larger mowers

[tadd]

Can anyone suggest a mower for about 5 acres of grass?

It seems there is the homeowner grade (~$1500) and the professional grade ($15k).

I did a lot of reading and went with a bad boy 18 hp zero turn a few years ago, kinda mid grade at 3500, and only got two seasons before the strap holding the bottom of the two drive units rusted out at a poorly engineered mount (too tight a bend, wet grass, accelerated crack corrosion). Units went sideways being unsupported on one side and tore the upper mounts.

Got out the welder, repaired and strengthened. Wont break now !

Got half a season and the motor popped. Leaking from a head.

When new, it mowed some grass. Makes a 5-6 hour job on a regular upright into 2 hours...

Just want to mow yard but not looking to buy a car.

[KFC911]

You definitely need a commercial grade and they aren't cheap. Notice what the pros in your area use....around here Scags rule, but local dealership has a lot to do with it. For 5 acres...I'd figure spending 8-10K+....mebbe used is an option? You gotta pay for quality and most of those 3-4k mowers are junk....imo.

[Arizona_928]

Bush hog and be done with it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Bush hog and be done with it.

Nope...uncle's got a Deere with a 6' Woods finish mower (along with a bush hog)...won't touch a commercial grade Z-turn as a mower imo. Different tools...need both

[jwasbury]

My solution was an old JD 420 with a 60” mower deck. Not as quick as commercial ZT, but not slow and built to last. Cost a fraction of a big commercial ZT unit

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

My solution was an old JD 420 with a 60” mower deck. Not as quick as commercial ZT, but not slow and built to last. Cost a fraction of a big commercial ZT unit

I picked up a GT1200 (I think it was) used with 250 hours...a good older mower, but only 54" for my dad a bit ago...a good old Deere don't suck...got a bargain

[Mark Henry]

I had a healthy budget to buy a commercial unit, instead I bought a JD x320 with a 52" deck and an older 60hp 4wd tractor with a bushog, loader and 7' blower for the same coin. I cut about 1.5 acre around the house and bushog the rest about 2 times a year.
No regrets at all.

[Seahawk]

I mow seven acres of grass in Maryland very week when it grows, even and uneven terrain.

A few things:

- Five acres in the Mid South means liquid cooled diesel whatever, ZT or estate tractor. It just does. I tried to go cheap and failed.

- If your land is flat or relatively so, just get a better ZTM. I recommend a diesel Kubota.

I needed more than just a mower so I settled on a MF 2300. I have owned two since 2003.

Over 1500 hours on each, 70 inch mid deck mower, 3 PT hitch, PTO, etc...front end loader on one, lots of other implements.

I take care of them but I really, really use them. 15 years and counting.

[trials935]

I mow 6 acres with my John Deere F935 3 cyl. diesel 72" deck front mower, bought used 16 years ago, takes 3-4 hours. Gone through 2 sets of blades and a pto clutch, best mower ever. Makes my lawn look like a golf course. Take the front deck off in late fall and put the 5' snow plow on and plow my 500' driveway in winter.

[mattdavis11]

I've heard good things about Ariens and Ferguson zero turn mowers. I've not used either.

[ckelly78z]

I have a 1987 John Deere 955 compact utility tractor 33 HP 3 cylinder diesel, 4x4, foot control hydrostatic, power steering, 72" mid finish mower, with 52" front end loader, 48" box scraper, 48" rototiller. This unit makes short work of any job, still looks good, runs good, and is used everyday for hauling hay to the horses, spread stone, cleaning horse stalls, firewood to the house, digging ditches, loading really heavy stuff onto trailers, and trucks. I have 10 acres, mow about 3 acres in about 1.5 hours.

The best investment I have ever made....bought it used 20 years ago for $6000.

[Crowbob]

If you're only gonna mow 5A of grass, go with a professional ZT.

However, if you also need to move mulch, rocks, tree stumps and whatnot, blow or plow snow, till gardens, run a 7Kw gererator, dig post holes, spray chemicals and make sandwiches this is what you need:

[tadd]

Thank you for all the replies.

I’ve got the heavy stuff covered with the unimog. It’s my pickup truck and tractor.

I’m just looking to mow. Orginally started with a 30 hp yanmar tractor and finish mower. It’s about 3.5 hours just cause it don’t go around things super well. Great in a straight line though!

Mower is it. Just looking for recs on brand. Got pooched on the bad boy. Kobota makes nice stuff but pricey. Kinda like Deere stuff. Proud of their green. Exmark is what I see a lot of around here.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by tadd

....Exmark is what I see a lot of around here.

Pretty common here too...you wouldn't regret one of those.....other than having to make yer own sammiches

[wdfifteen]

I don't know about Exmark. I see a lot of them around here. I've had 10 years of great service out of my Kubota. Whatever you get, buy it from a servicing dealer.

[ckelly78z]

To save much time, I mulch around trees in the Spring, and spray roundup a couple times a year. I don't even own a string trimmer, or push mower, just my 72" JD 955.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don't know about Exmark. I see a lot of them around here. I've had 10 years of great service out of my Kubota. Whatever you get, buy it from a servicing dealer.

^^^^ Yep...get one from a local dealer the pros use. The dealer I puchased my baby Scag from a decade ago sold both Scag and Exmark...the owner just happened to be there....he said I should pick the Scag. Lots of Exmarks out there though I don't see as many any more. Actually....the brand I see the most here are the smaller Walker's with the bagger....they rule the smaller lawns and are $$$$....

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I don't know about Exmark. I see a lot of them around here. I've had 10 years of great service out of my Kubota. Whatever you get, buy it from a servicing dealer.

Don't you have a Kubota with the mower deck out front....remembering from way back. I see a larger Z-turn in my future...whatcha got?

[T77911S]

expect to spend at least 8k on a good ZT.
lowes and HD don't sell anything that will last.

Dixie choppers is big down here. gravely is too but a lot more $$.

look for a good used one.

I look at it this way, you spend a lot a of time mowing, you have the need for a good one, spend the $$ and get one that will last and you will enjoy.

you can also get a Kubota tractor with mower, FEL and backhoe for around 15k for a used one.
that's my next toy.

[T77911S]

https://fayetteville.craigslist.org/grd/d/kubota-bx23backhoe-loader/6486358610.html