- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Sub Compact with belly mower VS ZTR - Need Opinions
Posted on 6/13/22 at 9:23 am
Posted on 6/13/22 at 9:23 am
Hey Ya'll ,
I have about 2.5 Acres. 1.5 of that is a traditional lawn. The other part is pasture behind it. My current ZTR is old (42-inch Gravely) and I am looking to replace it soon. I currently am unable to cut the pasture due to some areas that are low and the ground stays soft. I have to rely on a neighbor whose son visits once a year with a tractor and brush hog attachment to cut it.
I am trying to determine if it is practical to pick up one of the smaller sub-compact tractors like a BX1880 from Kubota with a belly attachment (54 inch) and a loader as well. Or get a newer bigger ZTR.
From what I can tell, a true commercial ztr with a large deck is in the neighborhood of what a subcompact would cost me.
Does anyone here cut primarily with a subcompact tractor? What is your experience like?
I have about 2.5 Acres. 1.5 of that is a traditional lawn. The other part is pasture behind it. My current ZTR is old (42-inch Gravely) and I am looking to replace it soon. I currently am unable to cut the pasture due to some areas that are low and the ground stays soft. I have to rely on a neighbor whose son visits once a year with a tractor and brush hog attachment to cut it.
I am trying to determine if it is practical to pick up one of the smaller sub-compact tractors like a BX1880 from Kubota with a belly attachment (54 inch) and a loader as well. Or get a newer bigger ZTR.
From what I can tell, a true commercial ztr with a large deck is in the neighborhood of what a subcompact would cost me.
Does anyone here cut primarily with a subcompact tractor? What is your experience like?
This post was edited on 6/13/22 at 9:25 am
3
Posted on 6/13/22 at 9:29 am to LSU_postman
Why do you need a commercial mower?
You’ll never get the speed of a ztr from a belly mower/subcompact.
Do you intend to cut the low section every time you cut the grass? Seems like a big trade off for only a few cuts. Any way you can fix the drainage of that area to get it to dry up?
Note: i want a tractor to mess around the house and I’ll gladly talk anyone into buying one but I wouldn’t want to trade my ztr for cutting grass.
You’ll never get the speed of a ztr from a belly mower/subcompact.
Do you intend to cut the low section every time you cut the grass? Seems like a big trade off for only a few cuts. Any way you can fix the drainage of that area to get it to dry up?
Note: i want a tractor to mess around the house and I’ll gladly talk anyone into buying one but I wouldn’t want to trade my ztr for cutting grass.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 9:31 am to LSU_postman
How many trees or other obstacles are in the lawn? Can you get the tractor close enough to the house to actually cut it?
A Zero Turn will be significantly faster and much more maneuverable around obstacles when it comes to mowing. However, a tractor with loader has a lot of other benefits as well.
If the only thing you think you need the tractor for is to cut the soft/wet pasture land, is there anything you can do to dry up that part of the property? A zero turn is much lighter than a tractor and should be able to handle some wet/soft property, but nothing significant. If you need a 4WD tractor with a bush hog, I’d think about addressing that vs getting a tractor with primary intent to mow the grass.
A Zero Turn will be significantly faster and much more maneuverable around obstacles when it comes to mowing. However, a tractor with loader has a lot of other benefits as well.
If the only thing you think you need the tractor for is to cut the soft/wet pasture land, is there anything you can do to dry up that part of the property? A zero turn is much lighter than a tractor and should be able to handle some wet/soft property, but nothing significant. If you need a 4WD tractor with a bush hog, I’d think about addressing that vs getting a tractor with primary intent to mow the grass.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 9:57 am to LSU_postman
I cut about 3 acres with a B2320 with bellymower, just a step up from the BX line. Have another 4 acres thats a pond and field/woods I bush hog twice a year.
You can definitely cut part or all with a BX. Also once you get a loader you'll wonder how you survived without one. Gives you options if want a tiller later to put in a garden or small bush hog to cut that rougher part couple times a year.
You can definitely cut part or all with a BX. Also once you get a loader you'll wonder how you survived without one. Gives you options if want a tiller later to put in a garden or small bush hog to cut that rougher part couple times a year.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 10:22 am to poochie
quote:
Why do you need a commercial mower?
You’ll never get the speed of a ztr from a belly mower/subcompact.
Do you intend to cut the low section every time you cut the grass? Seems like a big trade-off for only a few cuts. Anyway you can fix the drainage of that area to get it to dry up?
Thanks for responding Pooch.
I do intend to cut the soft part every time I cut. id like to keep that grass cut low to expand my lawn and I think it looks better, it is directly connected to my normal lawn.
I do realize that the speed of the ztr is unrivaled and realize I am giving that up. But I am not really concerned about the extra 30min it would take to mow the lawn.
I do have quite a few trees on the property. Approx 25.
How does a sub-compact handle when mowing? Is it like a ride on mower? I know nothing will compare to the maneuverability of a ztr.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 10:25 am to LSUtigerME
quote:
If the only thing you think you need the tractor for is to cut the soft/wet pasture land, is there anything you can do to dry up that part of the property? A zero turn is much lighter than a tractor and should be able to handle some wet/soft property, but nothing significant. If you need a 4WD tractor with a bush hog, I’d think about addressing that vs getting a tractor with primary intent to mow the grass.
Thanks for responding ME
I have a good bit of trees on the prop - About 25 (lost a few in ida, wish I had the sub then lol)
I am trying to determine other options to cut the pasture portion besides a subcompact with a belly mower. I have looked at a brush hog attachment, but when adding up the cost of a 4wd machine with attachment, plus knowing I need to replace my ZTR, this seems like even more cash .
I was hoping to get one tool to do it all.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 10:53 am to LSU_postman
Can you fix up your ztr AND buy a tractor? Best of both worlds!
Really though, look at somehow digging a small swale or trench to drain the soft areas. I have a similar yard and there were two parts that stayed wet constantly after the first rain of the season and couldn’t be mowed until the fall when it finally dried up.
One I ran some underground drainage and another I dug a small trench just to let water drain slowly. We got 2” of rain on Saturday and I was able to mow yesterday without even spinning out or making a rut anywhere.
Really though, look at somehow digging a small swale or trench to drain the soft areas. I have a similar yard and there were two parts that stayed wet constantly after the first rain of the season and couldn’t be mowed until the fall when it finally dried up.
One I ran some underground drainage and another I dug a small trench just to let water drain slowly. We got 2” of rain on Saturday and I was able to mow yesterday without even spinning out or making a rut anywhere.
Page 1 of 1
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News