F150Fan80
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2019
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 61
Hey everyone!!
I'm trying to figure out what I would like to do with my current setup. I live in the I80 corridor of IL. I have about 2.25 acres that I mow for my lawn. I have a Grasshopper 2007 727K2 with a manual adjust 61" front mount deck. I use a 2009 Polaris Ranger with a steel cab and a manual adjust plow for snow removal in the winter. The mower has about 880 hours on it but still mows well overall, however I don't think the deck was ever setup properly and I don't have a manual for the machine itself since I bought it used. I have changed the head gaskets on the Kohler Command Pro. These are known for doing that. It also has some other issues right now, you can see my other post on that.
I would love to clear up some room in my shop and try to find something that can do all I need to do. I don't use the Ranger for much other than snow removal anymore. It rarely comes out at all. The Grasshopper is out for all the mowing needs but thought that it could be used for snow removal as well. The option from Grasshopper that would fit my machine is a 60" wide singe stage blower. Single stage blowers do well enough but I get a couple of drifting spots that can be more than what it could take. I then thought about looking into an older John Deere tractor (400 series, 425, 445, 455, X485, etc). I know the 455 decently as my old land lord had one that I used quite extensively. I know that I can get a nice 47" two stage blower that should eat whatever I throw at it. I know that my mowing time would increase some with a tractor versus a zero-turn tractor but I think that the overall increases in use from the tractor would be better all around and I could get rid of the Ranger as it's not really used currently.
I had a blade and blower (Model 412) for it once but it was a 42" or 48" and the drive tires would stick out past the blade. This caused the tractor to sort of float on the outside edge of the tires and I could not get traction for the life of me. I too have bar tires, these were the floating ones, but they are more than half wore at this point. I wonder if I could find the 60" blade instead of the 48" and see how it does. I still think that a blower would be a good asset as well since you can only push snow so high with these machines and a blade. I also still wonder if the Deere would be the way to go with a two-stage blower instead of a single-stage blower.
My main question is this, would the Grasshopper be enough for the snow removal or should I look into a good quality older tractor that can do more things (possible tiller, front blade, even loader) instead? I’m really looking for feedback on this as it has been bugging me for a while now. Thanks for any help that anyone can offer!!!
I'm trying to figure out what I would like to do with my current setup. I live in the I80 corridor of IL. I have about 2.25 acres that I mow for my lawn. I have a Grasshopper 2007 727K2 with a manual adjust 61" front mount deck. I use a 2009 Polaris Ranger with a steel cab and a manual adjust plow for snow removal in the winter. The mower has about 880 hours on it but still mows well overall, however I don't think the deck was ever setup properly and I don't have a manual for the machine itself since I bought it used. I have changed the head gaskets on the Kohler Command Pro. These are known for doing that. It also has some other issues right now, you can see my other post on that.
I would love to clear up some room in my shop and try to find something that can do all I need to do. I don't use the Ranger for much other than snow removal anymore. It rarely comes out at all. The Grasshopper is out for all the mowing needs but thought that it could be used for snow removal as well. The option from Grasshopper that would fit my machine is a 60" wide singe stage blower. Single stage blowers do well enough but I get a couple of drifting spots that can be more than what it could take. I then thought about looking into an older John Deere tractor (400 series, 425, 445, 455, X485, etc). I know the 455 decently as my old land lord had one that I used quite extensively. I know that I can get a nice 47" two stage blower that should eat whatever I throw at it. I know that my mowing time would increase some with a tractor versus a zero-turn tractor but I think that the overall increases in use from the tractor would be better all around and I could get rid of the Ranger as it's not really used currently.
I had a blade and blower (Model 412) for it once but it was a 42" or 48" and the drive tires would stick out past the blade. This caused the tractor to sort of float on the outside edge of the tires and I could not get traction for the life of me. I too have bar tires, these were the floating ones, but they are more than half wore at this point. I wonder if I could find the 60" blade instead of the 48" and see how it does. I still think that a blower would be a good asset as well since you can only push snow so high with these machines and a blade. I also still wonder if the Deere would be the way to go with a two-stage blower instead of a single-stage blower.
My main question is this, would the Grasshopper be enough for the snow removal or should I look into a good quality older tractor that can do more things (possible tiller, front blade, even loader) instead? I’m really looking for feedback on this as it has been bugging me for a while now. Thanks for any help that anyone can offer!!!
