Big yards - how big is too big for a walk behind?

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I saw that model at Lowes. One bad thing about mowers with casters up front. If you mow sideways on a hill, they will drift down. You have to manually steer the one you linked. I'd hunt craigslist or ebay for a hydro walk behind. I use a 36" Great Dane Hydro Scamper. I love it.

You can lock the wheels to face forward so they don't swivel.

Then how do you turn?

Lift the front

 

[LeadMagnet]

anything over 1 acer.

I have a tractor because my last yard was an acer, we moved to a new house 2 years ago and have thought of getting rid of it, but I have a very bumpy 3/4 acer riddled with dog dropping so it stays.

It's also great for picking up leaves.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I saw that model at Lowes. One bad thing about mowers with casters up front. If you mow sideways on a hill, they will drift down. You have to manually steer the one you linked. I'd hunt craigslist or ebay for a hydro walk behind. I use a 36" Great Dane Hydro Scamper. I love it.

The commercial boys are raving over the "Quick 36". It's a factory direct build that offers a hydro drive instead of belt driven with user selected gears.

http://betteroutdoorproducts.c...are%20Models%5FH%2Ehtm

I can buy a base one for around $2k. Almost double what the Cub/Craftsman mower is, but I haven't read a bad word about it yet.

I'm looking at a minimum of $2800 or so for an entry level ZTR. The used market isn't all that great in my area. I could maybe look in Chicago for something but that's a 3 hour drive and may just be a major PITA.

 

[edro]

I mow my small yard with a riding mower.
My yard is about 5ft wide, surrounding my trailer.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: edro
I mow my small yard with a riding mower.
My yard is about 5ft wide, surrounding my trailer.

But in your case the mower also doubles as a home relocation device if needed. So that's cool.

 

[Modelworks]

I guess it depends on what you think of mowing the grass.
I had about an acre on a corner lot and used a 22" walk behind and enjoyed doing it.
But I also enjoy gardening and all that other yard stuff.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Be a man and use a reel mower.

 

[rh71]

But it's a miserable acre. I have like 40 trees, a house, a well stem, septic tank vents, 2 sheds, a garden, raised beds, a basketball court, three ring circus tent, and two pieces of playground equipment to mow around.

At least you weren't one of those idiots who argued about NEED in those SUV threads. 😉

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: vi edit
...I'm looking at a minimum of $2800 or so for an entry level ZTR....

I think the base Toro 42" is $2400 and with a 10% off coupon (ebay) you'll probably be closer to $2200.

Too bad you weren't buying last year when HD employees were selling their 20% off Christmas coupons on ebay for around $50.

EDIT: It's $2500

 

[dakels]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: edro
I mow my small yard with a riding mower.
My yard is about 5ft wide, surrounding my trailer.

But in your case the mower also doubles as a home relocation device if needed. So that's cool.

rofl

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I saw that model at Lowes. One bad thing about mowers with casters up front. If you mow sideways on a hill, they will drift down. You have to manually steer the one you linked. I'd hunt craigslist or ebay for a hydro walk behind. I use a 36" Great Dane Hydro Scamper. I love it.

The commercial boys are raving over the "Quick 36". It's a factory direct build that offers a hydro drive instead of belt driven with user selected gears.

http://betteroutdoorproducts.c...are%20Models%5FH%2Ehtm

I can buy a base one for around $2k. Almost double what the Cub/Craftsman mower is, but I haven't read a bad word about it yet.

I'm looking at a minimum of $2800 or so for an entry level ZTR. The used market isn't all that great in my area. I could maybe look in Chicago for something but that's a 3 hour drive and may just be a major PITA.

the guys across the street have two of those huge walk behinds. one has a little trailer you stand in!

they are great mowers.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
I saw that model at Lowes. One bad thing about mowers with casters up front. If you mow sideways on a hill, they will drift down. You have to manually steer the one you linked. I'd hunt craigslist or ebay for a hydro walk behind. I use a 36" Great Dane Hydro Scamper. I love it.

The commercial boys are raving over the "Quick 36". It's a factory direct build that offers a hydro drive instead of belt driven with user selected gears.

http://betteroutdoorproducts.c...are%20Models%5FH%2Ehtm

I can buy a base one for around $2k. Almost double what the Cub/Craftsman mower is, but I haven't read a bad word about it yet.

I'm looking at a minimum of $2800 or so for an entry level ZTR. The used market isn't all that great in my area. I could maybe look in Chicago for something but that's a 3 hour drive and may just be a major PITA.

That's an interesting mower. I'd take that kawasaki engine over a kohler any day. I don't quite understand, is it still a manual steer?

 

[boomerang]

Be a trend-setter. With gas prices, CO2, furrin' oil and all the rest, quit mowing and let it go natural.

The greenies are going to outlaw lawn mowing some day anyway.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be a trend-setter. With gas prices, CO2, furrin' oil and all the rest, quit mowing and let it go natural.

The greenies are going to outlaw lawn mowing some day anyway.

considering you have to mow or you get fined i doubt it

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be a trend-setter. With gas prices, CO2, furrin' oil and all the rest, quit mowing and let it go natural.

The greenies are going to outlaw lawn mowing some day anyway.

considering you have to mow or you get fined i doubt it

clearly someone that lives at home.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
anything over 1 acer.

I have a tractor because my last yard was an acer, we moved to a new house 2 years ago and have thought of getting rid of it, but I have a very bumpy 3/4 acer riddled with dog dropping so it stays.

It's also great for picking up leaves.

I am not a spelling nazi, but its acre.

Acer is a computer.

 

[boomerang]

Sheep?

 

[sjwaste]

What do neighbor kids charge to mow these days? You could support the very local economy 🙂 Growing up, our neighborhood was mostly half-acres, and I think we got $20 to do it. Man, what a ripoff.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be a trend-setter. With gas prices, CO2, furrin' oil and all the rest, quit mowing and let it go natural.

The greenies are going to outlaw lawn mowing some day anyway.

considering you have to mow or you get fined i doubt it

clearly someone that lives at home.

boomerrang? yeah i figured that from a few older post he has done.

Originally posted by: sjwaste
What do neighbor kids charge to mow these days? You could support the very local economy 🙂 Growing up, our neighborhood was mostly half-acres, and I think we got $20 to do it. Man, what a ripoff.

yeah i would do a few peoples. usually got $20-30. i have right under 3 acres and i was paying the kids across the street $20 a week to do it and weed wack. but yeah that was cheep. my dad had a very small lot (40x120) and he was paying the same.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: boomerang
Be a trend-setter. With gas prices, CO2, furrin' oil and all the rest, quit mowing and let it go natural.

The greenies are going to outlaw lawn mowing some day anyway.

considering you have to mow or you get fined i doubt it

clearly someone that lives at home.

boomerrang? yeah i figured that from a few older post he has done.

Guys, I'm almost 54 years old, married, and just retired two weeks ago yesterday. I like to throw out unusual points of view here to see what reactions I get.

Some are based on my feelings for what the future will hold and this was one of them. I like to take things out to their natural conclusions. If we do continue to mow our lawns, it will not be with internal combustion engines. I believe that to be a certainty.

I guess I'm building a reputation that isn't what I wanted. But I got to be me. 🙂

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: boomerangGuys, I'm almost 54 years old, married, and just retired two weeks ago yesterday. I like to throw out unusual points of view here to see what reactions I get.

Some are based on my feelings for what the future will hold and this was one of them. I like to take things out to their natural conclusions. If we do continue to mow our lawns, it will not be with internal combustion engines. I believe that to be a certainty.

I guess I'm building a reputation that isn't what I wanted. But I got to be me. 🙂

hmm figured you were like 17 and livign at home.

anyway enjoy retirement. its great once you get over the boredom of not working!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Here you go. 😀

It's hilarious to me that not only does that cost more than my gas mower but that anybody would actually use it.

If we do continue to mow our lawns, it will not be with internalcombustion engines.

My neighbor has a B&D electric but from what I understand it's only good enough, just, for our lawns which are decent in size. When the battery ages i don't know what he'll do 🙂

There was a commercial for a neuton mower but those things are expensive and, environmental concerns aside, they make no sense now. I go through a gallon of gas a summer or less and that's frequent mowing of a large lawn. I will keep my mower until it dies and buy another cheap gas one!

This isn't help vi-edit, I'm just rambling.

 

[vi edit]

Yikes. I burn through a gallon and a half of gas A WEEK mowing my yard. (assuming a mow a week)

I spend about 1.5 hours on my rider each mowing. My lot is is very irregular shaped wedge with a creek running along one edge with an obnoxious number of natural and unnatural things getting in my way. I probably spend as much time turning around as I do actually cutting.

🙁

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Yikes. I burn through a gallon and a half of gas A WEEK mowing my yard. (assuming a mow a week)

I spend about 1.5 hours on my rider each mowing. My lot is is very irregular shaped wedge with a creek running along one edge with an obnoxious number of natural and unnatural things getting in my way. I probably spend as much time turning around as I do actually cutting.

🙁

wow. sounds like you need one of those nice Zero turns. would save you a ton of time.

 

[jme5343]

I mowed an acre and a half the entire summer before my sophomore year in trade for a pair of Reebok pumps. This with an old B&S push mower. Boy was I dumb. Should've just gone with the cheap tennis shoes. The one you're looking at seems it would be easily navigable and still affordable. Go for it!

edit: yes, I'm old. 🙂