Not exactly “trucking”, but over at John Deere…

Grass equipment is as trendy as any other industry and the zero turn has the market now. For most people a lawn tractor is safer, more stable on hills, less likely to take a dive in a ditch, needs less repair, less lawn damage, and more natural to operate. Most zero turns only caster on the front wheels, so hit dog bomb mowing a slight slop, lose traction on one of the two control wheels, and most people panic and ride out the zero turn until it turns over. You would be surprised how many people die each year from that.

Because of the unique new fun trendiness of the zero turn, all the industry development has gone into producing it. You will get better motors, decks, transmissions, frames, on the zero turn because people are willing to pay for the uniqueness. Lawn tractor has become the low end option because it is not a cool to have a lawn tractor anymore.

The same speed cutting, performance, and reliability used to be put into higher end lawn tractor models, but the industry had a hard time selling them. Honda, John Deere, and Kubota all sold hight quality lawn tractors since the 80's just very few people would pony up $5,000 - $10,000 for what looked the same as the $500 hardware store lawn tractor. At one time you could go to the local hardware store and buy something that for all purposes looked exactly the same for $500. Zero turn, to most consumers, looks to be something entirely different and therefore will pay more for the trend.

Yup, I live in a small town and yet more then one wife has taken out the zero-turn for a small errand and ended up dead in the ditch or at the base of the hill with the mower on top of her.

 

Yeah well we had John Deere 110 and 210 riders for years from the 70's up until the late 90's. Before hydrostatic drive became trendy. The good ol days lol. Bunch of changing gears backing up and pulling forward cussing at every object in the yard that had to be mowed around. I remember when my grandfather bought a big 60" zero turn in the late 90's we thought it was awesome, and it was.

Zero turn is way superior than lawn tractors & more ergonomic that's why they sell so much better. Much easier mowing than fighting a steering wheel. Takes a little getting used to for somebody that's never driven one you most definitely gotta exercise control over your equipment. Jerky too fast turns tear up turf and get you into trouble. Smooth and steady does it. Just like driving a truck. Ain't never messed up on one in 25+ years mowing with them. But I get what you all are saying and I would be worried about my wife driving it in a yard with lots of stuff to mow around. But she could be trained. And they do have ROP for them.

 

I know it doesn’t look like it in the picture, but that bank between the house and pool building is steeper than it looks. I often have to use the posi lock on the JD to climb it. I myself have a lot of seat time on a dozer, a zero turn would not be a problem for me. As I said earlier the main deciding factor was thinking of my wife. Our neighbor has a zero turn and he can flat lay the grass down in a hurry with it. I kinda wanted one, but not the better 1/2 lol…..

 

You seem to have most, if not all, the answers lately. Just say'in.....

 

I bought a Grasshopper 225k for $9,500 about 11 years ago. Still not sure it was worth that much money, but it’s been a really good machine for us. They had 0% financing for 5 years with 5 year warranty. I just couldn’t pass it up.

 

I hear you brother. Yeah they'll zip thru the grass quick but you definitely gotta be mindful when driving one. If her car wheels got lots of curb rash that might be a clue zero turn ain't a good idea.. But I always look forward to mowing grass on mine. I never remember such fondness for riders especially mowing around obstacles, even with hydrostatic that's still got to be aggravating. And I swear I wasn't looking for a pissing contest that's not why I mentioned them.

 

Grasshoppers are definitely pricey but they're good mowers. My stepfather's got a 60" Grasshopper that he bought new 20 some years ago. I dunno how many hours on it but it still runs like a champ thru 4 acres every week. I got the same sort of deal you got 0% financing 6 years ago on a Gravely ZTHD 52.

Zero percent financing... those sure were the good ol days lol

 

You mentioned a JD 110, guy came along some years ago and fell in love with a car I had. He traded me a 110, MF 7, Kubota tractor, 1966 C10, and wad of $$ to boot for it. The 110 was actually a good little tractor. Still have the mower deck for the MF 7 in great shape but it’s long gone….

 

Looks like you got a great deal. Where's the '66? My grandfather had a nice black short bed 3 speed on the column '65 c10 that he inherited from an elderly uncle that bought it brand new. He also had an even nicer black factory chrome clad long bed '66 F100 w 3 sp on the column that he bought new. Wish I had either one of those. Fun trucks growing up me and brother used to drive the **** out of them both lol.

That 110 of yours is definitely older than the one we had. Ours had two probably 4" round headlights in the front. It had a Kohler engine I can't remember the hp. Powertrain wise it was probably very similar if not exactly like yours. You ain't really mowed a yard unless you've ever mowed on one of those lol.

That Massey looks like one my dad had. His was a little bigger than that one. I think it was bought new in the early 1970's. He was still cutting his yard with that thing up until about 20 years ago. It looked cherry he took really good care of it. Would probably be worth something to somebody into those but it's long gone. He refuses to get a z turn too likes the tractor style mower. Just a personal preference.