mowers aren't really zero turn.

"True Zero Turn" doesnt always have to mean the drive wheels are centered and you are centered over them.

Placement of drive wheels, other wheels, and myself sitting on the machine is irrelevant.

what makes it a zero-turn is if it can complete "zero-turn". My scag Wildcat fits that bill. If what you are saying is true, that the drive wheels need be right in the middle and you need to be sitting over top of them, then are you saying that all the MFG's are calling them wrong?

 

[Ford850]

"True Zero Turn" doesnt always have to mean the drive wheels are centered and you are centered over them.

Placement of drive wheels, other wheels, and myself sitting on the machine is irrelevant.

what makes it a zero-turn is if it can complete "zero-turn". My scag Wildcat fits that bill. If what you are saying is true, that the drive wheels need be right in the middle and you need to be sitting over top of them, then are you saying that all the MFG's are calling them wrong?

The axles on all of them are zero turn. When you spin the machine, the drive wheels will spin in their own circle. I'm saying with a front mount the machine/mower is truly zero turn because it spins in it's own footprint. It really doesn't matter much though, since the front mounts are longer to begin with so that footprint is larger. But it is nice to zip 180 degrees and not get pulled from the seat on a front mount. Some mid mounts are better than others, depending where that seat is located. Some are pretty close to the same position as a front mount's.