I'm looking at one of the commercial models with a 60" deck. I have a quite large yard to mow, and part of it is sloping toward a fence I mow against. The conventional zero turns aren't too great sideways on a slope. This looks like it would be more suitable for my needs. Do any of you have any experience with one of these? If so, I'd love to get your opinion on the mower.
Steering Wheel Control Zero-Turn Riders

I don't see how that would be any better on a slope than a zero turn. If anything I'll bet it's worse because the steering wouldn't be as precise. If you are crossing a slope it's the width of the mower that gives the stability. I do a pretty steep yard on this Grasshopper 52" and sometimes on wet grass I slide but I've never felt in danger. I don't think you'll ever like a steering wheel as well as you will the sticks

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God spelled backwards is dog.

The thing about it is that the steering wheel giudes the front wheels, as well as regulates the hydraulic fluid going to each rear wheel.
I've used a Dixie Chopper, and I can't get them to set on a slope sideways. The front end wants to drop downhill, as the front wheels spin freely. It could be that I could do better once I became more familiar with one.
I do appreciate your response.

I had a Dixie for 10 years before I got the GH. A Dixie is twitchy steering and, while it doesn't take any more effort, it is so responsive that you've got to pay attention. My Dixie was a 50" and the mower was so compact that it was like a carnival ride you could spin it so easily. Dixie lost quality and many dealers in the mid 2000s and their reputation for quality has suffered. DC started all the ztr action back in early 1980s.

I've got one spot that is so steep I cant hold sideways so I go up and back down until I finish but it's only about 50' wide and 20' deep. I'd sure demo the wheel model good and I'll bet you'll find anything you can do on it you can do better with an equal width ztr. The model like mine in 61" sold for $6300 2 years ago when I bought my 52" for $6100. I would have bought the 61" but my trailer was only 60".

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I can't comment on the zero turn model, but I did have the cub cadet LT 1050. It had a 26 HP kohler engine, 50" deck. I thought I really had something, until the motor let go at the beginning of the third season (2 yr warranty).

While costing twice as much, it was replaced with a John Deere x320. I'm beginning the 5th season with it and couldn't be more satisfied.

joe

If you don't really need zero turn capability, I would stick with a traditional rider or maybe a used rear steer.

I think there are better mowers than a Cub Cadet for the same money. When I lived on the farm in Woodbury I had a Scag zero turn mower and it did fine on hills. I know the part of Tennessee you live in and the terrain is about the same as where I lived. I am not saying the Scag is the best but it did the job for me. I just think you can do better than a Cub Cadet. That Grasshopper Doublesharp has is a high quality mower and I think that is what you need on those hills. In my opinion you really need a quality mower to stand up to the extra strain those hills put on a mower. Don

P.S. Good luck with your search for a mower.

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"Don't worry be happy"

Neighbor has one of the cub cadets with the steering wheel that he bought for the same reason as you, his has been back to the dealer 5 or 6 times with minor issues the most major of which was high oil consumption apparently caused because the mower liked using oil on slopes.

I really think you would be better off with a stick drive zero turn, I run one at work going side to side on hills you can't really walk up and down. The secret to the stick drives on hills is don't stop in the middle of the hill and if you have to do your turns on the hill turn so that the front wheels go up the hill as you turn.

We run scag mowers at work and the smaller mowers are better on the hills, we have two Scag Wildcats and one Turf Tiger, the Turf Tiger will run away with the other two on flat ground but the Wildcats will out mow the Turf Tiger on hills.

The Scags are good mowers we have right at 2000 hours on the oldest Wildcat and it has had nothing major done to it.

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Drew

I've been back and forth on this for several years now. I may just buy a finish mower for my tractor. I know it'll do what I want/ Thanks for the responses.

Back in the early days before ztrs I used a Kubota compact diesel with a Woods RM59 finish mower. My weeds looked like a golf course after I mowed.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Greg it will take you 4 or five times longer to mow with a finish mower on your tractor plus more weed eating. I think what you need to do is get one of the dealers to let you try one out on your yard. You will then find out how great they are. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

You're probably right, Hawkeye. So far, I haven't found a dealer willing to let me try one. I found a guy near here wanting to sell a 6' Woods finish mower for $600. I'm gonna try it. If I don't like it, I think I can get my money back. I have a long, narrow yard, and not much weed eating to do. I mow in second gear with a bushhog. I believe I can go up to third gear with the finish mower, which will cut my time down to a manageable level. My tractor has the shuttle shift option, which makes mowing pretty handy with it. Thanks again for your suggestions. I may end up with a zero turn yet!
The wife is happier spending $600 than $7000+!!!

I did landscaping part time for 10 years and found the Exmark LazerZ, was hands down the best and most reliable zero turn out there. Cub Cadet quality, is marginal, at best. IMO

Math has never been my strong suit but I've always had fun with the way I figure. A ZTR costs $7000, a Woods finish mower costs $600. That's a $6400 spread and that left over money's got to go somewhere........

Hello CDNN

If you've got a long narrow yard it sounds made for a finish mower and when you're taking a 6 ft swath that will git er done in a hurry. I used to do a 15 acre field with a 6 ft bushog and I generally cut in low range 3rd gear, basically a brisk walk. Boring.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I'm cutting in third gear in high range. My yard isn't smooth enough to go any faster. I picked up the Woods 72" finish mower today, and could not be happier with it. Thanks to everyone for talking me out of the Cub Cadet. My budget minded wife thanks you as well!

DON'T BUY ONE !!

I have purchased 2 new. The first was junk. I thought well, it may have just been a lemon. I bought a second one. I mowed 2 swipes with it and the belt broke.
I called the dealer and told him about it. He said bring it back and they would try and get to it. I said, I just picked it up from you and mowed 2 swiped with it.
I ask him to come pick it up. He said no. Long story short, I advised him where he could put his cub cadet.

It caught on fire and burned.

I then bought a Kubota which I love.

Be sure and get a roll bar on the ztr. They make foldable roll bars which are very convienent. I know of someone who was killed when his ztr went into a ditch. If it had a roll bar, he would have survived.

Caught fire and burned up; just like that, huh? I'm guessing you hadn't paid for it yet.

Yes it was paid for.