Would you buy a 54" or 60" deck?

[Blue Mule]

My lot is 2-3 acres with a few trees and our house in the middle. We got a 60" ExMark four seasons ago and have regretted not getting the 72" deck for the last three and a half seasons. Lol. Live and learn...

 

[DaBoz]

I got no response on my last post so will try this.

I am buying a ZT. Two acres, two dozen trees and a few other items to trim around.

There is only a $200 difference in price between a 54" and 60" deck. Which one would you get and why?

Thanks,

I own a 60" Bad Boy ZT and it takes care of 10 acres nicely. 54" = more time in zt seat.

 

[FLS1216]

I got no response on my last post so will try this.

I am buying a ZT. Two acres, two dozen trees and a few other items to trim around.

There is only a $200 difference in price between a 54" and 60" deck. Which one would you get and why?

Thanks,

For 2 acres I would go with the smaller deck. You will get a better cut with less chance of scalping with the 54". I have one acre with a 48" deck that I wish was 46" or even 42" for a better cut. Go 54".

 

[hunt4570]

Hey Don, I agree with the smaller on 2 acres. the bigger deck is nice if you had a big open space to mow but if you are dodging trees and such I vote for the smaller size. You might even walk around your yard with a tape measure and see what some of your gaps are out there.
And if you are talking about shaving 20 minutes off your time...I kinda like mowing, its relaxing to me and a little extra doesn't bother me.
I can always throw my 6' flail on the tractor and do some bigger areas.

 

[RancherGuy]

For at least 10 years I have used JD's biggest ZT w/ 72" deck, diesel. Mow 6+ acres, so size matters. The others here pretty well covered the big issues: distance between objects, terrain. BigBlue1 mentioned the biggest issue for me: ditches. The wider the deck, the more likely one end of the deck will be digging into the opposite side of the ditch. Not everyone has that obstacle.

 

[Scrambler82]

When I lived in MA, had an acre, my 48" underbelly mower worked well, anything larger would have caused problems.
In CA, 10 acres, 60" Brush Hog, hope the Hogs aren't offended (loL), sometimes I wish I had a larger unit but then again, sometimes I'm glad I can get around a lot of things.

An additional 6", if I was talking to beautiful women, I might think it would be a good thing but in your case I would like the maneuverability.

Go with the 54" and take the wife out for a good dinner.

 

[TimP]

It takes me about 5 hours to do 5.5 Acres with the 60" Belly mower.. I could prolly cut maybe an hour off of that if I had the 72".

 

[iptman]

I have a 61" Scag and wish I had gone with a 54" instead. The time to mow my 2.5 acres would be negligibly different but I would be able to get a 54" deck on my 8x5ft trailer. Instead I have to use my 12x6 trailer any time I have to take it anywhere. Of course if you'll never have to haul it anywhere and your dealer will pick it up for service then that's a moot point.

 

[CoyPatton]

Bigger is better (faster mow time) when size is not an issue for passing through gates and getting between objects such as an above ground pool and a fence.

Storage limitations may also be a consideration if u want to keep the machine under cover.

Other than these two items I don’t know why you would want to go with a smaller machine.

Bigger is not aways better! I know a guy who planned to start mowing commercially. He bought a 72” deck on a new mower when he had plans to mow in cities. He actually feel for a salesman deal! The 1st 6 yards he was to mow had a large fenced in backyard that his new ZTR would not fit into. He figured out what that dealership sold a 72” for the same price as a 48” deck.
Match your needs! Do you have tight spots that 60” plus discharge cover will not fit? (like between trees and other objects in the yard).

 

[Diesel Demon]

I have mostly uneven ground for now, and the number one thing I found to increase mowing speed and area covered: Get a new suspension seat. By far, the most noticeable $500 I ever spent on equipment (Ferris offers the best made in USA quality suspension seat for the $, ExMark's is similar, but more $, and the knock-offs on Amazon are just ok), and I can now run full speed most of the time on fairly rough ground that used to buck me around quite a bit at half speed (8 MPH vs 4). I have a 52" ZTR with springs on the rear wheels, and a 72" finish deck I've not yet used on a 24HP JD subcompact. The 52" already scrapes banks I go on sideways, and is too big for a lot of shrub planting areas, small trees. The 72" will be used after 50 tri-axles of top soil help level out this old field/pasture where I built, and new turf is established.