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Looking at purchasing a new commercial mower looking for recommendations

5K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  ksp107 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a new home , 4.5 acres and have some very steep hills and very very rough ground … I’m currently using a 2017 scag patriot 61 cut 23.5 Kawasaki …overall mower does a decent job seems a lil underpowered going up some of the hills but the roughness of my yard and this mower aren’t helping my back , kidneys or the condition of the mower for that matter … I have a good friend in law care business he has told me heavier duty the mower the better the ride will be .. he blames my patriot on being a entry level commercial so it’s a lighter machine and bounces more ..he’s got a big commercial toro can’t think of model right this minute but it does seem to run smoother watching him … I have a neighbor who has 2 725d grasshopper front mount mowers one has a expensive air ride seat man what a difference Versus my scag really impressed by the overall feel and ability of the mower , I’ve been looking at Ferris because of the 4 wheel suspension but with that being said I’m concerned about the cut being uneven / scalping due to movement in suspension … but I’m open to looking at others .. hoping for some recommendations here … not wanting to break the bank but don’t care paying for quality .. wanting a long term mower nothing I’m gonna replace every couple years and something that will run every week without constant repairs …
 
#2 ·
@Willtow

You are going to find alot of tough love here on Lawnsite over this. Obviously the 2200(2300) series and up full size Ferris commercial zero turn mowers with the 4 full point suspension system and their best full luxury suspension operators seat is in my opinion going to be the most comfortable sit down zero turn one can get at the moment.

With that stated, learning how to best operate the machine on your lawn will serve you well. Take your time with a new mower what ever you decide to get. The Ferris mowers with full suspension work great as long as you are controlled and know how to operate the machine. Don't drive them like a mad person at full speed. Do not jerk around the controls. Smooth and comfortable speed for all aspects of your properties intricacies. Then you should'nt have any issues.

You can call or email(from their website) Ferris and try to get a Demo brought to you by a Ferris product Demo specialist. Right to your yard generally. Give it a whirl!

Also having a great dealer is also a key to your purchase going forward.

Good luck!
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the reply … I’ve been talking to dealers etc in my area a lot of mixed reviews on the Ferris all do say the same as you did running wide open on rough terrain will not get it done correctly on the Ferris … tested out a toro with myride susp. Wasn’t impressed … the grasshopper I mentioned would be top contender for me but the 18k price kills it as I said don’t care to pay for quality but I have a limit as most do …
 
#4 ·
have some very steep hills and very very rough ground
Your idea of steep and rough may be different from mine. A photo or two might help to give recommendations.

How much of the 4.5 acres do you actually mow?

Have you considered a stander so your legs could absorb the jolts? Some people find their backs tolerate rough mowing better when standing than when seated.
 
#6 ·
I suppose the 23 hp Kawasaki may be a bit underpowered for a 61" deck, but it sounds as if the main issue is the quality of ride. As former farm land, you may have the issue I have with my rural mowing -- residual furrows left from plowed fields that were not well smoothed. I used to have a Turf Tiger (first generation) with the standard seat. It was a back killer. When springs in the seat mercifully blew out after a couple years I replaced the seat with a Turf Tiger suspension seat. It was a pretty standard suspension seat design and being OEM Scag it was expensive, but by the local dealer combining it with a Scag order I saved enough on the cost of shipping to Hawaii that it was comparable to a generic suspension seat.

Anyway, it was some of the best money I have ever spent. I was able to mow comfortably a a speed close to 50% faster than I could tolerate with the standard seat. My point is that you probably do not need the best suspension seat to see a great improvement over a standard seat. I do not know the seat design on the Patriot, but you might consider trying a replacement of the seat with a mid-level suspension seat.

I now run a Turf Tiger 2 with a 72" deck. Such a machine would be overkill for the acreage you are mowing, but with the wide open area shown in the photos you could be done in a little over an hour. I know people who have Tiger Cats (in my area there are very few commercial grade ztrs that are not Scag) and find them to be great machines. Perhaps you could get a good price on the Patriot and buy a Tiger Cat if a simple seat upgrade was not going to suffice.
 
#7 ·
The 23.5hp is borderline but after figuring out correct height of cut etc I'm ok with power a lil more would be nice tho … everyone local recommends the seat upgrade but dealer says not to as controls are short and would need to be lengthened which isn't a issue I have metal and welder on hand … then he starts on seat safety switch says no one makes a good seat with compatible wiring …again I wish mine was not working now lol …. Overall I'm not disappointed in the patriot for the price point and overall experience I've had so far it's a good machine I just feel the hills and terrain are hard on it not being a heavy machine
 
#8 ·
I recently purchased a new home , 4.5 acres and have some very steep hills and very very rough ground … I'm currently using a 2017 scag patriot 61 cut 23.5 Kawasaki …overall mower does a decent job seems a lil underpowered going up some of the hills but the roughness of my yard and this mower aren't helping my back , kidneys or the condition of the mower for that matter … I have a good friend in law care business he has told me heavier duty the mower the better the ride will be .. he blames my patriot on being a entry level commercial so it's a lighter machine and bounces more ..he's got a big commercial toro can't think of model right this minute but it does seem to run smoother watching him … I have a neighbor who has 2 725d grasshopper front mount mowers one has a expensive air ride seat man what a difference Versus my scag really impressed by the overall feel and ability of the mower , I've been looking at Ferris because of the 4 wheel suspension but with that being said I'm concerned about the cut being uneven / scalping due to movement in suspension … but I'm open to looking at others .. hoping for some recommendations here … not wanting to break the bank but don't care paying for quality .. wanting a long term mower nothing I'm gonna replace every couple years and something that will run every week without constant repairs …
The ferris deck is tied into the suspension. As the front wheel move up and down, the deck moves right along with them. It actually improves quality of cut. The ride is really nice
 
#10 ·
I'm close to going a totally different direction … can't get any local dealer to demo anything they don't have extra mowers … I was able to use a friends John Deere z930m with the best seat jd offers and tweels …. Very impressive vs my current scag … and supporting jd dealer is a 10min drive from my house closest Ferris or grasshopper dealer is at minimum hour and 1/2 one way …
 
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