Zero Turn for 4 acres?

[Lockport]

I used to have a Kubota BX with a 60" deck but I'm away most of the time nowadays. I've a 35HP Bobcat (Kioti) with R4 tires and the 72 FM. It's taken its toll on my lawn. Sometimes I'm home but it rains and I can't cut. 5 years like that. Last fall I made an 80" 3PH lawn dethatcher from an Agrifab 40" tow behind I used to use religiously behind the BX each spring by adding another 40" panel with tines from the manufacturer and done angle iron for the frame. The FM which was Bobcat branded turned backwards and as I've always used Gatorblades for mulching (shaft reducers on the BX deck at the time) I finally got around to reversing the gearbox on the 72FM and am able to mulch again. I'm hoping over time theses are the causes of the diminished health of my lawn and therefore the solution to a healthy rejuvenating.

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[Poopdeck Pappy]

Unfortunately, $4,000 - $5,000 won't buy much of a zero turn mower these days. I believe in the "Buy Once, Cry Once" theory. Spend the money on a commercial grade zero turn mower and you'll never be sorry. Buy some cheapo mower and you'll remember the money you saved every time you use it.

 

[rbtjr]

+ 1 for the ZTM. We mow about 2 acres. For several years we used a commercial eXmark 66" with a conventional seat-front deck arrangement. We mow some steep areas including a pond dam with a 5-1 slope. Last year we sold the eXmark and bought a 61" commercial Wright Sport X mower, which you can operate by either standing up on a platform in the rear of the mower or by riding on a seat that folds up when not used but when used extends to the rear of the mower. We like this mower for all of our applications, especially mowing on slopes because we have the option of standing up on the platform on the rear of the mower and just stepping off if something bad is about to happen. The Wright was expensive but it is a great mower, is extremely maneuverable, and has cut our mowing and trimming time.

 

[KBP]

I mow with a Ferris 3200Z mower with a 61" deck. My lawn is about 2 acres My lawn is rough and the suspension saves my back. It takes me 1 hour and 10 minutes to mow it all. After that I trim for about 15 or 20 minutes. I have a bad back and have tried other zero turn mowers and they punish you much more. The shocks and springs on the Ferris are amazing. The 37 HP engine breezes thru the lawn like a ATV. Its so good, I actually look forward to mowing the lawn. Its way better than blowing snow in the winter! Four acres on the 3200 would maybe take 2-3 hours depending on how smooth your lawn is , what you have to mow around and how high you let your grass get. I never cut more than 1/3 the height of the grass so I don't have to bag or rake up anything.

 

[Automobilist]

Thanks for all the advice & opinions...

After looking at all the locally available choices, we chose a Gravely ZT 60HD.

It was a clear and easy choice, as the Gravely is very well built, has a Kawasaki 24hp motor, and seems much more solid than the competition.

It's cut our mowing time by more than half, and handles our property's hills, etc, with ease.

I vastly prefer to be out on our boat fishing & relaxing, so this mower is a huge plus.