Buying Advice Buying a Zero-Turn Mower

[TractorGuy]

Bite the bullet and get a 72" dixie chopper. Rated for 6.5 acres per hour.

http://www.dixiechopper.com/downloads/specifications/2016/classic-2016.pdf

 

[TSO]

Bite the bullet and get a 72" dixie chopper. Rated for 6.5 acres per hour.

http://www.dixiechopper.com/downloads/specifications/2016/classic-2016.pdf

Yuck!

No offense, but the fit/finish of these aren't as nice, in my opinion, as the other major players.

 

[TJP89]

Well, I've got a lot of specs to watch now. The problem is I have no idea who makes ZTRs. What are the brands out there? I know Kubota and JD, I think Ferris, Exmark, Hustler, and some others have been mentioned. Husqvarna also usually comes up on my searches, what's out there?

 

[davesl708]

Well, I've got a lot of specs to watch now. The problem is I have no idea who makes ZTRs. What are the brands out there? I know Kubota and JD, I think Ferris, Exmark, Hustler, and some others have been mentioned. Husqvarna also usually comes up on my searches, what's out there?

Include Grasshopper in your list.

 

[TSO]

These are the main brands I'd consider, in alphabetical order


BadBoy
Bobcat (not Bobcat construction stuff, these are green)
eXmark (or Toro Pro, same company)
Ferris (or Snapper Pro, same company)
GrassHopper
Gravely
Hustler
John Deere
Kubota
Scag
Wright

I may have missed a few...

 

[coobie]

Are you guys trying to tell me that there are no reasonably priced new mowers capable of handling 7 acres of relatively easy lawn mowing 20 times a year (that's what, 50hrs a year?)? Because I find it hard to believe I'll have to pay 8K+ for something to do that. If that's true, I'm thinking a RFM for the Kioti might be the way to go. That'll only cost 3-4K max. There has got to be a grade between $3000 residential mowers, and 8K bottom line commercial mowers.

Go visit Michigan Iron and equipment east of Perry Michigan.They carry ferris ZTR mowers.The starting price is around $5000-$6000 for a decent ZTR.

 

[xring100]

I'd MUCH

I LOVE my Grasshopper 61" front deck, the Kubota diesel, uses less fuel and will easily out last any gas motor...

SR

or 3 or 4 gas motors

my neighbor has a 21hp diesel grasshopper 61" compared to my 22 hp 52" gas turd cadet RZT the torque rise of the diesel is awesome does not bog down in the tall grass like mine does. the front deck true zero turn is nice as opposed to the kubota f Series which is basically a tractor driven backwards to wide of a turning radius.

I would never ever buy another $3000 machine but it's what I could afford at the time. I hated it ever since

Neighbor has a hustler prosumer machine with kawasaki fx engine very nice build.

currently looking at zd326 or the new Zd1211. I'm sold on the diesel. I've ruled out the Ferris and John deere for price. Haven't seen much on the hustler diesel but the styling is unappealing to me.

 

[4570Man]

Yuck! No offense, but the fit/finish of these aren't as nice, in my opinion, as the other major players.

Personally a think the Dixie choppers are pretty nice. I have a Silver eagle. IMO it is far superior to my uncles commercial Toro. If I was going to trade my Dixie chopper it would take a Kubota diesel or a front deck diesel grasshopper.

 

[TSO]

Personally a think the Dixie choppers are pretty nice. I have a Silver eagle. IMO it is far superior to my uncles commercial Toro. If I was going to trade my Dixie chopper it would take a Kubota diesel or a front deck diesel grasshopper.

interesting... To me, the Dixie models seem like they haven't made it out of the 1980s yet

 

[Buxus]

I'd MUCH rather have a wider deck and go slower than a narrower deck and go fast...

I do not find my 61" decks to be too wide for "some what" rough ground, my lawn sure isn't perfect, and I mow my lanes and around my orchard tree's with mine.

I LOVE my Grasshopper 61" front deck, the Kubota diesel, uses less fuel and will easily out last any gas motor...

SR

I second the vote for a front mount Grasshopper. I bought a used Grasshopper 721 with a 20 HP Kohler and 61 inch deck 2 seasons ago with 700 hours for $2100. Can't imagine mowing on anything nicer. What a machine! Great cut. Great maneuverability. I mow 7 acres with it regularly. Takes more like 3-4 hours though because I have lots of trees, landscaping, etc.