Which entry level commercial rider???

[hillndale]

Hi, I'm a new member seeking advice and stumbled across this site. I'm grateful for your feedback. I'm trying to get a small business started,and I'm getting many varied jobs ie residential, small & large. I bought a White 1650 2 cylinder-18HP rider with bagging system. In the first 60 days, I've had a new engine (warranty) 2 belts (1 warranty) and now have bent a pulley & got a third belt. Yea I know it's not a commercial mower, but I had one before and would cut an acre regularly, and it never broke. Everyone near me uses "Walker" mowers. Too expensive for me right now ($6-8k) I need versitility-sometimes bagging, some nice lawns & some ruff mowed field type lawns.Does anyone have any suggestions.

[Scott]

any commercial riding Z is gonna start off around 5k. You can drop that a bit by going with a w/b.
Go to your local dealer and talk to him/her about financing. You can probably get a really nice Z for about $150-$200 a month for 36 months.

[hillndale]

Re: Commercial starter

Thanks Scott--- A decent Z would be nice, but I think I have to work up to it. I'm just starting out, and have a varied client base fluctuating around a dozen customers, with one timers calling when they need to be bailed out 'cause they missed a few cuts, plus I have residential & groomed "field type" grass, an acre +. I think a W/B would kick my a**, specially if it crapped out on the back 40. It's hard to have the versitility in one machine. I guess I have to chose my client base, but I hate to turn down work. I don't know if a John Deere or Cub Cadet rider would be a step up from my disposable White? Thanks again---any more input welcome

[jimslawnservice1]

a 52 OR 60 walkbehind may be the best soultion.

1. Cuts lots of grass
2. several K less than Z
3. Mows more areas than a Z
4. a Velke (sulky) will keep it from taking it all out of you.
5. A gently used machine could be your answer. Those folks who are "trying" to survive will be selling many low hour machines very shortly; so they aren't carrying a note through the all and winter.

Good Luck.

[P&C Lawn Care]

For the price a large deck W/B with a sulky (so your not walking) might fi your budget better, then later you can buy a good Z-mower. A garden style tractor/mower may do the job of mowing, but time is against us LCO's. Only a W/B or Z mower will cut that time down and do a better job of mowing. John Deeres are overpriced. White, Cub Cadet, Cub Cadet Commercial, Bolens, Troy Built. Ryobi, Yardman, Yard Machine, McCulloch are all owned by MTD. I believe Cub Cadet is a very good manufactor of lawn mowers and their commercial line is fairly decent as well. I still use and old (very old) White ZTR (they don't make em anymore) that has a super cut and is quick getting around things. What ever you consider buying get a commercial grade mower. Stay away from the riding homeowner mowers. Get a good W/B or ZTR mower. You may pay more but it will increase your production and the longevity of a well built machine pays for needless breakdowns.

ZTR vs W/B: What would you do if a z mower crapped out in the back 40?

[Scott]

ZTR vs W/B: What would you do if a z mower crapped out in the back 40?

open the hydro's and pppppuuuusssssshhhhhhhh

[P&C Lawn Care]

Exactly. Best bet is to have a back up mower, open hydro's and hook up a chain and pull it back. And that is why we carry a manual winch to get it back on the trailer.

[hillndale]

Thanks! & Do folks "bag" w/ w/b's

Looked at an eXmark W/B "metro" today for $2600. Do folks still use "baggers" on w/b's?