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PRO

When is it time to make the jump to a ride on.

Hi all,After I bit of advice. At the beginning of this season I purchased a Toro Timemaster (30inch) as I picked up some bigger contracts. This machine has been invaluable this season. Mulching all the sites, sites that are longer get side discharged then mulched.However, I've now picked up another site where it takes the Toro around 1hr 15 mins to cut. The first cut was over 2 hours as the previous contractor decided not to cut it for a month! However the longer wet grass the Toro struggled.I'm looking at a second hand ride on that would make the work quicker, and mean I would have to walk less so less strain on the legs! However I have never used one and have a few questions.Could a ride on cut where the Toro can? Some larger sites I have are not flat and slopes or bumping. Would the ride on scrape?Would a ride on handle wet grass better? The sites are cut fortnightly. Do they give a nice finish?Am I being unrealistic looking at a machine that would only be used on a few sites?

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  • For my sins I collect old garden tractors. For around £500 you could pick up an Old Wheel Horse tractor with rotary mower which side discharge. They are solid little tractors and have a reasonable back up spares on the old Kohler engines. Incidentally, Toro bought out Wheel Horse a few years ago. A good service, regular greasing and fitting the correct belts which help you out as a second tractor if you mow the lawn regularly. Just a thought as a back up.
    • I think you may have just introduced me to a new hobby. Those wheel horse tractors are awesome :)

      Think I'll keep an eye on ebay, and start saving. Always wanted a tractor :P

      • I warn you now; it's addictive as one is not enough.....
  • I looked at stiga and husqvarna as the mower is at the front think your budget needs to be a grand realistically
  • PRO
    If your looking for a good finish the stiga front decks are quite good.(my dad uses one) but if it's wet and long then most mulchers struggle a bit.
    Maybe a second hand hayter condor cylinder mower. The cylinder will leave a better finish. But they do take some looking after. Or what about a scag mower.
    I've found out this year that you really need to spend a good chunk of cash on big mowers or they are forever breaking down!!
    Think about transport and storage as well. If you can do the stuff in less than 2 hours with the Toro I would probably go for a 42 inch plus scag least stuff to go wrong. Sorry long answer with not much help in it!!
    • PRO
      Thanks for the info! Transport would be in my 8x4 trailer, so would need to fit in that. Storage isn't a problem, it's a shame I couldn't rent a ride on and try it for a day to see if I saved/ hour
      Much time I saved, that would give me some good info
  • PRO

    Really if you want it to work in the best you need an Isekei or an Etesia but neither of these are really worth the investment for the use you have for them. Which really means you need a side discharge/mulch mower (that could be adapated for collecting but only short dry grass really). Without a budget we can't relly go much further. Cut wise they're not really noticeably worse than a 4 wheeler and with anti-scalp wheels the don't scalp more than a 21.

    • PRO
      Mulching ride on would probably be best, if it's long and wet would a couple of passes on the mower help?
      Budget probably around 700-1000. It's all really if the investment will save that much more time and make a return.
      But I also guess it's the scenario, a job could come in tomorrow where a ride on is needed
      • PRO

        You can get side discharge mowers where you just put a plug in and then it can mulch rather than a true mulcher deck, but obviously not as good at mulching. I use a Pouhlan Pro Ex 300 which is domestic really but its 22hp and I only use it for 3 hours a week. Cost me £300 and a hedge cut for the guy who owns my lockup. Possibly something like this or a domestic John Deere. Personally I think you just need to go and ask your local dealer about brand wise as always the parts backup is a major issue.

        • PRO

          Ive seen a few smaller Etesias, they look the perfect size for what i am after, a smaller ride on like that i reckon i would use more. Still around the 1000-1400 mark. 

          Dealer back up shouldn't be a problem, have around 5 large dealers within 10 miles or so 

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