A zero turn mower has turned into one of the most effective machines we have seen in the past few years for saving time on the sometimes boring job of mowing the lawn. It's ability to turn on a dime and mow grass much faster then a lawn tractor has many manufacturers scrambling to come out with new models to get into this market as quickly as possible. For many people, it is difficult to justify the high price of a machine that can be used for only a few months out of the year in many parts of the country.
CountryZTR changed that a few years ago by designing a snow plow that can be attached to the front of most zero turn mowers. For alot of people, that raised many questions about the durability and how well it really does.
Personally, I have used one many times over the past 2 years here in Central Ohio and was amazed from the start about how quickly you can clear a parking lot using one. The zero turn mower has 2 distinct advantages over a lawn tractor with a snow plow - wheel speed and maneuverability. The wheel speed factor comes into play when working on a slippery snow covered surface. Each drive wheel operates under power on a zero turn, so if one side starts to slip, a quick movement of the control level on the zero turn mower transfers the power to the other side of the mower. With the engine positioned over the drive wheels, the weight distribution is ideal. I do not recommend the use of tire chains or grips on the wheels as they are not needed and could cause a problem with the location of the hydraulic hoses on some models of zero turns. Using a lawn tractor with a snow plow, you spend a great deal of time backing up to get lined up for your next pass. This is eliminated with a zero turn mower, saving you time.
Some people have expressed a concern on overheating the hydraulic system on the mower when plowing snow. These people are forgetting that you will be in a much colder environment plowing snow than you are in during the summer mowing the grass.
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