I am not a big fan of 61" on vride don't see how you can feather deck to get smooth cut. Our vridces are 48" and 52" and we are very happy with them, Young legs can stand vride old guy uses Turf Tiger,

 

I cut a bunch of 1/2 acre yards solo, 48" V-Ride. I love mine, it doesn't fatigue my legs, I'm 32 yrs old. I like that I can hop off real quick & grab a stick or piece of trash. They're fast machines IMO.

 

I guess bigger isn't always better

 

Yeah I like the 48"s & 52"s,. As far as a V-Ride iv got no experience in anything larger.

I know KNOXgsl has a large Vride, maybe he'll chime in.

 

Actually I think his is a 61" I'll see if I can get him on here.

 

Im considering purchasing a scag Vride. I have never used one before but I have heard/read good things about them, and the cost seems to be good. In my area, the lawns are an average of 3/4 acre but some are around 1-1.5 acre.

I was wondering if these machines are geared more toward small lawns? Are they slower than other scag ZTRs? Do your legs get easily fatigued? Im unsure about standing for 1 acre lawns, or all day for that matter. I also do not want to slow down production as I will be working solo. I would be purchasing a 61" deck model. If you have experience with the V-ride, please let me know before I invest in one. Thanks in advance.

If most of your properties are flat I would get a 61. If hilly then go with a 52. Under 1/2 acre there's not much difference in production. Above half then the 61 is slightly faster. There's not much difference in purchase price but the 61 is wider and faster. It'll cut thick wet fescue at full speed as well. I found there are less uncut stragglers with the 61 compared to the 52 as well.

 

I've had a 61" vride for a few years now. Our properties range from 1/3 of an acre to 5-6 acres. I'll put it on a tiny lot as long as it's pretty flat. I love it. It's does wear me out when it's 100 degrees and we do our big properties (1- 6 acre church and 1- 5 acre estate home) in one day. But I think that would wear you out even with a turf tiger. I love the vride for what Mr.Stripe said, hoping on an off to grab anything. And I think the vride really shines when you get up around the house, or beds because you can see more, maneuver the machine and your body better, its way more productive then a sit down is IMO.

With that being said, I do want to get a 36 or 48" vride. I sold our old tiger cub last month and am realizing how much I miss a machine that size. Ill put the 61" on a lot but a 48" would produce a lot better quality in some situations. Like gated yards or houses in a neighborhood that are super close where the builder did some awful grading.

Just my .02 cents but hope it helps!

 

They say, once you go V-Ride, you won't go back.

Seriously, if most of your properties are 1 acre or smaller, go with the 52". I own both, the 61" and 52". Both are awesome machines. In fact, if you have them dialed in, in my opinion, I will not ever switch to another machine. I've ran through a lot of models, a lot of colors, before I settled with V-Rides including owning (4-5+) different models of standers, and several ztr riders. I've broken every bone in my right leg and half of the bones in my left leg when I was younger racing dirtbikes. Absolutely no leg fatigue at the end of the day. I also have back issues. The stander actually fatigues be less then the sit down, because the ztr's tear up my back over any bumps where the stander platforms tend to soak everything up. Again, if all your properties are flat and your cutting several 1+ acres, get the 61". If your properties aren't flat, and your cutting a lot of properties smaller then an acre, you will be happier with the 52". The 61" might save you some time on a few lots that are wide open, especially being quicker, but it won't get you in and out of tight areas as fast.

 

The stander actually fatigues be less then the sit down, because the ztr's tear up my back over any bumps where the stander platforms tend to soak everything up.

I agree, I have Sciatica in my lower back, ztr kills my but WB's & Standers don't irritate it.

 

The company I work for has several different models of vrides 36” (older versions) and the newer models also 52” and a 61”. In my opinion the 61 is nice cuts smooth and does a great job with designs as well as our 52s. There is not much difference and if your mowing strictly larger properties the 61 would be better. Smaller properties the smaller deck is going to give you more of a design aspect. As far as standing I have used these vrides on large 2 hr mows and they are way better on your back compared to sitting down all day. And I am a young fairly fit individual.

 

Im considering purchasing a scag Vride. I have never used one before but I have heard/read good things about them, and the cost seems to be good. In my area, the lawns are an average of 3/4 acre but some are around 1-1.5 acre.

I was wondering if these machines are geared more toward small lawns? Are they slower than other scag ZTRs? Do your legs get easily fatigued? Im unsure about standing for 1 acre lawns, or all day for that matter. I also do not want to slow down production as I will be working solo. I would be purchasing a 61" deck model. If you have experience with the V-ride, please let me know before I invest in one. Thanks in advance.

You can't stand for 8 hours?
That's a requirement for almost any labor job

If you can't do it now you'll get used to it unless you're obese or disabled.

An acre of mowing will only take you 15-20 minutes , it's really not that bad
Try mowing that acre with a 21" mower, you'll never complain about standing for a half hour or less again.

 

How does the V-Ride 61” deck perform on early morning cuts with heavy dew?

 

How does the V-Ride 61" deck perform on early morning cuts with heavy dew?

Great, considering.

 

I stepped on a bobcat stander - did one pass and decided I hated it. I’m 6’3” so I’m not sure if any stander will work for me. Center of gravity is too high it was almost like an ab work out . But the bobcat platform leans you way forward vs standing flat. No idea why they did that.
Are the scag platforms level ? And are the controls above nut level for a tall guy ?

 

I stepped on a bobcat stander - did one pass and decided I hated it. I'm 6'3" so I'm not sure if any stander will work for me. Center of gravity is too high it was almost like an ab work out . But the bobcat platform leans you way forward vs standing flat. No idea why they did that.
Are the scag platforms level ? And are the controls above nut level for a tall guy ?

I have never been on any other stander besides the scag models, I know I'm 5'10 and my nuts are a few inches below the controls. Also I don't really feel like I'm leaning forward too much. May want to hop on one and see. The bad part about the newer models vride 2's is the platform is also the safety switch. So if you get stuck you can't use both feet to push it out have to skateboard that **** out.

 

ZTR fatigues back, stander fatigues legs. Which poison you pick depends on your physical condition. I choose ZTR, my legs are shot. That and trees are a pain every time I use a stander. I much would rather a roll bar (which I usually remove anyway,) catch low branches than my face. Not that my looks would be damaged, it simply doesn't feel too good.

 

Yea I hear ya. I think w lower back problems and being tall a stander may NOT be for me - but I still want to try the Ferris & scag. I have a ztr and a wb w velke . Out of almost 50 lawns only 20 really can use the ztr - so I'm mostly keeping it to give my knees and feet a rest a cpl hrs a day.

 

you could try squatting on the vride and let the machine hit the trees. i do it all the time

 

Why would I do that when I could just sit on the ZTR and relax?

 

There are a couple reasons why standing might hurt your low back over sitting. Sitting is more relaxing assuming you're not getting bounced around. As a general rule though, standing is far better for you in terms of biomechanics than sitting. Everything from stimulation of endplate receptors and subsequent brain activity to just good 'ol how it feels is different from sitting and standing.

As a general rule of course some may find their milage differs . and pelvis rocked anterior can cause other stresses. Tight hamstrings can cause this or other issues. Poor stabilizing muscles are often a cause, which also usually lead to the 2 previously mentioned reasons.

For many of us, even though we can work hard and tolerate a lot, because of just plain old society and how we do things, most have some specific sets of muscle groups that get de-conditioned and can't support or stabilize things like they should. You can't move if you don't have stabilization and your body will find a way to make it happen. using other muscle groups that are poorly designed for that work and can result in a cascade of things that happen because of it. The very least the muscles with the jobs fatigue faster and spasm. Or just form a protective spasm to help create "stability". Other more serious things can happen from long term instability too.

anyway, once stabilizers are de-conditioned or biomechanics are altered, sometimes doing things that "should" be better for us, will hurt more.

 

There are a couple reasons why standing might hurt your low back over sitting. Sitting is more relaxing assuming you're not getting bounced around. As a general rule though, standing is far better for you in terms of biomechanics than sitting. Everything from stimulation of endplate receptors and subsequent brain activity to just good 'ol how it feels is different from sitting and standing.

As a general rule of course some may find their milage differs . and pelvis rocked anterior can cause other stresses. Tight hamstrings can cause this or other issues. Poor stabilizing muscles are often a cause, which also usually lead to the 2 previously mentioned reasons.

For many of us, even though we can work hard and tolerate a lot, because of just plain old society and how we do things, most have some specific sets of muscle groups that get de-conditioned and can't support or stabilize things like they should. You can't move if you don't have stabilization and your body will find a way to make it happen. using other muscle groups that are poorly designed for that work and can result in a cascade of things that happen because of it. The very least the muscles with the jobs fatigue faster and spasm. Or just form a protective spasm to help create "stability". Other more serious things can happen from long term instability too.

anyway, once stabilizers are de-conditioned or biomechanics are altered, sometimes doing things that "should" be better for us, will hurt more.

I think my biggest issue is due to the poor condition of my legs, my stride and posture is affected. And when I sit on my rear it takes my poor legs out of the equation, then I can relax more and resume a more proper posture in my back and neck.

 

ummm, this is lawnsite. not the harvard journal of medicine, lol

very well said and informative. thanks for sharing

 

Ha, i doubt they'll be calling me for a submission anytime soon But I contribute when I can.

 

I have 36 v ride 2. Last year was my first year using it. I use to use walkers. It's a good machine. Good cut, I dont have to catch any grass. Better then sitting down because you dont get lazy. Hop on an off quick and it's a fast machine.