The Winner Is.....eXmark
- Thread starter JimMorrissey
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frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
i could not even do that , drive around that is. my lawn is not exactly lawn smooth /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif how do the ztr's ride? any better or any worse than a GT
OP
JimMorrissey
Veteran Member
depends on speed....they really move along and I can get to a point where a kidney belt is needed. The speed is very easy to control and you get a better cut at slower speeds, so it's not a big deal. In your rough areas you just take her down a notch.
It seems with ZRTs you sit in front of the rear drive wheels so there is more of a pivit action than a GT, where you sit right on the rear axle and receive nearly 100% of the shock. That's another reason to look at the 480 Toro....it's heavier and will bounce you around less.
It seems with ZRTs you sit in front of the rear drive wheels so there is more of a pivit action than a GT, where you sit right on the rear axle and receive nearly 100% of the shock. That's another reason to look at the 480 Toro....it's heavier and will bounce you around less.
Spiffy
Veteran Member
I won't say worse than a GT [though others may], but I definitely won't say [mph for mph] the ride is better than a GT [also barring IS (no info here) or front mount machines (more expensive, though plenty of apps justify it even beyond the ride)].
Anyway even if your internal organs won't allow a gain in mph, I'd be very surprised if you don't cut substantial time. Even on nice "square" area's you'd be surprised how much mowing time you can waste with a GT.
Anyway even if your internal organs won't allow a gain in mph, I'd be very surprised if you don't cut substantial time. Even on nice "square" area's you'd be surprised how much mowing time you can waste with a GT.
Spiffy
Veteran Member
Actually, I just realized two reasons the ZTRs may get a bad rap for ride.
1 [the obvious and stated before] you have more control so will be able to travel the same area faster.
2 Dollar for dollar, I think the GT will often have larger tires.
Just get a commercial ZTR....Game Over: You Win! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
1 [the obvious and stated before] you have more control so will be able to travel the same area faster.
2 Dollar for dollar, I think the GT will often have larger tires.
Just get a commercial ZTR....Game Over: You Win! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Spiffy
Veteran Member
Oh Yeah, do gotta love a fab deck [excluding the few cheapos that are thinner and more shallow than most stamped ones].
Was at my mother's farm yesterday; she was all worried that she "...took a big chunk out of the deck..." when she hit the barn, so I went out to fix it.
"No, Mom, you didn't lose any metal...you gained concrete!" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I've also seen what she [and my wife, and yes, I plead guilty too] does to stamped decks....just not pretty!
Was at my mother's farm yesterday; she was all worried that she "...took a big chunk out of the deck..." when she hit the barn, so I went out to fix it.
"No, Mom, you didn't lose any metal...you gained concrete!" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I've also seen what she [and my wife, and yes, I plead guilty too] does to stamped decks....just not pretty!
OP
JimMorrissey
Veteran Member
Chad,
Yeah the commercial ones are heavier too (+- 1,000 lbs) and they don't thrash you around as much. They stay planted a bit better. The pivoting action evens it out some. It hard to substitue large wheels though.
I mentioned it before, but I think the seat positon in front of the main tires allows for more pivoting action on a ZRT. But the larger tires on a GT will roll over more irregularities.
Yeah the commercial ones are heavier too (+- 1,000 lbs) and they don't thrash you around as much. They stay planted a bit better. The pivoting action evens it out some. It hard to substitue large wheels though.
I mentioned it before, but I think the seat positon in front of the main tires allows for more pivoting action on a ZRT. But the larger tires on a GT will roll over more irregularities.
Noodlearm
Silver Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 230
- Location
- SE Michigan
- Tractor
- Kioti CK30, Cub Cadet LT 1050 lawn Tractor, Huskee GT Garden Tractor
Just a simple question for all of the ZTR owners/operators; Can any of these ZTR's handle a trail mower on the back of them as well for areas where I have real long straight-aways. I don't have much landscaping or hills or anyhting to go around so I currently use a Garden Tractor with a swisher trail mower and I can cut a 100" swath. I know i can travel faster in a ZT but not necessarily get the job done any faster if I am only cutting 60" as opposed to 100". Thanks for any advice in advance.
_RaT_
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2000
- Messages
- 5,813
- Location
- Peoples Republic of Northern CA.
- Tractor
- Kioti 3510-SE HST
Great comments and while I am not currently in the market for a ZTR, I have used one and found the comments here to ring true. They are so much faster and I guess it all focuses on their agility over the relatively awkward tractor with the rear mount mower. My place is pretty much all hills with only one trouble spot that I would really like to try a ZTR front deck on before I purchased one. I have to think not only of myself, but of anyone else who might mow with it. Thanks for all the great information. Rat...
Moon
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2002
- Messages
- 908
- Location
- SE Ohio, Meigs County
- Tractor
- Kubota L3010HST R4's, Scag Wildcat ZTR, 61
Yo Noodlearm,
I have a Scag Wildcat. It is rated for towing and has a place for a hitch ball, but I've never used it for towing. So, I guess it might be able to pull your swisher deck ....but I'd guess a tractor would pull it better.
The biggest advantage of a ZTR (IMHO) is the manuverability. If you were towing an extra mower deck, I'd guess the manuverability would go out the window. You'd have to make wider turns just like you do with your GT.
With a ZTR since you can turn on a dime, you can zip back and forth and keep the blades on grass that needs cut 90% of the time. This makes a huge difference. In my case, the 61" ZTR mows faster than my kubota with a 72" RFM. An hour faster for mowing 4 acres. I was sure surprised. A big part of this used to be a tomato field, and is slow going for the ZTR.
Another plus is that when you decide to add landscaping to that open field, a ZTR makes it so much easier to trim around stuff.
Hope this helps,
Moon of Ohio
I have a Scag Wildcat. It is rated for towing and has a place for a hitch ball, but I've never used it for towing. So, I guess it might be able to pull your swisher deck ....but I'd guess a tractor would pull it better.
The biggest advantage of a ZTR (IMHO) is the manuverability. If you were towing an extra mower deck, I'd guess the manuverability would go out the window. You'd have to make wider turns just like you do with your GT.
With a ZTR since you can turn on a dime, you can zip back and forth and keep the blades on grass that needs cut 90% of the time. This makes a huge difference. In my case, the 61" ZTR mows faster than my kubota with a 72" RFM. An hour faster for mowing 4 acres. I was sure surprised. A big part of this used to be a tomato field, and is slow going for the ZTR.
Another plus is that when you decide to add landscaping to that open field, a ZTR makes it so much easier to trim around stuff.
Hope this helps,
Moon of Ohio