What Is a Stander Mower?
Why sit or walk while mowing when you could stand? Some lawn care professionals and landscapers even say standing is the best way to mow! Their main popularity is their compactness and ability to mow quickly in smaller yards. That is why you will typically see the stander style mowers near bigger cities where the homes are big and the yards are tight. Also, standing mowers are better for your back. As you mow, your feet and legs receive the shock absorption instead of your lower back. It might seem strange, but it takes a toll on your body if you are using a sitting mower. The stander mower is also built without seatbelts or arm rests so you can easily exit from the standing mower if you need to pick up debris or need a quick getaway in the case of an emergency. There is another factor that we think is really cool here at Honey Brook Outdoor Power. The stander mowers are exceptional on hills and that is the only type of mower we would feel comfortable recommending to our customers for their hilly yards. In fact, believe it or not, these can climb hills and banks that you could not even stand on. Stander mowers are a very niche mower, for a very specific customer. but if you’re running into any of the above mentioned issues, the stander mower may be right for you. Two standers in particular we like: The Wright Stander, and our very own Ferris Stander.
The first “Stander Mower” was invented out of necessity for, Bill Wright, owner of Wright Manufacturing then lawn maintenance company, “Lawn-Wright.” Bill’s mowing crew members were walking behind their mowers up to 20 miles a day, fatiguing and slowing down as the hours went by. In order to keep his workforce happy, less tired, and more productive. Bill was inspired to develop a stand-on sulky for commercial walk-behind mowers with his mower mechanic, Jim Velke, which is now known throughout the industry as the “Velke.” However, as technology and demand grew Jim and Bill had the idea to take the sulky concept one step further and began developing a new type of never seen before riding lawnmower that would allow the operator to stand up while mowing. In 1997, the first Wright Stander rolled off the assembly line. Everyone, who is anyone in the lawn care industry knows about the Wright Stander and they are coming up on their 20th Anniversary, congratulations to them.
Many manufacturers tried to compete with the Wright Stander, working around the patents that Wright had protected, but nobody’s version worked like a Wright. In 2016, Wright left the patents run out and Ferris is the first competitor to come out with, what we feel, is a really well rounded stander mower. The Ferris SRS Z2 Stander just came out late last year and is quickly gaining popularity among the stander mower crowd. The Scag Stander, aptly named “V-Ride” is slowly climbing the ranks as well. Scag still commands one of the best mower decks in the industry, mixing that with a stander style frame, perhaps creating the best stander mower in the industry? Only time will tell!
If you are in the market for a new Ferris or Scag stander mower for your home, business, or fleet, we can custom order one for you at anytime. If pre-owned lawn mowers is your thing, we currently have 3 stander mowers in stock, which are sold on a first come first serve basis. Feel free to give us a call with any questions at (610-273-3131)
SCAG V-Ride II Standing Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
Sure, it’s still easy to operate, still ready to conquer any terrain, and still built to last. But the new V-Ride II Standing Zero-Turn Lawn Mower’s exceptional results, even greater stability, and unmatched comfort leave no doubt: It’s a whole new ballgame.
The V-Ride II is an ultra-compact, agile, comfortable, and stable stand-on mowing machine. It combines the speed and comfort of a rider with the space-saving convenience of a walk-behind mower.
Despite its compact size, the V-Ride II boasts many full-sized features like a dual hydraulic pump, dual wheel motor drive system, coil-suspension platform, and a heavy-duty steel mainframe. Pair a powerful Briggs Vanguard EFI, Kawasaki FX, or Kohler EFI commercial-grade engine with a 32″ or 36″ Advantage or a 48″, 52″ or 61″ Velocity Plus deck, and you have an ideal combination of agility, power, and performance.
Whether you’re a homeowner or professional, the SCAG V-Ride II gets the job done, day after day, year after year. It offers all the speed, power, durability of a big zero-turn lawn mower. without taking up extra space and provides a smooth, comfortable ride. If you’re looking for a stand-on mower that will make you feel good, you’ve found it with the Scag V-Ride II.
| AVAILABLE IN A 32″ OR 36″ ADVANTAGE AND 48″, 52″ 61″ VELOCITY PLUS CUTTER DECKS |
STAND FOR COMFORT. A spacious operator platform with coil spring suspension delivers a smooth ride and reduces fatigue. An extra large comfort cushion and large padded steering controls make this stand-on riding mower easy to operate and even more comfortable to ride all day long.
UNRIVALED QUALITY-OF-CUT. 36″ Advantage or 48″, 52″ or 61″ Velocity Plus cutter decks provide the beautiful quality of cut you expect and a wide, even discharge.
HEAVY-DUTY. the V-Ride II’s heavy duty steel frame is a solid foundation that is durable and ready for the field. Scag‘s heavy-duty cutter deck spindles with hardened steel shaft, cast iron housing and greasable tapered roller bearings deliver reliable strength.
CHOOSE YOUR POWER. powerful and efficient Kawasaki engines provide smooth, reliable power. Kohler EFI engine option delivers efficient and dependable performance.
PRODUCTIVE. productive ground speeds help you get the job done fast. 10.5 mph for most models; 8.5 mph for 36″ model.
SLIM FIT- this machine is easy to squeeze onto your trailer or into tight spots around yards. Built in tie down points allow for quick and easy transport.
STRONG. reliable Ogura PTO clutch engages and disengages the blades quickly and easily with adjustable air gap for long life.
EYE OF THE TIGER. The Scag V-Ride II includes the Tiger Eye Advanced Monitoring System to keep a constant, real time “eye” on important system functions. (Specific functions vary by mower model and engine.)
MADE IN THE USA. Scag Commercial Mowers are fabricated at their parent company, Metalcraft of Mayville, Inc., one of the largest independently owned manufacturers of commercial power equipment in North America.
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We are the choice provider for businesses and homeowners in need of professional quality equipment. See why lawn care pros and homeowners with 2 or more acres of land trust SCAG commercial-grade zero-turn lawn mowers.
Fill out the contact form on this page or call to schedule a demo today. We will coordinate your free, no obligation demo with our Product Specialists. Our team at Thompson’s can help you figure out what equipment will best fit your needs.
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Stand-On Mowers – Is one right for you?
In this article, I want to show you the different models of stand on mowers available and discuss the pros/cons of whether a stand-on mower may be the best choice for you. Stand-on mowers have dramatically improved the way lawns are mowed. Before 1995 I was using Toro Groundsmasters and Jacobson Turf Cats, as my primary mowers. They would mow a lot of lawn but they were big, heavy and didn’t like small spaces or hills. Because of that the mowing crews also needed to have 36-60 inch walk-behind mowers, 21-inch push mowers, and multiple string trimmers. It was common for me to have crews of five to nine people.
But that all changed in the spring of 1997. My local dealer convinced me to demo a new to the market stand-on Great Dane Surfer and a mid-deck Exmark Lazer Z zero-turn. By the end of the summer, I had replaced all of my equipment with these new mowers, reduced my crews to two or three people and they were getting more lawns mowed! The new mowers quickly paid for themselves in reduced labor and maintenance costs.
What is a stand-on mower?
Stand-on mowers were born out of the need for a mower that was faster and more productive than a walk-behind mower yet lighter weight and more agile than sit-down zero-turn mowers.
The first stand-on mowers used commercial walk-behinds as the template. Bill Wright, in particular, saw that he could move the controls up and over the engine and permanently attach the Velke (sulky) to the mower. The idea of the stand-on mower was born. About the same time, another individual in Florida was working on the same idea and Dane Scag saw the potential there.
Dane Scag was the first to market with the “Surfer” stand-on but Bill Wright was the actual inventor/patent holder and spent another year engineering out all the bugs from the “Stander” before putting it on the market.
1997 Great Dane Surfer with upgraded front casters
As with any industry, it took quite a few years before established landscapers were willing to switch from “what they knew” to the new design of the stand-on. But the hard work and dedication to the idea finally paid off for Mr. Wright and it became accepted that stand-on mowers were much faster than walk-behinds and more efficient and lighter than ZTRs on smaller and medium size lawns.
Because of interest in the Wright Stander, many other manufacturers tried to get in on the action and designed some really strange mowers to compete with it. Almost all of those designs have disappeared to the point that even the Internet doesn’t remember them. (Anyone remember the Excel Hustler FastCat?)
Today Wright Manufacturing not only makes the fast and agile stand-ons that excel on small to medium lawns but also larger and more powerful stand-on mowers that outperform many conventional sit-down ZTRs. Stand-on mowers have become so popular that there are now over 15 brands competing for your dollars.
Below is a list of Pros and Cons to help you decide if a Stand-on is the best choice for you. After that is a list of the 2019 manufacturers and links to their websites.
Finally, All the current stand on mowers are commercial grade designed for harsh use by landscape contractors. Even the cheapest model will last you many, many years.
Pros of using stand-on mowers compared to lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers
In summary, experienced landscapers like myself prefer stand-on mowers for small and medium sized lawns. After mowing lawns all day we all state our back is less sore, we are not as tired and we get a lot more done than using mid-mount ZTRs and lawn/garden tractors.
Cons of using stand-on mowers compared to lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers
Small: 32-46 inches Gated communities and other small lawns with very few slopes. These mowers excel at mowing intricately landscaped properties. They are not designed for berms, ditches, and slopes. The Gravely ProStance 36FL is a good example of this class.
Medium: 48-60 inches Lightweight compared to most other mowers so they won’t leave ruts on soft turf. Because of their agility, these will easily mow more lawn in less time than conventional zero-turns. With a little training, you can mow slopes and berms with these mowers. Experienced landscapers always have two or three of these that are used for small and medium-sized residential/business properties. The Wright Stander B is a good example of this class of stand on mower.
Large: 48-72 inches These stand on mowers are direct replacements to the commercial Zero-Turn mowers most landscapers use. They are fast, agile and mow perfectly at over 10 MPH! The Toro GrandStand is a good example of this class of mower.
Production: 72 inches These mowers are true heavy-duty, large frame, high production mowers. Heavy frame, Big bore EFI engines. Some, like the Wright Stander ZK even have dual rear wheels! The result is the most productive and versatile large frame mower ever built. Big bore EFI engines provide power without compromising efficiency. High flow hydraulics propel high traction 23” or 24” tires for excellent hill holding, and dual-sided fuel tanks provide all-day run time. Take on your next season with a ZK. It’s the ultimate stand on mower. Period.
Stand-On Mower Manufacturer Guide
NOTE! All stand on mowers with the exception of the Bradley are sold at dealers only. There are no Internet retailers or big box stores selling them at this time. Because of that, I suggest doing your research online for the best model for you but select a few brands that have dealers you trust close to you.
Dixie Chopper: Stryker. the Dixie Chopper brand is officially gone but there are still dealers who may have this mower in stock.
Havener Enterprises: Bradley Stand-on Compact ZT. Note: The Bradley is about half the cost of all the other stand on mowers but it is still a commercial grade mower capable of giving you many years of service. Havener Enterprises has been in business for 20 years and can sell these mowers for less because they do not have an extensive dealer network and they make their mowers in small batches so they don’t have the overhead costs of most other manufacturers. If you do your own maintenance this is one of the best value mowers on the market. If you need maintenance parts all you have to do is call them and the parts are quickly shipped out.
Havener Enterprises: Bradley Stand-on Compact ZT.
Mean Green Mowers: Stalker SK-48 Stand-On Electric Commercial
Mean Green Mowers: Stalker SK-48 Stand-On Electric Commercial
The Toro Company: GrandStand and Grandstand MULTI-FORCE
Toro GrandStand and Grandstand MULTI-FORCE
Worldlawn Power Equipment: Venom Encore Rage
Standing riding lawn mower
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Stand-on user demographics
When the first stand-ons were introduced, Wright says that they noticed the primary purchasers were landscapers who maintained smaller properties; today, the demographics are more universal.
“Stand-on mowers are universally appealing when you realize that more lawns can be cut in the same amount of time while also having lower operating costs, a lighter footprint, less fatigue and lower rollover hazard,” Wright said.
“It is important for contractors to evaluate their business to determine which machine is best for the properties they work on,” said Nick Minas, product manager for John Deere Commercial Mowing. “Stand-ons are ideal for smaller properties and landscapers that want to fit several machines on one trailer. Zero-turn mowers are larger in size and take up more space on a trailer. However, the productivity benefits of zero-turns make them ideal for large properties.”
Photo: Husqvarna
Veteran landscapers who value efficiency tend to prefer stand-on mowers, according to Scheffler. This could be because the machines may provide less back stress as opposed to sitting for long periods of time over rough terrain.
Stand-on mowers do provide a natural and intuitive body position when working, added Dan Roche, marketing director of commercial products for Ferris. This allows bumps and vibrations to travel through the entire body and not just the upper body, which happens when the operator is seated.
Stand-on mowers can excel in areas that have tighter spaces, more intricate and heavily populated landscapes or a fair number of trees and bushes to maneuver around and under. The ability to mow and maneuver in compact spaces, such as cul-de-sacs and gated communities, comes in handy.
“Cost is also a factor,” Minas said. “Stand-on mowers are typically less expensive than zero-turn mowers, so budget may be a decision-driver.”
“We definitely see younger operators warming up to them and approaching them with more enthusiasm,” Roche said. “The preference and where the stand-ons have come from have been driven much more by conditions and terrain than I would say a certain type of operator.
Check back tomorrow for part 2 of this article, where we’ll explore the benefits and downsides of both mower types and what the future holds for them.