Consumer Mowers

[Wilderness Lawn]

First I would like to say, Thank you to all for the great information.

I have a question on consumer ztr's. I own and operate a small LCO with just a few accounts. I plan on expanding slowly over the next few years however right now I work 2 jobs and cut grass ect on the side. I plan to have this as my partime job in the next year and hopefully fulltime within the next 5-7 years. I have been cutting with a 17hp tractor now. I have looked at many types of mowers and trimmers. I cut in a large gated community were you are not allowed to hand out flyers ect, so it makes word of mouth your only advertising. Being in a large community with alot of rules and regs means, no fences and very small yards 35-45.00 a yard.

The commmercial machines are just to big, and I don't want a cheap consumer machine. The w/b are just to big as well.

Lowes has a husqvarna ztr (small frame) with a 17hp Kohler Motor for 4000.00, I understand that the deck might not be as strong ect, but cutting 2-5 yards most less than 1/4 of acre, the machine will not be abused at all. The lawn tractor I currently use works but with small yards you just can't turn it around as easy and of course you can cut in reverse.

Also a ZTR should cut down on trimming as well as time. Right now it takes me around 1 hour to complete the yard.

Do you think this is a wise move, will it cut down on time by using a small ZTR or should I buy a new lawn tractor ?

Thanks Again,
David

[Green Escapes]

No dought you should go with the ZTR. I've see the one your talking about at Lowes. I'm not sure how its built but if its between this and another lawn tractor then the decision is to go with the ZTR. One other thing to look at is a 36" walk behind. This way it gets into gates and its not to big for your yards. Plenty of commercial grade 36" walk behinds for a little over $2000 new. Something to think about.

Also, in regard to advertising, you can get all the addresses in the neighborhood and start sending mailers to them letting them know of your services. Just cause you can't put anything on the outside doesn't mean you can't mail stuff out to them.

[Wilderness Lawn]

Thanks for the reply,

I have look at some of the walk behinds, although I have never operated on before. The only good thing about this community is all of the 3000 homes are not allowed to have fences. So this make is it nice as far as gates go.

how much strain does a w/b put on the operator, the wife runs the mower ?


I just found out they have a community phone book with all the names and address for sale for 6.00.

[Green Escapes]

Originally posted by Wilderness Lawn


how much strain does a w/b put on the operator, the wife runs the mower ?

Not much. She should be fine with it. The only one I've used, and I'm sure there all similar, is the Toro. Its a hydrostatic unit and all your doing is pushing on the side of the handles to direct which wheel or wheels will turn. Very simple.

[Jack D.]

A hydro WB will cut trim time even more on most res., or a good outfront like the Walker if you have to bag.

I would stay away from the Toro hydros as they are difficult to zero turn without divoting, do not offer pressureless straight tracking, are not great on hills & tend to be a bit jumpy.

[spirkn]

I've seen the husqvarna at lowes that your talking about. I do think that it is a fabricated deck, but themachine probable isn't made for commercail use. Remeber you get what you pay for, and if you want to be using it for the long haul thats probable not what you are looking for. I did notice on the "consumer z", i think thats what they are called, that it had a 48" deck. I don't know what type of wb your looking at but you could get a 48" exmark, encore, scag, or most any other for under 4000 new. I don't think that would be too big for where you are, esspceailly if the husq. isn't. good luck, in which ever route you take.

[Wilderness Lawn]

What my train of thought was, (if this is even in the ball park)

I have about an acre of grass to mow now, during the next 2-5 years I plan putting alot more time & money into my LCO. So what i was thinking is this mower should last me 5years doing resdential lawns, and since I only cut 2-3 extra lawns a week it should not hurt it to bad. My goal is only to pick up 2 new clients a year for the next couple of years, then go into it more and someday o fulltime.

At that time turning the "consumer ztr" into my house only and upgrading to a more "comercial machine"

I really can't spend the 7-10k on a ZTR and feel alittle wierd buying a W/B (since i have never used one)

Just thought, you guys are the pro's that is why I am asking !

[spirkn]

I'm sorry, i dont' understand why you would feel weird buying a wb????

[Wilderness Lawn]

No exp operating at all... I feel like its always buying a 4wd truck 5sp nothing else, then out of the blue you buy a 2wd truck with a auto...

I need to find somebody willing to let me try one out, just to get a feel for it, these things are not cheap, so the last thing I want to do is buy and it be to big for the wife or end up scalp yards!

[spirkn]

Ohhhhhh, alright i know exactly what your saying. Um find local dealers, and see if they will let you try the mower out side. Usually they'll let you take a "test drive" out on they're lawn or in the parking lot, or wherever. Let me tell you though, when i first tried walkbhehinds, i was jerky with going straight, and horrible with turn. You just really have to start slow and then work up.

[spirkn]

as far as being to big, you just gotta set the speed right. With the commercail wb, the only work you do is with your hands (you might even want to get gloves if you have to mow from sun-up till sun- down). Other than that though you just have to walk behind it, not tough at all.

[Scott]

get a husqvarna 4218 Z. They run about 5.5k. 42in cut w/a 18kawasaki. lose the side chute and add a mulch kit.
If you're gonna pursue a career in this industry you need to step up to a commerical unit to keep your production up. A lawn tractor is just too slow compared to a Z and you'll notice the difference immediately. A few years back I went from a 42in tractor w/16 kohler to a 42in Z w/an 18hp kawasaki. It cut off as much as 20mins on some lawns.

I looked at that unit at Lowes and it seemed like a good idea at the time until I talked to my husky rep. It's a pure residential unit. Designed for easy operating and quick familiarization. It allows Suzy homeowner to get on and go w/o much worry. Husky used to make commerical units like those at Lowes but they dropped the line since Z's are the weapons of choice. It would be a wiser choice to get a small commerical unit; 42in, 44in, 48in cut over any lawn tractor of any size.

As far as advertising in those gated communities, always wear company shirts and have large signs on your trailer and truck. I've also found that in most gated communities, if the homeowner is happy with their LCO/LMO's, it doesn't matter how/when you approach them you're wasting your time. Even if you're lowballing(like zack, zack., Jack D., casey, muffinhead)

[Wilderness Lawn]

Scott thanks for the info,


It is funny you should bring that up about low balling, I find that alot of the "scrub" LCO's in this community abuse and take advantage of the elderly residents. Because I part time as cop in the community I get to see what happens. I have had to go on calls were the "tree expert" is demanding 17k for the removal of one 6inch (round) tree. What they are doing is saying they will cut and the residents are saying okay, however the scam is they are not settleing a price.

I see this happen all of the time, so that is why I decided to start my LCO, so I guess you could say that I am a scrub myself, because I am not low balling but I am damn sure not going to rip off and old lady. Some of these guys are running scamming thousands and thousands of dollars, it is just not right. I will cut a small yard -1/2 acre, blow off driveway trimm around trees ect, for 35-45 dollars. It takes me alone about 30-40mins, I give them a nice groomed cut and a fair price. I know for a fact that for the same job some guys are getting 50-100 dollars, and that is a crappy job when they are done.

So my question is this, does that make me a low baller ? or a scrub!

[CCLS]

If your productivity and quality is greater than your competition, then that makes you a good business man.