Landscaping companies and homeowners need different types of mowers to suit their needs. You might think a wheeled mower is perfect for your lawn, but there are many cases where you should reconsider that. Landscaping companies might think wheeled mowers are the best and most reliable choice, but that isn’t always true. This guide will walk you through the differences between wheeled and tracked mowers and explain the best choice for your needs.
What Are Wheel Mowers?
A wheel zero-turn mower is designed to cut grass precisely. Zero-turn mowers can cut around obstacles so closely that they remove the need to trim. They can pivot 180 degrees and leave no blade of grass uncut. These mowers have a turning radius that allows them to rotate their driving wheels in different directions simultaneously. This means they can fully turn without moving forward.
There is a wide variety of zero-turn wheeled mowers in terms of power and design. Residential-duty zero-turn mowers are perfect for lawns ranging between a quarter of an acre to two acres big. A commercial-duty zero-turn mower is the safest bet for a lawn over two acres in size.
What Are Track Mowers?
Tracked zero-turn mowers use tracks instead of wheels. This gives them better traction on certain types of terrain. They feature articulated steering like wheeled zero-turn mowers. This allows the front and rear tracks to move independently, providing better agility even with large caterpillar-like treads.
These machines are well-suited for certain situations that other mowers cannot handle. Their tracks give them unmatched stability on slopes and allow them to drive in any environment without hassle. They are the more popular choice for landscaping companies.
Pros of Wheel Mowers
The advantages of wheeled mowers make them efficient tools for any landscaper or homeowner to want to consider. Their biggest advantages include:
- Speed: Wheeled mowers are the fastest type of mowers around. Their wheels are designed to provide quick movement in grass. Their speed makes them an efficient choice when dealing with larger lawns.
- Maneuverability: Maneuverability is a big advantage wheeled mowers have over other types of mowers. Navigating obstacles like flower beds, trees and ornaments is much easier with a wheeled mower. For optimum maneuverability, use a wheeled zero-turn mower.
- User-friendly: Wheeled mowers are simple in design and easy to use. The operator doesn’t need specialized knowledge or skills to use one effectively. They are also easy to maintain. Changing their blades, oil and wheels is a straightforward process and these parts can be found almost anywhere.
- Versatility: A wheeled mower can be used for multiple mowing tasks. They are a reliable tool for residential and commercial landscaping and maintenance to handle different grasses and terrains. Certain wheeled mowers have adjustable cutting heights. This allows them to adapt to the needs of certain clients.
Cons of Wheel Mowers
Wheel mowers have drawbacks that you might want to consider based on the type of work you will be doing:
- Bumpy rides: Tires bump and bounce around uneven terrain. Holes and rocks can make driving a wheel mower harder and slower than a track mower.
- Terrain damage: Wheeled mowers leave behind scuffs and grooves in certain terrain. When a wheel goes over soft or muddy spots repeatedly, it will leave clear marks and damage. This could potentially make your lawn look untidy.
Pros of Track Mowers
These are the three significant advantages of tracked mowers:
- Ground pressure: Tracked mowers work on soft or wet ground areas. They have low ground pressure, so they don’t leave deep grooves in the ground they work on. This low ground pressure makes them less likely to slip in most conditions. This is an excellent feature for landscapers working on soft or muddy ground. This makes your landscaping work much neater when you’re done.
- Traction: Tracks will always provide incredible traction regardless of the vehicle. Tracked mowers have superb traction, making them stable on slopes and allowing them to navigate through uneven terrain easily. Tracked mowers are the ideal choice when working on hills and steep slopes.
- Smooth drive: A tracked mower is smooth to operate. Providing a smooth ride anywhere you use them. The tracks can drive over holes without feeling a thing. The torsion axle rear suspension makes them a dream to use even on the bumpiest of terrains.
Cons of Track Mowers
Tracked mowers have a lot of advantages, but it also has a few drawbacks to consider before choosing the right type of mower for you:
- Maintenance: Track mowers need a lot of maintenance. Many mechanisms make the tracks work, and if any of them are off, the whole machine won’t work properly. Thorough maintenance is needed and the design of the machine may make key areas harder to access.
- Large size: Storing these machines is a bit more of a challenge due to their larger size. Compared to other mowers, they are a bit bigger, making them hard to store in a shed or garage.
- Availability: These mowers are less common than wheeled mowers. This makes it harder to find them and harder to get replacement parts.
- Maneuverability: Tracks are less maneuverable than wheels. In areas that require tight turns, these larger and harder-to-move vehicles may not be the best option.
How to Make the Right Choice
By looking at what each type of mower does best, you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your needs:
- Speed: When it comes to tracks vs. wheels on grass, wheeled mowers are faster than track mowers. If efficiency is a priority, then the wheeled mower might be the best option for you. Tracked mowers can still get a lot done, but their drive is more consistent and smooth, making them slower than wheeled mowers. However, if you want a reliable and strong machine, you might be willing to ignore the difference in speed and get a track mower.
- Versatility: Wheeled mowers can do more than simple mowing tasks. They excel at bagging and mulching. Tracks occupy a lot of space on track mowers, leaving less room for certain attachments. Wheeled mowers have a few more accessories they can use.
- Price: Track mowers are specialized and, as a result, are less cost-effective than wheeled mowers. The components used in track mowers are more complicated than wheeled motors, so they tend to cost more. If you want to buy mowers in bulk for a landscaping business, then wheeled mowers are the smartest investment.
- Terrain adaptability: A track mower is a more adaptable machine if you want to work on specialized areas. When working on lawns with hills, uneven terrain or soft ground, a track mower is much better than a wheeled mower. If this describes your lawn, choose this type of mower for your home. If you are a landscaping company that wants to offer services to every type of lawn, consider adding track mowers to your fleet.
Find the Mower You Need With MacAllister Outdoors
Now you should have everything you need to know to make your choice. MacAllister Outdoors offers top-of-the-range new and used mowers. Choose from our selection of track mowers or browse our range of wheeled mowers to find the mower you’ve been looking for. We offer products from the best brands in the industry.
For more information and recommendations on mowers, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to give you advice and answer your questions.
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