60" walk-behinds

[Ed Ryder]

Does anybody here have any experience loading a 60 inch walk-behind into their pick-up?

How difficult is it?

I hate pulling a trailer and I'm wondering if I should just get a 60" walk-behind. Any thoughts on this?

[Gravely_Man]

Full-sized truck bed or short bed?


Gravely_Man

[2 man crew]

How will you get the deck past the wheel wells? If you do it I gota see a pic.

[Ed Ryder]

It's a full-size Ford truck bed.

[eslawns]

I hate pulling a trailer and I'm wondering if I should just get a 60" walk-behind. Any thoughts on this?

You might look into a flat bed or a landscape body for the truck. The l/s body has a beaver tail and ramp and expanded metal sides. Basically, it's a trailer on the back of the truck.

Just curious. What's the big deal about towing a trailer? I do it so much, that a year ago I towed my dad's bass boat to KY Lake and back. He commented that I drove his truck with the boat the way most people drive a sedan. I'm very comfortable pulling a trailer.

[bubble boy]

if you were pulling a trailer, but are tired of it...and you are considering getting a 60" WB i assume you have a Z on a trailer right now?

or are torn between a Z or the 60"?

i would say you'll get more sick of walking and loading.

[PaulJ]

I did it a couple of times witha 52".
that was a tight fit a 60 would be tihgter still. You will either have to back in or wheelie the deck over the fenders. Also be sure you have long strong ramps that won't slide away. I wouldn't recomend it on a regular basis. I only did it because I didn't want to tow my trailer 80 miles home empty. :blob3: :blob3: .

Instead of loading into the triuck, look into a small 6x8 or 6x10 trailer. I got a 5x8 for about $500 at Menards. Light to pull, not to hard to back, can still turn tight.

The only way you will get used to pulling a trailer is with practice.
good luck

[Ed Ryder]

I only have a basic, gear driven Lesco 48 walk-behind right now with a velke. I was in the business before and got out. Now I'm back in. I work by myself and I'm totally loaded up with customers. I need to get more efficient now. And I absolutely do not want to have any employees.

I really don't like pulling a trailer. It looks like I'll have to deal with it though.

[grassdaddy]

just took my tape measure out to the truck.it's 50"between fenderwells of f350,if you backed it on truck it would fit with tailgate down.i guess you could build up a platform to the top of your fenderwells so you could shut tailgate,you could even have storage underneath.65"wide,less fenderwells.:blob3:

[Ed Ryder]

Actually, I don't use the tailgate. It couldn't handle the weight of the 48 Lesco. The tailgate began to tear.

Thanks for all the advise gentlemen. I'm really curious if there is anyone who routinely loaded a 60 inch hydro walk-behind into the bed of a full-size pick-up and what they thought about it.

Of course I would use a heavy duty metal ramp, like those supplied by Redi-Ramp (www.metko.com/m100main.html)

I was quoted a price of... I think it was $650, plus $75 for shipping for that ramp. It's a big fold-down type of ramp.

I'll probably end up going with a rider and a trailer, but I'm curious about the big walk-behind option.

[rodfather]

Well, my favorite mower out of all of them is a Ferris 61" WB. I would not even think twice about trying to put that beast in the back of a pick up...including my F-350 Power Stroke.

Too dangerous I feel simply cause of its weight and size. Plus, what happens when your ramps are wet? Or have to jam on the brakes? I can just hear that baby slamming into the back of the truck bed...ouch!

[John Gamba]

Take Your tailgate Off and Build A Very Good One. your Rear wheels will Be On It as You drive Make sure It will not go Up And down Like the Original Gate did. your front Tires will ride On the wheel wells. Don't Forget to tie Your mower from the front and the back.
Good luck John.
oh i use to do it with a Turf tracer at 700 pounds.

[HarryD]

why do you hate pulling a trailer so much you would try this :confused:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

You need one of these.......

[lawncare3]

I would have to say go no bigger then a 52". If you get a 60" it might scalp a lot. Just my opinion.

[Scag48]

LGF-Those trucks are so cool. I'm not totally down with that style of truck chassis, but wouldn't one of those new Sterling chassis look pretty nice with that flatbed? I say yes! :cool:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by lawncare3
I would have to say go no bigger then a 52". If you get a 60" it might scalp a lot. Just my opinion.

Is that based off your 15 years of experiance, or your 15 minutes of using a 60" mower at your dealer cause you couldn't afford to buy it.

I am not hammering you because you are 15, but cause you replied to a thread with no prior experiance with a 60" mower of any kind, and your so called equipment lists states you have a 48" Sanpper, that I corrected to Snapper.

BTW I have several 60" mowers and 2 -36" they all will scalp. The enviroment and terrian has a lot to do with it.

SCAG48 Seen them they looook awsome, Low pro too.

[lawncare3]

I tried the neighbors before and it scalped it was a real horse to handle sorry if I pissed anyone off.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by JustALawnGuy
Does anybody here have any experience loading a 60 inch walk-behind into their pick-up?

How difficult is it?

I hate pulling a trailer and I'm wondering if I should just get a 60" walk-behind. Any thoughts on this?

Sooner or later, you'll either have the machine fall off one of the ramps, or a ramp will break. Furthermore, having to throw the ramps in the truck every time you load/unload is a bigger pain in the *** than using any trailer..............Been there done that..... DON'T DO IT.....................
Pete

[John Gamba]

What Lgf Said!!!!!!!!!

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER

I am not hammering you because you are 15, but cause you replied to a thread with no prior experiance with a 60" mower of any kind,.

Now Mikey, remember when you were 15:dizzy: .......Just add a "wee bit" of sugar to those comments.......If you can;)

[EIB]

Guys,
Go to this link, http://www.hooklift.com/newstellarweb/xtralift.html and see want you think of this.

[Doogiegh]

And how much does THAT cost?!?! <G>

[EIB]

I don't know how much. I have a e-mail to them to find out the price. I just came across it and thought it was a good idea. Probably way too much to justifiy.

[lawncare3]

Originally posted by EIB
I don't know how much. I have a e-mail to them to find out the price. I just came across it and thought it was a good idea. Probably way too much to justifiy.

Yea, probaly almost the price of a enclosed trailer. IMHO just get a enclosed trailer for that price.