I am considering the purchase of a zero turn mower for my one acre lawn. I spend a lot of wasted time rounding corners and trying to mow around trees, with my lawn tractor. I am only considering a 42" residential mower with a cost of less than $3000. There are many available choices (Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Toro, Exmark, Snapper and others). I know a commercial grade mower would be of better quality, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Of the residential, 42", zero turn mowers, which would you recommend. Thank you for your time and experience.
Zero Turn Mower Question
- Thread starter Wingman
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Hustler Raptor was what i was going to get for my 1.5 acre mowing at my home..i havent pulled the trigger yet though.
http://todaysmower.com/hustler-raptor-42-zero-turn-mower-review-home-depot-model-931741/
http://todaysmower.com/hustler-raptor-42-zero-turn-mower-review-home-depot-model-931741/
I have a Hustler X-One 2013 maybe 2014 exactly sure but I know it was around $8500 new. It's been a great mower haven't had any problems with it. I can mow our 3 acres pretty easily in 2 hours and I do 50% overlap passes and go slower then a probably should.
I know mowers drop in value pretty quickly and it's a commercial mower. Maybe look into a few year old mower. It will not be new but a good commercial mower will have a lot better build quality and they are made to take a beating.
I know mowers drop in value pretty quickly and it's a commercial mower. Maybe look into a few year old mower. It will not be new but a good commercial mower will have a lot better build quality and they are made to take a beating.
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I always recommend that you buy a brand with good local parts and service support, but if you are a DIY mechanic and can put up with inconvenience, you can ignore my recommendation.
Bad Boy mowers are made in Ar-Kansas, so you might want to consider them. They are trying hard to break in to the commercial market that is dominated by a few select brands.
They have a sub $3,000 model. You need to compare specs..
http://www.kubotatractorofthetristate.com/2015-Bad-Boy-MZ-4200-Briggs-inventory.htm?id=21888304
Bad Boy mowers are made in Ar-Kansas, so you might want to consider them. They are trying hard to break in to the commercial market that is dominated by a few select brands.
They have a sub $3,000 model. You need to compare specs..
http://www.kubotatractorofthetristate.com/2015-Bad-Boy-MZ-4200-Briggs-inventory.htm?id=21888304
In my opinion, buy the dealer. They are going to be your support structure when your machine breaks or you just need special replacement parts. Don't focus on the brand, they are all basically the same. Most units they make will be great, some will break. No one is 100% perfect, ever.
I did way too much crunching of information when I bought my zero turn. I was looking at lower commercial level mowers ($6000-7000). After visiting many dealers and actually speaking to them, I decided to go with the dealer around the corner from my house because they are around the corner from my house, really nice people, been in business for 50-60 years, great local reputation. They sold Gravely's so, I have a Gravely.
Some people are going to say only Hustler or only Exmark or only insert brand. But what good is a Hustler if you have to haul it over an hour away when it breaks?
I did way too much crunching of information when I bought my zero turn. I was looking at lower commercial level mowers ($6000-7000). After visiting many dealers and actually speaking to them, I decided to go with the dealer around the corner from my house because they are around the corner from my house, really nice people, been in business for 50-60 years, great local reputation. They sold Gravely's so, I have a Gravely.
Some people are going to say only Hustler or only Exmark or only insert brand. But what good is a Hustler if you have to haul it over an hour away when it breaks?
Check and see if there's a Ferris in your price range. Otherwise, I'd pick the engine you want and take the mower that comes with it- they pretty much all use the same hydro drive units. Get a welded (or at least reinforced) deck if you can.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
$3000 isn't going to buy you a very robust new ZTR these days. It will have sealed drives, light duty cutting decks and associated components. Proper care and usage will be required to make them last.
The next step up in ZTRs will get you serviceable drives like the HydroGear ZT-2800, more heavy-duty cutting decks, etc.
Prices have really gone up on these things due to popularity. I had a 2010 model year Cub Cadet Z-Force ZTR with the 44" fabricated deck, ZT-2800 drives, etc. It was a nice machine, but I sold it along with the house back in 2011. That was ~$3000 back then.
The next step up in ZTRs will get you serviceable drives like the HydroGear ZT-2800, more heavy-duty cutting decks, etc.
Prices have really gone up on these things due to popularity. I had a 2010 model year Cub Cadet Z-Force ZTR with the 44" fabricated deck, ZT-2800 drives, etc. It was a nice machine, but I sold it along with the house back in 2011. That was ~$3000 back then.
Used commercial mower turn in at your local dealer with 500-1000 hours on it will give you a nice machine with a lot of life left in it, in your price range.
I have a Dixon Estate 48" ZTR as well as a Cub Cadet Commercial Enforcer 54" ZTR. As others have recommended, I went with those brands because of the quality of their local dealers. No complaints with respect to either one. My philosophy is to buy professional quality outdoor power equipment and tools whenever possible- that way you only have to buy them once.
Originally Posted By: MCompact
My philosophy is to buy professional quality outdoor power equipment and tools whenever possible- that way you only have to buy them once.
That was my plan. I expect this mower to last me 30 years with my usage.
My philosophy is to buy professional quality outdoor power equipment and tools whenever possible- that way you only have to buy them once.
That was my plan. I expect this mower to last me 30 years with my usage.
I have a smaller Ariens ZTR from a local dealer. It's a great machine. The gravely (professional) version is the same chassis but a +2hp engine and red paint. The briggs 14.5 on mine runs as well as the honda and yamaha on my other OPE. The smaller ztr I picked up is a 2-blade deck. It's smaller than a 42" but don't recall the size. It's nice- nimble and can squeeze through narrow passages well. It also moves quicker than I need it to-- it can go faster than the blades can keep up with.
My only learning curve-- the stamped deck puts up with a lot of abuse but has it's limits. It's a very "springy" metal that does stay bent, but also does not bend back into place easily if you hook on to something hard enough to bend it. I mowed pretty aggressively over high roots the first 2 years I had it, and eventually knocked the deck into the blades. $. Can't really blame the mower, now I know better.
No regrets with the Ariens. Good machine.
My only learning curve-- the stamped deck puts up with a lot of abuse but has it's limits. It's a very "springy" metal that does stay bent, but also does not bend back into place easily if you hook on to something hard enough to bend it. I mowed pretty aggressively over high roots the first 2 years I had it, and eventually knocked the deck into the blades. $. Can't really blame the mower, now I know better.
No regrets with the Ariens. Good machine.
Dealer, dealer, stealer is number one on list.
Followed my servicable hydro's.
Then choose a fab deck.
And then brand.
Harvey
Followed my servicable hydro's.
Then choose a fab deck.
And then brand.
Harvey
I would agree what most are saying. A good dealer. In my area, we got plenty of good dealers to choose from, so I could be more selective on a brand. I choose a Gravely ZT XL 48 in 2012, even though the dealer is 16 miles from my house. I was highly considering a Hustler before, since dealer is 3 miles from home, but as I researched, I became unimpressed with the Hustler Sport model, and since they have discontinued that model. I have plenty of dealers closer than that. If you want to do your own service work, you will thank yourself many of times, to get the serviceable Hydros. That would at least have to be a Hydro-gear ZT-2800. I was more partial to a Kawasaki engine, but not as important as serviceable Hydros. The Hydrostatic transmissions are your weakest point and often overlooked. Farbricated deck of course.
Originally Posted By: NH73
If you want to do your own service work, you will thank yourself many of times, to get the serviceable Hydros. That would at least have to be a Hydro-gear ZT-2800. I was more partial to a Kawasaki engine, but not as important as serviceable Hydros. The Hydrostatic transmissions are your weakest point and often overlooked. Farbricated deck of course.
That's what I like about my Cub Cadet- ZT-2800 hydros, Kawasaki 23 hp twin, and a fabricated deck. Should last for decades at the rate I put hours on it.
If you want to do your own service work, you will thank yourself many of times, to get the serviceable Hydros. That would at least have to be a Hydro-gear ZT-2800. I was more partial to a Kawasaki engine, but not as important as serviceable Hydros. The Hydrostatic transmissions are your weakest point and often overlooked. Farbricated deck of course.
That's what I like about my Cub Cadet- ZT-2800 hydros, Kawasaki 23 hp twin, and a fabricated deck. Should last for decades at the rate I put hours on it.
I finally gave up on lawn tractor type mowers a couple of years ago and got a JD Z445 for my 2.25 acre yard. A great move doing that. Cut out a third of the mowing time. Wish I had done it sooner.
Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
I finally gave up on lawn tractor type mowers a couple of years ago and got a JD Z445 for my 2.25 acre yard. A great move doing that. Cut out a third of the mowing time. Wish I had done it sooner.
John Deere has went to Tuff Torq for there transmissions and usually makes them maintenance free.
I finally gave up on lawn tractor type mowers a couple of years ago and got a JD Z445 for my 2.25 acre yard. A great move doing that. Cut out a third of the mowing time. Wish I had done it sooner.
John Deere has went to Tuff Torq for there transmissions and usually makes them maintenance free.
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