What Size Zero-Turn for 2.5 Acres?

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Double Drops

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I currently have a Dixie Chopper 48" mower now. We're getting ready to move to a house that has a yard that's approximately 2 - 2.5 acres. Will the 48" deck be enough or should I step up to a 54"?
 
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If you are happy with the 48, you won't see much time savings with a 54. But if you want to get a new mower, then go for it!
 
Bigger decks may reduce the mowing time however using very simple maths the bigger deck will cut the same amount of grass in 8 passes that the smaller deck does in 9
So you are only talking about 5 to 10 passes depending upon your block 15 minutes - 20 minutes.
Now this is simple it ignores overlaps and the space when you double cut because it is not a direct multiple of the deck width.
Bigger decks tend to scalp more on rough ground and depending upon the actual layout and the number of obstacles you have to mow around a larger deck can actually increase the mowing time.

Personnally I would take your old mower with you for the first year and see how it goes.
Once you are settled in and know how long it takes to mow with your current mower call a few dealers for a test cut on a bigger mower as you will now have something to refference it against.
I have sold a lot of used small mowers to acreage owners who rushed out and bought monster mowers only to find they were totally unsuitable for their.
They all seem really fast in the parking lot / test area of the mower shop but is another thing all together in your yard.
A couple of my customers have bought tiny 24" to 36" tractors from me because of all the obstructions in the yard that prevented them using the 42" to 60" mowers they bought "to save time "
You will save a lot more time using a small ride on or stand on to replace the walk behind mowing that you ever will by upsizing the deck.
 
If the 48" is in good shape you are wasting money to upgrade to a bigger mower. A large majority of people do not utilize the full width of a deck anyway. Make sure you are utilizing the 48 to it's fullest t potential and run it. More times than not the larger mowers do not really speed things up that much. 48" is more than adequate to handle that size property.

We run commercial and cut properties of all sizes one of which is 15 acres and we only run 54" mowers because of their versatility.
 


I mow my 4.2 acre lawn with a 48" ZTR mower. I have several obstacles to mow around and can still get it done in a little over two hours. I also mow my grandmother's 5 acre lawn. She has a large pond with steep banks that I have to mow as well. 2.5 acres isn't too much for a 48" mower.
 
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