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32" Zero Turn For Mowing Small Lawns

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Porcupine Lawn and Snow

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello all, I am considering buying a 32" zero turn for mowing a few larger lawns that we have on our residential route because the push mower mowing on bigger lawns is really getting annoying for us. I need a 32" because I need it to fit through 36" gates. I don't want to get any walk behinds like the Toro Turfmaster, Ferris or Wright 32'' walk behinds because I want to sit down.
$7,500 for a 32'' Wright stander is just outrageous for about 15 lawns IMO and it's a stander, which I don't want anyways.

As far as I know my only choices would be residential zero-turns and those are the Toro SS3200 and the Husqvarna RZ3016 which is a 30''

I want to know if there are any other choices besides those two and if they are commercial or residential. Thank you very much!
 
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#2 ·
Hey Porcupine, not too many choices in that size, I would just get a walk-behind, I think a 32" rider is a waste, very narrow, will be terrible on only slope, likely rut, etc. Just my opinion, ferris 32" hydrocut is a good option, I feel a rider should be atleast 40" to make it practical.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
locallawncare.ca said:
Hey Porcupine, not too many choices in that size, I would just get a walk-behind, I think a 32" rider is a waste, very narrow, will be terrible on only slope, likely rut, etc. Just my opinion, ferris 32" hydrocut is a good option, I feel a rider should be atleast 40" to make it practical.
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I started researching and I found a sit down sulky... http://www.havenerent.com/index.php...iew=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=686&virtuemart_category_id=9&Itemid=96

Pretty Cool Eh?
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
C & T Landscaping said:
According to the Exmark 2013 catalog, the Metro (Model MG481KA322P) is a 32" cut. It is a walk behind though, like stated above, the choices are slim at this size.
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I LOVE the ECS controls!! But 2 things... I don't like the service at the eXmark dealer and it's a fixed deck.
 
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#7 ·
A sulky is in your way on small jobs. I was not happy with a small rider on res jobs, but a small z sounds like what you want and it will do fine. The larger the tire the better they are. It was terrible "joy" riding my buddy's little cubby. I think it was 40ish". It has a 20 something Briggs engine but the dang deck belt slipped terrible(and was why he asked me to look it over) It had no adjustment so we finagled it tighter with some "precise" bending and hammering. The little tires wouldn't barely turn it around on anything other than level ground. It was touchy steering and rough going. Still I had the same thought with our last big Z. I didn't want to stand or walk when I could sit and I am glad I bought another Z. Also the little cubby didn't load on trailers very well from the deck hitting and hanging up on the trailer he said. Food for thought.
Get yourself a little Z, I would do the same if I was you.
 
#9 ·
Yeah 32 ferris is your best bet, it isn't a floating deck, but is easily adjusted, I think you need a 36" exmark for floating deck, but it would be belt drive, or a 36 TT which is pricey. Best bang for the buck is ferris 32" I think new they are 3500, there is lots of used ones on Kijiji for like 2500ish. I wouldn't use a sulky with it though, because you still have to steer it manually because its only a single hydro, but steering is almost effortless as the front end is very light and the hydro makes it easy to forward and reverse. If you want a bigger WB I have a 48" Turf Tracer, with 17hp Kaw, electric start and power OCDC for sale for $2500.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
twomancrew said:
A sulky is in your way on small jobs. I was not happy with a small rider on res jobs, but a small z sounds like what you want and it will do fine. The larger the tire the better they are. It was terrible "joy" riding my buddy's little cubby. I think it was 40ish". It has a 20 something Briggs engine but the dang deck belt slipped terrible(and was why he asked me to look it over) It had no adjustment so we finagled it tighter with some "precise" bending and hammering. The little tires wouldn't barely turn it around on anything other than level ground. It was touchy steering and rough going. Still I had the same thought with our last big Z. I didn't want to stand or walk when I could sit and I am glad I bought another Z. Also the little cubby didn't load on trailers very well from the deck hitting and hanging up on the trailer he said. Food for thought.
Get yourself a little Z, I would do the same if I was you.
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Yeah, that's exactly the way I'm thinking because I want a Z because I like to sit while mowing :) and the Toro 3200SS has fairly large wheels.

KrazyKajun - I still don't know how much they are because LocalLawnCare.ca hasn't replied yet. And I need him to reply because he is in my price area. And then I'll see....
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
locallawncare.ca said:
Yeah 32 ferris is your best bet, it isn't a floating deck, but is easily adjusted, I think you need a 36" exmark for floating deck, but it would be belt drive, or a 36 TT which is pricey. Best bang for the buck is ferris 32" I think new they are 3500, there is lots of used ones on Kijiji for like 2500ish. I wouldn't use a sulky with it though, because you still have to steer it manually because its only a single hydro, but steering is almost effortless as the front end is very light and the hydro makes it easy to forward and reverse. If you want a bigger WB I have a 48" Turf Tracer, with 17hp Kaw, electric start and power OCDC for sale for $2500.
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I need to do my research first before deciding.
Thanks for your offer but no because I have a 52'' Wright Sentar already and I need a "backyard mower'' :)
 
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#13 ·
the mower im working on right now is a gravely 34" ZTR. Its a homeowner unit though...and I don't know if it will fit through a 36 inch gate. I know it will not with the bagger on it, but Id have to do some measuring if you were using one as a mulcher only.

Aries and gravely both made them. Mine is a Gravely ZT-1534. I think they also make a commercial 34 inch, but not sure. You would have to do some checking to see if the would fit through a 36 inch gate.

Here is a link to the Aries:
http://www.ariens.com/products/riding-mowers/zoom-zero-turn/Pages/default.aspx
I didn't see a spec for overall width though.
 
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Discussion starter · #14 ·
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#16 ·
The WBs weigh something similar to those small Zs, plus if you use a sulky, then rutting is not something youll avoid with e WB!

Im currently researching the same thing, Im quite sure now I've narrowed it down to the husky 30", its the only one I can leave the catcher on the back but just removed the chute to get through gates. Its also 100 lbs lighter than the timecutter, lighter is important for me with residential lawns to avoid rutting. My motive for a new purchase is to make work easier in the heat of summer as well as get through it quicker, so man handling a WB isn't going to be a great deal different, actually more work than a 21" SP.

A stand behind would be good, however they are too expensive as you say! I know this is just as expensive but have you looked at the Ferris Evolution, it prob doesn't suit though I think its 36" & you need to get through 36" gates.
 
#17 ·
If you are really dead set on an ~32'' cut ZTR, there is the Dixon SpeedZTR 30'' or the Snapper 150Z with the 33'' deck, as well as the choices you mentioned above.

Our Snapper rider with the 33'' deck lasted 17 years of a lot of use before it cracked around the spindle...but we're getting a new deck put on and a major tuneup so it'll probably go for another 15 years depending on how the engine holds up.
 
#18 ·
WillsLandscape said:
If you are really dead set on an ~32'' cut ZTR, there is the Dixon SpeedZTR 30'' or the Snapper 150Z with the 33'' deck, as well as the choices you mentioned above.

Our Snapper rider with the 33'' deck lasted 17 years of a lot of use before it cracked around the spindle...but we're getting a new deck put on and a major tuneup so it'll probably go for another 15 years depending on how the engine holds up.
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The Dixon is the same as the Husky just badged diff & diff engine option.

Do you mind if I ask what the width at widest point of your 33" Snapper is? Also if you have had a bagger on it & how easy/difficult it would be to remove the chute for bagger.
 
#20 ·
greenology said:
The Dixon is the same as the Husky just badged diff & diff engine option.

Do you mind if I ask what the width at widest point of your 33" Snapper is? Also if you have had a bagger on it & how easy/difficult it would be to remove the chute for bagger.
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Some Dixons and Huskys did look similar, as did their website....I'm not surprised.

Our Snapper rider is actually on of their rear engine riding mowers, steering wheel and gear shift. I don't have the model number with me so I can't give you the dimensions of that particular model, but the new 33'' version of the rider is 37'' wide. This probably includes the chute in the 'down' position.

The 150Z is 38'' wide, again, probably with the chute down. I didn't read back in the thread so I don't know if you have 36'' gates, but it would be a REALLY tight squeeze.

I assume you mean for the bagger chute, the plastic tube that directs the clippings up into the bags. I assume what you intend to do is leave the bagger assembly minus the chute on the mower to quickly change between bagging and discharging? Well, it is simply the mounting bracket that goes on the deck (attaches with 1 wing nut and slides under a part on the discharge chute) and the tube. Probably takes 1 minute to remove if you get good at it.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any other questions!
 
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Porcupine Lawn and Snow
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