Does anyone know anything about commercial mowers? [Archive]

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Steelrat

07-06-2006, 11:53 PM

I'm preparing to fire my lawn maintenance company, and I figure I might as well just do it myself, to ensure it's done right. I have about 1.5 acres with a lot of landscaping, so I'd think a ZTR would work out best for me, so I don't have to spend all day mowing. Now, it's pretty clear that the residential ZTRs like they sell at home depot just aren't built to last, and that means I gotta go commercial.

I've been looking around, and really am focusing on three mowers at this point:

SCAG tiger cub 48" 24 hp B&S. Easily the heaviest-duty of the mowers I looked at, very solid. Ran it around, and it had plenty of power. The B&S ELS engine seems to be part of their value package for the cub, but it's not a vanguard, and opinions are mixed as to it's long-term durability. Dealer is close by, seemed friendly, and offered to deal on the price.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2052/tigercubstudio20062753xj.jpg

Next up is the Hustler Mini Z 44" 19 HP. The dealership didn't have one, but I looked at the mini fastrack, which looked very wimpy compared to the Scag. The mini z is supposed to be more substantial, and gets good reviews. The dealer was a tool, however, and quoted me MSRP. The salesman also acted like he had better things to do than talk to me. I think the engine might have been a honda or kohler, though the dealer wasn't good at handing out any details. He seemed to be steering me towards a cub cadet garden tractor, which is NOT what I want.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9333/770887226142213142cg.jpg

Finally, I looked at the Ferris 1500Z with a 48" deck and 21 hp kawasaki. This is supposed to be a good motor. Ferris is alone in having a suspension, which is interesting. Not as rugged as the scag, but better than the hustlers I saw. And the price was about 1K lower than the other two due to a special deal.

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/2258/is1500zth01over5ag.jpg

Anyone have any thoughts on any of these?

Indignant

07-07-2006, 12:40 AM

I know the the angry drunk guy runs a gardening buisiness, but i don't have any experience past my suburban lawn mowing, haha.

PyRo

07-07-2006, 05:04 AM

I rode these around for the summer I did landscapeing.
http://www.walkermowers.com/

They actually have a vacuum and will pick up leaves, twigs, etc. When it gets full just drive the thing to the waste pile and dump it out. You can quite easially swap to a side discharge deck, or get them without any bagger at all.
The ones I used had a three cylinder diesel motor which would mow for a day or sometimes two before needing fuel.
The deck interchageablity makes it easy to go anywhere from 36 to 48 (I think it was 48) in either side discharge or the bagger.
It left the lawns looking better then any of the walkbehinds we had except the little 2 cycle lawnboy.
I never rode any of the other mowers but it is very easy to manouver and make nice little circles around trees and other objects.
The catcher never clogged up and would fill up every time. We had it packed with enough wet grass that when we dumped it into a green pail it took me and another guy a whole lot of effort to move it.

You do have to take care of them though because they will break. Someone ran one into a curb at full speed (which is pretty fast) and the front wheel on the deck along with the mount was shot. One of them had a cooling problem that the "shop" couldn't figure. I maintain it was a head gasket that went bad when they were overheating the balls out of it running it with a bad thermostat. Aside from that their was never any trouble with them.

Other than that the only downside is the diesel with the bagger goes for about $16,000. Wither a Kholer gas job and no bagging system is probably comparable to the other mowers you have in price but you've giving up the two best features of the mower.

PyRo

07-07-2006, 08:18 AM

Also try www.lawnsite.com

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 08:33 AM

Already a member of lawnsite and lawncafe ;)

I'll probably just go with the Ferris. The savings will let me buy a nice Stihl trimmer and blower, with money left over to boot.

I was thinking it might be fun to do part-time mowing locally too. We'll have to see how my lawn turns out.

ntn4502

07-07-2006, 10:50 AM

we own one of the biggest scags produced, turbo deisel and all

PyRo

07-07-2006, 01:09 PM

I'm preparing to fire my lawn maintenance company, and I figure I might as well just do it myself, to ensure it's done right.

I misread that in the middle of the night. I thought you had a lawn maintenace company.

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 01:47 PM

I misread that in the middle of the night. I thought you had a lawn maintenace company.

No, I just don't believe in buying disposable items if I can help it. Lets be honest, the mowers sold at Home Depot, Lowes, and the like just aren't built to last. Yes, that includes the John Deeres. Tractors are marginal for mowing anyways, and the ZTRs sold at those places are just too cheaply made. You cannot get a quality new ZTR for $3000, they cheap them out somewhere to meet that price point.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-07-2006, 02:25 PM

Scag's are cheap but when you start getting problems get rid of them its just a down hill effect from there. Landscape companies buy these and they last about 3 seasons then off to the scrap steel yard they go.

Hustlers are a dying breed I haven't had to mush expirence with these but other companies are phasing them out at a very quick rate.

Ferris is a good company that kawasaki motor is one tuff beast. But I wouldn't go with a Z from them if you where looking a walk/ride behind then go for it. I send my 12 yr old 48in walk behind in ditch's, my guys dumped it off a trailer going down the freeway smashed into a car and it still ran. But my bud that owns lawns r us uses them and has to replace them every 5 yrs and are gas hogs.

I'd say look at diesel models if your going commerical. yeah its heavier but the run longer with fuel and life (about 10yrs with less repairs). Life of a diesel Z is about 1500 Hours, thats alot of grass. Other companies that you should look into is Toro, Kubota, or ExMark Toro being the best. Pay a little more but you get quality.

For about 1.5 acres personaly would use a Toro 325 72" 4wd Unfortuantly Toro doesn't make the 325 anymore, they stop making them this year. But this is the oldest design(dates back to the 70's) and probably the most used mower in the market. They are all mechinical really its PTO is clutch drivin (thus the sqreaching sound when engaging the deck). Reversed Gearbox which is a solid shaft . My old 94 model has a 28 hp Mitisubshi diesel but newer ones have 30hp Kubota. With its offset out front deck allows you to go under pine trees, around beds, and polls. Brand new they run 25K with all the options but if you watch auctions/sale paper/ or municpal sales you can pick them up for as low as 4k. If your worried about woking hours mine has 5,500 hours on it and still runs like a champ.

Pyro don't make me puke I demo'd one of those OMG talk about a piece of junk. The first field I cut I warped the deck.

we own one of the biggest scags produced, turbo deisel and all

Mines bigger
http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/5117/58020010ev.jpg

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 03:10 PM

Scag's are cheap but when you start getting problems get rid of them its just a down hill effect from there. Landscape companies buy these and they last about 3 seasons then off to the scrap steel yard they go.

Hustlers are a dying breed I haven't had to mush expirence with these but other companies are phasing them out at a very quick rate.

Ferris is a good company that kawasaki motor is one tuff beast. But I wouldn't go with a Z from them if you where looking a walk/ride behind then go for it. I send my 12 yr old 48in walk behind in ditch's, my guys dumped it off a trailer going down the freeway smashed into a car and it still ran. But my bud that owns lawns r us uses them and has to replace them every 5 yrs and are gas hogs.

I'd say look at diesel models if your going commerical. yeah its heavier but the run longer with fuel and life (about 10yrs with less repairs). Life of a diesel Z is about 1500 Hours, thats alot of grass. Other companies that you should look into is Toro, Kubota, or ExMark Toro being the best. Pay a little more but you get quality.

For about 1.5 acres personaly would use a Toro 325 72" 4wd Unfortuantly Toro doesn't make the 325 anymore, they stop making them this year. But this is the oldest design(dates back to the 70's) and probably the most used mower in the market. They are all mechinical really its PTO is clutch drivin (thus the sqreaching sound when engaging the deck). Reversed Gearbox which is a solid shaft . My old 94 model has a 28 hp Mitisubshi diesel but newer ones have 30hp Kubota. With its offset out front deck allows you to go under pine trees, around beds, and polls. Brand new they run 25K with all the options but if you watch auctions/sale paper/ or municpal sales you can pick them up for as low as 4k. If your worried about woking hours mine has 5,500 hours on it and still runs like a champ.

No way I can afford a diesel, way out of my price range, though I'd love to get one. From what I've read, the commercial gas engines are getting well above 1000 hours, and even 2-3000 hours, so I'd hope a diesel would have far more life than that.

I liked the exmarks, though they seemed just about the same as the ferris, only without the suspension. Toros are nice to, and supposedly have the best cut, but they are pricier than the exmarks and ferris. I have talkd to people who had Kubota ZTRs, and apparently they cut like crap, though they run fine.

Would you take an eXmark or toro ZTR ahead of a ferris, and if so, why? Does toro have the best cut quality? I'm not looking to go over $6K, since it's mainly for personal use on my 1.25 acres. That being said, if people in my neighborhood like the way my lawn works, I wouldn't mind setting up a part-time business, though it takes a good amount of work (licenses, insurance, etc etc) to set up, as I'm sure you know. Therefore, I'd need a machine that can handle the extra use.

PyRo

07-07-2006, 03:20 PM

Pyro don't make me puke I demo'd one of those OMG talk about a piece of junk. The first field I cut I warped the deck.
What did you hit? Hit thing and hit big ruts with it and yes it's going to break.

hvacman250

07-07-2006, 03:26 PM

I was in the same situation a couple years ago. I thought about commercial ZTR's vs. the ones at Lowes. I ended up buying a 50" Cub Cadet ZTR and am extremely pleased. Think about it this way: commercial landscapers use their mowers 6-8+ hrs a day, so they need a $10,000 - $15,000 mower. I, on the other hand, use mine 2-3 hrs per week. I would expect them to last the same number of years in service. Same service hours? NO.

I have hit several large trees, ran over an 8" landscaping stone with no damage to the deck/blade. I was amazed. It chopped the cement block in half with no damage. My wife plays on it and it has withstood tons of abuse. And BTW, it has over 100 hrs on it.

The only thing that has gone wrong is I lost one of the nuts that holds the deck on (must have vibrated loose). I picked one up at Tractor Supply. Problem fixed.

If I depended on a mower running 8 hrs a day, I would have gone commercial. If you are only using it a few hours a week, dont overlook others.

My 2 cent.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-07-2006, 11:06 PM

First up ExMark is owned by Toro. But you don't get the option like a Toro. ExMarks are under powered when cutting taller grass. ExMarks are lighter and tend to "Float" on swamper terrain which is bad to me. They aren't to user friendly such as the seat is bolted to the frame, you use only a foot pedel to pick the deck up, only one tire drives at one time which can lead to free wheeling on slopes, with being as compact as they are tend to lead to roll overs/being to heavy in the rear of the machine. Decks are belt drivin which tend to lead to gearbox problems vs. shaft or engine driven decks. Personally I don't like there control set up either.

Kubota's did cut like crap. They are currently under contract to Toro for just engines. They have stepped up their game in there mowing side. The reason why they cut like crap is that landscape companies tend to take off the deck's outside caster wheels because the gouge out the lawn thus making them scalp alot. Older models don't have a floating deck, the new ones do. The good sides to Kubota is that they are the most user friendly mowers they have a hydralulic lift for the deck, the front arm is amazingly strong has a built in jack for lifting the front of the machine for repair/ changing blades. Has a strong Kubota engine which are the best engine you can get in a mower hands down. Has wide drive tires. And overall is just built really beefy to handle the abuse people put on it I do have a older one which is really a piece of junk but I throw new guys on it to get them use to zero turns. Plus kubota's are a very expermental company and are coming out with all sorts of gizmo's for their mowers.

Last but not least Toro. Yeah it is expensive, but you get what you pay for it. Toro is like the Cadiliac of lawn mowers and very user friendly. When you want to cut at 3 inches you cut at 3 inchs. They don't use a gearbox on the deck which means less parts less hassle. In my field the parts i.e. starters, pulley's are interchangable. You can manually switch tanks but it does it automaticly when one tank is dry. They use a wider/longer frame which tend to deal with weight issues and doesn't float in swampy areas. The deck lacks a hydralulic lift but uses a foot pedel and handle to lift the deck. It also has adjustable anti scalp wheels which owning 2 of them never had a major scalping issue. They are easy to service by yourself they pretty much label every grease point/fitting on the machine for you. They aren't really all that heavy in the rear of the machine. Using drive system that stops free wheeling when on slopes. Since being in a contract with Kubota their engine life has skyrocked over the Mitsubshi engine from before. The big downside which scares alot people away is their base cost and repair costs, My guys wrecked a arbitor in the wing of the machine above 1000 bucks for the part alone.

Sry these aren't factory specs just my experince with finding Z's because everyone will try to sell you anything.

Pyro - I sent a guy out to cut a field next to a Queen of Apostles Chruch that gets done once a month. Didn't hit a thing it just couldn't handle the heat from friction. But by the worse company right now for mowers is John Deere yes believe it or not The WAM is to over powered and their out fronts are just piles of wasted metal. The only thing they do make good is a tractor. Funny story I was just using mine the other day and hit a sewer cap that I didn't see and bent the blade all to hell.

Just for a added touch when you pick what ever mower you deicide on pick up a striper kit for it. Its that little extra that makes it look ten times better.

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 11:16 PM

I just can't see how the scags you have seen are dying at 3 years? Out of all the machines I looked at, it was by far the beefiest and best built. I am just nurvous about that B&S ELS that the value leader tiger cub comes with.

I really liked the ferris, and the dealer had a good price, and was willing to add a year to the warranty, as well as provide lifetime free pick-ups and drop-offs. The same dealer also sells the toros and exmarks. I'll have to price the toros, but I know they are pricier. I've read the lit on the toro, with the tapered bearings in the spindles, 7 guage deck, beefier frame, etc etc. Man, it's tought to make a decision.

EDIT: Already priced the striper kits ;) The bad news is that toro doesn't seem to have one :( It'd have to be aftermarket. Ferris has a pretty cheap on that is nothing more than a flap. Scag has a beautiful set of roller wheels.

On a side note, I figured out how much mulch I needed to fill the beds that the previous owner neglected. 45 yards, ouch. At least I'm getting a good deal (for here) on the mulch, and free delivery.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-07-2006, 11:23 PM

Once SCAG's have a problem they will have multiple problems with the engine in the near future. We get rid of them as soon as those signs start showing there is no sense of throwing money at a machine that will break again down the road later in its life. They are beefy so they can take the punishment that the user throws on them and sends it right back at you. I'd personally wouldn't like riding on a SCAG.

How much did the dealer tell you for the Ferris?

I've seen people run these into trees and ended up walking away with whiplash at the end of the day.

What's your price per yard? I only use hemlock from Iron Mountain, MI at a $17/yard for 200 yards (YEAH i PlAy WITH SKID STEER) and of course the colored stuff on requests.

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 11:29 PM

Meh, I'll probably end up with a ferris or toro. I appreciate the advice.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-07-2006, 11:30 PM

Not a problem glad I could help.

Steelrat

07-07-2006, 11:36 PM

soccer4minimags

07-08-2006, 03:29 PM

A park that I used to work at that had 8 acres of sports/recreation fields had hustler super z's. very similar to the mini z's but its the next step up. I don't remember the cuttin deck width. They worked very well. We were all very happy with them.

REDRT

07-08-2006, 04:50 PM

Alot of people are using grasshoppers hear. My folks have one for their lawn. They are well built. The folks machine is a (20-25hp?) diesel. Dad does 4 acres in about an hour and a half. Lots of trees and landscaping to mow around also. I personally use my trusty John Deere. My restored 1972 140H1 is just fine for me. It will go for another 30+ years.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-09-2006, 01:51 AM

older John Deere's rock but they have been putting out a lot of crap lately. I just makes me mad because I use mine some freaking much.

My Deere is a home owner's wet dream.
http://classifieds.tractorbynet.com/uploads/16Mar2006_copy.jpg
sry not my pic I don't have a 3 point on mine.
True 4wd drive with a locking rear Dif. :D
22hp Diesel :(
makes you want to scream.

Attachment/Acceroires for mine
60in snow blower (lets launch some snow.)
62in belly mount mower deck
my custom vac system trailer powered by a 6.5 honda (hold about 2 yards of clippings)
Lesco 60in airator
Yard master 15 gal. fertiziler spreader
150 gal. multi boom spray tank (its to old for repair and just use it for Round Up now)

Mango

07-09-2006, 08:33 AM

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-09-2006, 03:15 PM

Bah to small.

Was looking through union farm equipment and found this a 2004 with only 98 hours on it and pretty cheap only 28k
http://www.unionfarmequip.com/equipused/images/usedequip/REN005-b.jpg

besides any riders deck that is under 60in is a waste of time IMO.

Mango

07-09-2006, 03:27 PM

Bah to small.

...

besides any riders deck that is under 60in is a waste of time IMO.

Well thanks for taking a dump on something that I was proud to have and spent some hard earned money on. It's perfect for my needs. http://forums.offtopic.com/images/smilies/weaksauce.gif

http://forums.offtopic.com/images/smilies/iough.gif

Steelrat

07-09-2006, 03:40 PM

http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/13AP11CP710_prod_lg.jpg

Home Depot had a nice sale on mowers, I recently aquired one of these bad boys. We have about 1.5 acres also. I love this thing. Got it for $1,800 after rebates.

http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_14101_10227_33810_-1

Turns so tight and with the triple blade deck, it cuts VERY nicely.

Nice tractor! Kohler makes a good engine, and the 50" deck is a nice size.

Believe me, I looked long and hard at home depot and lowes, especially at those cubs. I don't mind paying a bit extra for something that is built to last a bit longer. The other biggie is that a commercial ZTR will not only cut a lot faster, it'll trim a lot closer on the landscaping I have. The tractors are really supposed to be driven pretty slowly while cutting, but my neighbors all cut at top speed, which they are really not designed to do. Commercial ZTRs (not the residential ones like a HD) can cut at twice the speed of the tractors, if not more.

That being said, if I were smart, I'd buy the exact same thing as you. Frankly, it's probably all that I need.

billybob_81067

07-09-2006, 04:55 PM

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-09-2006, 06:31 PM

You're telling him that his mower is too small and then you post up a pic of a kubota backhoe??? For 28K you could buy an actual backhoe (CAT, John Deere, etc.) though it'll probably have a few more hours on it.

;)

First I'm not making fun of you just saying if you have a 60in you'd get it done in less time. Yes every landscape company still has and will always have small mowers I have about 4 19-21 push mowers and are still my backbone. I'm sry if I offended you in anyway.

CAT's haven't really taken them into account yet. Wasn't to impressed about their new skid steer. I like Kubota's engines and Transmissions they are tough and hard to beat the only complaints I've heard about Kubota Tractors is a shifter linkage.

Deere tractors are nice (Mowers are not their stock and trade) but I don't see spending about 40K on one and besides more hours on it and the older it is someelse probably beat the snot out of it and personally equipment makes money not repair bills.

PyRo

07-09-2006, 10:31 PM

slateman

07-10-2006, 04:48 AM

Commercial mowers are quite pricey. I did landscaping for four years. We bought a Bob Cat with a 48" deck and I was kind of suprised how much it cost.

There was also a Toro that looked a lot like the yellow one in the first post. Was like $6,500 :tard:

Steelrat

07-10-2006, 04:14 PM

I'd go with a walk behind before going with a tractor 1.5 acres isn't really that bad to cut and a 52in walk behind will outmow a 52in tractor four out of five times.

My father made that mistake. He went out and bought a non-commercial lawn tractor. He was excited that it only took 45 minutes to cut his lawn as opposed to about two hours with a push mower. I did his lawn with a 36in Husqvarna walk behind in about 20 minutes. I was trying to push the walk behind on him because the trees and curvature of the landscape really make the manuverability a huge advantage.

Yeah, I looked at the walk behinds, and I like them. They are also quite fast, especially with a skulky, and more manueverable than even a ZTR. However, they essentially cost just as much as a ZTR. I did like the quick 36 at www.betteroutdoorproducts.com, but the single hydro and lack of dealer network bother me. I can just imagine the level of service I'd get at the local power equipment store if I brought one of these in :rolleyes:

SLATEMAN-Yeah, they are pricey, no doubt. But you really do get what you pay for.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-10-2006, 04:45 PM

Ferris has it nailed with their walk behinds Didn't really like Toro and Lesco's Walkbehind.

Ole Unka Phil

07-10-2006, 08:55 PM

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-11-2006, 07:24 AM

Who says Hustler is a dying breed? Nonsense. Built like tanks. Even the small ones. Oldest ZTR company in the business.

Ya need to go over to http://www.lawnsite.com/

You obviously NOT going to get much good info here thats for certain.

Sry phil its a fact in my area. I use 2 Toro's and Kubota. One of the major companies, KEI, drop them as there front line mower and for how big that company is, plus their time of being around, moving to SCAG's just goes to show you.

Ole Unka Phil

07-11-2006, 02:35 PM

Sry phil its a fact in my area. I use 2 Toro's and Kubota. One of the major companies, KEI, drop them as there front line mower and for how big that company is, plus their time of being around, moving to SCAG's just goes to show you.

A lot of those kinds of decisions are not based on equipment. They based on corporate bean counter decisions and behind the scenes deals. Nothing to do with the particular item. But... someone wanting to get in on a company is going to make a loss leader deal to do it. Should not take any thing from it than that. I think your drawing a wrong conclusion from you facts. All the equipment you name is good stuff. Including Hustler.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-11-2006, 03:12 PM

True But I'll still stand by what I know and see. Was looking at there Super Z diesel (sry I would never buy a gas). and read the spec's 34hp Caterpillar its strong but seems a little overpowered for a 60in deck maybe not a 72, remember cut the grass not tear it. though it is nice that they offer a hydraulic lift for the deck but its not stock. Lack of a striper kit and vac system (Vac system isn't a big turn off since I have one on one of my Toro's and Vac cart for my Deere). Should look at demoing a model for fall since my Kubota Z and 325 72in Toro is going down the road here as of right now.

And on a side note I truely hate you guys you make me want to buy more equipment lol :)

Steelrat

07-11-2006, 04:57 PM

Phil, I've been posting over on lawnsite under Steelratt (suprise!).

I tried the one Hustler dealer in my area, but they were a bunch of tools, so Hustler is out, I am afraid :(

Ole Unka Phil

07-15-2006, 10:30 AM

Phil, I've been posting over on lawnsite under Steelratt (suprise!).

I tried the one Hustler dealer in my area, but they were a bunch of tools, so Hustler is out, I am afraid :(

Yes I saw that. And yea.. if you do not get a good dealer, no matter what you buy, its all a crap shoot. I too would shop a dealer along with the equipment.

Shame your not around here. I got a good one close by. And his prices will beat anyone. In fact people drive down there from all over to buy from him. But part of the reason to buy is to have close by support. One thing I can say and you can see from the Lawnsite forum is that Hustler corportate is very involved in solving problems. Directly involved. Which is sort of like AGD and why we liked AGD. So I tend to look for that sort of thing in anything I buy.

Steelrat

07-15-2006, 10:36 AM

Yes I saw that. And yea.. if you do not get a good dealer, no matter what you buy, its all a crap shoot. I too would shop a dealer along with the equipment.

Shame your not around here. I got a good one close by. And his prices will beat anyone. In fact people drive down there from all over to buy from him. But part of the reason to buy is to have close by support. One thing I can say and you can see from the Lawnsite forum is that Hustler corportate is very involved in solving problems. Directly involved. Which is sort of like AGD and why we liked AGD. So I tend to look for that sort of thing in anything I buy.

Well, I just found out that the lawnsite/lawncafe Huster rep, PJ, lives and works right here in Syracuse. He goes out of his way to promote the brand on the forums, and he emailed me to try and work through my issues with the dealership. I'm going to look at a 20/52 fastrack and 19/52 mini-z.

Ole Unka Phil

07-15-2006, 12:18 PM

Well, I just found out that the lawnsite/lawncafe Huster rep, PJ, lives and works right here in Syracuse. He goes out of his way to promote the brand on the forums, and he emailed me to try and work through my issues with the dealership. I'm going to look at a 20/52 fastrack and 19/52 mini-z.

I'll be darned. Yea... he is like that. Very proactive. Very good at getting dealers and customers straight. Gets right into the mix with it. Hope it works out for you.

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-17-2006, 09:44 PM

Alright phil you convenced me to demo a New Hustler 17hp 48in walk behind first reasons why is that I need another large walk behind for a second crew. Second is that my Ferris is 12 yrs old its a dinosaur it still runs, but still should really look at getting a replacement soon.

Spec's of the demo.
Striping sulky
17hp Kawiasaki
front weights
Pistol Grip steering (Ferris is like that so I should confuse the employee's with a different style steering.)

I'll post my response about it in a weeks time.

http://www.hustlerturfequipment.com/ProductPages/ProductPagesCont/TrimstarGearDrive/TSGDAttach/TSGDAttchImages/TSGDAttachIR_04.jpg

Steelrat

07-17-2006, 10:37 PM

TheAngryDrunkenRussian

07-18-2006, 10:11 AM

Hustler's don't use pistol grip steering, unless that is some sort of accessory. They use a proprietary system that they call the "H bar" I believe. Just look at his hands, thats not a pistol grip setup.

Also, the downside to the striping sulky is that it is not fixed. For a hydro WB, I think a sulky with casters might work better, as it will allow ZTR like manueverability. You really can't reverse with a non-fixed sulky.

they still make a pistol grip model it isn't the hydro H bar its gear driven
http://www.hustlerturfequipment.com/ProductPages/ProductPagesCont/TrimstarGearDrive/TSGDPage/TSGDPage.html
besides if I don't like the sulky I can always take it off.

This what I want to launch my crews with:
Truck 1 F350: Small accounts
20ft trailer
Toro out front 223 62in 4wd
Toro Z master 72in
Ferris Hydrowalk

Truck 2 F450: Medium accounts
22ft trailer
Toro out Front 325 72in 4wd
Toro Z master 60in
demoed Hustler walkbehind

Truck 3 F550: Large accounts
32ft trailer
Toro 580-D 16ft 2wd
Toro 455 10ft 4wd