Your Opinion Of Zero-Turn Lawn Tractors

Posted by Jack on May 6, 2008, 2:42 pm

Cub Cadet's ZT lawn tractors are considerably more expensive thanCub
Cadet's lawn tractors of the same size but without ZT capability.
Are they worth the higher price? Do they save considerably more time,
and presumably more gas to make them worthwhile?

Posted by Sheldon on May 6, 2008, 4:33 pm

On May 6, 2:42=EF=BF=BDpm, I...@home.org (Jack) wrote:

> Cub Cadet's ZT lawn tractors are considerably more expensive thanCub
> Cadet's =EF=BF=BDlawn tractors of the same size but without ZT capability.=

> Are they worth the higher price? =EF=BF=BDDo they save considerably more t=

ime,

> and presumably more gas to make them worthwhile? =EF=BF=BD

That would depend entirely on the layout of your property... if you
have lots of trees, bushes, nooks, and crannys to navigate then ZT
will assuredly save time and effort... but if most of your mowing is
straight line then ZT is frivolous, a waste of dollars to buy and
expensive to maintain. Won't your dealer let you test drive, that's
really the only way to know what's best for you. Concerned dealers
will have demos and a piece of land to test them out, in fact they
won't sell you a machine unless you try it.

Posted by J.A. Michel on May 6, 2008, 5:16 pm

> Cub Cadet's ZT lawn tractors are considerably more expensive thanCub
> Cadet's lawn tractors of the same size but without ZT capability.
> Are they worth the higher price? Do they save considerably more time,
> and presumably more gas to make them worthwhile?

I'd sure like to have one! I waste a lot of time on the lawn changing
gears, backing up, and turning around. I've been looking at the Cub Cadet
zero turn model that looks like a regular lawn tractor. I think one of
these would be great for a smaller lawn. It doesn't 'look' like a
zero-turn, and uses regular lawn tractor accessories such as a bagger. I
also think it would be nice to have a steering wheel instead of two levers
for steering.

Of course my old Poulan tractor is running strong, so I can't justify
replacing it right now. My next rider will be a ZT.

Posted by k on May 6, 2008, 6:30 pm

I love ZT, but I have a big piece of property. When we first moved here
over 20 yrs ago, I spent part of every spring, summer and fall day on my
riding mower: probably ten hours a week mowing. After about 5 years of that
I got a skag ZT with a 48" deck, and that cut mowing time to about 3 hrs,
and made it a lot more fun. I still have it, but haven't started it in a
few years.

I replaced it with a Toro ZT with a 6ft deck, 28hp liquid-cooled engine, a
seat belt and roll bar, even a cup holder. Now I can do all 5 acres of lawn
in around an hour, depending on how high the grass is, and how slippery the
hills are. The big deck is offset by a foot to the left side, which makes
for easy trimming around gardens, etc, and the job it does is really great.
I've never had such an even looking lawn.

The bad news is the price, of course, but it's dead-reliable, and
surprisingly good on gas. I get about 8 hours on 5 gallons.

There are now NINE hours in each week where I used to be mowing the lawn and
I'm not anymore. With the advent of grandchildren I find far better ways to
spend that time.

That's me, with 12 acres and 5 of it grass, which I know isn't average.
Even if I move to a smaller place, I'd still buy another ZT. You lose the
PTO, so it's a dedicated mowing machine, but the ZTs do a much nicer job in
way less time.

Still, there is a lot of potential utility with a garden tractor which
doesn't exist with a ZT. If you want to clear snow, tow a trailer, or any
of myriad other possibilities with a tractor, then a tractor is your better
bet.

k

Posted by SteveB on May 7, 2008, 1:36 am

>> Cub Cadet's ZT lawn tractors are considerably more expensive thanCub
>> Cadet's lawn tractors of the same size but without ZT capability.
>> Are they worth the higher price? Do they save considerably more time,
>> and presumably more gas to make them worthwhile?

> I love ZT, but I have a big piece of property. When we first moved here
> over 20 yrs ago, I spent part of every spring, summer and fall day on my
> riding mower: probably ten hours a week mowing. After about 5 years of
> that I got a skag ZT with a 48" deck, and that cut mowing time to about 3
> hrs, and made it a lot more fun. I still have it, but haven't started it
> in a few years.
> I replaced it with a Toro ZT with a 6ft deck, 28hp liquid-cooled engine, a
> seat belt and roll bar, even a cup holder. Now I can do all 5 acres of
> lawn in around an hour, depending on how high the grass is, and how
> slippery the hills are. The big deck is offset by a foot to the left
> side, which makes for easy trimming around gardens, etc, and the job it
> does is really great. I've never had such an even looking lawn.
> The bad news is the price, of course, but it's dead-reliable, and
> surprisingly good on gas. I get about 8 hours on 5 gallons.
> There are now NINE hours in each week where I used to be mowing the lawn
> and I'm not anymore. With the advent of grandchildren I find far better
> ways to spend that time.
> That's me, with 12 acres and 5 of it grass, which I know isn't average.
> Even if I move to a smaller place, I'd still buy another ZT. You lose the
> PTO, so it's a dedicated mowing machine, but the ZTs do a much nicer job
> in way less time.
> Still, there is a lot of potential utility with a garden tractor which
> doesn't exist with a ZT. If you want to clear snow, tow a trailer, or any
> of myriad other possibilities with a tractor, then a tractor is your
> better bet.
> k

For the sake of the topic, a ZTR is better than a standard mower.

As far as labor saving devices, I have a theory on those.

Riding mowers were not invented so one could cut the time it takes to mow
the grass and use those extra hours fishing or napping or visiting the
neighbor. It's so you can have MORE GRASS.

Steve

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