LMan1967
Gold Member
I went through this process last year and ended up with a Hustler. I've put ~ 50 hours on it since then and its worked well for me, FWIW. I mow ~ 5 acres or so.
Zero turn opinions
- Thread starter MFIndustrial20
- Start date
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J_J
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
- Messages
- 18,952
- Location
- JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Tractor
- Power-Trac 1445, KUBOTA B-9200HST
To bad you don't have a Dixie Chopper dealer in your area,
They are some very good mowers, and an average mechanic can fix everything on them.
I will add, they are expensive.
They are some very good mowers, and an average mechanic can fix everything on them.
I will add, they are expensive.
OP
MFIndustrial20
New member
OK... so after interviewing a few local dealers and getting some word of mouth suggestions on them and their gear, I think I've narrowed it down to two machines and would like your opinion....
1) Gravely Pro-Turn 160 XDZ with 60" deck and 23.5HP Kawasaki FX730V
2) Ferris IS 1500Z with 61" deck and 28HP Briggs & Stratton Commercial Turf
Both are in the same price range and both can be serviced by a dealer within a 10 minute drive from my house of need be.
Which of these two would you suggest?
Thanks!
1) Gravely Pro-Turn 160 XDZ with 60" deck and 23.5HP Kawasaki FX730V
2) Ferris IS 1500Z with 61" deck and 28HP Briggs & Stratton Commercial Turf
Both are in the same price range and both can be serviced by a dealer within a 10 minute drive from my house of need be.
Which of these two would you suggest?
Thanks!
Birdhunter1
Veteran Member
Interesting s my dad has that exact same Gravely and my uncle has the exact same Ferris, having run each I have a few good comments.
The Gravely is a beast, built like a log wagon and rides like one too. No kidding it is built VERY well,has very responsive hydro's and a ton of power. It rides rougher than anything I've ever been on and I don't care one bit for the cut nor the way it disperses clippings. I have run dads Gravely several times and each time I dislike it more and more. I literally dislike it to the point that when my Grasshopper was previously in the shop for a few weeks I just let my mowing go. He runs a small commercial outfit on his own and occasionally I help him or do them when he can't for some odd reason or another. He had a Toro previous to this Gravely and I loved that one, I did alot of mowing with him then because I also had a list of accounts and I used his mower, which in turn he used me on his accounts..... it was a good deal for the both of us. 2 kids later and working full time I don't have the time to still be doing it.
My Uncles Ferris. Cuts nice, disperses clippings well, rides nice. I don't really have any complaints on it but I haven't run it as much, only twice.
Myself I went with a Grasshopper front deck. Occasionally I'll mow with my dad if he gets behind due to rain or we have to get all of them done quick, but mostly it is an on the farm personal use machine to do about 3 hours of mowing a week. I love this mower, somedays I want to just sit on it and mow and find more to mow just to get away into my own little world. It rides 1000 times better than that blasted Gravely, cuts well and disperses well. The only downside to the front deck for me is when mowing when it is windy if you are discharging into the wind it will likely blow grass and dust back onto you. The uphill traction people complain about I have not found to be any better on any midmount I have been on. Going backwards I do believe the Grasshopper would climb a cliff, sidehill traction is great.
Of the two mowers you listed I'd go with the Ferris, but then again I'd go with a lawn tractor that takes 3 times as long to mow with before that Gravely.
The Gravely is a beast, built like a log wagon and rides like one too. No kidding it is built VERY well,has very responsive hydro's and a ton of power. It rides rougher than anything I've ever been on and I don't care one bit for the cut nor the way it disperses clippings. I have run dads Gravely several times and each time I dislike it more and more. I literally dislike it to the point that when my Grasshopper was previously in the shop for a few weeks I just let my mowing go. He runs a small commercial outfit on his own and occasionally I help him or do them when he can't for some odd reason or another. He had a Toro previous to this Gravely and I loved that one, I did alot of mowing with him then because I also had a list of accounts and I used his mower, which in turn he used me on his accounts..... it was a good deal for the both of us. 2 kids later and working full time I don't have the time to still be doing it.
My Uncles Ferris. Cuts nice, disperses clippings well, rides nice. I don't really have any complaints on it but I haven't run it as much, only twice.
Myself I went with a Grasshopper front deck. Occasionally I'll mow with my dad if he gets behind due to rain or we have to get all of them done quick, but mostly it is an on the farm personal use machine to do about 3 hours of mowing a week. I love this mower, somedays I want to just sit on it and mow and find more to mow just to get away into my own little world. It rides 1000 times better than that blasted Gravely, cuts well and disperses well. The only downside to the front deck for me is when mowing when it is windy if you are discharging into the wind it will likely blow grass and dust back onto you. The uphill traction people complain about I have not found to be any better on any midmount I have been on. Going backwards I do believe the Grasshopper would climb a cliff, sidehill traction is great.
Of the two mowers you listed I'd go with the Ferris, but then again I'd go with a lawn tractor that takes 3 times as long to mow with before that Gravely.
Alan L.
Elite Member
Ditto on the Scag, its a hoss.
dbear
Gold Member
Is your dad's Gravely the newer machine? I know they pulled the model for a time due to some cut issues. When I was shopping (6-7 years ago), my Gravely dealer did not recommend the 160. He said the outboard spindles lined up with the front casters, which created the cut quality issue. I believe that was corrected when they brought it back with the ZT drives.
To the OP: Regarding the ride, all ztrs ride rough (function of being able to mow at 8+ mph). Lawn rolling, suspension seats, and front caster springs help a lot (I'm told) so don't fall victim to Ferris marketing gimick. Personally, I don't think my DC Silver Eagle rides that bad despite no suspension other than low psi tires and my butt.
If you like the machine's construction & cut characteristics, and you're comfortable with your dealer regardless of brand, buy it. That's a major reason I went with DC. My Ferris dealer is a jerk so I just can't bring myself to endorse them.
yelbike
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,596
- Location
- Near Winnipeg, Mb, Canada
- Tractor
- John Deere 2305, 2320,Z465
Remember when your shopping to compare apples to apples.
The Cub cadet brand for example has the RZT line, the Zforce line, PROZforce line then the TANK line. They are NOT all the same. I was liked the Tank but the price was too high for me. I tried the PRoz force on my property, even haying with it, it was impressive. It had smaller tires so it did not do as well on the slopes(ditch).
I was leaning toward the RZT, as I could buy two for the same price as the PROZ force. I thought, if I wear one out I just buy another. Problem was no dealer stock and the dealer told me to wait till spring. I found a used John deere Z465 (JD's second from the bottom model line) for the right price and I love it.
Funny thing is my neighbor bought a Cub cadet riding mower (same deck as the rzt line), within the first year they had a cracked weld, worn out three belts and it was in for warranty again this week. they have less the 50 hours on it. One problem might be they mow pretty low.
The only problem so far for me is I've realized how rough my yard is.
Happy hunting!!
The Cub cadet brand for example has the RZT line, the Zforce line, PROZforce line then the TANK line. They are NOT all the same. I was liked the Tank but the price was too high for me. I tried the PRoz force on my property, even haying with it, it was impressive. It had smaller tires so it did not do as well on the slopes(ditch).
I was leaning toward the RZT, as I could buy two for the same price as the PROZ force. I thought, if I wear one out I just buy another. Problem was no dealer stock and the dealer told me to wait till spring. I found a used John deere Z465 (JD's second from the bottom model line) for the right price and I love it.
Funny thing is my neighbor bought a Cub cadet riding mower (same deck as the rzt line), within the first year they had a cracked weld, worn out three belts and it was in for warranty again this week. they have less the 50 hours on it. One problem might be they mow pretty low.
The only problem so far for me is I've realized how rough my yard is.
Happy hunting!!
Birdhunter1
Veteran Member
He bought it spring of 2010.
kiotiken
Veteran Member
I can't comment on the difference between the two since I've never mowed with the Gravely, but I really like my Ferris IS3000, it has been a beast. I change the oil, clean the filters and it mows the lawn, it's an agreement we've made and neither one of us has disappointed.
tennmogger
New member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2011
- Messages
- 24
- Tractor
- Cub Cadet Tank
My comments are made as a compromise user. I have only about 5 acres to mow here on the farm, do no commercial work, but wanted a large ZTR to reduce time spent mowing. I also consider running a ZTR as pleasurable relaxation (first mower I can say that about).
I didn't want to spend anywhere near $10K. My compromise was a used (200 hours) CC M-60 Tank. Some of the positive things (other than half original price!) for this ZTR are the fabricated deck, heavy blades, and the separate hydraulic pumps and wheel motors (no cheap hydrostat). It seemed to have the makings of a maintainable mower.
There are tradeoffs though. I have had to replace belts too many times already, and a PTO clutch. The belt issue seems to be a continuing one due to high power being transferred through inadequate belts, but I consider that a trade off against the original money saved. I can change a lot of belts for much less than the difference.
The PTO clutch may have been victim to the previous owner (will never know unless there's another clutch failure) as the new one has been doing fine.
The TANK does a good job on side slopes, too. I have several steep banks that are easy with this mower that I'd never take my rider (or big tractor) on. The hydraulic pump + wheel motor is a wonderful combination.
So, if price is a big issue, and the usage is non-commercial (that is, down time to change belts can be tolerated), The M-60 is a fun mower to drive and does a great job.
Bob
I didn't want to spend anywhere near $10K. My compromise was a used (200 hours) CC M-60 Tank. Some of the positive things (other than half original price!) for this ZTR are the fabricated deck, heavy blades, and the separate hydraulic pumps and wheel motors (no cheap hydrostat). It seemed to have the makings of a maintainable mower.
There are tradeoffs though. I have had to replace belts too many times already, and a PTO clutch. The belt issue seems to be a continuing one due to high power being transferred through inadequate belts, but I consider that a trade off against the original money saved. I can change a lot of belts for much less than the difference.
The PTO clutch may have been victim to the previous owner (will never know unless there's another clutch failure) as the new one has been doing fine.
The TANK does a good job on side slopes, too. I have several steep banks that are easy with this mower that I'd never take my rider (or big tractor) on. The hydraulic pump + wheel motor is a wonderful combination.
So, if price is a big issue, and the usage is non-commercial (that is, down time to change belts can be tolerated), The M-60 is a fun mower to drive and does a great job.
Bob