Front runner.

[wjjones]

Does anyone own, and or run a front deck style ztr? If so how do you like it compared to the traditional ztr?

 

[demhustler]

frontmount (60'' Grasshoper) vs midmount; pro and contra, ++ &-- :

++: smoother ride (floating front deck - with rubber suspension, rear wheels - swivel axle); long @ low frontmount deck - you can stick it deep under low branches, trees, bushes, etc and wipe everything underneath, deck height changes with one quick move; good option (who have such feature) - "flip-up deck", for access to blades and compactness on the trailer; good on flat u-turns (but with some slope upper wheel can loose traction), convenient vacuum system

-- : less compact then midmount; watch your long butt - who not used to frontmount, often hitting stuff with it on turns; due to heavy rear -not enough traction to go up-hill, much worse than midmount to cut along the slope (who have installed hydraulic /electric deck lift kit can rise deck a bit - to add weight (and traction) to drive wheels; taking-off hopper also helps a bit (ours been bolted-on, not too quick & easy mount-dismount : ))); it goes uphill better in reverse, than forward, but watch sharp acceleration/deceleration (braking) on the hills - don't let it do wheelies (stoppies) - to rise rear it the ear and throw you out ... : ))))

in the crew - frontmount basically doing flat sections, midmount - hills

p.s. there are many bigger frontmounted mowers with rear wheels steering, 4x4, - better on hills, but they are not ZTRs ...

 

[wjjones]

frontmount (60'' Grasshoper) vs midmount; pro and contra, ++ &-- :

++: smoother ride (floating front deck - with rubber suspension, rear wheels - swivel axle); long @ low frontmount deck - you can stick it deep under low branches, trees, bushes, etc and wipe everything underneath, deck height changes with one quick move; good option (who have such feature) - "flip-up deck", for access to blades and compactness on the trailer; good on flat u-turns (but with some slope upper wheel can loose traction), convenient vacuum system

-- : less compact then midmount; watch your long butt - who not used to frontmount, often hitting stuff with it on turns; due to heavy rear -not enough traction to go up-hill, much worse than midmount to cut along the slope (who have installed hydraulic /electric deck lift kit can rise deck a bit - to add weight (and traction) to drive wheels; taking-off hopper also helps a bit (ours been bolted-on, not too quick & easy mount-dismount : ))); it goes uphill better in reverse, than forward, but watch sharp acceleration/deceleration (braking) on the hills - don't let it do wheelies (stoppies) - to rise rear it the ear and throw you out ... : ))))

in the crew - frontmount basically doing flat sections, midmount - hills

p.s. there are many bigger frontmounted mowers with rear wheels steering, 4x4, - better on hills, but they are not ZTRs ...

Thankyou for the info if, and when mine plays out I plan to go with a front mount deck style mower.