[AT] ZTR's

[David Bruce]

I'll second your thoughts on front mowers.  I use a John Deere FT725 
with a 54 inch deck.  I bought this one used in 2000 - still was 
expensive but a bit cheaper than the then new John Deere ZTR.  While it 
isn't as agile as the ZTRs it is much more agile than either the tractor 
style mower or using a real tractor with a mower.  I mow about 5 acres, 
part of which I mow with my Massey-Ferguson 35 and a rear-mount grooming 
mower.  I like the mower on the tractor but the John Deere is certainly 
quicker to cover the mowing.  Can you tell I like the JD?

David

RJK.Sr wrote:
> The biggest problem for me with the ZTM is they are single 
> purpose machines.  I live in Michigan where we cut grass less
> then 6 months out of the year. The rest of the year it be a big
> dust collector in the tool shed...
> 
> What I ended up with was a front mower tractor, front wheel 
> drive, rear wheel steer.  It's not quite as maneuverable as a
> ZTM but it'll far out performs a belly mower tractor.
> 
> With the tractor I got a finish mower, leaf an snow blower. 
> There about 25 other attachment offered for this tractor so I 
> could keep it working everyday all year around... 
> 
> I have the Steiner diesel so I'm including a URL but John Deere, 
> New Holland, and Kubota offer similar units.
> 
> http://www.steinerturf.com/products/tractors/230/
> 
> There are also some front mower, articulating tractor offered 
> by Steiner, Ventrac and Power Trac.  They're a little less maneuveralbe
> then the rear steer tractor but being 4WD get around better in the
> snow country...  
> 
> Richard 
> West Michigan..