ZTR - need help deciding

[gamble77]

Yeah, kind of goes back to the what I said earlier in this post...once you go front mount you will never want to go back. The problem is that mid mounts are all the rage, mainly because they are compact and can get into tighter places.

But front mounts offer so much more...better cut, more deck "floatation", better view of what your deck is cutting, much better ride quality, easier maintenance on the deck, ability to mow up against things. I am about to start my own lawn maintenance business on the side with a partner and I can assure you that our main mower will be a front mount Grasshopper.

So what model did you decide to get?

 

[Dargo]

I bought another 722D2. My last one is almost exactly the same, (721D2) but somewhere in the last 5 or 6 years they started calling them 22hp rather than 21hp, and they changed their decks a little and now call them DuraMax decks. I thought a "DuraMax" was a GM diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Yes, you are very correct about the front mount. I just wanted so bad to save some money and go with the mid mount! I had to learn the hard way. Don't tell, but it's not the first time I had to learn something the hard way. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[rbeitz]

Hopefully you didn't take too bad of a beating returning the Ferris? Did the dealer take it back or did you trade it on your Grasshopper?

I am also curious as to why you had trouble trimming around obstacles with the Ferris. I have a Scag mid mount with a 72" deck and it has a great trim edge. I can go right up to a obstacles and circle around them and have nothing left to come back and weed whack. Sounds like the ferris deck must not exend out past the rear tire enough to allow tight trimming??

I always figured the only advantage to a front mount was the ability to run the deck up under tree branches and shrubs and then back out? You can't do that with a mid-mount unless you want tree branches in your face. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gamble77]

Haha, yeah it would have been nice to save some $ but some things in life are worth the extra cash.

The reason they changed the numbering system to 722 instead of 721 is because the 722 has the new generation Kubota diesel. It meets the new emissions requirements, vibrates less, and makes less noise...plus it makes 1 extra hp and extra torque. Would love to see some pictures when you get the unit!

 

[JimMorrissey]

Does anybody make a front mount mower around 4K that's worth looking at?

I used to own a Simplicity 'Sun Runner' with a front deck and it mowed great. The only problem was that the rear tires cut ruts in the lawn when I mowed around trees too tightly.

 

[Dargo]

Okay, I had them bring the 722DG2 and the 725G2. I'd seen one of the Kubota gas Grasshoppers in their shop last week for spring maintenance that our local school corp. owned. I saw that the hours on it was over 3000! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Also, it had never had any engine problems and still ran great. That is why I thought I'd consider the gas model as well. Being that I've put only 600 hours on my diesel model in 5 years, and I did some side mowing jobs for 2 years with it, I figure with 2 Grasshoppers, it will take me 30 years or more to rack up that kind of hours.

Anyway, for the money difference, I went with the 725G2. I've just been on it mowing for a little over an hour. Man, that's what I'm talking about!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif That 3 cyl. gas engine is about as smooth of a mower engine I've ever used! I love it. I had to order the optional 8 gallon gas tank though. That standard 4 gallon tank just isn't going to cut it. It's been a while since a piece of equipment has put a smile on my face. I've gone through dozens of new tractors, mowers, and probably over a hundred vehicles, and most didn't do much for me; except for my Yamaha Rhino - that thing is awesome. Now for a mower, this thing is cool! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Not only is the ride much better, not only will it mow a lot of places the mid mounts wouldn't, but it also actually does do a better job of following the contours of the ground to give a better cut. I'm mowing the exact same places I mowed with mid mounts last week, and this Grasshopper does a better job. I'm wasting daylight; I have more mowing to do!