[mowerconsultant]

The new Hustler ATZ in action........
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[Pecker]

Not without that ROPS!

 

[mowerconsultant]

The job site....
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[proenterprises]

looks nice mower consultant........but out of my $$$$$ range.....


ugh..i need to get some better lawnspayup

 

[mowerconsultant]

The operator stopping to take a break....lol....
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[C & S]

Even if my machine could, (Scag Tiger Cub) I don't think I would have the guts to!

 

[ElephantNest]

Looks like you only have to cut a few feet up the hill. Is this correct? If not, I'd like to see the final product.

 

[dvmcmrhp52]

We cut a retention pond once every three weeks.
Are the rops standard like the 04 exmark or are they optional?
I do like the tires on it,are they standard as well?

 

[Envy Lawn Service]

Well.....first I'm willing to bet that the slope the ATZ is crossing is much steeper than it looks in the picture. I say that for two reasons. ONE is of course judging from the building in the background, the camera may be tilted down on the left, making the slope look flatter than it is. TWO cameras seldom capture an image that does slopes justice, always making them appear to be less of an incline.

I hope you don't mind, but I copied that first picture to send to a friend to adjust vertically in two ways. ONE based on the building in the background and TWO based on the position of the operators head, as we tend to hold our heads level out of habit....well most of the time.

Was a slope meter used to measure where the machine was used? That's about the only way to get a true indication.

Now I give Huslter 2 THUMBS UP for exploring into this area of need.

Now a couple of things I have found strange about the ATZ design are the extended wheelbase and the backwards direction the bar tires are mounted.

I can't figure any other reasoning behind the longer wheel base other than for the benefit of the ROPS installation and that it might have a small effect on how easy the machine would tip backwards. Otherwise, in my mind I can only see negative effects in handling from the long wheelbase.

As for the tires, mounting in that direction would increase forward drive traction. I can also see where that added forward drive traction would help the lower tire get more traction when mowing across slopes. But opposite, the upper tire would have less grip "if" the front end began to turn downhill. In my experience I had came to the conclusion that loss of control was gererally more so the fault of the upper tire loosing grip. Also I would think running the tires in that direction would rob the machine of some needed traction while coming down a hill.

But maybe I am totally wrong here. It wouldn't be the first time, and Hustler's ability to "think outside the box" might be just what makes this machine a true slope master.

Care to comment on any of this???????

 

[mike9497]

umm umm no!

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by LandscapeEscape88
looks nice mower consultant........but out of my $$$$$ range.....

The ATZ prices are as follows:
ATZ, 27HP Kohler / 60", suspension seat. 927178 $11,295
ATZ, 27HP Kohler / 72", suspension seat. 927186 $11,595
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These are MSRP, I am sure your dealer can make you a sweet deal......lol....

 

[DoubleCutter]

Yeah my mower can handle those hills, but I WONT wanna do it with the ROPs on it. No matter what...it aint gonna be pretty Rops, or not at the bottom of that hill
Ill choose to go down with the ship
Plus that heavyset guy adds to the lower center of gravity more than my skinny arse do!!!
Just kiddin...I aint taking my mower through that hay field anyways. Bill

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by ElephantNest
Looks like you only have to cut a few feet up the hill. Is this correct? If not, I'd like to see the final product.

Actually,
I was riding with another Hustler rep calling on dealers showing them the new unit, and this dealer wanted to go play.....
We went to his customers job site and tested this baby out !!
This hill has never been mowed before......it is a newer (last 2 years) exchange in the Buffalo area I-290 + I-990.
They mow the fields and not the hill....so we were the first to mow that hill and we only had a limited amount of time....we only mowed about 1/3 of that hill....
The ATZ was designed with this application in mind....hills and flat land on the same job site....

Later
Pj

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by dvmcmrhp52
We cut a retention pond once every three weeks.
Are the rops standard like the 04 exmark or are they optional?
I do like the tires on it,are they standard as well?

This unit is not the average ZTR, it is a hybrid unit called the Hustler ATZ.....
Check out this thread...
Hustler ATZ Info
The ATZ comes with the ROPS and seat belt standard, and the tires are standard also.

Later
Pj

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by Envy Lawn Service
Was a slope meter used to measure where the machine was used? That's about the only way to get a true indication.

We were not driving in my truck where my handy dandy slope meter resides.....
Here is a pic showing the degree of slope pretty straight on from the level area below...I am guessing it is somewhere between 25 degrees and 35 ???? maybe steeper....I could be wrong...
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[FrankenScagMachines]

Yes it can! eXmark tthp hydro floater w/b will go all over that tiny slope like theres no tomorrow! Much easier on your body (no straining upward like that guy, worrying you might tip) and much safter (not connected to the machine, not strapped on not even sitting on it) much lower center of gravity, no top weight like EVERY rider has. The ATZ is one sweet machine don’t get me wrong it’s downright awesome. But I have a weak stomach for slops and think I’ll stick to my walk behind thanks. I’ve had a couple Z’s on slopes where they were sliding badly, I don’t like the feeling. I know they were not meant for hills like the ATZ, but I just never did like riders of any kind on slopes. With the w/b I’m fully confident and comfortable.
Hope you sell a lot of them! I know of a couple dams around here where they could use that (Monroe Lake and Brookville Reservoir in Indiana) I don’t know what they are currently using, maybe one of your old Hillsiders, those are neat too I think I could be comfortable on that one
Is the ATZ meant to be competitive on flat open ground also like your Super Z? whats the speed on it?

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by Envy Lawn Service


Now a couple of things I have found strange about the ATZ design are the extended wheelbase and the backwards direction the bar tires are mounted.

I can't figure any other reasoning behind the longer wheel base other than for the benefit of the ROPS installation and that it might have a small effect on how easy the machine would tip backwards. Otherwise, in my mind I can only see negative effects in handling from the long wheelbase.

As for the tires, mounting in that direction would increase forward drive traction. I can also see where that added forward drive traction would help the lower tire get more traction when mowing across slopes. But opposite, the upper tire would have less grip "if" the front end began to turn downhill. In my experience I had came to the conclusion that loss of control was gererally more so the fault of the upper tire loosing grip. Also I would think running the tires in that direction would rob the machine of some needed traction while coming down a hill.

But maybe I am totally wrong here. It wouldn't be the first time, and Hustler's ability to "think outside the box" might be just what makes this machine a true slope master.

Care to comment on any of this???????

Sure...
The longer frame makes the unit very stable on the slope when traversing the slope (side to side), it also makes the unit very stable going straight up and down, we actually took this unit to the guardrail on a bet from a non-believer. (he now owes me lunch).
The longer frame has nothing to do with mounting the ROPS, we could do it on a shorter frame also, it has more to do with weight distribution.
The tires being mounted backwards has been argued here before in another ATZ post from a few months back....
The tires mounted backwards help the operator back out of and up dangerous areas, it also really helps the overall traction of the unit...we were able to do a zero turn on this hill and not slide the unit at all....
The added weight in the frame between the wheel motors, the wheel weights, the longer frame and offset rims with bar tread tires mounted backwards make this unit come together like no other ZTR, and you can come right off the slopes to mow everyday jobs.
You really need to run this unit to feel how well it handles slopes...

Later
Pj

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by FrankenScagMachines

Is the ATZ meant to be competitive on flat open ground also like your Super Z? whats the speed on it?

This unit on flat ground will run with any average ZTR, top speed is only 9 mph....

 

[mowerconsultant]

Originally posted by DoubleCutter
that heavyset guy adds to the lower center of gravity more than my skinny arse do!!!l

Here is a pic of the guy with the skinny arse......lol...lol...
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[PetalsandPines]

That man looks familiar.....Is that you Bison Turf?

-Trash Tiger