Читать книгу Start & Run a Landscaping Business - Joel LaRusic - Страница 41

If you work on larger commercial properties, you will want to consider a larger mower. Even if you restrict your business to residential properties, once you build up a lot of customers or have a number of clients with large lawns, a commercial mower might be a good choice.

There are so many brands and varieties of commercial walk-behind mowers and riders that it is difficult to recommend anything specific; your choice will depend largely on what you will be using your mower for. The best bet is to visit your local dealer and take a look at what is available. As well, check out the websites of the name brands listed below for ideas on what they offer. Here are a few general tips on what to look for in these types of mowers.

Cutting width: There is a lot of variation within this class of mower. You can get deck sizes from 32 inches up to 60 inches. The best rule of thumb: Get as big a mower as will fit in your properties.

Horsepower: Expect at least a 15 horsepower engine on your midsized mower. Higher horsepower options are available.

Fixed or floating deck: Floating decks are suspended from the frame of the mower and allow more independent deck movement. Fixed decks are firmly attached to the mower. Floating decks offer easier mowing height adjustment than fixed decks. They also cost more, so if you cut mostly level lawns and don’t need to adjust the height of the mower from jobsite to jobsite, you may want to choose the fixed-deck style. However, fixed-deck mowers are not as forgiving on bumpy lawns and can scalp the grass. This becomes an issue with the larger-width models, so if you are getting something wider than 36 inches, you should choose a floating deck.

Sulkey/velke: These are cool little attachments for walk-behind mowers, designed like a trailer for the person doing the mowing. You sit on a sulkey and you stand on a velke. Jump on the jointed foot plate or mini-seat with wheels and let the mower pull you around as you cut.

Striping kit: Customers love that striped look on their lawn. A striping kit is a roller that flattens the grass a little after it’s been cut to give it a more pronounced nap.

Other attachments: There are a number of attachments available for commercial walk-behind and riding mowers, including leaf-bagging vacuum systems, large-capacity bags, sun shades, deluxe seats for maximum comfort, fertilizer spreaders, and more.

Best names: Exmark (a division of Toro), Bunton, Bobcat, Bad Boy, Scag, Husqvarna, Wright, Hustler.

Author’s recommendation: Exmark is the biggest name in this market, and many people rave about its products. Check out the newcomer Bad Boy Mowers.