A good starter mower

[Economy Landscaping]

I been doing some research on mowers and my head is going to explode LOL

I gonna do like you guys had said over and over again and stay way from lowes or homedepot...

so with that said what should i get. I want a zero turn mower that i can get thru small gates (just in case) but that has the balls to get the job done on big open lots.

any help would be great thanks.

D.

PS: john deere, toro, hustler, etc? what do you guys say?

[Micheal2008]

I think most 36" walk behinds fit thru most gates.. Not sure how big yard you would want to mow with them.

[IHusky]

I want a zero turn mower that i can get thru small gates (just in case) but that has the balls to get the job done on big open lots.

A 36 zero turn might have some balls, but they are going to be pretty small. There's no getting around it my freind, a 36" Zero turn is only going to cut 36 inches at one pass in this universe. If you want something to handle the big properties then you need at least a 60" zero turn. You can't go wrong starting out with a 36" wb or Stander. Belt drive wb is going to be less maint but a little bit slower than a hydro wb. A hydro is going to cost almost twice as much as a belt drive wb if you buy new. You can add the bigger zero turn when the big properties come in. Don't over extend yourself on credit, there's a million guys out there that have tried and failed. Toro, Scag, Exmark, Hustle, Gravelyr etc all good, comes down to personal preferecne and dealer support. Good luck.

[mowerbrad]

On a larger property a 36" ztr isn't going to be very productive.

[Micheal2008]

Yeah i say 36" to start with just hit small yards buy a bigger mower when you got the money.

[Economy Landscaping]

thanks guys for the info. My father has a 60" zero but its all the way in NJ. Not sure he wants to part with it LOL (its his personal mower for his 3/4 acre. I always told him it was overkill but that's my dad... LOL

I was thinking about buying a small zero turn and trading him for it... but I been thinking about the what ifs.. like what if i get a lot of close fence jobs with small gates... I sure as hell dont want to push them with a small push mower LOL

[SangerLawn]

I recommend not getting anything smaller then a 60 inch. If you buy a 36 inch you will be limited on the size of lawns you can mow. If you get a 60 inch mower you can always buy a cheap push mower from lowes to get you by. We have over 70 properties we maintain, yes most are commercial properties but still, we only use the 36 inch mower on about 6 residential.

Long story short, why by a $4,000 mower to only do a hand full of lawns when you could buy a big mower and be able to do bigger properties and use a push mower on small properties.

[bryant lawn & landscape]

A 36" is probably the most versatile mower size you can buy. It's small enough to fit into back gates, but can handle some bigger properties as well ( slower, of course.) Most people don't get into the business picking up lots of huge properties. Smaller residentials are easier to start with, then you grow. Decide the type of properties you will be going for, and you'll have you're answer. Good luck.

[Economy Landscaping]

that are you guys thoughts on a walk-behind mower... i found a scag 54", 18hp with jungle wheels. I need to find out how old and amount hours on it but price is around 1200...

[mbsudd]

Hey man always remember it is not about quanity its about quality. You can make a lawn look just as good if not better with a 36" than with a 60". I just bought a new bop 36" quick super fox WB for $1995 and it was the best investment ive made. So remember Quality work always pays off. Good luck

[Economy Landscaping]

good point mbsudd... doesnt matter if you have the best equipment if the quality of the work sucks! LOL

Im just trying to get something that is not only going to make things easier for me, but i can get more productivity. Sure I can push a 21" push mower to do a 1/5 acre lot, but that's going to be a work out. And by the time im done i will have run out of steam to do the next job.

I like the idea of the WB mower with a jungle ramp/wheels on it. Knowing i can walk or ride it. and it can do what a zero turn can do... perhaps not as fast but we are talking about quality.

I was talking to my father and he may want to part with his JD Zero turn commercial mower. Says that maybe i can give him 1500 now and make payment on it monthly. I like the idea because i dont have to put it on my credit. (trying to refi my home w/ some cash out) so the less things that show up on my credit the better.

I'll find out the full specs of the machine later... i think its a 797 but i cant remember for sure. I do remember it has a 29hp motor on it.

D.

[mowerdude777]

I personaly think that for what your looking for you would be best with the exmark phazer 34 or 44 inch ztr

[TheC-Master]

Yea, I'd get the machine you need for what you're doing. A huge mower would tear up smaller lawns, wouldn't fit through gates, and won't handle hills as well, it'd also rut. A WB will cut much better, and my 36" did a 1.7 acre with a 35 degree or more slope in 45 minutes. I have a 21 for the really small spots. I'll get a larger mower when the time comes. You don't even save that much time when it doesn't fit well because you can't use it to its max and then you have a ton of trimming. It's not wise to start out with a behemoth that costs so much unless you have connections and will be doing lots of huge properties.

[ed2hess]

Yea, I'd get the machine you need for what you're doing. A huge mower would tear up smaller lawns, wouldn't fit through gates, and won't handle hills as well, it'd also rut. A WB will cut much better, and my 36" did a 1.7 acre with a 35 degree or more slope in 45 minutes. I have a 21 for the really small spots. I'll get a larger mower when the time comes. You don't even save that much time when it doesn't fit well because you can't use it to its max and then you have a ton of trimming. It's not wise to start out with a behemoth that costs so much unless you have connections and will be doing lots of huge properties.
This is very good advise. I see bunches of guys in photo section that have mowers all the way from 21" to 61" and that is costly and lot of weight to haul around. Focus on small yards and make more money and leave the big yards to the cut throat guys.

[Linder'sLawnCare]

I say 44" or 48" ZTR. I have researched basically all of them. I am talking about hours of research. I narrowed it done then got my Ferris, which is 48". I have one account with fence and it has double gates, so I do not have any problems getting into it. I like Ferris. I would also go with exmark or scag. I do two 5-6 acre yards and it does me fine. It takes me a little longer than a 61", to say, but I can do small and big with 48". I can also travel faster on my Ferris b/c of the smooth ride. So my time is about the same. I timed it.

[Economy Landscaping]

Just found a 2004 John Deere 717 with 248 hours... w/48" 7 IRON DECK, 19HP KAWASAKI ENG. ARM REST KIT. Asking price is $3400.00. it belongs to an older guy that used it at his home. So its never been use for commercial use. The guy said he had paid around 7500 new. The mower has new blades too.

Sounds like the best of both worlds... what do you guys think? I need one fast... I found a few online between 4000 and 5900...

D.

[Economy Landscaping]

PS: there is nothing wrong with the machine... the guy is down grading to a regular tractor style mower so he can carry his beer he said LOL. plus his yard is less than .5 acre so the 717 is overkill. Damn this guy should talk to my dad... ******* 60" 797 for a .75 yard LOL

[Linder'sLawnCare]

Get it. I know a guy that uses JD ZTR mowers. He is a big time commercial guy too. that is a very good deal. You can't go wrong with the Kaw. motor. I wish I had found a deal like that b4 I bought my ztr!!!

[Economy Landscaping]

Get it. I know a guy that uses JD ZTR mowers. He is a big time commercial guy too. that is a very good deal. You can't go wrong with the Kaw. motor. I wish I had found a deal like that b4 I bought my ztr!!!

Thanks Linder, I emailed the guy this morning. I'll call him later today. Maybe i can run an pick it up later this week. I'm tired of pushing LOL.

D.

[Linder'sLawnCare]

For a deal like that I would push day and night!!!

[Economy Landscaping]

SOLD! picking it up on Friday... I'll post pics then... Once again thanks for all the help guys! You guys truly rock.

[Linder'sLawnCare]

I really want to see pics. Go ahead and buy belts and blades and oil and filter.... All the stuff that you need for it. It has some hours on it and you never know when something will break or needs repairs.

[Economy Landscaping]

I picked up the mower on sunday (had to take care of some **** earlier) I just mowed my back yard. Its awesome! what used to take me 1/2 a day with my push mower was done in 20 mins LOL. I wanted to keep on trucking so i also did the outside of my yard (fence-in) as well as the long ass ditch. That was a piece of cake.

Tomorrows job is going to be so damn easy! :D I'm now looking to get a JD WB 48" 14hp kawi. its a little old, but runs like a champ. 300 bucks takes it home. Just needs a little paint and a new muffler, but the guy is going to buy the muffler, fix it, change the belts, change the oil, and grease it up for me. I should have it in a week or two. Oh and he is including the jungle wheels.

Anyway excuse the dirty ass pics of the 717... since it looks like **** right now (been raining all day, but i was so excited i used it in the rain, my tall as grass didnt even slowed down the mower a bit. Sweet Action!

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff140/SunDown13X/DSC_0100.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff140/SunDown13X/DSC_0101.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff140/SunDown13X/DSC_0103.jpg

Yeah that's my pug in the picture... His name is Trouble and he is always up to no good! :)

D.

PS: I also got the power bagger for free... Has a crack on the top box (guy crashed it against a tree) but it looks like an easy fix. Woo HOO!

[IHusky]

Looks good. Congrats

[Linder'sLawnCare]

I think you got a deal!!!

[Subseven]

Sweet deal!

[Economy Landscaping]

thanks runs like a champ! :D is making life easier... but now i need a trailer ;) taking it on and off my truck is a *****! LOL ;)

[81Bronk36]

Nice score...but why would you want 2 48" mowers. Sounds like a waste of $300 bucks. Except of course if you turn a profit after fixing it up.

[Economy Landscaping]

Nice score...but why would you want 2 48" mowers. Sounds like a waste of $300 bucks. Except of course if you turn a profit after fixing it up.

funny you said that... cuz i was thinking the same thing yesterday... In fact i told the guy i was going to think about it, because honestly i dont need it right now. So far things have been great with the 717... Only wished the seat was more comfy but i cant ***** too much for the deal that i got.

So far the 717 has been doing all my cutting... I havent touch my 21" push mower at any sites yet. Then doing a quick trim and blow. :hammerhead:

I'm gonna save my money for the time being since i need to fix my trailer problem. (basically dont have one LOL, loading the 717 out of my truck is getting old FAST! LOL)

D.

[Linder'sLawnCare]

My dad always said, "you have to crawl before you walk"! Look around for a used trailer. It won't be too hard to find one. A used trailer will save you a lot of $$$ i.e. I got a $2500-3000 trailer for $600. The guy didn't know what he had. It is a 2003 and is in perfect condition, just minor paint peeling and rust.