This Illinois homeowner is lucky to be alive. A slower 911 response, deeper pond, muckier pond, etc. and it's game over.


Tip of the cap to both Kendall County Deputies and Plainfield Fire Department personnel for saving the guy's life.

There was a guy not far from where I live that had lived the American dream he had a successful construction company. He bought 500 acres built a house that looked like a mini bass pro shop, built a 40 acre lake. It was beautiful.

He was mowing around the lake on his zero turn, got too close to the bank and had a rollover and was trapped by the mower upside down in the water.

Zero turn mowers get real slippery on slight inclines. I always warn new users about that.

I’ve been in the pond twice with an older poorly balance ZT mower. Both times it just pointed itself downhill and slide right into the water. Luckily I didn’t even get my feet wet. Here more recently the pond bank looks more eroded with a bit more drop off. I stay far away with a ZT unless the ground is bone dry. Always be pointed at least slightly uphill.
A member of family with a popular you-pick died under his mower in a pond. A coworkers wife almost slid into the river. I worry about the lawn guys cutting along the top of the road cuts around here.

quote:

Originally posted by jed7s9b:
I’ve been in the pond twice with an older poorly balance ZT mower. Both times it just pointed itself downhill and slide right into the water. Luckily I didn’t even get my feet wet. Here more recently the pond bank looks more eroded with a bit more drop off. I stay far away with a ZT unless the ground is bone dry. Always be pointed at least slightly uphill.
A member of family with a popular you-pick died under his mower in a pond. A coworkers wife almost slid into the river. I worry about the lawn guys cutting along the top of the road cuts around here.

He was friend of mine and forum member GF helped unload the Scag Turf Tiger after the accident. Those lap bars hold you in just like a seatbelt and you drown.

Couple years ago a doctor with a house on a cliff overlooking Lake Cumberland got too close to the edge and it was last call for him. Sonar found him in 82' of water.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/...rticle251061349.html

He was fortunate. When the owner of the shop delivered my zero turn and was showing me how to operate it he noticed the pond on the property and said "stay away from that pond".

I do mow around it but I leave 2-3' around it uncut. While it's tempting to inch a bit closer to the edge what people need to understand is there's generally no "edge". There's obviously water to stay away from and maybe 24" away there's firm ground that can be mowed, but in between it's very soft, wet, muck with grass, that slopes down to the water that you need to avoid getting your machine on, especially a ZTR.

I live on a lake and have a steep hill on part of it. The one thing ZT are terrible at is hills. After a couple minor scares I bought this thing so I can cut the hill from the comfort of my deck.

^^^^ No Minigun mount?

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
^^^^ No Minigun mount?

Haha. People freak out bad enough seeing this thing roaming the hill all by itself.

I love that thing!

That is BADASS. What is it?

My lake goes 8 feet straight down. Its a dug channel for irrigation. No seat belts used any where near it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ArtieS,

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
That is BADASS. What is it?

It’s a radio control lawnmower. I also got the optional snowplow.

This is the most dramatic video I have of it since I knew the mower was on the way I didn’t do the usual weed eating needed to keep the weeds at bay. It’s just grass now since I can easily cut it every other week or so.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3k8jUKHf1I

I bought an old Zero Turn back in 2006 for about $700. It sits low and is wider than most.

It rode different. It definitely steered different. I had to learn and comprehend how to do what I wanted it to do when mowing across a grade or hills.

It works great mowing downhill. It's awesome for mowing across the side of a hill.

Mow up a hill and try to go fast? The front wheels will come off the ground! Any more and I'd probably be wearing the thing.

Attempting to mow any wet or saturated areas will not end well. Most ZT mowers are very heavy. Yes, heavier than that.

It still mows great and I've gotten my money out of it.

One of the big reasons we bought one of these years ago!

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:

quote:

Originally posted by BOATTRASH1:
That is BADASS. What is it?

It’s a radio control lawnmower. I also got the optional snowplow.

I'm thinking we'd like to know EXACTLY what it is...And where to get one!

That said, it looks like a miniature Tesla Cybertruck, but with tracks...VERY Cool, so please fill us in!

Great police work!! I wonder how and who called 911

I work for 911 in an area with several lakes and lots of fancy houses. We take a couple calls a year for lawn mowers into the water. A couple have been fatalities just in the past 4-5 years since I’ve been at this agency.
I have a healthy respect for ZT mowers and hills. ESPECIALLY when it’s wet.

So you are saying a flat 0.2 acre citified yard has its advantages?

Wow, I had no idea of these risks. So sad.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:

It’s a radio control lawnmower. I also got the optional snowplow...

You could sell tickets to play with that at the county fair, and it would pay for itself the first day.