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32" that can utilize a sulky

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cold-beer

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Greeting's from the Pacific NW. We use mostly trim mowers for residential here with how wet it is and the size of the properties. The 30" Exmark/Toro mowers have become really popular the last few years, especially with the new kohler motor. I'm looking to step up to a bigger walk behind mower, but I would like the option of a sulky.

I have several properties (13) that are small empty lots. They range between 5k and 10k as far as square feet. I do them monthly and bi-weekly for a realtor. They're empty lots that have not been developed yet. She's going to hook me up with several more in march. I'm looking for a small walk behind that can utilize a sulky to make quick work of them but also be used for some of my residential accounts.

My Toro 21" commercial mowers are my work horses, but this mower would probably do around 10 properties a week. I might be able to get away with a more residential type mower, if they make a decent one.

Suggestions????
 
#2 ·
Your only option that comes to mind would be a T-bar toro 32" and they haven't been made in atleast 20 years. Step up to a 36" or push one of those 30 inchers around.
 
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#5 ·
Scag still has a 32 belt drive which should handle sulky just fine.

empty lots, why not go larger. With larger tires (more displacement), you have less rutting issues than using a 32, especially with a sulky.

My SIL/BIL live in Salem, Or. Past 10 years, SE TN has gotten on average 12 more inches of rain per year than Salem. Only once in 10 years has Salem had more rain (1.5). Just saying that to help ease your mind on going larger.
 
Discussion starter · #6 · (Edited)
Bfish said:
Scag still has a 32 belt drive which should handle sulky just fine.

empty lots, why not go larger. With larger tires (more displacement), you have less rutting issues than using a 32, especially with a sulky.

My SIL/BIL live in Salem, Or. Past 10 years, SE TN has gotten on average 12 more inches of rain per year than Salem. Only once in 10 years has Salem had more rain (1.5). Just saying that to help ease your mind on going larger.
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Wouldn't fit on my trailer. Also, different type of soil, and different type of rain. The pacific NW is DAMP. It gets less inches of rain than places like Atlanta or New Orleans, but it's also overcast for weeks on end. The main reason, trim mowers are the industry standard here is the size of the properties. Same with CA.

Anyways, I would also like to use this mower on some of my other residential properties. A 36" won't fit through a lot of gates around here. Anything over 40" would be pretty worthless in this market. Most of my Properties are in the 2k square foot range. Nothing cuts better than a commercial 21" bagging with a high lift blade, and a 2k yard only takes 10-15 minutes to mow with a trim mower.
 
#7 ·
So what are you asking?
 
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Discussion starter · #8 · (Edited)
hal said:
So what are you asking?
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Who makes a 32" that can utilize a sulky. One poster has suggested a scag. I'm going to look into that. I got Toro and xmark here, and neighter of them make a 32" that can use a sulky. I don't want to go any bigger than a 32" because i would have to get a different trailer, and I want to use this mower on some of my residential properties, which are mostly very small.
 
#9 ·
Google it........
 
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#10 ·
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#13 ·
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#14 ·
I just googled those in 5 minutes......
 
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#15 ·
I think it depends on the weight of the operator and the degree of the slopes you need to operate on to a large degree. You might need to put a weight on the front to keep from doing wheelies. Just because a manufacturer recommends against something doesn't mean that it can't be done. An experienced operator can do a lot of things that aren't recommended. Often the manufacturers are just covering their behinds. I'm probably not alone doing things every day that aren't recommended.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I have a 32" metro and if the soil is constantly wet, you will see depressions, or ruts on the lawn from the tires. And with a single wheel sulky, you might see one there too. We never used a sulky. We used the 30" mowers now, or a 48 if we have access and the lawn is big enough.

The only advantage I would say of the 32 would be if you were cutting a hill and doing passes horizontal on the hill, or bagging since the bag holds more than the 30".

And we used to use the Honda homeowner HRX but the transmission and the wheels would last less than 2 years, and the transmission took about 6 hours to replace.
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Hurryupelectric said:
Is the sulky on such small properties even really worth the trouble finding something to pul it? I've run my sw15 on all but my biggest accounts fairly quickly. It would eat a 30" for breakfast with little doubt.
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A sulky on a 1/4 acre property saves your feet if your doing 10-15 properties a day in the spring. I only do a few properties that size a day, but it would be nice to just rest a bit on those properties. I really think it depends on the user. I'm in shape for my age, but father time is starting to catch up to me. I feel like I would have less to do on my catch up day with a sulky. Pushing through those last few properties of the day would be easier if I wasn't running m 30" on them.
 
#20 ·
cold-beer said:
Pushing through those last few properties of the day would be easier if I wasn't running m 30" on them.
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I definitely understand using a 30. Using a sulky here and there is understandable. I just still remember the breath of fresh air when I went from the Turfmaster to the snapper 32", just having reverse and swivel wheels changes the whole situation dramatically.
 
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Hurryupelectric
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