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Is there anyone with an opinion on this mower?

Dealer has one for $2900

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Well it is one of the steering wheel zero-turn models, so I would definitely demo it if you'e thinking about buying it.

What do you use lmf?

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jay stortini said:

What do you use lmf?

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21" Honda's. Takes longer but I love the cut.

jay stortini said:

Is there anyone with an opinion on this mower?

Dealer has one for $2900

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Depends on what you are going to use it for, Home or business. Not much of a ZTR. For $2900 you could do better.

What would you be looking at if you were in my situation planing for next year? I got 25 weekly residentially my first year and lost out on a 1 acer and a 1.5 because I was not equipped for that kind of work and was not sure how things would go. Now that my first year is almost outa the way and things went amazingly I am pumped for next year and want to be equipped to do a couple Bigger property's? But would like to spend $3000 could maybe spend $5000 if I had to.
Thank
Jay Stortini

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Nice equipment LMF

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jay stortini said:

What would you be looking at if you were in my situation planing for next year? I got 25 weekly residentially my first year and lost out on a 1 acer and a 1.5 because I was not equipped for that kind of work and was not sure how things would go. Now that my first year is almost outa the way and things went amazingly I am pumped for next year and want to be equipped to do a couple Bigger property's? But would like to spend $3000 could maybe spend $5000 if I had to.
Thank
Jay Stortini

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Well if I had 25 weekly residential clients I wouldn't waste my money on the Rzt s46. Those ezt drives wont hold up long being used like that. If I were looking for a ZTR I would be looking for at least the 2800 or 3100 Hydros with a good commercial grade engine Kawasaki or Kohler. If your looking at Cub Cadet Try looking at the 48" Z-Force with the lap bars, there selling those for $4199 and they have the commercial grade 22hp Kohler engine, 2800 drives with the Fab deck, some dealers are selling them as a low end commercial unit. I would also look at the Toro high end residential units if I didn't want to break the bank, I think there running the Kawasaki engines with the 3100 drive units in and around the same price range as the CC Z-Force unit. The other thing I would consider if I was spending 3 to 5000 would be Craigslist and finding a kick azz used Commercial unit with low hours, if you could buy a unit there you would come way out a head of the game.

The 25 clients I have I will continue to use my 30 in toro and 22 inch toro and I will also use these for any new residential clients next year. The Ryder will be for any larger yards I might be able to take on next year. I figure I will be cutting 2-5 acres a week with it.

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jay stortini said:

The 25 clients I have I will continue to use my 30 in toro and 22 inch toro and I will also use these for any new residential clients next year. The Ryder will be for any larger yards I might be able to take on next year. I figure I will be cutting 2-5 acres a week with it.

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25 clients with a Toro 30" mower? Apparently you don't like making money. What's going to happen when that 25 grows to 30, you still going to use that 30" toro? If you use the ZTR on the 25 you have now, you cut your mowing time in half and in the lawncare business Time Is Money. If your going to spend 3 to 5K on a mower to leave it on the trailer is foolish because it's not making you any money and it's not paying for itself and you can't cover your overhead. If you're going to run a business you'd better start thinking a head and forget the 1 to 1.5 acre lots because they will cost you money in the long run.

Ok I would love to be able to use the zero turn on all those clients there is only 2 of the 25 that the zero turn will fit through the gat which is great that will save me time there.
The zero turn is meant to help me build my business for next year, allow me to take on the 3 clients that I was not able to take on in my first year because I was not sure things would go as well as they did. And was not prepared to dish out the money yet. Things went fantastic and am planing on picking up at least 3 big lots next year 1 acer plus. And if I happen to pick up more than fantastic I will be more than happy. And down the rd if I need a pricier machine well then things must be good and I will get it.

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Hey LMF! You seem to be doing alright with your 21" Hondas how many weekly's do you have?
JS

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jay stortini said:

Hey LMF! You seem to be doing alright with your 21" Hondas how many weekly's do you have?
JS

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I was just about to comment. Right now with the lack of rain, the end of season coming, and not many people going on vacation, I'm not doing nearly as many, but on a regular week over the summer I was doing around +/- 25 lawns a week. I stayed in the 20-30 range all summer.

Nice! how long have you been at it for?

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jay stortini said:

Nice! how long have you been at it for?

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This is my 3rd season....2nd full one.

jay stortini said:

Ok I would love to be able to use the zero turn on all those clients there is only 2 of the 25 that the zero turn will fit through the gate which is great that will save me time there.
The zero turn is meant to help me build my business for next year, allow me to take on the 3 clients that I was not able to take on in my first year because I was not sure things would go as well as they did. And was not prepared to dish out the money yet. Things went fantastic and am planing on picking up at least 3 big lots next year 1 acre plus. And if I happen to pick up more than fantastic I will be more than happy. And down the rd if I need a pricier machine well then things must be good and I will get it.

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I'm going to assume that when your talking about gates, it's a back yard your talking about doing, if so that's what the 30" is for and you should be using the ztr elsewhere on the lawn. Can I ask what you are charging per lawn, and what your client base is?

That's right and I charge $30 for small residential 35-40 for corner lot or larger residential. My client base range from the elderly to two income busy young family's who want More time with there family on the weekend and not have to worry about cutting grass.
The zero turn is to get me into a market I have not been able to capitalize on yet and that is the .5 acer to 3 acer property homes. So I just want a starter zero turn to see how thing go with that.
Then in 2015 I will build some more and start getting schools shopping centres and churches ext.
Oh and I plan on charging $50 for .5 acres? $75 for 1 acer and then $100 on 2 acres and so on depending on hills obstacles ext... Might have to tweak the plan a little as I go but that's the just of it.
JS

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jay stortini said:

That's right and I charge $30 for small residential 35-40 for corner lot or larger residential. My client base range from the elderly to two income busy young family's who want More time with there family on the weekend and not have to worry about cutting grass.
The zero turn is to get me into a market I have not been able to capitalize on yet and that is the .5 acer to 3 acer property homes. So I just want a starter zero turn to see how thing go with that.
Then in 2015 I will build some more and start getting schools shopping centres and churches ext.
Oh and I plan on charging $50 for .5 acres? $75 for 1 acer and then $100 on 2 acres and so on depending on hills obstacles ext... Might have to tweak the plan a little as I go but that's the just of it.
JS

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Well with a twenty five customer client base I certainly wouldn't be going out on a limb for 3 to 5K on a residential ztr mower that I couldn't get a good return on. I'd definitely be using Craigslist at the end of the season and finding a good low hour commercial mower. Something I know would take years of abuse like the Toro Z-Master, Scag, Hustler or maybe Dixie Chopper. AS far as plans go, after 33 years mowing school grounds and the last seven in my own business I know how plans go.

That's the answer I was looking for thanks Rick commercial used? now what should I look for as far as ware on the mower I should say avoid?
1000 hrs or less?
JS

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It's just suppose to say used:/

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jay stortini said:

That's the answer I was looking for thanks Rick commercial used now what should I look for as far as ware on the mower I should say avoid?
1000 hrs or less?
JS

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Something that would take years of abuse like the Toro Z-Master, Scag, Hustler, Exmark or maybe Dixie Chopper. Something like in the post below. Check Post number seven. Myself I'd buy the Exmark with the 340 hrs before the hustler in that ad because the hustler has that Honda engine and it sucks.

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/general-mower-discussion/20173-lasting-ztr.html