Fixed sulky vs. trailing sulky

[Joel B.]

The recent post about the dual mode sulky got me thinking about something.

Imagine you are running a fixed sulky behind a hydro walkbehind and you're mowing next to a curb with the curb being on your left. You come to the corner of the yard and want to make a 90 degree turn to your right and continue mowing. When you make that turn, will the sulky end up swinging into the street? Or say you're trimming along a bed on your left and want to make a 90 degree turn to the right, will the sulky swing into the bed?

I would think those would be good places for a trailing sulky, but then there's the problem of jackknifing when backing up.

Maybe that dual mode sulky would be the way to go. You could use it in the trailing mode for trimming around the edges and switch to the fixed mode when you work your way into the yard and have more room.

What do you think?

Joel B.

[FrankenScagMachines]

same as a front mount mower right? i mean, they have that "problem" of having stuff sticking out behind them on turns. Dont' know how much of a problem it really is, but it would be the same IMO...The wider the deck on the mower the less it is. I wouldn't switch modes on every yard either, if it was for a big hill and i wanted trailing mode i'd switch but not for something like you described, i'd work around it. takes time to stop and make the switch even if not much, but time is money!!

[GrassMaster84]

I have a velke trailing sulky, when backing up my walkbehind I use a rubber strap and raise it off the ground so I don't have to worry about jack-knifing.

[John Gamba]

PRO-SLIDE :D :D :D

[Envy Lawn Service]

Originally posted by John Gamba
PRO-SLIDE :D :D :D

I just can't imagine sliding all 200 Lbs of me around a lawn :D

[MTR]

Yes, Joel B, it sticks your rear out just like that, let alone all the divots that will fly if you go fast 5 mph and make 90*. I watched big LCO last seasons running a large 52" Toro T-bar with Tru Trak working on large-size lawn with high speed complementing Toro Z master on another side and it moved like big "long sumarine", you imagine... cutting with that long "boat"? I stay with trailing type sulky for good, it "snakes" well into tight landscape without sticking your rear out which will cause somewhat damage to tree and fixture if your not careful.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Joel B.
What do you think?

Joel B.

Well, as a "professional", it's just no problem. I have the fixed/castored bullrider and a "long" Hustler WB, and it's just not an issue for someone that has a bit of intelligence. Sorry, to be blunt.... just use your head, and turn out from the curb just a bit, and then "zeroturn" the WB, and you're fine. By your question, I can see why guy's still haven't realized the advantage of a Hustler WB, with H steering and a castored sulky.......
Good luck,
Pete

[John Gamba]

Envy
I'm Right now 230 When i Use to use The walks with The pro slide i was 212. The Pro slide Is Better fitted For a heavier Mower Like Turf tracers That's all ive ever Had from exmark. Now That my doctor has told me To get Off The riders I'm going to Get Out this year with the 2002 TT With pro slide as My Personal Choice. I Do have other Sullkys On Hand But when You have Used a Pro Slde and Get Use to The Instant Retaction the best Ride And a SUPER STRIPE To Boot Theres No Other choice. I Can tell You about some of the minor Problems But i Think You Should Buy One and experience It your Self. Here Is a Picture (not- Digital-Scaned) With A 2001 Turf tracer With the pro slide.

Happy New Year
Johnny G.:cool: :cool:

[John Gamba]

Here is a bigger one. My first time shrinking a scanned picture.
John

[FrankenScagMachines]

John and anyone else with a proslide,
how does it pull on hills? I mean behind my 52" Scag hydro fixed deck w/b. I'm not too keen on the idea of stepping off around turns and getting back on, but I like the idea of it automatically retracting for backing up, etc. I'm going to make a striping flap AND either rear roller (like Checkmate since it's not floating deck) or chain kit for it as well. Currently using two wheel trailering sulky and not looking to switch but was curious bout Proslide. Thanks
Eric

[John Gamba]

Eric
Your Better Off With a Higher HP Mower. ButI Have No real problems going Up hills but like i Said i Have Only used it On Turf tracers That are 700 pounds and the 2002 TT Seams to handle it Better than The older ones. I think it's The Bigger tiers And heavier deck And deck carrier. The Instant Retraction is Great When You have those Steep Short Hills Or you are stabing With the deck. You do Not have to get Off the Pro In turnes I Have ridden The Pro Down the street With no problems And going Under trees Is easy It's So low You Just get down and mow. If You put Some Weight On Your front end You Shoul have No problems It Only Like 10 Or 15 pounds.
John

[mklawnman]

I have a trailering velkie on my 52inch Scag and most of the time when making turns by landscape beds and such its not a real big problem of driving into the beds. You have to watch out alittle but with the bigger deck its not a problem of going in the beds anyhow.
We rarely backup with the WB because yes it does jack-nife but when and if we do backup we just step off the velkie straighten it up and go again no biggy. Its low enough to the ground that when going under trees i can just bend down some and zoom under the trees with ease, and it also acts like a stripping kit. I dont think those pro-slides would work well on a Scag Fixed deck due to the less weight up front, those Exmark TT have a hanging deck which has alot more weight up front to handle someone hanging on the back.
Matt

[JLC]

I've got a ProSlide on my 17 horse Hustler WB. The only time I step off the slider is on steep hills and stabbing under trees, etc. The rest of the time I'm on it. On a turn with the curb on my left...I just turn. The slider will kick partially off the curb and ride right back up. The proslide is great.

John, it looks like you've got a broken spring on your ProSlide. How are your shins? I know from experience.

[John Gamba]

Jlc
No Broken spring Just some Grass That Gets In There to make it Hang. I Do Know what you are talking about though I hit A big root going Down a Hill one day(DAM) that hurt. You just Have to be able To Run Your heels Off the Back a little.
Have a great new Year
John.

[cos]

I had the opprutunity to use a pro slide from another member. Man that thing is way cool.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by cos
I had the opprutunity to use a pro slide from another member. Man that thing is way cool.

Am I missing something..... I tried it....... you can't back up fast or far with any safety, since back part will catch on stuff and you can't mow backwards unless you are crazy. I do these things on a regular basis with my machine.......I guess if I was mowing like I did 5 years ago it would be OK....
Pete

[Kent Lawns]

Originally posted by Joel B.
but then there's the problem of jackknifing when backing up.



What do you think?

Joel B.

No problem backing up once you're used to it! Just like you're trailer.

I only know of 1 company that makes the dual mode one. We bought it in 2001 and used it for 2 weeks. Fornutunely we were able to sell it without too much of a loss.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Kent Lawns
No problem backing up once you're used to it! Just like you're trailer.

I only know of 1 company that makes the dual mode one. We bought it in 2001 and used it for 2 weeks. Fornutunely we were able to sell it without too much of a loss.

Sorry, backing up is one thing, but you "CAN'T" Mow at 3/4/5 mph backward, with anything but a castored velky...........As a solo operator, I want to make money for my efforts, and a trailing velky or proslide is just outdated. However, if you sent back the "only" duel mode velky, which is the Bullrider, I now understand why you still are satisified fiddling with anything else.
Pete

[MTR]

No problem backing up once you're used to it! Just like you're trailer.
---------------------------------------------------

I totally agreed with Ken Lawn just said. It is same principle you back up your trailer into your garage...as you back up your trailing sulky out.
I doubt it anyone mowing "backward" 3/4/5 mph on Wb not too keen on that..,even those ZTR guys don't do neither, just a "snap" 180* turn and here we go again would be much easier.
Oh well, dual mode Bullrider has its advantage but I have not seen any of them as many as trailing sulkies in my areas...so we have to see how popular it is gonna be, by then we use the Z all the way, though...

Best regards,

[darryl gesner]

I have the BullRider and always run it in fixed mode on my Exmark TTHP 48. I like how the controls stay right in front of me instead of having to twist at the waist on turns and get my arms all tangled up.

Keep in mind that it's harder to run a straight line on hilly terrain in fixed mode...probably because your weight affects the mower more than in trailer mode.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by MTR


I totally agreed with Ken Lawn just said. It is same principle you back up your trailer into your garage...as you back up your trailing sulky out.
I doubt it anyone mowing "backward" 3/4/5 mph on Wb not too keen on that..,even those ZTR guys don't do neither, just a "snap" 180* turn and here we go again would be much easier.


Sorry, but backing up at 3/4/5 mph and/or mowing is normal everyday stuff to me. This is my point. Just because you guy's haven't seen the advantages of a Bullrider on a Hustler WB, doesn't make me wrong. Actually, it's you guy's that are in the stone age about mowing. The Hustler automatically tracks perfectly straight frontwards or backwards. This is the beauty of the Hustler control system, even compared to backing up a ZTR and Standers or whatever. So, since you havent used this combo I'll forgive your ignorance:p
Pete

[MTR]

Pete, I really appreciate your enlightening of us here about sulky and "Hustler" I have learned quite a lot from what you have said, so thank you very much.
I am sure that Hustler is one of kick-ss products but in my region they are sitting just in dealer showroom, I think they are way too "expensive " for us to afford one. 90% of LCO here has eXmark, and Dixie Chopper and Toro as ZTR, Bunton/Bobcat and Scag rule WB section, where is Hustler? I have seen only one guy using mini Z the entire last season, some even don't know what is it? Is that amazing?
So I think if it is really good to its name, we should see more of Hustler product running around or being hauled on everyone trailers in near future...

best regards,

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by MTR
I am sure that Hustler is one of kick-ss products but in my region they are sitting just in dealer showroom, I think they are way too "expensive " for us to afford one.
best regards,

FWIW, here's what I here. First, the Hustler hydro 48" with 17 kaw and floating deck is "less than" $4,900. As I understand that's pretty good. Also, you can usually find from a good dealer a leftover or demo for much less. How much is a Scag or Exmark equiped the same way???? I think you need to call Hustler, ask them for a dealer and tell them your problem. FYI, I bought both my machines as leftovers and saved a bundle.
Pete