I've been reading this forum for several weeks trying to learn as much as I can about ztr mowers. I have about 1.7 acres of level ground to mow. I have a number of obstacles to mow around so, I think it will speed up my mowing times quite a bit. I have looked at some commercial grade mowers including Dixon, Dixie Chopper and John Deere. They all start at about 6000.00 for a 50 t0 60 inch model. I really like the commercial grade units but I think spending the money for commercial grade mowers is overkill for the amount of area I have to mow. The residential models I've looked at are:
Cub Cadet rzt 50 inch with 22 hp Kawasaki engine. This one has a stamped steel frame and deck. It runs about 2900.00
Swisher 60 inch mower with 26 hp Briggs els vtwin engine. It has Eaton commercial drive units, a stamped steel frame and an 11 guage welded frame deck. Cost is about 4000.00
Cub Cadet Zforce 50 inch with 22 hp Koehler Command engine. The deck is the same as the lighter Cub, but the frame is tube welded. and the seating is nicer. The front axle looks quite a bit heavier too.
Cub Cadet Zforce 60 inch with 23 hp kawasaki engine. It is made much like the 50 inch cub, but the deck has some welded reinforcement around the edge. cost is about 5000.00. I like this unit a lot, but it comes close to the cost of a commercial unit.
I've been using a Swisher trail 60 mower for 7 years and it has been good to me. However the 13 hp engine is somewhat underpowered and is starting to use quite a bit of oil. It is still running ok however, and I am in no desparate circumstances for a new mower. I would, however, would make a change if I find a deal that I think justifies the cost of the machine.
Any help any of you can give me will be deeply appreciated.
Don Williams a.k.a. Librarian
New Vienna, OH
Cub Cadet rzt 50 inch with 22 hp Kawasaki engine. This one has a stamped steel frame and deck. It runs about 2900.00
Swisher 60 inch mower with 26 hp Briggs els vtwin engine. It has Eaton commercial drive units, a stamped steel frame and an 11 guage welded frame deck. Cost is about 4000.00
Cub Cadet Zforce 50 inch with 22 hp Koehler Command engine. The deck is the same as the lighter Cub, but the frame is tube welded. and the seating is nicer. The front axle looks quite a bit heavier too.
Cub Cadet Zforce 60 inch with 23 hp kawasaki engine. It is made much like the 50 inch cub, but the deck has some welded reinforcement around the edge. cost is about 5000.00. I like this unit a lot, but it comes close to the cost of a commercial unit.
I've been using a Swisher trail 60 mower for 7 years and it has been good to me. However the 13 hp engine is somewhat underpowered and is starting to use quite a bit of oil. It is still running ok however, and I am in no desparate circumstances for a new mower. I would, however, would make a change if I find a deal that I think justifies the cost of the machine.
Any help any of you can give me will be deeply appreciated.
Don Williams a.k.a. Librarian
New Vienna, OH