ZTR, Toro or Hustler?

REX · Mar 17, 2005

I noticed you have Turf Tiger 72". Is this your personal equipment or business? If personal, how many acres are you maintaining? And are there a lot of trees and bushes to manuver around. It seems when moving up to a 72", the entire unit get larger, and of course, heavier. I have 4-5 acres now, and will be opening another 2-3 this summer to maintain on our property. I've looked, not driven the Scag, but the commercial people like them. But, the 72" starts to get fairly expensive. Do you lose any manuverabilty with the 72" vs. 60"? REX

Nasty135 · Mar 17, 2005

I was talking to a guy yesterday about the difference in mowing with 60" vs 72" and he said other than the obvious width difference in getting between something ,The 72" has an advantage of more offset of mower deck allowing you to circle around mulched trees without left rear wheel riding into the mulch.
Of course this would depend on how large the diameter of the mulched area is. But we are talking about an area of 4' or 5' in diameter, the smaller the diameter the more rear tire overlap you will have.
I don't know about everyone else but my mulched trees which aren't too many average 3' mulch diameter ,So something else to Think about /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I suppose you would adapt cutting technique... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Moon · Mar 18, 2005

I bought a Scag Wildcat 61" ZTR last year. I shopped and shopped and shopped for a ZTR. Finally decided on the Scag. Great mower. Cut my mowing time down considerably, even though I can't mow at full speed. My ground is to bumpy. I really enjoy mowing with it. I have plenty of obsitcles in the yard to go around, and now that we have a ZTR I have no quelms about adding more scrubs / flowers / trees whereever the wife wants. No problem to go around things, in fact its kinda fun. I found Exmark and Scag to be at the top of the commercial ZTR's, but did not look at Hustlers. No one around here carries them.
I was going to by the Turf Tiger, but the dealer had a special on the Wildcat and I could get it for a few dollars more (Isn't that always the story ...). Anyway, I'm happy with my purchase. Have not had one problem with it (due to the mower). My boy left the key in the on position and drained the battery and put 75 addtional hours on my hour meter!

I mow 4 acres with it.

Moon of Ohio

Nasty135 · Mar 18, 2005

Moon, Yea me and wife have had several DISCUSSIONS about crape myrtle's and other shrubs and tree's ,how they would look so nice /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif When all I see is something else to mow around ...

So with a ZTR I wouldn't dread it so much /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif another good reason for more equiipment.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

It's just paying for all the toys that holds me back /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, All of a sudden my new barn is filled up /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Mar 18, 2005

Mark.........I may have space in mine if that will help you !! got a deposit on "Red" last nite..........Tom

Moon · Mar 18, 2005

Exactly the discussion the wife and I had. Now, I don't mind adding all kinds of things to our landscape. Ofcourse there is a limit ...but we have a good ways to go before I have to pull the reins in on her landscaping ideas.
Good luck in your ZTR hunt. They are true mowing machines. You'll find yourself actually looking forward to mowing. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Moon of Ohio

Nasty135 · Mar 18, 2005

Tom, Well ya gotta like that,BIGTIME! More garage space and funds for future projects or equipment (sweet) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Moon, Yea I actually drove one a while back and made the mistake of taking the wife with me, She says if WE got it that SHE would mow grass /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I think what I'm going to do is sell my Massey 1433v that has 45hrs on it (don't really use it as much as I originally planned) and get one soon. But I plan on keeping and restoring my old 135. And if mama keeps her promise I should have a couple extra hours every week to do just that....HAA!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif WE shall see.

Alan L. · Mar 18, 2005

I have never been on a ZTR, but the thought of fast mowing is tempting. Particularly I have some low lying areas around the creek that I have brush hogged under the cedar elm trees, but its hard using the brush hog because there is so much backinng up to do it makes it hard on the old neck. We would also use it for the "yard" which is about an acre or two, and quite a few obstacles.

Does the grass have to be mowed like every week to do it with a ZTR, or can it handl grass close to a foot tall OK?

The area under the trees is not exactly smooth either. A few humps and holes to deal with. Sometimes dead limbs drop from the trees. I don't worry about them with the brush hog, but I guess that could be a problem with a ZTR.

Nasty135 · Mar 19, 2005

Alan , I feel pretty sure that mowing foot tall grass with a ZTR or any mower, other than a bushog is border line equipment abuse /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Although it would probably handle it slowly providing its a commercial quality unit.
The blades are just regular style mower blades and will dull quickly if used in rough terrain, and they can scalp in uneven ground if not careful ....
But with the speed and time savings that they offer you might just be tempted to mow 2 acres every week, You would probably finish in one hour or there about's. I see gravely is offering a commercial quality 48" model called 2148 (21hp I think?) I was quoted $4400 yesterday, check one out /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Moon · Mar 19, 2005

Alan,
1 ft tall grass would be really slow going on a ZTR. But like Nasty said, it would be hard on most finish mowers. However, our Scag is very easy to change the cut height. If you raised it up to 5 or 6 inches, you could mow grass that high, just do it slow. I also have a couple of rough areas (our yard used to be a tomato field), I just have to take her slow there, or it jars your teeth pretty bad.
My wife did the mowing around the house when we had an old simplicity. When the simplicity died, the wife helped push me towards ZTR's. Thats what she wanted. I had a hard time spending that much cash when I could get a regular lawn tractor for so much less. We used to use the old simplicity and our L3010 with a 6' Rear Finish mower for mowing duties. Now the Scag does all the mowing. It takes just a little bit longer for the Scag than it used to take using two mowers. ..and so far, she still helps with the mowing and likes it; but like i said, I've only had the ZTR one year.

Nasty135:
Good luck with your 135 project. Neat ole tractor.

Moon of Ohio