Zero Turn Mowers

Considering a Zero Turn mower?

A "Z' mower is a fun (fun!) way to mow the lawn. Instead of a steering wheel, you've got sticks. There are a few things to consider before purchasing a 'Z' mower, however. These questions are part of how we quiz our customers, to ensure they know what they want, and why.

1. Are you adept enough? Read: do you like change? Some people don't like change at all. Others are adventurous and jump at the very word 'different' !  It is not a male/female issue at all, but rather a question of flexibility. Personally, I think it makes mowing a blast!

2. What is your terrain? Most operator manuals for lawn mowers state 15 degrees is the maximum recommended angle of mowing. This is even more true for Z mower, because your rear wheels are the drive, steering, and brakes all at the same time. If your lawn is flat -- no problemo.

3. What is your goal? Are you looking to save time and mow fast like the pros do? A homeowner Z will travel -maybe- a bit faster than a tractor while mowing. The time savings comes into play because of it's maneuverability. You can swoop around trees and plantings in 1 loop, minimizing those pesky reverse-stop-forward-stop-reverse scenarios.

Can you still convince your better half that mowing the lawn is hard work?  It's so much fun, you might have to convince your better half it's still work. I'd even go so far as to say it's therapeutic.  But don't tell her, or she'll be mowing the lawn, and you'll never get another chance.  (We've actually seen this more than a few times!)

Zero turn units have come a long way in the past 10 years.  You owe it to yourself to re-examine them, if you have not looked at them for a while. The commercial units are faster than ever and mow beautifully. But even the consumer units are getting stronger drives, better decks, and can mow nicely for what they are designed for.  And for a pretty reasonable price!

People often cut their mowing time in half, just by switching to a consumer level 'Z'. People cut that time in half again, switching from a consumer 'Z' to a commercial level 'Z'.

What is the difference between the various levels of Z mowers? 

The more economical Toro and Ariens hold up well, and mow nicely.  But if you buy too 'lightly' the machine may not hold up as well, meaning you will replace it sooner.  Object of the game is to buy the correct size mower for your lawn. We'd be glad to help you discover what would be best for your situation.

Regardless of what dealer you buy your machine from, avoid the big big stores whenever possible.  This will help assure you get the right machine, correctly prepped and adjusted, and you will get free training too.  

One last thing to keep in mind: a Z is still not a tractor. You can tow light loads behind the machine as long as you 'think' like a tractor for turning purposes.  But if you turn, like a Z will allow, you'll be twisting up metal behind you.