Getting an Exmark Turf Tracer Next Year, Have Some Questions

[Church2224]

Well I appreciate all of the help everyone. I am demoing a Turf Tracer 48 inch this Friday, so I cannot wait to try it. I will post my opinion on it in this thread.

[32vld]

You have more hours then lawns to mow. So don't confuse a want with a need.

I get by with a 20 push and a 42 JD rider.

I want to upgrade to a 36 WB for the small gates, and have avoided props with steep hills because I don't want to do them with a 20 push. Tired of doing the few backs that I have. Good thing they are level and small. I want at a 48 (which i can do just by buying a new deck $1,000) because most gates today are 5'. So I can use the 48 front and back.

If I had a 60 I'd have to use the 60 in the front and a 36 in the back with the props with small gates. To me I think using a 48 front and back would be just as quick as using a 60 front and 36 in the back.

As you see there are many things to consider.

Thing to remember is when you don't have the money to buy what you really want to fill a need, to spend that money is wasting it. This is when regret comes in an people then say it was not what I really wanted, I should of bought the.....

You may pick up so many .75 - 1 acre lawns you will regret not buying that 60. Or you may pick up so many .25 - .5 acre lawns you will regret not buying a 48. Then you picked up so many .25 - .33 acres with small gates you will regret not buying a 36.

You have 15 customers. Say you average 1 hr per lawn = 15 hr per week. You have 25 hrs that have to be filled up.
You don't what type of lawns they will be so how do you know what size to buy?

I'm saving my money and waiting to see what new lawns fill up my schedule so I buy a mower that matches the work I have.

If money was not a problem it would be nice to have mowers of 20", 36", 48", 60". Do all the small mower props one day. The large props another day. Just load the trailer accordingly.

[Church2224]

Originally Posted by 32vld

You have more hours then lawns to mow. So don't confuse a want with a need.

I get by with a 20 push and a 42 JD rider.

I want to upgrade to a 36 WB for the small gates, and have avoided props with steep hills because I don't want to do them with a 20 push. Tired of doing the few backs that I have. Good thing they are level and small. I want at a 48 (which i can do just by buying a new deck $1,000) because most gates today are 5'. So I can use the 48 front and back.

If I had a 60 I'd have to use the 60 in the front and a 36 in the back with the props with small gates. To me I think using a 48 front and back would be just as quick as using a 60 front and 36 in the back.

As you see there are many things to consider.

Thing to remember is when you don't have the money to buy what you really want to fill a need, to spend that money is wasting it. This is when regret comes in an people then say it was not what I really wanted, I should of bought the.....

You may pick up so many .75 - 1 acre lawns you will regret not buying that 60. Or you may pick up so many .25 - .5 acre lawns you will regret not buying a 48. Then you picked up so many .25 - .33 acres with small gates you will regret not buying a 36.

You have 15 customers. Say you average 1 hr per lawn = 15 hr per week. You have 25 hrs that have to be filled up.
You don't what type of lawns they will be so how do you know what size to buy?

I'm saving my money and waiting to see what new lawns fill up my schedule so I buy a mower that matches the work I have.

Money was not a problem It would be nice to have mowers of 20", 36", 48", 60". Do all the small mower props one day. The large props another day. Just load the trailer accordingly.

I plan on expanding to larger yards and even more smaller yards next year, which is why I am planning ahead so I know what to get when the time comes. Also I am demoing it on my largest yard on Friday so I will know if it is worth it or not.

Plus something that will save me even more time that I can afford is much needed, as I am also a full time student and work another job. I lack any free time, so a few hours to catch up on sleep, any house work or to play guitar would be a nice change of things.

[Church2224]

Well I just got back from demoing the 48 inch TT S Series at my dealer.

I got to say the ECS controls are very comfortable. I have tendonitis in both of my hands and I did not notice it whole running the Turf Tracer. It is much easier to control than I expected. Cut quality on it is very good. After owning an Exmark 21 and noticing the excellent cut quality on that mower I can see they want to have the same excellent cut on all of their units. I also too a look at the Toro Grandstand, it was a good unit, I just prefer the walk behinds and ztrs more than stand ones, especially with the velky.

I know I am coming home with a Turf Tracer soon, that is for certain.

I also went to my local Hustler dealer afterwards and demoed the Super Z and X One.... am in love with both of these ZTRs, I haven ever seen anything like them! They ride so well and the cut is just impeccable. While out of my price range once I Their Trimstar looked good too, just did not have the chance to try one out. They also had Encore walk behinds too. They were well built, just the pistol grips bugged the hell out of me.

[MGenay]

I bought a 48in TT this spring. 15hp Kawi. I have nothing bad to say about the mower except watch out for the fuel filter(mine started leaking before I got the recall notice). The cut quality is excellent, the power is reasonable, stripes very well with a kit (never tried without honestly). Id say you are going the right direction with a 48. I do roughly the same size yards, I am in your situation (full time student), its worth the money.

Here is my advice though:

First, if you do landscaping more than 50% of the time like I do, buy a good dump trailer to put your mower in. I did not, and while just having a trailer made jobs exponentially easier, a dump trailer would've been worth the 7 grand or so for a good nice one that would last a decade plus, you can pick up an actual mower trailer down the road.

Second, you really only need 1 push mower. I have 2 Craftsman push mowers (had em for close to a decade now, gives you an idea how young I started ******* around with this stuff). I only keep one on the trailer with me. I am not too happy with the cut quality, though the style I have is absolutely excellent at bagging (I bag everything). If they would die I would buy a better one, but they are indestructible. I can't personally comment on the qualities of other push mowers or even new Craftsman's, but if you're anal like me, do a little research and pick up a ONE nice one and your should be set for awhile.

I bought mine for the same reasons as you bought yours. I thought it would be a good starting block, and it is, however, if you bag you start to see the advantages of other mowers. I bag everything, and in a couple years when I graduate I'll make a decision to either stick with this or go get a job. If I do stick with it, I'll purchase a 48in Walker and a 60in Lazer with bagger. Just a better system, chops the grass up finer, less time emptying, etc. Now all that said, if I was starting over new I'd still buy a 48in TT to start off with. It is just a good starting block and nice to have in the inventory, if you bag, pick up an Accelerator bagger, worth the price, OEM one is ****.

Regarding attachments and what not. I forget how much the striper was, $300 bucks I think? Idk its worth it in my opinion, however, I've never cut without it. The only thing thats annoying is it misses a small strip between it and the wheels, this goes away after a couple weeks of striping though. Like I said, the Exmark bagger is trash, don't waste the money. The sulky is $500 bucks. I'd like one, but I'm a cheap bastard, I'd only use it for about 15% of my mowing time so I'm looking to find a used one. Depends on what you're doing. Thing stripes like nothing else, I'd upload some pictures but lawnsite hates me.

I have the 15hp Kawi, its pretty good until you starting cutting off 6 inches of soaking wet grass.

[thecuttingedgelawn]

I haven't read all the replies but I have a 48" Turf Tracer HP 48"/19hp, which is basically an S just a couple yrs older. I love it. Stripes like nothing else even without a stripe kit. Your not going to notice much difference with the 52" but they handle hills and ditches like a champ and if you have a Proslide like I do, you can really scream. (or a stand on) As for scalping your not going to notice any difference with the 48" to 52" but if you were to say somehow look at the 60" then you would probably notice a few more here and there. As for the gates, unless there are huge back yards I would stick with the 21 and 22s and just get a 48" or 52". I also like the advice to look for two really nice and maintained used ones that you could pick up for about what you would spend on one new one. Then you would be set for awhile and be able to knock lots of grass out in a hurry.

[Church2224]

Originally Posted by thecuttingedgelawn

I haven't read all the replies but I have a 48" Turf Tracer HP 48"/19hp, which is basically an S just a couple yrs older. I love it. Stripes like nothing else even without a stripe kit. Your not going to notice much difference with the 52" but they handle hills and ditches like a champ and if you have a Proslide like I do, you can really scream. (or a stand on) As for scalping your not going to notice any difference with the 48" to 52" but if you were to say somehow look at the 60" then you would probably notice a few more here and there. As for the gates, unless there are huge back yards I would stick with the 21 and 22s and just get a 48" or 52". I also like the advice to look for two really nice and maintained used ones that you could pick up for about what you would spend on one new one. Then you would be set for awhile and be able to knock lots of grass out in a hurry.

Thank you for the advice. I honestly cannot wait to get this mower now. I tried out the 48 inch the other day and fell in love with it. I am still not sure about getting the smaller 36 unit, I might forgo that and save up for a 52 inch full size X series for my bigger yards.

Also how do you like the Ferris? I have a dealer about twenty minutes from me and the units I saw looked like they were built well.

[thecuttingedgelawn]

I love my Ferris. The suspension makes it ride so nice, and along with my deluxe high back lumbar seat, my 86 yr old dad loves to use it too and says it doesn't beat him around, He told me "its like mowing in my recliner". The Cut is very good, not quite what my Exmark does, but still very good. And I have yet to work on it, and it has plenty of power. Its built like a tank. And I too have a dealer that's very closeby, about 3 miles from my house.

[KV9064]

I'm looking at the Exmark Turf Tracer S 48" non electric start dealer quoted $6500.00 + Tax.

ok I can get a Hustler Trimstar 48" for $4675.00 thats alot of $$ difference, I can get the Trimstar add a ProSlide Sulky and an Accelerator bagger and not spend as much as the Exmark. Dont get me wrong I'd love to have an Exmark but cant see giving that much more for one. Plus I really like the way the deck height adjustment is compared to the Exmark.

Also the Snapper Pro SW20 48" is about the same price as the Trimstar but havent got the chance to Demo one yet.

[thecuttingedgelawn]

I paid about $6600 or $6700 for my electric start TTHP. I know its a pretty hefty chunk of cash, but I wouldn't trade it for any other walk behind.