zero turn or tractor

[Milo]

For a lot of mowing it's just hard to beat a ZTR. I have a Kubota B2650 with a 72" belly mower and mowed my few acres with it since this Spring but it simply was taking too long and it was too bouncy. Just bought a Ferris 2100Z 61" with Kawasaki 25.5 engine and it's SO much faster and smoother that I just took the belly mower off the tractor.

The other thing you might look into is a front mount mower like Grasshopper makes, F series Kubota, or Ventrac which gives you almost the fast cut of a ZTR plus it can handle other attachments.

 

[RjCorazza]

There are so many options, all with their advantages and disadvantages. I personally mow 6 acres of my own grass and 20 more acres of residential lawns. My preference for my property are the Kubota ZD diesel ztr mowers. I use a 26hp 60" and 31hp 72". The fuel handling issues alone make the diesels worth the extra initial expense. I can cut 20 acres on a single fill up, then just fill them from the transfer tank on my pickup truck. Don't know about Dixie choppers claim of 7 acres per hour other than to say that must be real smooth ground with zero obstructions. I average 3 acres per hour on a typical residential at a brisk, but safe speed.
I do break out the cabbed tractor and 7' rear finish mower when it's hot outside, but only on my property.

 

[Texasmark]

For a lot of mowing it's just hard to beat a ZTR. I have a Kubota B2650 with a 72" belly mower and mowed my few acres with it since this Spring but it simply was taking too long and it was too bouncy. Just bought a Ferris 2100Z 61" with Kawasaki 25.5 engine and it's SO much faster and smoother that I just took the belly mower off the tractor.

The other thing you might look into is a front mount mower like Grasshopper makes, F series Kubota, or Ventrac which gives you almost the fast cut of a ZTR plus it can handle other attachments.

Well you were ahead of me on that. I bought the 2400 to be used primarily as a mower but I didn't want a MMM. Didn't take long to realize that it had other duties to perform and mowing wasn't one of them. I just can't believe the only rear tire you can get for an 1800# tractor is a 12x16.5 Ind. 6 ply or 33x12.5x16.5 4 ply, both with stiff sidewalls and rated 2430 @ 30 psig. That's the reason for the Ferris. They have a great mower, but still missed one in not installing springs under the seat (opinion). That (Troy Built PN 732-05182A) and soft tires (<10 psig) were Coup'D Gra.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Bale most of it. I have about a 9 acre field that a neighbor is glad to bale. Lots of small farmers will go for free hay, if allowed to bale it.

 

[mile9c1]

Per their website the Hustler Super Z will cut 6-8 acres per hour depending on the deck size you choose. This is at 14 mph.

 

[DK35vince]

Per their website the Hustler Super Z will cut 6-8 acres per hour depending on the deck size you choose. This is at 14 mph.

I believe many of these Mfg. use the 80% efficiency rating to get these #'s.
It would have to be ideal conditions to mow at 80% efficiency.
I can mow around 4 acres per hour with my 72" Super Z with all the trees, house, shed, bumps, Etc. Etc.

 

[mile9c1]

I meant to say, "this is a 14mph mower" as I don't know what efficiency Hustler uses for the acreage calculation. My friend runs a 60" Super Z at his church sometimes, and says it's awesome.

 

[Creamer]

The other thing you might look into is a front mount mower like Grasshopper makes, F series Kubota, or Ventrac which gives you almost the fast cut of a ZTR plus it can handle other attachments.

What are you talking about? A Grasshopper is a ZTR. I would never have a midmount mower - front deck is the only way to go - better visibility, can get closer to bushes and such without being in them, easier deck service, better slope handling, etcetera, etcetera

 

[EddieWalker]

20 acres with a zero turn is crazy!!! For the zero turn to function properly, you need to keep the grass fairly short and mow it at least every other week. Unless you have absolutely nothing else to do, EVER, you are never going to be able to keep 20 acres mowed on a regular basis and have any sort of a life. Plus, zero turns beat you up. They are not relaxing, and after an hour in the seat, they are no longer fun.

Mow half an acre to an acre around your house and get a tractor to mow the rest every other month.

 

[WM75Guy]

Unless your 20 acres is manicured lawn I wouldn't use a ZTR. I mow the 2 acres around the house, outbuildings, and arena with the ZD1211. The other 12 acres gets the tractor and 6' cutter. I did mow the 3 acres of turnouts once with the ZTR. They are smooth enough with the tractor but not with the ZTR.