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Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors #6535740
05/11/19 10:16 AM
05/11/19 10:16 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
S
Scout1 Offline OP
trapper
Scout1  Offline OP
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
I've always had lawn tractors to mow with. Lately seems like zero turns are the go to style now. Considering getting a zero turn this fall and just wanting to get some expert opinions! I have hills to mow, but can mow everything with my lawn tractor. How do zero turns do on slopes vs. lawn/garden tractors? A bagger is a must. Would like to be able to pull a de-thatcher and plugger. I probably wouldn't get bigger than a 50 inch cut. I have some trees to squeeze through. Any recommendations??


-------------------------------------
DJT & MTG in 2024!
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535760
05/11/19 10:47 AM
05/11/19 10:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
They're not bad on hills going across the slope unless it's a severe grade. Ag tires are great if your getting pulled down the slope it having some difficulty going up or down. The one bad thing about zero turns you always have to watch is soft spots as once one back tire loses traction, the other tire can only make it worse.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535767
05/11/19 10:55 AM
05/11/19 10:55 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
L
lee steinmeyer Offline
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lee steinmeyer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
Spot on Sniper! The only other thing I would add, is be carefull going too wide on a deck, if you have much up and down, course it's that way on tractors too. I've got a 52 in deck Husky that has been a really good machine. Get into the commercial grade if you can, they cost a bit more, but last a lot better. Also the fabricated deck is far superior to a stamped deck.


YOU CAN IGNORE REALITY, BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING REALITY.

http://www.lptraplinesupply.com
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535773
05/11/19 11:06 AM
05/11/19 11:06 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,950
rogers city mi.
J
jeff karsten Online content
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jeff karsten  Online Content
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,950
rogers city mi.
father in law got 1 found he couldn't get on or off without a lot of difficulty


olden tyred
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535788
05/11/19 11:29 AM
05/11/19 11:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,468
Iowa
T
trapdog1 Offline
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trapdog1  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,468
Iowa
Everything Lee said is spot on. I bought a 61" Snapper last year and love it. Not only does it mow faster, I don't feel like I've been beat up when I'm done mowing like with my old tractor.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535789
05/11/19 11:29 AM
05/11/19 11:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
L
lee steinmeyer Offline
trapper
lee steinmeyer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,456
Wheaton Ks
I forgot to say, once you go to a zero turn, you will never want to see a tractor style again! Cuts your mowing time in half or less!


YOU CAN IGNORE REALITY, BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING REALITY.

http://www.lptraplinesupply.com
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535790
05/11/19 11:29 AM
05/11/19 11:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
trapper
Marty  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
zero turn will run rings around a tractor for mowing, need to learn how to turn without tearing up the turf thou. Keep both wheels turning at the same speed. I use a toro stander zero turn and it is awesome.


E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535797
05/11/19 11:49 AM
05/11/19 11:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,081
NW MO
T
TurkeyTime Offline
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TurkeyTime  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,081
NW MO
I have a John Deere 4 wheel steer garden tractor. Look it up. Will definitely buy another.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535814
05/11/19 12:22 PM
05/11/19 12:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Toro MX5000 is what I picked up last year and the only thing I was not happy with was the 2 ply tires just China junk looking to go flat. Other then that it's a dream to run and has speed adjustments for mowing or towing.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535830
05/11/19 01:03 PM
05/11/19 01:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,738
carolina, Alabama
The Possum Man Offline
trapper
The Possum Man  Offline
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Posts: 4,738
carolina, Alabama
I wont own anything but a zero turn any more. Just no comparison on how much faster they cut. You can also get real close to trees and such without having to swap a bunch of gears, really limits how much you have to weed eat after you are done. There are some down sides to them though, mainly any wet spots they get stuck real quick, and you have to have something pretty strong to pull them out since they are so much heavier than a regular tractor mower. Hills can be a pain and i sure dont want one of them to flip over on me. But hills are doable up to a certain point. I also have a commercial grade mower and that is the way to go for sure if you can afford it. The decks last longer as already stated, and are generally serviceable with grease fittings. I know my moms residential grade mower is not grease-able on the pulleys.


"If you're gonna be stupid you better be tough"
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: trapdog1] #6535833
05/11/19 01:09 PM
05/11/19 01:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
S
Scout1 Offline OP
trapper
Scout1  Offline OP
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,575
N. Carolina
Originally Posted by trapdog1
Everything Lee said is spot on. I bought a 61" Snapper last year and love it. Not only does it mow faster, I don't feel like I've been beat up when I'm done mowing like with my old tractor.

The little time I've been looking, the Snappers were worth considering. Looks like they got a decent 2 yr warranty, lifetime on the deck. Grass catcher is available though extra. And you can get a mounted pull hitch.


-------------------------------------
DJT & MTG in 2024!
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535835
05/11/19 01:10 PM
05/11/19 01:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 438
South Dakota
R
Rhino7 Offline
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 438
South Dakota
Going up and down the hills is fine, but going on a side hill is not the best on a zero turn. I have a 23hp Hustler 52" and it is an amazing piece of equipment but I wouldnt want to mow very many side hills with it. I would also recommend getting the 24-26hp models with the smaller deck especially if your puling that extra weight.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535870
05/11/19 02:34 PM
05/11/19 02:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
I've had this Toro MX4200 for a year now and am very happy with it. It has a 22.5 hp motor and hauls my fat butt around with no trouble. It doesn't like wet grass though when I cut my ditch. The rear end tends to slide. It came with a 3 year warranty.

https://www.torodealer.com/en-US/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=TimeCutter-MX4200-74766(Toro)



Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535881
05/11/19 03:11 PM
05/11/19 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,635
Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56 Offline
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Flipper 56  Offline
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Wabash, IN USA
Exmark zero turn mower, the best IMHO! I have a 72" and it is rated a 6.5 acres an hour. The airport I managed had a 60" and a newer 72" with a newer style deck and higher blade speed than mine and it was a lot faster mowing than my 72". I mow 8.5 acres in 1.5 hours and you can trim around stuff real easily with it.


"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: TurkeyTime] #6535901
05/11/19 04:00 PM
05/11/19 04:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,190
Kentucky
A
Abu65 Offline
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Abu65  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,190
Kentucky
Originally Posted by TurkeyTime
I have a John Deere 4 wheel steer garden tractor. Look it up. Will definitely buy another.


I also have a John Deere 425 all wheel steer. I was looking at a 485 all wheel steer last night. I love it and for what I do its the cats meow. You can pull attachments with it as well as front blades.


It is what it is.
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6535927
05/11/19 05:34 PM
05/11/19 05:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
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Pawnee  Offline
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Posts: 6,190
Kansas
I’m a zero guy. We’ve had a 54” Hustler since 2008. The outside yard is mowed 5-7 times a year. It’s about 5 acres. Great mower and we have had zero problems


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6536762
05/13/19 12:44 PM
05/13/19 12:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 245
Newton, Illinois
Coonyote Offline
trapper
Coonyote  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 245
Newton, Illinois
[Linked Image]

Check out the Cub Cadet Z Force. They do well on hills, slopes, and ditches. Zero turning radius with steering wheel. You have control of front tires with the wheel. Mine is a 60" with 4 wheel steering and I love it.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6536777
05/13/19 01:29 PM
05/13/19 01:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
I had a 48" cub cadet zforce, just the zero turn. It sucked on hills until we put Ag tires on it.that was about 8 years ago now so maybe the newer ones are better

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: lee steinmeyer] #6536786
05/13/19 01:40 PM
05/13/19 01:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 421
Lyndon, Kansas
Railroader Offline
trapper
Railroader  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 421
Lyndon, Kansas
Originally Posted by lee steinmeyer
Spot on Sniper! The only other thing I would add, is be carefull going too wide on a deck, if you have much up and down, course it's that way on tractors too. I've got a 52 in deck Husky that has been a really good machine. Get into the commercial grade if you can, they cost a bit more, but last a lot better. Also the fabricated deck is far superior to a stamped deck.

Originally Posted by lee steinmeyer
I forgot to say, once you go to a zero turn, you will never want to see a tractor style again! Cuts your mowing time in half or less!

Lee is 100 % correct! I bought a Hustler Fastrak 54” rear discharge commercial grade about a month ago and it cut my mow times down from 4 hours (with craftsman 46”) to 1hr 10 mins. Definitely recommend a zero turn.

Re: Zero turn vs. Garden Tractors [Re: Scout1] #6536790
05/13/19 01:45 PM
05/13/19 01:45 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
K
k snow Offline
trapper
k snow  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
All you guys that love zero turns, how smooth are your lawns? I mow several fields (former tilled fields, grass now for 20 years) at a local gun club. We used to have a'53 Ferguson with a 60" finish deck, and we replaced it with a 60 " Hustler zero turn. That dang zero turn bounces so bad it kills my back after about an hour or so. There is no way I can go more than half speed without REALLY testing the seat belt. I'd take the Fergie back in a heart beat. On the smooth sections it is fast and does a nice job cutting. Also, careful going uphill, there's a lot of weight out back.

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