About this time last year I decided to buy a 2nd zero turn radius mower. I'll skip all the part of taking all of th models home and trying them out, even buying a really nice Ferris mower, only to go back with another front mount Grasshopper mower. Now, here is my delimma; I like the two Grasshopper front mount mowers that I am now considering either trading, or selling, my 25 hp 3 cylinder gas powered Kubota unit for another diesel model.
You see, the gas powered unit is a 3 cylinder unit with liquid cooling that seems to have plenty of cooling and will do the job great. However, at this point, I can likely get out of the gas powered 3 cyl. gas unit nearly what I paid for it. It is in much nicer condition than what their 5 hor "demo" units are. I wash and wax it regularly and it does not have a scratch in it. I bought it out of the crate, so it has never spent a night outside; ever.
The diesel powered units use about half of the fuel that a has powered unit uses. I plan to keep thses ZTR units until it is the industry norm for the ZTR units to be full enclosed and have factory A/C; to keep me cool, the bugs, and the dirt off of me. Believe me, that day is coming. I said the same about CUT's, and people laughed at me. There is no laughing anymore.
All this leads up to me looking at a new Grasshopper 928D G2 to take the place of my 9 month old 725 G2. I have 47 hours on my 725 (25 hp 3 cyl Kubota designed to run on gas) that a guy spoke with me about there yesterday. It is nicer than some of their "new" units since it has neve sat outside. Here is my question; do I stay with what I have, or do I move on up to Grasshopper's top of the line mower? I figure it will need to last me 10 to 12 years until the encosed units are then then the standard units. I do have an off road diesel tank in my barn for fueling my tractors, mowers, and my RTV, and diesel that way is cheaper than gas/ What is a guy to do in my position?!
You see, the gas powered unit is a 3 cylinder unit with liquid cooling that seems to have plenty of cooling and will do the job great. However, at this point, I can likely get out of the gas powered 3 cyl. gas unit nearly what I paid for it. It is in much nicer condition than what their 5 hor "demo" units are. I wash and wax it regularly and it does not have a scratch in it. I bought it out of the crate, so it has never spent a night outside; ever.
The diesel powered units use about half of the fuel that a has powered unit uses. I plan to keep thses ZTR units until it is the industry norm for the ZTR units to be full enclosed and have factory A/C; to keep me cool, the bugs, and the dirt off of me. Believe me, that day is coming. I said the same about CUT's, and people laughed at me. There is no laughing anymore.
All this leads up to me looking at a new Grasshopper 928D G2 to take the place of my 9 month old 725 G2. I have 47 hours on my 725 (25 hp 3 cyl Kubota designed to run on gas) that a guy spoke with me about there yesterday. It is nicer than some of their "new" units since it has neve sat outside. Here is my question; do I stay with what I have, or do I move on up to Grasshopper's top of the line mower? I figure it will need to last me 10 to 12 years until the encosed units are then then the standard units. I do have an off road diesel tank in my barn for fueling my tractors, mowers, and my RTV, and diesel that way is cheaper than gas/ What is a guy to do in my position?!