Mowing why stand?

[CompactTractorFan]

When sitting, the impacts of riding over uneven ground are concentrated mainly in the spine,

Tell me about it...:confused2:

 

[LD1]

The stand ups take less space in a trailer...so you can use smaller trailers or bring more equipment.

They also allow the operator to get on/off faster to move hoses and balls and lawn chairs and other obstacles.

For a commercial landscraper, they seem like the way to go...and afterall, that is what the market targets as they are the guys buying the lion share of equipment.

ac

Pretty much the nail on the head here.

A friend of mine owns a mowing business and just bought 3 of the scags. I asked the same question. "Why in the world would you want to stand all day mowing"?

His answer was simple. When employees are on sit-down ZTR's, they are less likely to get off and move things and pick up trash vs being on a stand-up.

As to the cost, I dont think there was that much difference between the standup and the comparable sit-down. About $8k either way.

And I can see fatigue also playing a role. Unless you happen to have a ferris with suspension, or a really nice suspension seat. Those stand-up platforms are like standing on a srping. VERY comfortable on rough terrain:thumbsup:

 

[skipmarcy]

When I lived in Florida I saw alot of commercial guys using sulkies behind all kinds of different mowers - the mower itself wasn't built for standing on. A friend of mine has a small equipment shop and he used to sell alot of the sulkies.

 

[davgreg]

davgreg

We have had a 52 inch 23 HP Wright Stander since 2005. It is a very solid built Commercial mower with a 7 gage fabricated/welded steel deck, cast iron blade spindle housings, and each rear wheel has a separate hydraulic pump and motor. When we bought in 2005 the pricing was less (not much) than 52 inch comparable built commercial sitdown ZTR mowers. Even though it is smaller than comparable blade width setdown ZTRs, it still requires the same basic components (commercial engine, hydro system, spindles, ect). It did cost much more then the light duty non-commercial sitdown ZTRs with stamped deck and only hydro pump/motor. Our Church had one of the low end setdowns that would not make a true Zero turn as you could not reverse the wheel motors - only stop one while moving forward with the other wheel. It also had a stamped light gauge deck that would be ok for non-commercial use.

The standup does very good on smaller lots that the 21 walk behind mowers are normally used on. Our unit is 53 inches wide (rubber discharge deflector is in up position as we mulch mow and do not side discharge) for a 52 inch cut and IIRC not any longer that our 21 inch Toro walk behind. With separate independant wheel motors and pumps and front caster wheels you can work it in tight areas.

The issue of not being able to cut under trees is adressed by the operator lowering by bending knees with hands held in normal position on control bar. In fact one of the benefits for a standup is the ability to shift operator weight for operation on grades/slopes (side grades - weight to up hill side of platform, up grades lean forward chest to front, down grades bend knees and shift backside reward of rear wheel centerline). If you get into someing to steep that you should not have - step off.

My experience is standing up is easier on you back. Wright introduced a larger standup machine a few years ago that has a suspension platform to stand on which might reduce the effects of rough ground even better. If cutting very large large areas I would think a setdown ZTR or Tractor with a great suspension seat would be my preference.

Great write-up, thanks for the insight!

 

[davgreg]

When I lived in Florida I saw alot of commercial guys using sulkies behind all kinds of different mowers - the mower itself wasn't built for standing on. A friend of mine has a small equipment shop and he used to sell alot of the sulkies.

Sounds really interesting, if you have pictures......post'em!:thumbsup: