As a fleet manager, you are focused on everyday operations and uptime so crews can maintain efficiency and profitability. Also, you are charged with long-term responsibilities such as managing the equipment lifecycle and budgeting for mower purchases. Not to mention, you have a direct impact on quality of cut and the level of service your company delivers to customers.
For all these reasons and more, there is a lot at stake when acquiring mowers for the fleet.
Comfort, lifetime cost and durability are key factors that drive fleet managers’ mower purchase decisions. Also important, Grasshopper is one of the few companies that offers front-mount, mid-mount and stand-on mowers, so you gain the flexibility of building a fleet that accommodates your customer base and daily mowing needs.
Here are seven reasons fleet managers love Grasshopper Mowers, along with some purchase pointers to consider as you navigate the mower market.
#1 Mower Comfort
Grasshopper’s “humanomics” encompass every aspect of the operator control station, from accessible Hydra-Smooth™ Dual Steering Levers that reduce fatigue compared to conventional steering wheel systems to a View-Eze™ console adjacent to the seat that allows you to easily get into the seat without straddling controls. Grasshopper also offers optional “tall boy” extended levers for larger operators, allowing fleet managers to customize equipment to accommodate crewmembers’ needs.
Also important, Grasshopper is one of the few companies that offers front-mount, mid-mount and stand-on mowers, so you gain the flexibility of builgrading a fleet that accommodates your customer base and daily mowing needs.
Mower comfort increases productivity in the field and elevates operator morale, which improves employee retention and reduces time off because of fatigue or injury. Comfort goes beyond how a mower makes crewmembers feel, it affects performance and results in a more manicured finish.
Purchase pointer: Taking ergonomics to the next level with “humanomics” elevates performance and delivers a higher-quality cut than machines that do not factor in smooth-riding features.
#2 Durability For Long Mowing Days
As a fleet manager, you need mowers that are built tough, inside and out. Crews sometimes mow in harsh elements, navigating rough terrain while working to achieve manicured results for clients. Durability contributes to Grasshopper Mowers’ longevity, delivering a greater return on investment and a lower operating cost without the downtime and repairs you will experience with a less rugged mower.
Specifically, anvil-edged DuraMax® cutting decks are constructed from heavy-gauge, formed steel with a ½-inch-thick reinforced, wrapped leading edge. GrassMax™ ADI MARBAIN® blades are designed to cut close to deck edges and eliminate secondary trimming, which in turn improves efficiency. Grasshopper double-layered decks are 25% thicker than quarter-inch steel and stretch across the deck, pairing well with 8-inch spindle housing.
Purchase pointer: Downtime is wasted time, lost productivity and missed revenue. Durable commercial mowers are a must for landscape companies running a fleet.
#3 Easy To Maintain
Grasshopper Mowers offer a service-friendly design with fewer grease points and easy access to belts and filters, significantly reducing maintenance time. As a fleet manager, efficient equipment maintenance minimizes labor hours spent on routine tasks and keeps daily routes running seamlessly.
For example, Access-Eze™ design allows you to reach belts from the topside of the deck, and you can also easily access the clutch, deck drive belt, pump drive belt, blade drive belt or PTO shaft. This way, if a crew requires service, you can quickly perform necessary maintenance so the team can return to revenue-generating activity. The same is true for Grasshopper’s PowerFold® out-front decks that allow you to access the underside of the deck.
Grasshopper mowers are designed for longer maintenance intervals, up to 1,000 hours on hydraulic systems. Plus, Sentry™ spindle guards shield the spindle housing and seal lower bearings.
Purchase pointer: With only five lubrication points on MidMount™ and Outstander™ models and fewer than 10 grease points on FrontMount™ models, you’ll significantly reduce the time crews spend handling regular preventative maintenance.
#4 Fuel Savings
Grasshopper offers diesel and gasoline-powered engines, and both win accolades for efficiency and reducing fuel expenses. Diesel is a standout in the industry, and Grasshopper MaxTorque™ diesel mowers are capable of burning less than 1 gallon per hour. Because of diesel’s fuel economy and the number of hours crews spend in the field, this dollar amount can add up to substantial savings that reduce operating expenses year after year.
Purchase pointer: Not sure whether a gasoline- or diesel-powered engine is best for your fleet? There are advantages to both. Explore the true cost of ownership.
#5 Attachments For Mower Multitasking
Fleet managers love that Grasshopper Mowers are multitasking machines that efficiently perform tasks from neatly edging along sidewalks and roadside curbs with the Edge-EZE™ edger to collecting grass clippings, leaves and debris with a PowerVac™ Collection System. FrontMount™ mowers can be outfitted with snowthrowers, AERA-vators™, dethatchers and more to help your business expand to other services. Both MidMount and FrontMount mowers can accommodate a sunshade canopy, vinyl or aluminum, depending on the model.
Because these attachments can be effortlessly connected in the field, crews save time while completing additional revenue-generating jobs.
Purchase pointer: When investing in a commercial mower, consider the additional revenue potential you can gain from easy-to-attach implements that expand your service options without taking up the space of a dedicated unit.
#6 Lifecycle Cost
When you add up Grasshopper Mower benefits including labor savings, quality of cut, unmatched comfort, multitasking attachments, fuel economy and ease of maintenance, the ROI answer is simple. With a lower cost over the life of a Grasshopper Mower and business boosters like labor and time savings, the smart and strategic choice for fleet managers is clear.
Plus, Grasshopper mowers are known for their durability and longevity, capable of logging more than 10,000 hours during the life of the mower. While preventative maintenance is key to the longevity of any piece of equipment, long-lasting and durable equipment can reduce the need to replace mowers sooner than expected, which reduces overhead expenses while maintaining profitability.
Purchase pointer: When purchasing mowers for your fleet, be sure to compare equipment apples to apples. Determine the true lifecycle cost and value you’ll gain from your investment. Factors like quality of cut and comfort matter just as much as fuel economy and ease of maintenance and mower versatility. It all adds up to improved performance and more value.
#7 Trade-in Value
There are various strategies for rotating a mower fleet based on your budget and hours of use. Should you decide to trade in a Grasshopper Mower after a long, cost-saving lifecycle and maintaining the machine according to the operator’s manual, you will likely receive a trade-in value that allows you the flexibility to continue realizing a return on your initial investment while also getting into a new mower.
>>Purchase pointer: When investing in mowers for your fleet, consider the value you will realize throughout ownership and what this looks like at the time of trade-in. Managing a fleet requires cycling machines, and you want mowers that will deliver ROI from acquisition until trade-in.
The Grasshopper Advantage
Feel the difference by test-driving a Grasshopper Mower at one of our servicing dealers to experience how it performs. Remember to ask about financing offers.
Interested in some mowing tips from the pros at Grasshopper? Check out our library of how-to videos, or sign up for our newsletter. Thinking about a new mower for your fleet? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs.
