Advice on zero turns

[tcartwri]

The Ferris IS700/600 and the Simplicity Citation are the best bang for your dollar period. Heavy duty components and fast mowing speed at residential prices.

 

[erda]

Just wondering if anyone's has any experience with Grasshopper mowers?

 

[TSO]

The local Kubota dealer carries them ... I've never used one, but I've Sat on practically every model they have.

Personally, they feel cheap and outdated ... like, I'm sitting on a mower from 1987. They definitely don't feel refined like my Hustler. But again, take this impression for what it's worth ... I've only sat on, and not used them.

 

[Hill Farmer]

I didn't read all the posts, so your questions are likely answered. You will cut your mowing time in half with a good 60" zero turn. It will easily handle more slope than you could think about putting your tractor on. Hard to flip a heavy 60" wide piece of steel riding a few inches off the ground. You will slide to the bottom before you turn over. A buddy of mine mows the berms at a local gun range without any issues. Some mentioned wet slopes being a problem, I guess they could be, but why mow when it's wet?

About your back, by design they ride like crap. Very short wheel base and most have no suspension. They ride rougher than a tractor, or tractor type mower. I have a 2006 Bad Boy Lightning with the adjustable spring tension type suspension seat. It rides like crap....
My neighbor just bought a new Bad Boy, the Outlaw or some such. It has an improved suspension seat, felt like an air ride but not sure if it was. The mower also rides on large rubber bushings as a "suspension." It rides GREAT compared to mine.
I've never mowed with a Ferris, but I've looked them over. They have a true suspension that should ride great. I'm am curious as to how the mower/suspension working up and down effect the cut. If I was looking I would demo one for sure, I have a dealer close.
When I compared apples to apples when I was looking Bad Boy seemed like the best bang for the buck to me. I also liked that they are made about 75 miles from where I live. I just couldn't find a heavier built mower for the money. That was 7 or 8 years ago, things could have changed.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Grasshopper mowers are definitely not cheap and outdated. They may have a boring, outdated paint scheme, but the mowers themselves are very popular with lawn care pros that put several hundred hours per season on their equipment. Those guys rely on their equipment every day, so reliability is important, which says a lot about the build quality of Grasshopper mowers. I see a lot of them on lawn service trailers around here.

You don't see many of them being used by Joe Homeowner because they are commercial quality machines built to stand up to professional use, not built to a price point to entice the bargain shopper.

 

[bigdogmax1]

Thank y'all again for the replies. We don't have a ferris or snapper dealer here. As I said before, I really like our local scag/hustler dealer (same place.) If they run a promo again with the zero percent interest and a couple grand off msrp, I'll jump on either the xone or cheetah. I really like the tiger cat, I just wish they offered the bigger 850 Kawasaki instead of the 23 horse. I will get an opportunity to look at the Kubotas this week too though. Thanks again everyone for the advice.

 

[TSO]

Grasshopper mowers are definitely not cheap and outdated. They may have a boring, outdated paint scheme, but the mowers themselves are very popular with lawn care pros that put several hundred hours per season on their equipment. Those guys rely on their equipment every day, so reliability is important, which says a lot about the build quality of Grasshopper mowers. I see a lot of them on lawn service trailers around here.

You don't see many of them being used by Joe Homeowner because they are commercial quality machines built to stand up to professional use, not built to a price point to entice the bargain shopper.

Probably depends on the area, but I can honestly say that I can remember seeing 2 grasshopper mowers in operation... one mowing a plaza (presumably by a landscape co) and one that appeared to be a homeowner mowing about 3 acres. Ever.

I do see them listed for sale used quite often though ...

 

[kevincook]

I have had a Ferris IS3100 for the last four seasons. This is a commerical mower and the suspension is more sophisticated than their residential models. Have the dealer bring you one to demo, you will not believe how smooth the ride is compared to a tractor or a ZTR without suspension. I think you would be able to mow your property in 1.5 hours with a ZTR.

 

[kwak]

I really like the tiger cat, I just wish they offered the bigger 850 Kawasaki instead of the 23 horse.

I own a 61" Tiger Cat with the Kawi FX730 23hp and I don't have any issues with power. If you search around a little I think you will find that the 23hp Kawi is comparable to other 25-27hp engines.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The Kawi FX730 is now rated at 23hp, but used to be rated at 26hp. I think there was some class action suit against the engine manufacturers for overrating their HP, and they've all started backing off the HP claims the last couple of years.