Contractors Taking to 'Steering Wheel' Approach

Cub Cadet says contractors are quickly learning to appreciate the Tank SZ Steering wheel Zero turn mower's enhanced traction and maneuverability on slopes, in addition to its easier operation and reduced parts count.

Cub Cadet's Tank SZ Steering wheel Zero turn mower is designed for large-acreage homeowners who feel more comfortable with a steering wheel than the traditional lap bars found on zero-turn mowers. The SZ is also catching on with municipalities and landscape contractors.

At GIE+EXPO 2011, Allen Baird, product manager for Cub Cadet Commercial, told greenindustrypros.com that the company has been pleasantly surprised by contractor response. There are four primary reasons for that response:

  • Enhanced traction and turf protection
  • Enhanced performance on slopes
  • Shorter learning curve
  • Reduced parts count.

“The mower features a rail-frame deck design, as opposed to the more typical tube-frame you’ll find,” Baird points out. This design has allowed Cub Cadet to reduce the number of parts in the deck—primarily things like bolts, fasteners and brackets—by 25%. “There are now 45 fewer deck parts than in the previous model,” Baird adds.

The SZ falls within the $6,000 to $9,000 price range, and is roughly $700 higher than its sister model, the LZ (with traditional lap bars).

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