Floating vs. fixed

[basset]

Newbie here,


Just starting in the business and looking for a wb mower. It will be used in a condo development with many small sections of lawn , small trees and small inclines. What will better suit my needs a floating deck or fixed? I am currently looking at a toro model with the floater belt drive and a hydro Scaq fixed deck. My main concern is the tight areas and small inclines.

T.I.A

Basset

[HOWARD JONES]

Best advice: find a dealer that will let you demo them. I have a rather large mower and if the ground is soft, the deck will force the anti-scalp wheels into the dirt anyhow - floating doesn't always work.

[scottb]

I have a 48" fixed deck and I really like it. If I were to go with a larger deck I would opt for the floating deck but with the 48 fixed id fine.

[basset]

Is it all that necessary on a 36" deck to even use a floater. Why then do they offer floating decks ? Is it for uneven terrain? Forgive me if I seem uneducated on this but I can't seem to find anything in the archives on peoples preferences? Advantages or Disadvantages? The dealers have their own opinions with their brands?

[scottb]

The bigger the deck the harder to handle physically. In my opinon anything over a 48 should be floating. 48 or less you can manuver easily to keep from scalping. My advice save the extra money to spend on trimmers and blowers and such.

[GrassMaster84]

A floating deck can help prevent most scalping, but a fixed deck is much stronger and can take a beating, if it were me I would just go with the fixed deck for better durability!:)

[Just Cut]

I have a Exmark 48" metro fixed deck and have had no problems with scalping on uneven terrain, It is a very durable mower:)

[We do 4 U]

I USED to have a green wb with a fixed deck. I now have a toro floating deck. I didn't like the fixed deck because it seemed to beat me up because when the deck moves so does the whole mower and it scalped A LOT. Now with the floating deck it is a lot smoother. When I hit a bump only the deck moves.

[fastlane]

Much easier to change cutting height on my Exmark turftracer (floating deck)

[1MajorTom]

We have both. Fixed and floating.

Don't have a problem with the fixed scalping, but being able to adjust the height easily makes the floating deck come out on top in our opinion.

You may not think you will have to adjust your cutting height frequently, but you will be surprised that there are times that you will need to. Having a floating deck makes this task a breeze.

[Mark]

I have both on 52"Walks, i prefer the fixed decks, they don't scalp,but the floating deck if you hit a small hole the entire deck goes down which can lead to a strip or a scalp, I think the fixed decks handel better,jodies right about one thing the floaters are much easier to adjust height. IMPO.....Marks Mowing Service

[Tony Harrell]

The fixed decks aren't that hard to adjust unless you're going from one extreme to another. My Bob-Cat has 3 positions for the actual deck to mower position, I keep mine in the middle so I have a little range. Granted, the floating decks are always easier.

[mdb landscaping]

Ive used a 52 inch bunton fixed deck to mow countless numbers of condo complexes each week, usually mow the front of the complexes and hills. its a fixed deck, and i really cant say anything bad about the fixed deck. Its easy to lift on and off curbs, and i dont have a problem with scalping.

[bubble boy]

also noticed youre considering both hydro and belt

with small sections, trees, etc you might want the "gearless"versatility of a hydro. depend on your other props, i guess.

its funny, i know i would be switching heights a lot if i had floaters. but with fixed decks i never change, and it never seems to be an issue. probably one of those options thats great to have, but easy (i find) to live without.

scalping not a prob once you figure out where and where you cant go.

also, i know you said small inclines, but a belt drive could slip if you cut in the rain. hydro will keep on climbing.