Looking at ZTR mowers.. Used Kubota or new Hustler?

[Handloader109]

Well, I like to save a buck buying used, but mowers can be hit or miss..... But I'd look for something closer to the 3k new to compare. Just me.... And if the Kubota was such a great deal, why hasn't it been grabbed up the day it was posted? If it is worth it, you'll pay listed price, then the new is even better option...

 

[EddieWalker]

When I did my search for a zero turn, I looked at most of the brands out there and liked Scag the best. Kubota was my second choice, but for a little less money, scag seemed to be more heavy duty. For me, the engine and drive train are the most important thing. Too many of the other brands had engines I didn't care for. My Scag has a water cooled Kawasaki engine. Two seperate hydraulic pumps, and some of the biggest spindles for the mower blades that I saw out there. Solid front tires where a nice bonus.

The negatives have been the safety switches. I have them on just about everything, from the seat, to the handles, to the on off switch for the blades. I've had to bypass two of them to keep it running.

After having it for about 5 years, I've also come to the conclusion that if I ever buy another mower, it wont be a zero turn. It just beats you up, and it's not as much fun to mow with compared to the riding mower I had before or my tractor. I think those from deck mowers are what I should have bought. Kubota seems to make a really nice one. Whatever you do, be sure to look at both types of mowers.

 

[DK35vince]

When I did my search for a zero turn, I looked at most of the brands out there and liked Scag the best. Kubota was my second choice, but for a little less money, scag seemed to be more heavy duty. For me, the engine and drive train are the most important thing. Too many of the other brands had engines I didn't care for. My Scag has a water cooled Kawasaki engine. Two seperate hydraulic pumps, and some of the biggest spindles for the mower blades that I saw out there. Solid front tires where a nice bonus.

The negatives have been the safety switches. I have them on just about everything, from the seat, to the handles, to the on off switch for the blades. I've had to bypass two of them to keep it running.

After having it for about 5 years, I've also come to the conclusion that if I ever buy another mower, it wont be a zero turn. It just beats you up, and it's not as much fun to mow with compared to the riding mower I had before or my tractor. I think those from deck mowers are what I should have bought. Kubota seems to make a really nice one. Whatever you do, be sure to look at both types of mowers.

The solid front tires probably hurt the ride by a lot.
I have the opposite opinion. My 72" zero turn will out mow my tractor with an 84" rear finish mower by a good bit (zero turn mows our 7 acres lawn in 2 hours vs a little over 3 hours using the tractor), and with 7-8 PSI in the tires, flex forks and suspension seat rides better than the tractor while doing it.

 

[txdon]

Used and 6" narrower, I'd go new - but - look at the Hustler FastTack with the Kawasaki motor for 1K more.

 

[npaden]

I'm still looking. I couldn't get the guy to come down to $3k on the ZG20 48" Kubota and it finally sold. I'm going to buy something this week though. Right now the top prospects are a 52" Scag Freedom Z with 650 hours on it (one owner) that I'm trying to get for $3k but he is asking $3,500, a Kubota Kommander Z121S 48" with only 24 hours and still a few years on the warranty that the guy is asking $4k for or a new Hustler Raptor SD. I'm actually leaning toward the 60" one now as it comes with a suspension seat and an engine guard but it is $400 more than the SD 54". I don't think I have any really tight spots so right now I'm leaning toward the 60" Hustler unless I can get a good deal on one of the used ones.

 

[GManBart]

I'm still looking. I couldn't get the guy to come down to $3k on the ZG20 48" Kubota and it finally sold. I'm going to buy something this week though. Right now the top prospects are a 52" Scag Freedom Z with 650 hours on it (one owner) that I'm trying to get for $3k but he is asking $3,500, a Kubota Kommander Z121S 48" with only 24 hours and still a few years on the warranty that the guy is asking $4k for or a new Hustler Raptor SD. I'm actually leaning toward the 60" one now as it comes with a suspension seat and an engine guard but it is $400 more than the SD 54". I don't think I have any really tight spots so right now I'm leaning toward the 60" Hustler unless I can get a good deal on one of the used ones.

I have an older low end Hustler....FasTrak Sport 48" that I bought when we were leasing a place, and didn't know where we would wind up. In 5 years it's been flawless. I probably only put 50 hours a year on it (average) and the only regret I have is that I didn't go with a wider deck. At the time I was limited by the width of the shed doors on that property, so I was sort of stuck. If I knew how much larger our current place was going to be I probably would have stepped up to a bigger, more serious commercial unit, but that's just hindsight.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I'm still looking. I couldn't get the guy to come down to $3k on the ZG20 48" Kubota and it finally sold. I'm going to buy something this week though. Right now the top prospects are a 52" Scag Freedom Z with 650 hours on it (one owner) that I'm trying to get for $3k but he is asking $3,500, a Kubota Kommander Z121S 48" with only 24 hours and still a few years on the warranty that the guy is asking $4k for or a new Hustler Raptor SD. I'm actually leaning toward the 60" one now as it comes with a suspension seat and an engine guard but it is $400 more than the SD 54". I don't think I have any really tight spots so right now I'm leaning toward the 60" Hustler unless I can get a good deal on one of the used ones.

If it is an air suspension seat, that is $1000 upgrade so take consideration to that in the price. It will make a world of difference in the comfort also.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I did my search for a zero turn, I looked at most of the brands out there and liked Scag the best. Kubota was my second choice, but for a little less money, scag seemed to be more heavy duty. For me, the engine and drive train are the most important thing. Too many of the other brands had engines I didn't care for. My Scag has a water cooled Kawasaki engine. Two seperate hydraulic pumps, and some of the biggest spindles for the mower blades that I saw out there. Solid front tires where a nice bonus.

The negatives have been the safety switches. I have them on just about everything, from the seat, to the handles, to the on off switch for the blades. I've had to bypass two of them to keep it running.

After having it for about 5 years, I've also come to the conclusion that if I ever buy another mower, it wont be a zero turn. It just beats you up, and it's not as much fun to mow with compared to the riding mower I had before or my tractor. I think those from deck mowers are what I should have bought. Kubota seems to make a really nice one. Whatever you do, be sure to look at both types of mowers.

I have used high dollar tractor type (JD 332 diesel) and low end tractor (Troybuilt Bronco) and I don't find them to be any smoother than a Zero Turn. I have a residential low end Craftsman 6000 ($2500) and it is rough as a bucking bronco but my $6200 Ferris with 22" rear wheels and the coil spring over shock system is pretty darn smooth. I cant complain about the ride on it. The only complaint I find with zero turns is that if you get one wheel in the mud, you will continue to go toward the soft stuff and usually get stuck where you might have pulled out of it with a tractor type.

 

[mowin]

I've run ztr's for the past 16 yrs. Exmark, JD, Ferris, Husky and Toro doing Comercial lawn care. All were the Comercial models.
Most lasted 1000+ hrs with no major issues. Except the ferris and husky. Major issues. My two current z's are toro 6000 series with 1500+ hrs in 6 yrs.

So I guess what I'm getting at, I'd go for a well cared for Comercial Z over a new homeowner model. I sold my exmark to a friend when it had 1400 hrs on it 6 yrs ago. He's got well over 2000 hrs and it's still going strong.

Oh ya.. I wouldn't own a Z without a suspension seat. Your body will thank you.

 

[npaden]

Well, I ended up looking at a few more used ZTR's and ended up deciding to go ahead and go with a new Hustler. Ended up getting the Raptor SD 60" model. Mowed with it this evening and I was really impressed. Of course this is my first zero turn so I'm probably not the best judge. It did seem to be better than the older Scag that I test drove when I was looking at used ones. It had .1 hours on it when I bought it and I'm at a whopping .7 hours now!