Hi,

Can anyone recommend any less expensive zero-turn mowers that are capable of a 6inch cutting height?

I see the Scag TT has this height but is $17k, and I think Ex-Mark Lazer Z E can do 5.5 inches @ at ~$13k cost.

Looking to cut approx 2-2.5 acre mildly rolling pasture. Prefer ZTR over tractor + finish or rotary mower due to better speed and ease or cutting around trees, etc. But also would still like to be able to keep a 6inch height for the horses.

Thanks for any recommendations/ alternatives!

Welcome to the site......

Most pastures aren't as smooth as a lawn and will be tough on a ZT IMO. Add you want lower cost which typically means lighter built you're not going to be pleased with repairs or possibly replacing the mower due to it being beyond repair.

Why not let the horses take care of the mowing, they're pretty good at by nature.

 

Why not let the horses take care of the mowing, they're pretty good at by nature.

And they aren’t going to like 6” grass anyway.

 

No zero turn cuts well at 6 inches. I cut at 4 when doing 30 acres of horse pasture with my Toro 6000. Not really recommended. If it got too long I would bushog with my tractor or hay it. I also tried my finish mower behind my tractor but that would burn belts in the heavy stuff. You need a heavy duty mower with HP. I have a Gravely 672 with 38.5 hp Kawi for my 12 acres of lawn grass. My neighbor now hays my pastures. I keep my zero turn out of them now.

 

If you're thinking cutting it every couple weeks at 6" high, you're going to meant the heaviest duty mower.

 

Zero turn mowing at raised position maybe?

 

Its not great to cut horse pastures with a regular mower. Not only is it rough on the machine, but they process the clippings too fine. If the horses eat it they can end up overeating or can choke.

plus your only going to be mowing a horse pasture a few times a year, so the grass will be too tall for a zero turn to handle.

use a mower-conditioner or at least a brushhog.

 

5.5" cutting height in Safford AL.
3.5 hours from Atlanta.
I'm sure if you Google local dealers you could find comparable prices.

 

Exactly. Mature, woody grass is not palatable to horses or most livestock.
And i stand by what i said about the seed heads. I actually do some field mowing at a board a couple towns over in exchange for free lessons, i know the owner well. He told me we mow before the grass matures because the seed heads increase the horses chances of devoloping laminitis. Maybe its different for other animals, but ill stick to what ive been taught.

 

I'm just guessing, but I would say he's meaning it's old pasture land. Not in actual use with any horses or other livestock. But he wants to keep it mowed and semi cleared.

 

Said in his first post he wants to keep it 6” for the horses.

 

Ok guys don't start a keyboard war with each other and if you can't hold back your thoughts then I suggest you use the ignore feature.

 

Yeah Scott. Because the kid isn’t also “trolling”. What’s fair is fair.

But MOM, He started it!

Ok guys don't start a keyboard war with each other and if you can't hold back your thoughts then I suggest you use the ignore feature.

Fair enough. im just breaking balls

 

Hi,

Can anyone recommend any less expensive zero-turn mowers that are capable of a 6inch cutting height?

I see the Scag TT has this height but is $17k, and I think Ex-Mark Lazer Z E can do 5.5 inches @ at ~$13k cost.

Looking to cut approx 2-2.5 acre mildly rolling pasture. Prefer ZTR over tractor + finish or rotary mower due to better speed and ease or cutting around trees, etc. But also would still like to be able to keep a 6inch height for the horses.

Thanks for any recommendations/ alternatives!

Long time since OP, but if you are still looking.

The TORO 4000 Series Z-Masters come marked and adjusted to cut up to 5.5". There is a little over an inch of adjustment in the deck hangers to accommodate getting to that 5.5" adjustment in varying models that come with 24"&13" tires and 26"&15" tires. The 26" tire models are adjusted down to near the bottom of the adjustment, the 24" tire models are adjusted to near the top of the adjustment range, both to get to an accurate 5.5" cut.

If you buy a 26" tire model, then there is room to adjust the deck up 1" making all the cut settings off by 1", making the top setting 6.5". I would have no concern with belt alignment issues because taking it up 1" is the same angle and setting as if you had bought the 24" tire model in the first place, you're just getting an extra inch out of the bigger tires.

Some 60" models that this could be done with are: 74054 & 74055 or 52" models 74050 & 74052.

I'm guessing you are cutting tall fescue? If so, it should work great for that at 6"

 

Long time since OP, but if you are still looking.

The TORO 4000 Series Z-Masters come marked and adjusted to cut up to 5.5". There is a little over an inch of adjustment in the deck hangers to accommodate getting to that 5.5" adjustment in varying models that come with 24"&13" tires and 26"&15" tires. The 26" tire models are adjusted down to near the bottom of the adjustment, the 24" tire models are adjusted to near the top of the adjustment range, both to get to an accurate 5.5" cut.

If you buy a 26" tire model, then there is room to adjust the deck up 1" making all the cut settings off by 1", making the top setting 6.5". I would have no concern with belt alignment issues because taking it up 1" is the same angle and setting as if you had bought the 24" tire model in the first place, you're just getting an extra inch out of the bigger tires.

Some 60" models that this could be done with are: 74054 & 74055 or 52" models 74050 & 74052.

I'm guessing you are cutting tall fescue? If so, it should work great for that at 6"

Not sure if youd still be able to maintain a proper deck pitch that way.