rider vs walk behind what to buy.

[git-r-done]

some of my lawns have have long hills but not to steep. one of those lawns take me 2 hours to mow with my troybilt. what am I better off with to increase my productive.:hammerhead:

[Mowgli]

What is your budget?

[daveintoledo]

size of the properties, terrain, any gates, how many properties

[Lynch Landscaping]

With a rider you will have more productivity.

[git-r-done]

not to sure about siza acre wise, no gates, terrian not to bad some ruts not to big. $6000 to spend

[daveintoledo]

you should probably look at a good used walk behind with sulky.... if your just starting, i would wait on a more expensive purchase, you dont know the size of the properties so you probably dont have many yet, and a good walk behind would be the most versital for you....

[git-r-done]

not trying to ask stupid ?"s but when you get a new client do you ask what size there lawn is or do you just eyeball it when you get there and what brand do think I look at. Ive got 10 properties not to good on judging them yet.

[daveintoledo]

you can measure with a wheel tape, you will be abel to eye ball after a while, or better yet, go to the county auditors web site, here in ohio all the info is there, just punch in the address or the name of the property owner, and lot size, sale price, taxes and everything else comes up..... even an areal view so you can get a look at the trees and layout of the land...

[fiveoboy01]

Measure with a wheel if you're not sure.

After doing some properties, you'll be able to eyeball some of them. I can do it up to around an acre or so, after that I always get the wheel out.

If you've got 6K, you can get a nice walk-behind, a brand new one even. Don't know much about your properties, but a 36" or 48" would be a good "in between" size. If you go 36", you can look at the Quick 36(they also have a 44" coming out which is another all-around versatile size), it's cheap.

[lawnpro724]

Check out Alamia.com they are a commercial equipment web site. they have lots of name brand equipment and very good prices and free shipping.

[nc-native]

Ex-Mark laser Z-turn.

[hackitdown]

As a fellow New Englander, I'd suggest a ZTR. You will be way faster, less tired, and produce better looking results. You can cut in bad weather. If you add a vac system, it is very helpful for fall clean-ups. You can add a JRCO dethatcher for spring clean-up dethatches. You can tow small tow-behinds.

I'd get a used Z instead of a new WB anyday.

I eyeball everything, because around my area it is common for someone to have a 5 acre lot with a 1/2 acre lawn. Some 2 Acre lawns are quick and easy, some 1/4 acre lawns are filled with obstacles like flower beds, stone walls, outbuildings, fences, pools, trees, hills, etc. If I make a mistake and estimate too low, I give them some warning, and adjust the price.