Toro or Exmark?

[MuskTurfKing]

Next year I'll be purchasing a 36" W/B hydro. I don't want a belt, and I don't want anything bigger.

I want your opinion on these mowers and the price I got.

Toro T-Bar 15Hp 36" Hydro --$4199
Toro Pistol grip 15Hp 36" Hydro --$3900

Exmark Turf Tracer HP 15Hp 36" --$4500
Exmark Turf Tracer HP w/ ECS 15Hp 36" --4590

Whatever I get, I'm going to use a velkie.

Tell me whatcha think...thanks ya.

Hank

[Eng Mwr Guy]

If the only choice to be considered is Toro or Exmark I would choose Exmark. I feel it is better built than the Toro.

The new Gravely 1536 Hydro will be available in Spring for $3999 promotional price. Add a grass catcher and a Velke and you are up to $4510.00 plus tax.

I commend you for choosing a hydro....you will like this choice immensely.

Barry Adamski
Gravely Engineer

Gravely:
There for you for over 85 years.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Exmark I favor 'em

which ever one you get it's your choice they are about the same mower. But the T-bar isn't going to be good on hills. Does the Toro pistol grip have a floating deck? Floating deck will be a little better in height changes. The ECS I still can't get used to it yet. So I can't say anything about it.

Why don't you check both of them out on their web sites. Compare the 2 and see which one will suit your needs.

LGF:blob1:

[Tony]

I like the Exmark ECS handles the best, it feels very comfortable and it should make you more productive. Also look at the Bronco wheels by Trimmer Trap, they are built extra heavy duty. They use needle bearing in swivel points, and a replaceable bottom pan. Tony


http://www.trimmertrap.com/sulkys.html

[dmk395]

If I were gonna spend 4500 for a mower I would spend a little more and get a ZTR. However for about 3000 you can get a nice belt drive walkbehind. Both eXmark and Toro are good machines, I personally only run eXmark and am happy with them.

[Lawnworks]

No offense, but $4000 for a 36" wide deck!! I think that is insane. I know you said you did not want any bigger, but why? Do you have to put it in the truck? I a commend you for being 15 and working, but bigger is better. I am not too older than you. I am 18 own a paid for 60" Chopper, and I love the productivity and the sittin'! Anyway good luck to ya and watch out for that dog crap.

[MuskTurfKing]

I want the 36" Hydro for many reasons.

1. Gates, hate em, but gotta live with em.
2. Hydro will up productivity and will pay for itself.
3. I have a lot of steep hills.

Sure, I can get a decent belt, but why not just go with a hydro? I think it will profit in the long run. I definately know bigger is better, but wouldn't it be better to get something that will last and make the work easier on me, I plan on running the 36" and my lawn tractor. After a year or so, I'll step up and get a 60" Z...I'm only 15, I'm just trying to build up slowly and have a variety of equipment.

Hank

P.S. - I know I'm rambling. LOL ;)

[Double D]

A 36" machine is a good starting point. Don't let the others talk you out of it. You will not have to turn down any work because your machine is too big. If your business grows, then add a bigger machine . Also, the extra money for the hydro is well worth the expense in the long run. Take good care of the machine, and you will get many, many years of produtivity out of it. BTW, I just purchased a Snapper 36" hydro with floating deck, 14 hp Kaw. for about $3600. Good luck.

[casey]

I run both the 36 Toro Hydro's & Exmark 36 TTHP's. In the spring we use the Toro's for side discharging heavy growth, the rest of the season we use the Exmark's for mulching. The Exmark deck is terrible in heavy growth (alot of clumping) the Toro SFS deck is excellent in thick turf. The TTHP is a better machine control wise & for cut quality if you don't have alot of heavy growth to deal with.

[Shady Brook]

I had a Toro, and hated the Tbar design. Had some good points, but was not good for tight turns! Have you considerd a Wright Stander 36. It is Hydro, and you ride standing up. Price is not much different. I have also heard about Dane having a Gateway made to fold up and go through gates that a 36 can! Just some thoughts.
Jay

[MuskTurfKing]

I just want to thank you all for the replies.
Toro and Exmark and JD are the only dealers close so that limited my selection.

I think I'll probably go with the Toro with Pistol. I like the Toro dealer better, and it's closer.

Thanks again,

Hank

[dhicks]

I own a Toro. Go with the eXmark.

[MuskTurfKing]

Why?

[65hoss]

I prefer the exmarks. Compairing Toro to exmark is not a lot of difference. But, I have a friend that runs all Toros. He even agrees that with real finese type lawns my exmarks do a much better job. Mow and go type lawns are not much different.

[MOW ED]

If you learned on pistols, then stick with pistols after you TRY a T-Bar. I know they are not for everybody but I have a Toro 15HP hydro w 44" deck and a Pro-slide (www.novaecorp.com) and I love mine. Its cuts beautifully in dry but is unbelievable in wet. 3 weeks ago I cut in the rain and all of the lawns were beautiful and I did not have to double cut any of them.

I have tried many WB's and even demoed Gravelys which is in my opinion better than Toro with the exception of the PISTOL grips. I think you could get by with a belt drive if you are getting pistol grips because the pistol grips don't allow for easy maneuvering like the T-Bar does.

Before you buy , give them both a try. You are spending a lot of money, sort of like buying a car. Have the dealer or mfgr. rep let you demo each for a day.
Good Luck on whatever you decide.

[AltaLawnCare]

I've always heard that the Toro T-bar is good on the belts drives -not so good on the hydros. This may be because of "bucking" in rough terrain - on the gear drive you can kick it back to a lower gear and hold the bar all way forward and not go but soo fast.

I have a new model Toro w/52" deck....


I wish I'd demoed an Exmark.

[GreenStar]

bobcat now has a 36" floating deck hydro that looks pretty firm my dealer sent me a fax with a price of....$4064..this with a
17hp kaw and 3 bushel bagger.always get the floating deck..please

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I think you could get by with a belt drive if you are getting pistol grips because the pistol grips don't allow for easy maneuvering like the T-Bar does. Say what Mow Ed?

I've used T-bar hydros and found them less maneuverable than pistol grips. They tear up the turf more and are lousy on hills. They are hrder to use with a Velke. I do like the easier use of the T-bar for training new employees on but I like the pistol grips better. BTW my first W/B was a Toro 44" belt drive. great mower but long out dated to productivity.

LGF:blob1:

[MOW ED]

LGF,
My Toro flies and I have become quite proficient on the T-Bar. I had a Gravely WB prototype this summer to demo for a while and I couldnt adjust the speed properly while on the Pro-slide. The mower could do about 10MPH if you could stay behind it but I couldnt work the pistols to adjust one side over the other at higher speed.
The pistols are probably great for alot of guys that learned on them and became proficient on them but I find alot of guys that hate them for many reasons. I myself have become better with the enhanced T-Bar system (the unit is a 98). I added a 35lb lead weight and have adjusted the hydros per the manual and she dont bounce. It is not the best on wet hills but that has to do with the tire spacing. I hav not had a problem on dry hills but I usually use the Walker on the hills.

Its a matter of preference and what you learn on. I don't feel the need to try to learn pistol grips. I just don't like them. For most of the time the Toro only came out in the rain because I ride 98% of the lawns. But when I needed it it work almost as fast as the Walker. (I said almost)

My wife is now the Toro operator while I ride the Walker and she did have the thing making money for us in 5 minutes of using it with a 5 minute training program from me. I don't think she would care for pistols either.:p

Thanks for the insight.

[casey]

In 2-5 years pistol grips will not exist. The new control systems (T-bar, ECS, H-bar etc.) are far superior to pistols.

[Esby]

Exmark hands down. For me that is...............

[Evan528]

I use pistal grips and wouldnt use anything else. I demoed both the toro with t bar and the exmark with the ECS at the Kentucky expo. While I like the ECS alot i feel that it would not preform as well on hills. On pistal grips you can use your upper body strength if need be on steep hils and so forth to keep it steady. On the ECS as T-bar i dont feel like i had that precice control.

[Shady Brook]

Evan

I could not agree more!
Jay

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Mow Ed

I found the same in adding weight to the front of my Toro 44". But I no longer have it. The T bar system is easier to teach on. I did learn on a W/B with Toro and found it alot easier to use pistol grips. BTW sorry for the harsh statment. Yes the pistol grips can be hard on your hads but that's life and we all have to deal with it.

G'nite all

LGF:blob1:

[Eng Mwr Guy]

MowEd wrote:
My Toro flies and I have become quite proficient on the T-Bar. I had a Gravely WB prototype this summer to demo for a while and I couldnt adjust the speed properly while on the Pro-slide.


I hope the prototype helped you out when the Toro was in the shop. I am happy to help.

The production Gravely Hydro machines now have 2 speed settings (tools required for changeover). The higher speed setting is 8.5mph but the controls are touchy for some. The lower speed setting is a max speed of 6.3mph and these grips are unbelievably soft and comfortable.....for pistol grips that is.

The high 8.5mph speed is not for the feint of heart. It is too fast for me but there is a percentage of people who want to live on the edge and I am trying to satisfy that "need for speed" while accomodating the more mainstream landscaper.

Barry Adamski
Gravely Engineer / Product Manager

[65hoss]

Barry,
Now that is worth looking into. A w/b with some speed would be nice. What would the price of a machine like this be in a 52"?

[MOW ED]

Barry,
Don't get me wrong, I loved the Gravely and it did help me out tremendously this summer. Check my first post, I gave your unit HIGH marks. I just couldn't get the hang of pistols. When I am in the market I will be trying your units out first.

I would tell all LCO's to check the Gravelys because this group of Engineers are LISTENING to what we say. You can't beat that!!!

[65hoss]

I like the fact that they are here and active amoung us.