Mower Questions?????

[kswaney]

I recently started a landscaping business and for the time being it is only a few residential maintenance accounts. Do I need to go ahead and invest in a zero turn? Currently I have a Murray Select riding mower. Also if i do need to purchase a ZTR, any suggestions about brand, size, etc. I know very little about them and appreciate any and all info/advice. Thanks

[punt66]

I recently started a landscaping business and for the time being it is only a few residential maintenance accounts. Do I need to go ahead and invest in a zero turn? Currently I have a Murray Select riding mower. Also if i do need to purchase a ZTR, any suggestions about brand, size, etc. I know very little about them and appreciate any and all info/advice. Thanks

It depends on your goals. If your goal is to grow a profitable full time business a ztr is a must in my book. They are much more productive than a WB or a tractor. Most commercial mowers will do. Dont buy anything with over 500hrs and if you buy new your dealer choice is more inportant then the mower choice in my opinion. You cant go wrong with a ferris, exmark, gravely, hustler, scag, grasshopper. There all good machines. Just go out and look and see what your comfortable with.

[CkLandscapingOrlando]

I would work with what you got till you need more.I used a push till it became a pain in the butt.I got a new gravely 36 and it worked untill it became a pain in the butt.I now have a gravely 48z.When that becomes a pain I'll go from a 12ft. trailer to 16 and up grade to a 60 or 72z.I went with a 36 first because most back yards can be accessed with a 36.I also like to buy things when I do a side job.If I pull in 1000 on a landscape install then I'll buy something that I dont have.Chipper,power prunner,tiller,sod cutter,auger,aerator,or what ever you can make money with.I like craigs list for odds and ends like my $50 rear-tine tiller that works.One sod job payed for it and since I dont use it all the time used is fine cheap is great

[ryry278]

I would get a walk behind much cheaper. Great cut and light. When you get more than get a zero turn. It depends on the size of your properties too. But buy cheap. I do not agree buying a mower with more than 500 hours. I got an exmark 60" 27hp with something like 1000 hours and it runs fine for the most part. Got a great deal.

[lawnprosteveo]

Also, before you buy anything, look at your typical property. Is it small or large? Is is flat or sloped? Are there alot of tight areas to get in and out of? Heavily landscaped? Do you catch the grass?

All these factors will help you pick the right mower for your business. Also, pay cash if at all possible. Its no fun to pay a big chunk of your revenues to equipment payments.

[kswaney]

Thank you all for the responses...the description of my mower now is:

21.0hp Briggs & Stratton I/C OHV V-Twin Cylinder Engine Foot-Operated Automatic Drive Transmission Mulching Kit Included Fully Enclosed Hood Anti-Scalping Wheels 20" Rear Tires 25" Turning Radius Large 2.8 Gallon Fuel Tank Grease Fittings Step-Through Design Dual Independent Steering Tool-Free Deck Leveling Beverage Holder Two-Year Warranty

(from Murray web site)

I guess this is not considered a commercial grade and so I would like to sale it before it breaks and purchase something that is built to withstand the abuse. Are there any suggestions you all would lead me to in the area of engine size, brand, etc. I will occasionally bag the clippings so that is a consideration as well. Also, no one motioned JD, they have a zero turn for around 2k at HD 21hp Kohler engine....is that considered commercial grade or should i steer clear...I've heard people say both. thanks again for all of your time and responses

[punt66]

Thank you all for the responses...the description of my mower now is:

21.0hp Briggs & Stratton I/C OHV V-Twin Cylinder Engine Foot-Operated Automatic Drive Transmission Mulching Kit Included Fully Enclosed Hood Anti-Scalping Wheels 20" Rear Tires 25" Turning Radius Large 2.8 Gallon Fuel Tank Grease Fittings Step-Through Design Dual Independent Steering Tool-Free Deck Leveling Beverage Holder Two-Year Warranty

(from Murray web site)

I guess this is not considered a commercial grade and so I would like to sale it before it breaks and purchase something that is built to withstand the abuse. Are there any suggestions you all would lead me to in the area of engine size, brand, etc. I will occasionally bag the clippings so that is a consideration as well. Also, no one motioned JD, they have a zero turn for around 2k at HD 21hp Kohler engine....is that considered commercial grade or should i steer clear...I've heard people say both. thanks again for all of your time and responses


you will not find a commercial machine at HD

[mowerbrad]

For what you are currently cutting a ztr would be way to much money to even justify. If you want to get a commercial mower go with a walkbehind. A wb will cost half of what a ztr does. You will still be able to be more productive than your current mower. Use a wb to build up some business and once you get enough accounts go ahead and get a ztr, but only once you can justify it. Because what it sounds like to me right now is that you just want to have a ztr, not because you have enough accounts, but rather because you just want to have one.

[kswaney]

no, i do have quiet a few accts...my main concern is that im afraid that the mower i have will not handle the abuse and use i am currently giving it...so I would like to upgrade now before it breaks...am i correct in thinking that?

[punt66]

no, i do have quiet a few accts...my main concern is that im afraid that the mower i have will not handle the abuse and use i am currently giving it...so I would like to upgrade now before it breaks...am i correct in thinking that?


yes, you are correct. What are your goals?? Cutting fulltime? Partime? Grow a good business? If your goal is to grow a good profitable business a ztr is a must. You will get people on here telling you to buy WB because thats what they have. A ztr cuts faster and doesnt wear out your body. You can cut more lawns in a day, make more money and not be exhausted when you get home.

[david shumaker]

If you can afford it, get a commercial ZTR. If you are mowing all day long, a walk behind will wear you out. I hardly use my walk behind anymore, but keep it as a back-up mower. If all your yards are very small, a walk behind may be more suitable. I have one small yard that slopes that I can only use a 21" mower on.

[Tnlawnguy]

How many properties do you cut and how big are they?? Every mower has it's place.

[mowerbrad]

I am not telling you to get a wb because I have one, infact I have a ztr. But even having the ztr I sometimes wish that I had a wb for some of the smaller properties that the ztr doesn't fit on and I end up having to use the 21". When deciding on what type of mower to go with you have to look at how many accounts you do and the sizes. If your doing 25 1/4acre accounts there would be no reason to have a ztr, you wouldn't be able to justify if and most likely the wb would be more productive. But if you have 25 1 acre or larger properties than yes the ztr would be the much better choice. I do agree with you that it is best to get a new mower before your current one goes on you, since you don't want to have any down time waiting for a new mower to come when your other one broke. What I am getting at is that you need to look at what you are currently making and what types of properties you are currently cutting and what ones you would like to target in the future before you can just decide to get a ztr or not.

[punt66]

My WB hasnt been on my trailer in 2 years. My Z does 1/4 acre, 3 acre, and everthing inbetween faster and easier than my walkbehind by far. Anywhere a 52" walkbehind will fit a 52" z will fit. The widest part of the mower is the deck. For a z i like the 52" because its big enough to be productive and small enough to fit everywhere.

[STIHL GUY]

i would start with a used walk behind like a 36'' or 48'' if i were you

[scagdude]

for us to give you advice we need to know how many accounts you have and how big they are.

[Jay Ray]

Consider the possibility of ragging the Murray out until you have to junk it. Shouldn't take that long. While you are doing that, study equipment and figure out what would help your business the most. The Murray probably won't bring much cash at all. If you know the machine pretty good it is worth more to you than anybody else.

If the Murray is still running when you buy your new mower, keep it for backup and to mow your own place with.

imo there are four reasons to buy new or used equipment: to make more money, to offer an additional service to make more money, to be able to do the same work under extreme conditions (gonna happen as you get busier and can't wait for better weather), and to make your life easier.

Notice that impress people with shiny-new-expensive stuff didn't even get an honorable mention. Shiny-new-expensive stuff is fine -- but buy it only because it makes business sense for you.

[hackitdown]

My first mower was a Murry 21" push that I used on my own lawn. When I had too many customers, I bought a 48" Gravely walk-behind, belt drive. When I found that I couldn't cut all the lawns fast enough, I sold the Gravely and bought a 52" ZTR.

The point is that I used the equipment I had until I couldn't keep up with demand for my services. Only then I spent money on mowers (or other stuff) to be able to meet the demand for my services.

Right now I'd love to buy a new 60" diesel mower. I could afford it, maybe. But I won't until I cannot keep up with my work using the machines I already own. But I want one....bad.

[socty]

:drinkup:My WB hasnt been on my trailer in 2 years. My Z does 1/4 acre, 3 acre, and everthing inbetween faster and easier than my walkbehind by far. Anywhere a 52" walkbehind will fit a 52" z will fit. The widest part of the mower is the deck. For a z i like the 52" because its big enough to be productive and small enough to fit everywhere.

Punt66 has some good advice...my Gravely 152XDZ is a super ztr which can fit just about anywhere, and it's fast on big lawns too. I love the thing. It's cheaper than the 260Z, by about 2 grand, but it's still awesome. I'm thinking about getting a second one for my employee, that's how much I love it. Paid about 7 grand, plus taxes, in 2007. If you're working more than 30 hours per week, you owe it to yourself to get a Z. Good luck!:drinkup::usflag:

[kswaney]

I have recently found a Toro 44" Z-master with a Kaw 17hp....w/ 700hrs. the asking price is around 2k. Anyone have any feedback on this particular mower? Thanks again to everyone...I have take the advice and have been doing my homework.

[bighaydenslawn]

Yes I would look at a ZTR, as your business will probably expand quickly. Take a look at the Exmark 48" Navigator for a good midsize commercial, or you can go all out and get an Exmark 60" Lazer Z, one of the best ZTRs out there. These products will do you good for a long time.