How to choose the Best Ride On Lawn Mower in 2021
Investing
in a new ride on mower can be a daunting task at the best of times, especially
nowadays where there is so much choice available at the click of a button.
The way we cut grass
here in the UK has not actually changed all that much in the last 20 years,
unlike the Automotive industry where battery technology is at the forefront of
most people’s minds when thinking into the future.
In
relation to ride on mowers things have started to change somewhat in the last 2
to 3 years and there is a clear shift towards battery power from certain
manufacturers such as ‘Ariens’ with their new Zenith zero-turn ride-on mower
and ‘Mean Green’ who sell mainly all battery powered products. There is no
doubt that over the coming years other large manufacturers such as Kubota and John Deere will follow
suit and that many more products will come into the market in order to meet
consumer demands.
How to decide which ride on
mower is right for your requirements?
This is a common question and one that
needs careful consideration.
Ride-on mowers
tend to be broken down into two category types, domestic and commercial. Therefore, it is important
to do your homework and identify which category type you fall into.
You will then
then need to decide if you are looking to cut and drop the grass on the ground
or collect the grass and dispose of it. This will help further narrow down your
search to either a ‘cut and drop’ or ‘cut and collect’ machine.
Other
things to consider are what type of mower you require; you have the choice of
machine with either a deck underneath the power unit, this is commonly known as
a ‘mid-mounted mower’ or alternatively a machine with a deck positioned at the
front of the power unit, usually referred to as an ‘out-front mower’.
Both types of machine have their advantages so depending on the type of ground and terrain you are working on you will need to weigh up which one works best for you. A mid-mounted mower is usually more compact in size and therefore better for getting into tight spaces, whereas an out-front mower is better for getting into corners and up to obstacles. If you have particularly undulating or soft ground, you may also want to consider investing in a machine with 4WD (4 Wheel-drive) and a lower centre of gravity, the 4WD drive will offer extra traction and lower centre of gravity will provide stability and increased safety to the operator.
You then need to
think about what budget you have available and if this will be restrictive in
finding the right machine for your job. If this is the case, you may be better
served looking for a good quality used commercial machine as opposed to a new
domestic machine, it is recommend buying a used machine from a dealership as
you should receive a minimum 3-month warranty.
COMMON
QUESTIONS
What is the
difference between and domestic and commercial ride on mower?
This type of
machine is usually aimed at homeowners with a lawn up to around 2 acres in size
or a small landscape gardener with several small garden plots to maintain.
Usually, domestic machines come fitted with petrol engine and have a
limited life expectancy of around 1000 hours usage subject to maintenance.
A commercial
ride on mower is predominantly built and designed to withstand years of hard
work, these high output machines are aimed at professional users such as local
authorities, contractors or country estates, to name a few. They are usually
built with a strong, heavy-duty deck and chassis and a commercially built
diesel or petrol engine.
These machines such as a Kubota ride-on lawn mower are designed to be able to tackle
large quantities of grass and be worked daily throughout the cutting season,
their life can run up to around 3000 hours usage and beyond in some
cases.
What is a
cut and collect mower?
This type of machine is designed to
remove the grass from the lawn which means that the grass clippings will need
to be disposed of in a compost heap or taken to a green waste recycling centre.
Nearly all cut and collect ride-on mowers UK have a collection bag attached at the rear of the machine, in most cases the grass is thrown directly into the collector through a chamber built into the machine below the operator’s seat.
Some manufacturers also offer side discharge collection system or mechanical
collection with the use of a rear brush system, the Countax range of mowers would be a good
example of this. These machines are popular with homeowners as they have
different attachments available for carrying out various tasks from rolling to
scarifying, removing thatch from a lawn and sweeping up leaves.
Most domestic cut and collect mowers will have a manually
operated handle or lever to open the collector and discharge the grass.
However, with most commercial machines this is usually done with the simple
operation of a hydraulic lever or electric switch and the same usually applies
to the deck lift and lower as well.
You also have
the option of a high dump collection system with some manufacturers such as the
Kubota ride on lawn mower G231 which means you can lift the
collector up into the air (via the hydraulic/electric control lever) and empty
into a tipping trailer or to the back of a compost heap etc.
What is a
Cut and Drop Mower?
This type of mower is designed to leave
the grass clippings on the ground, otherwise known as recycling.
With a standard
cut and drop mower the grass is cut and discharged out of the deck, most
commonly at the rear which is referred to as ‘rear discharge’ or it can also be
discharged out of the side, known as ‘side discharge’. The latter is usually
only recommended for longer grass situations where infrequent cutting occurs,
and the user is not concerned with the aesthetical finish.
What
is a mulching mower?
A mulching mower usually comes fitted
with a fully enclosed deck and is fitted with high lift blades which are
designed to keep the grass in the ‘blade cutting zone’ for longer. This process
produces finer grass clippings, and these are then dropped vertically into the
uncut grass left beneath.
Mulching has two
main advantages:
1)
The grass clippings are cut into much smaller pieces which means they will
break down and decompose much more quickly which in turn puts nutrients back
into the soil.
2)
Any cut grass will tend to disappear into the uncut grass and therefore will
leave a much nicer aesthetic finish.
N.B. For
effective mulching it is important not to cut the grass to short, as a rule you
should only cut off the top third and mulch it back into the two thirds
below. For the optimum results, a more regular cutting cycle of once per week
is recommended and to cut in dry conditions where possible.
Are there any other types of
mowers I should consider?
Over the past few years, the ‘Zero Turn’
type of ride on mower has become more popular, this type of machine is designed
to offer maximum efficiency and is on average 20% more productive than other
more conventional ride on mowers.
The operation of
these machines is through a lever style system instead of a conventional
steering wheel type machine which makes turning at the end of each run much
quicker. This is an excellent type of ride on mower to consider if you have a
lot of grass to cut or have a lot of intricate tight spaces in and around trees
and bushes etc.
Zero Turn mowers
aren’t recommended for steep slopes or soft ground as they only come in a 2WD
option. However, if you are looking for a battery powered option, arrange a
trial of the Ariens Zenith professional zero turn mower, new to the UK market
in 2021.
ARRANGE A ZENITH E DEMO
Which is the most reliable manufacturer?
In many people’s opinion the most
reliable mower you can buy is a Kubota ride on mower, the Kubota Corporation
(Japan) are world renowned for their engines which are used by many other
manufacturers in thousands of commercial products.
Kubota products
are usually excellent value and a sound investment which seem to hold their
residual value better than most. John Deere is also a well reputed brand with
good quality products. Other credible brands worth considering are Kioti,
Countax, Izeki, Husqvarna, Stiga, Honda and Mountfield.
How do I go about purchasing a Ride on Mower?
Once you have done your online research,
it’s advisable to seek professional advice from your local dealership. Try and
provide the salesperson at the dealership with as much information as possible
and try to give them an idea of your budget, what jobs you are looking to do
with the machine and the type of terrain you are working on.
Always ask the dealer representative to come and do a site
visit, this will give you the best chance of gaining the correct advice and
getting the best value. Be sure to ask for a demonstration before you commit to
buying a machine.
Once you have
decided on a make and model, discuss servicing and basic daily maintenance. It
is also worth asking about warranty, some manufacturers such as Kubota now
offer an optional commercial warranty up to 5 years for very little cost.
What are the most important
things to consider when purchasing from a dealership?
When looking to purchase a ride on mower it’s best to treat
this in the same way you would when buying any highly priced item. Always
approach a minimum of two, ideally three companies and check out their products
online or better still try and visit their showroom.
Main things to consider are; how fast they respond to your enquiry; how helpful the staff are and how passionately they talk about their products and their company.
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