Good Zero turn for 6 acres?

[Sigarms]

My old zero turn has about 1,000 hours on it, but want to buy local for service as this older one has been nothing but a headache finding people to service it AND get parts (love the mower, hated the dealer support). Just past the point of high dollar parts turning into a yearly $500 bill (the seat was $450 which I refused to replace due to price LOL).

Local store down the road from me carries Ferris.

They have a 23HP for like $4,200 (400S) and a 25 HP for around $5,200 (600Z).

Just wondering if anyone is familiar with either model and what my expectations should be.

After the years of trying to find dealers for my old mower, just looking for somthing I know that has support and parts.

 

[Peter 315]

Lots of people run Hustler around here I looked at a raptor limited nice machine 23hp

 

[hawkeye08]

We bought the Ferris 700 and had to drive something like 400 miles one way to get it. No local dealer and the closest dealer did not have any mowers in stock. We are enjoying the mower, would have went up to the 2100 (I think that was the model) but the extra $2500 was more than we budgeted. There are a number of good zero turn mowers, dealer support is important for sure. I take care of my own equipment and dealer was willing to work with me so no worries.

Test drive if you can, see how it feels to you. Demo mowing if you can. Dealers allowed us to drive in the lot, but no mowing..

 

[Coyote machine]

I wrote a post about my Pro Z-160 last summer. It is a Cub Cadet Pro level with all wheel steering and steering wheel or lap bars as options. I went from a Scag Wildcat with 61" deck with blower/bagger I bought used with 200 hours. I sold it last year to my excavator for $4K. with probably 400 hours.
IF you have any sloped ground the CC will go up/down, around any other conventional ZT.
I know lots of people think you have to buy the real expensive high end machines, BUT I'm here to say it makes NO difference if you have sloped or hilly land, etc. They will NOT perform well in those conditions. Yes, some have lowered COG and displaced weight more evenly, but when one decides to take off down a slope there is NO stopping them. The CC Pro series with front wheel steering is completely different. I couldn't believe the difference when I drove it. I got a carbed 23.5 HP Kawa gas engine, and it is quiet and fast and cuts incredibly tall grass without strain. No blower or bagger needed, I just mow and done.
It's very solidly built with two serviceable transaxles, Hydro-gear with a Hydro filter on each one. There is a EFI Kawa too but more money for it. I got mine as a off floor demo for $6K vs. $7K + new retail. I am very happy with it. Check it out and find my other thread about it- there's more details on the mower.

 

[DK35vince]

For 6 acres I would be looking at the very least the heavier duty and more power of the 2 you listed.
ZT 3400 transmission's vs ZT 2800 Etc.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have owned my Ferris IS 700Z for 4 seasons and other than mower deck belt and blades plus routine service, I have done nothing to it. It has plenty of power to mow 6" high grass at 10+ MPH without stalling. I mow my yard with is approximately 6 acres and about 2 twice a year, I mow the remainder of my 11.2 acres which is in pasture. I can actually mow my pasture faster with the ZTR than I can with my 7 foot bush hog and 70HP tractor.

 

[aarolar]

Just bought a Hustler Fastrak SDX for basically the same requirements as you and I'm really happy with the quality of it so far. I haven't cut grass with it yet but I've been doing it with a Toro Timecutter 1642 for the past 4 years so this should be a huge improvement.

 

[Old Red]

I love my Grasshopper Mower. Been mowing with Grasshopper Mowers since 2006. Wonderful mowers. All my bro's mow with them as well.

 

[Ortimber]

For 6 acres I would be looking at the very least the heavier duty and more power of the 2 you listed.
ZT 3400 transmission's vs ZT 2800 Etc.

Yes, good advice. A true light commercial machine should have great parts support.

I love my Kubota ZTR, I recommend giving them a look.

 

[RSKY]

I think any of the major brand names would be okay. I would shop for a good local dealer. I went with Bad Boy because of price and dealer. But I am not stuck on one brand.

After I had ordered mine with a 60" deck and a Kohler engine the dealer's daughter, who graduated high school with one of mine, came up to me and strongly suggested I get the 6" narrower deck. She said the wider deck tended to scalp yards. She also said to use the money saved from that to get the Kawasaki engine. Said they never worked on them. I took her advice.

Funny how you will take the advice of a very attractive young blond over a male mechanic. But she was right on both counts. I have been happy with my mower.

RSKY