ZTR recommendations? Lots of constraints...

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

You received good advice already. Get something that can be serviced local. Something affordable. If you find a cheap hydro walkbehind get it. Down the road when you buy a ztr, you can still use the walkbehind for hills and a back up. If you find a smoking deal on a ztr get that and maybe one day pick up a smaller one for gates.

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South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
52" Brutus/52" Super Surfer/44" Pro Line/60" ZMaster
EB630/EB802/EBZ7150/EBZ8000/BR400/Billy Goat 8Hp
FS55&90/FC95/km110/L322&326/TR2350S
HC150/HC155/CHTZ2460
CS440/MS290
Case 1816 Skid

[willshome]

Lawn care business tips

what size yards are you doing. small lawns are the easy ones to get no one wants them. I do a lot of city lawns so a 48" is a waste of time. I use a 33" home owner that works well for me. The smallest commercial z-turn I have seen is 36" and still to big for 1/2 my lawns.

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Brockton Lawn Care
Easton Lawn Care
Fall Cleanup Brockton

[Shark1611]

Originally Posted by Rdelahunr

Starting a lawn care business next summer and looking at a new ZTR. The dealer I will go through sells John Deere and Toro, but I'm definitely leaning towards the Toro. I like the Titan MX4880 but want to know if the MX is worth it over the ZX. My load will be around 6 (may do more) hours a day, four days a week with Friday for spillovers. I need to go with a 48" because my trailer is only 54" wide, and this mower takes up 52.5" in total (w/o chute) I believe. Looking for owners to throw their two cents in. Also, how many properties can I do in a day with those hours, how well does the mower stripe on its own, and should I mulch or side discharge everything?

Thanks

I have two 60" mowers. One is a Skaggs Cheetah and the other is a Dixon. Have an Exmark 36" stand and a 44" ztr Dixon.

[xandrew245x]

Originally Posted by dougcaskey

I would NOT limit the size of a new mower because my trailer is too small....Trailers are much cheaper than mowers are....Look around and get a trailer that doesn't limit you.....

I agree with this. I had to limit what I bought because I don't have a vehicle big enough to pull a larger trailer. I am happy with my 5x10 and can still fit a 52" mower on it.

[Rdelahunr]

Well my parents thought I was going to buy a 5500 dollar new mower, so maybe now that I found a couple deals I could still probably work down a bit on a z master I could probably get a good used trailer too. With the trailer I could also take along an older John Deere 38" that we own that my brother or a buddy of mine can help me now with, or if my main mower needs repairs.

[stevef1201]

Look around. There is s dealer/repair shop local to me that will sell things for the repair bill. A good friend just last week pick up a 72 toro for 300 bucks.
ASK around, ASK repair shops if they have anything to sell for the repair bill, and dont forget to ASK friends and others in the area who are in business. Everybody knows some body who has 'an old' mower that they are willing to get rid of. Private deals would be best for you, -just a kid trying to make some college tuition money- etc. Play on your age, old guys who have good stuff that they dont really want anymore will let you have it for a song, but put the screws to me.

[dougcaskey]

I'll have an Exmark 60 " Lazer Z for sale in about another month or sooo...1800 hrs and a beast of a machine.....

[wat5150]

Originally Posted by dougcaskey

I'll have an Exmark 60 " Lazer Z for sale in about another month or sooo...1800 hrs and a beast of a machine.....

How many hours do you think that machine is good for?

[Rdelahunr]

Does anyone have any experience with a scag freedom z? I live about 45 minutes from the dealer. Is that too far to go for major repairs you think? It would be nice because of the price and I hear alot of people swear by scag. I was quoted $6100 for an MX4880 and saw like $5200 for a 52in Freedom Z.

[wandfsmall]

Originally Posted by Rdelahunr

Does anyone have any experience with a scag freedom z? I live about 45 minutes from the dealer. Is that too far to go for major repairs you think? It would be nice because of the price and I hear alot of people swear by scag. I was quoted $6100 for an MX4880 and saw like $5200 for a 52in Freedom Z.

A freedom Z is a homeowner unit I would not expect to see that mower trouble free for commercial use. Scag is a good mower line but just like every other brand they make a homeowner unit. Now is it better then the mowers you will find at a box store YES IT IS.

Do you have any dealers close to you with other lines? Scag is not the only good mower on the market.