jim pass
New member
I have 10 cleared acres to mow, Can I mow it with a zero turn or do I need a tractor with a finishing mower
Tractor or zero turn
- Thread starter jim pass
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Welcome to TBN. 
ENG18LT
Platinum Member
Zero turn will cut faster but costs a lot for something that only cuts grass. If you have other uses for a tractor I would say put the money you would be spending on a ZTM towards a tractor with rear finish mower, or even a large gang mower. The gang/reel mower would work well as long as you keep up with it and it's just grasses, nothing too heavy. Another benefit of the gang/reel mower is that it does not require any PTO use, may save on fuel cost. Of course if there are enough trees a ZTM would be the way to go, but I believe you said it was cleared. ZTM's are cool, but tractors rule!
smstonypoint
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I agree that the tractor/finish mower route gives you more versatility. I would add that ZTRs can present problems on sloping terrain, but are the cat's meow if you have many obstacles (e.g., trees, flower beds, etc.) and your terrain is suitable.
Steve
Steve
TripleR
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Our renters have a couple of commercial grade John Deere zero turn mowers and they will out mow any of our tractors, but I am sure they are pretty expensive.
ENG18LT
Platinum Member
I looked into a good ZTM last year and as I recall they were right around $7-10k. Ouch!
CAgnoli
Silver Member
I'm another vote for Tractor.
I had a John Deere 997d ZTM for a week from the dealer while I was making this very decision. 72" 7-Iron mower deck, awesome finish, mowed the grass like a fat kid eats cake, BUT I could barely walk the next day. The drawback is because they can go fast, you tend to go fast, and the suspension seats are fair and admittedly maybe better since I last tested one, but when push comes to shove, the versatility of a tractor trumps the ZTM in my opinion.
If you want to get it done in a hurry, add an 84 or 90" Rear Finish Mower to your new tractor....
I had a John Deere 997d ZTM for a week from the dealer while I was making this very decision. 72" 7-Iron mower deck, awesome finish, mowed the grass like a fat kid eats cake, BUT I could barely walk the next day. The drawback is because they can go fast, you tend to go fast, and the suspension seats are fair and admittedly maybe better since I last tested one, but when push comes to shove, the versatility of a tractor trumps the ZTM in my opinion.
If you want to get it done in a hurry, add an 84 or 90" Rear Finish Mower to your new tractor....
kensnelling
Elite Member
Welcome to the forum from Oklahoma. Ditto on what others have said. You should be able to find a good used diesel compact tractor and mower for less than a ZTM that will handle the job. For your mowing area anything less than a commercial grade ZTM with 60 or 72 inch cut shouldn't even be considered.
Ken
Ken
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
How short and how often do you want to cut ten acres? If you use the zero turn, then you need to be cutting it once a week or it will get too tall and you won't be able to cut it. If you want to cut once or twice a month, get the tractor. If you don't mind it getting a little thick or tall, go with the tractor. If you ground isn't nice and smooth, go with the tractor. If you are in a hurry and you can afford more HP, and then a bigger mower, go with the tractor.
Ten acres is quite a bit of land to mow. Especially if you want it t be manicured. I do a few acres with my zero turn, and it does an amazing job, but if I miss a week, then it's a nightmare to get through it again with the zero turn.
Eddie
Ten acres is quite a bit of land to mow. Especially if you want it t be manicured. I do a few acres with my zero turn, and it does an amazing job, but if I miss a week, then it's a nightmare to get through it again with the zero turn.
Eddie
kdm0811
Bronze Member
I have a BX24 and a 27 hp Toro 60" Z master. I mow 7 acres, 3 of which have significant slopes that my tractor could never negotiate. I would not consider mowing my (flat) horse pasture with the BX because it would take about twice as long and would bounce me to death.
When considering a ZTM, do not go undersize. A reduction in deck size, wheel size, or horsepower is something that you will always regret.
When considering a ZTM, do not go undersize. A reduction in deck size, wheel size, or horsepower is something that you will always regret.
edenfarms
New member
I agree with everyone's great advice.
A tractor will provide you with more versatility, but will add significant time to your mowing in comparison to a zero turn. In rough terrain the tractor is more comfortable, a zero turn will rattle you around unless the terrain is quite smooth.
A zero turn will cut your mowing time incredibly, however. I have about 40 acres of grass on my property. I mow about 12-15 acres of "lawn" with my Kubota Z331, 72" deck in about 4-5 hours. I mow the rest with my Kubota 7040 and a 10ft brush hog and it takes about 10 hours with the larger deck. The zero turn is awesome, I agree with buying the largest zero turn you can afford. My mower can easily mow 6-8" grass without bogging down even up hills (depending on the desired cut height), but I bought the heaviest duty mower I could afford. I bought a 2008 with 200hrs for 7500. The diesel is great on fuel comsumption - will save you a boat load over the years.
A tractor will provide you with more versatility, but will add significant time to your mowing in comparison to a zero turn. In rough terrain the tractor is more comfortable, a zero turn will rattle you around unless the terrain is quite smooth.
A zero turn will cut your mowing time incredibly, however. I have about 40 acres of grass on my property. I mow about 12-15 acres of "lawn" with my Kubota Z331, 72" deck in about 4-5 hours. I mow the rest with my Kubota 7040 and a 10ft brush hog and it takes about 10 hours with the larger deck. The zero turn is awesome, I agree with buying the largest zero turn you can afford. My mower can easily mow 6-8" grass without bogging down even up hills (depending on the desired cut height), but I bought the heaviest duty mower I could afford. I bought a 2008 with 200hrs for 7500. The diesel is great on fuel comsumption - will save you a boat load over the years.
yandeereguy
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get both of them.. Heck it's only money, I might just be an expert at spending others money:laughing:
Maureen Hess
New member
I have the same question! I hope slopes and trees and just don't know what to get! I hope to get some good advice from someone!
moored4
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:welcome: to TBN! :thumbsup:
Happy :tractor: ing!
Happy :tractor: ing!
wcampbell47
Platinum Member
Tractor. For just grass and not brush I like a mid mount mower, although can be a hassle to remove. The tractor is much more versatile, especially if you have a front end loader. All you can do with a zero turn is mow. Go diesel with what you decide.
My 5' shredder with sharp blades does a decent job on grass even moving along at a fast clip.
My 5' shredder with sharp blades does a decent job on grass even moving along at a fast clip.
kycontrols
Bronze Member
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For mowing purposes, a zero turn is the only way to go. I have both and mowing on the zero turn, for me, is more enjoyable and quicker than the tractor. I got a 48 inch deck on a Scag tiger cub, with it I can mow my 5 acres with about 115 trees in 2 hour and 30 minutes. I do go fast and the cut is very good. If I let the grass get greater than 8 inches I have to slow down and cut quality does suffer.
The tractor does a good job but it is much harder to get the lines and I have trouble getting close to the fence and trees. The only reason I got a mower for the tractor is for the weekends when my wife and I double team the yard to get it done.
Some people have a fear of slopes and zero turns. My front ditch, I would never mow with my tractor but I feel fine on the scag.
I know I get my best deals at the scag and new holland dealer in Shelbyville.
The tractor does a good job but it is much harder to get the lines and I have trouble getting close to the fence and trees. The only reason I got a mower for the tractor is for the weekends when my wife and I double team the yard to get it done.
Some people have a fear of slopes and zero turns. My front ditch, I would never mow with my tractor but I feel fine on the scag.
I know I get my best deals at the scag and new holland dealer in Shelbyville.
Little Red Tractor
Platinum Member
If you're ONLY going to mow, and the ZT will do the job, then that's the way to go. Get the biggest, heaviest and most reliable you can afford.
If, however, you are only going to buy one machine and want to multi-task, then go for a tractor. You can ultimately use it for more things.
If, however, you are only going to buy one machine and want to multi-task, then go for a tractor. You can ultimately use it for more things.
Briana03
Elite Member
Welcome to TBN
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.
I moved your thread to the Buying/Pricing/Comparisons Forum.
daugen
Epic Contributor
I first mowed a friend's 18 acres of fallow field with my Gravely 8199G with a 50' deck and a Swisher 44" trail mower off to the side. Turns out the Gravely far outmowed the Swisher, which I finally left off. Round one to the fields, and a very sore back.
Round two. Ferris IS3000 61 commercial ZRT with full independent suspension, basically what I thought was the best "ZT" ride I could find. And it did handle the bumps pretty well, but there are other reasons I didn't do this more than one year also. The Ferris with a 25 Kawi is a beast, nothing slowed it down, or clogged it up, and I was often cutting 2-3 foot field grass, albeit slowly at times. But fancy suspension or not, by the end of the second day I had a soft collar on to take the pain out of my aching neck from all the bouncing around. Zero turns don't like to go slowly; very quickly I wished I had a steering wheel to hold on to.
The fields looked gorgeous, like a golf course, But WAY too hard on the operator.
And here's the real rub. With a garden tractor or a Zeroturn, you are at bugland ground zero. You've got field bugs jumping all over you and when the part you are mowing gets small, and the bugs get really concentrated in that section, it's like an explosion of bugs as you mow through, and some want to get really friendly.
So...Plan C. I bought a used Case IH compact tractor and will mow the field this year with a Land Pride 60 behind it. And while the cut may not be as perfect, the ride should be much better and I'll be far above the bugs while the major disturbance is behind me.
So, Got Bugs? think about a little elevation my friend. Good luck.
Round two. Ferris IS3000 61 commercial ZRT with full independent suspension, basically what I thought was the best "ZT" ride I could find. And it did handle the bumps pretty well, but there are other reasons I didn't do this more than one year also. The Ferris with a 25 Kawi is a beast, nothing slowed it down, or clogged it up, and I was often cutting 2-3 foot field grass, albeit slowly at times. But fancy suspension or not, by the end of the second day I had a soft collar on to take the pain out of my aching neck from all the bouncing around. Zero turns don't like to go slowly; very quickly I wished I had a steering wheel to hold on to.
The fields looked gorgeous, like a golf course, But WAY too hard on the operator.
And here's the real rub. With a garden tractor or a Zeroturn, you are at bugland ground zero. You've got field bugs jumping all over you and when the part you are mowing gets small, and the bugs get really concentrated in that section, it's like an explosion of bugs as you mow through, and some want to get really friendly.
So...Plan C. I bought a used Case IH compact tractor and will mow the field this year with a Land Pride 60 behind it. And while the cut may not be as perfect, the ride should be much better and I'll be far above the bugs while the major disturbance is behind me.
So, Got Bugs? think about a little elevation my friend. Good luck.
