Hello all! It’s been awhile.

I have a question on zero turn mowers. What say you on the differences of suspension vs non-suspension types? Some have the suspension built into the seat and not the frame. Do the ones with a suspension on the frame mow flat, that is not change deck height as the fame is moving up and down. I’m looking in the low to mid-range commercial, 60” (eXmark, Farris, etc.). I’ll be mowing 2 to 3 acres or more. Not much flat.

Thank you for your input

I don't have experience mowing on a zero turn without suspension, but I did once mow my 6 acres on a tractor with 3 point finish mower. Even with a suspension seat, it wasn't nearly as comfortable as my Ferris with suspension.

I can't make any judgment about the mowers with integral suspension. However, I have a Toro zero turn with the "My Ride" suspension seat, and I love it.

I would assume that as long as the mowing deck has a proper number of rollers that would keep deck from scalping and keep a constant cutting height that even with independent frame suspension that should give a constant cut...... if I had a larger area to cut i would consider replacing my standard residential ztr mower with basic seat suspension for a fully suspended mover for less driver fatigue. ................... drill sgt.

I mowed 3 fairly smooth acres with a Kubota ZG222 for over 10 years. It had seat suspension and couples with AirPods, made a very enjoyable weekly chore.

A fella I eat breakfast with mows 5 acres,
Everyone said that he liked mowing more than anything.
If the sun was out
Chances are you knew where he was, out mowing .

Then he got a mower with suspension.
Now we don't talk about mowing or mowers as you can't shut him up.

If it came with a pillow, he'd sleep on the thing.

I have a Dixie Chopper with suspension on the front wheels. No issues.

I have a Dixie Chopper Silver Eagle with no suspension mowing 3 to 8 acres, I would buy a Farris in a heartbeat with the suspension.

I bought a new John Deere 757 in 2005. I mow about five acres. Best decision I’ve made. Only regret, no suspension. Might upgrade to the seat mentioned above.
I think you’re heading in the right direction going with a commercial mower, I’ve heard so many times the light duty are junk no matter the brand.
I was told don’t go bigger than a 56” deck unless where I mow is relatively flat.

I have a Ferris ISX 800 Z with a 52" deck. It is considered a commercial duty mower. I purchased new 4 yrs ago for about$ 8000.00. it has full suspension and suspension seat! I highly recommend both ! I mow about 2 1/2 - 3 acres, put between 70-80 hrs on it each year. It has been a very capable, comfortable and dependable machine. MSRP is now over $9000.00. Good luck with your search, there are many good mowers available now and the quest to get one is part of the pride of ownership!

quote:

Originally posted by beltfed21:

...... Do the ones with a suspension on the frame mow flat, that is not change deck height as the fame is moving up and down.

On Ferris' the deck follows the contour with the wheels just like any ZTR or lawn tractor. It doesn't change deck height.

I have a JD garden tractor mower, but my neighbor bought a Ferris with suspension. He liked the fact that Cheyenne Parks Department uses Ferris and claims the biggest advantage of the mower is not comfort (although it certainly is), but speed. Where I have to slow down to keep from getting beaten to death, he can hammer down and just fly. I can invest the time, he still works and can’t. He has roughly 4 1/2 acres to mow, obviously, if a quality tractor mower (or non-suspension ZT) is about 3/5 the cost of the Ferris, there’s a cost/benefit decision to make.

Hustler/Big Dogs with the front wheel shocks will give an uneven cut if you are going downhill and slow/stop suddenly but they do help soften the ride in routine mowing. I used a memory foam chair pad on a suspension seat for bush hog type mowing. Key to a good ride (and a good cut) is don't try to run wide open all the time.

I have an Exmark, no suspension. If you hit a gopher hole you will be hurt. I compensate by lowering the tire pressure.

As ridewv noted, the Ferris decks are mounted so as to follow the ground no matter what the suspension does. Suspension softens your ride, no effect on cut height.
Mine is a model 3100. 60” deck, 32hp. Powerful, smooth, comfortable. For reference my previous mower was a Gravely tractor with a 60” deck, 18hp.
The Ferris is twice as fast, almost twice the hp and sucks twice the gas. I normally don’t run full throttle (as they recommend) so fuel consumption isn’t so bad.
Both are very good machines. IIRC my Ferris was $5k with 650hrs on it. I still have both, the Gravely as a back up to the Ferris. Gravely was bought new in 1989. Still runs great.

I have both types. An older Hustler Super Z, 60 inch which only has the seat suspension, and a new Bad Boy Maverick 60 inch with independent suspension. I have noticed, it’s a lot easier on my back using the Bad Boy. We have nearly 5 acres, and so it takes 2-3 hrs to mow even with a zero turn. I’d get off the Hustler, and feel a bit creaky. You can still adjust the seat as well on the Bad Boy, but having the added suspension just feels nicer mowing. And we don’t have a manicured lawn. We have hills, bumps, up and down areas, so not smooth and flat.
Hubby uses the Hustler in our field, and I use the Bad Boy everywhere else. One reason we picked the Bad Boy is because of the suspension, and it looks to be built just as heavy duty as the Hustler.
The Hustler feels like it’s faster, but it feels like you hit the bumps harder if you’re not ready for it. The Bad Boy just feels softer going over the bumps, not as hard of a hit.
It does feel a bit slower, but not really a lot to make a difference. I do have to watch the tight turns though, as it seems to grab the ground and you can really make a divot if you’re not careful.
I really, really like the Bad Boy, it’s very comfortable to mow, even over our lumpy ground. I don’t feel like it’s beating up my back going over the hills and valleys like it did with the Hustler. Of course, I still like the Hustler, that thing is a beast. If your ground is pretty flat, it should be ok, but if you have land like we do, the suspension does make a difference.

^^^Wow, his & hers Zero Turn Mowers on 5 acres...I'm envious!

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
^^^Wow, his & hers Zero Turn Mowers on 5 acres...I'm envious!

LOL, we just got the Bad Boy this last May, and grateful we did. Right after getting the new one, we had to replace one of the drive motors on the Hustler, so it was down for a couple weekends. Like I said, it is an older model, bought new in 2007. It was worth putting new parts on it.
Anyway, now we can both mow at the same time, lol. Get it all done in just under 2 hrs now.

It totally depends on the type of terrain you’re mowing and your budget. If budget isn’t a concern and you are mowing rough terrain Ferris makes an excellent mower.

If the ground you’re mowing isn’t full of holes or the budget is tight a Ferris might not be worth the extra costs.

My 2 ZTR’s ( 2014 61” Grasshopper 729 front deck mower’and a 2022 SKAG Liberty 48” mid deck)only have sprung seats and I mow 4 acres of renovated pasture which is rough mowing. The bigger Ferris ZTR’s are nice, but out of my budget in my case.

The advantage of mine are ease of maintenance and their toughness even though mowing speed is reduced on rough ground. The 61” front deck is electrically adjusted for heigh; plus raises to access blades for service.