Input needed on Zero Turn Mower purchase

Captain Insano · Apr 21, 2019

I've decided on a ZT for my residence. I have about an 3/4 or so of an acre that is fairly flat to cut. I have settled on about a 48" deck. While looking into manufacture I have decided that I want something that has ZT-3100 or better transaxle. As for the engine Kolher 7000 or Kawasaki FR as a minimum.

Now as for the models....I've looked at SCAG, Toro, and Gravely locallly. I've also looked online at the Ariens and Bad Boy.

Honestly, to me the Ariens Apex 48 through Home Cheapo looks like the best deal to me. I can get one for about $4400 new. 3 year warranty. Looking at something comparable in Kubota, SCAG, Toro and Gravely it looks like about 2K more. I see mixed results about Bad Boy and I'm not sure I want to go down that path.

I'd love a ZT-3200 or better transaxle but that puts me at easy $7 to 8K from what I've seen and truthfully for just moving my own mostly flat yard, I'm not sure that is worth it. Any other suggestions for the ~$5K other than the Ariens Apex 48?

Please let me know if I missed anything else or if I'm way off base!

atsah · Apr 21, 2019

Have you compared Deere at all?

morris lipham · Apr 21, 2019

Captain Insano said:
I've decided on a ZT for my residence. I have about an 3/4 or so of an acre that is fairly flat to cut. I have settled on about a 48" deck. While looking into manufacture I have decided that I want something that has ZT-3100 or better transaxle. As for the engine Kolher 7000 or Kawasaki FR as a minimum.

Now as for the models....I've looked at SCAG, Toro, and Gravely locallly. I've also looked online at the Ariens and Bad Boy.

Honestly, to me the Ariens Apex 48 through Home Cheapo looks like the best deal to me. I can get one for about $4400 new. 3 year warranty. Looking at something comparable in Kubota, SCAG, Toro and Gravely it looks like about 2K more. I see mixed results about Bad Boy and I'm not sure I want to go down that path.

I'd love a ZT-3200 or better transaxle but that puts me at easy $7 to 8K from what I've seen and truthfully for just moving my own mostly flat yard, I'm not sure that is worth it. Any other suggestions for the ~$5K other than the Ariens Apex 48?

Please let me know if I missed anything else or if I'm way off base!

I have Husqvarner MZ 52, 3100 pumps, Kawasaki 23 HP, Luv it.

Code54 · Apr 21, 2019

Not sure if you have a Ferris dealer around but check out their machines. I have a Z2 (Stand on zero turn) and it is great. Ferris has suspension systems on their ZTRs so they offer a far better ride than most. Now if your yard is smooth it is far less important. Also, the larger the wheels the better ride.
You should be more than fine with Z3100's - that is a commercial grade product (think the 2800 is top residential model) and for a flat less than acre lot they should last for about ever!

dragoneggs · Apr 21, 2019

I don't know about transaxles but I have a Kubota Z122RKW-42 that I cut about 3/4+ acre and have to deal with some tight spaces. Kawasaki engine. I absolutely love this thing. I installed mulching blades and this will plow down grass more than a foot high. Looking for pics to prove it but coming up blank. My image management is not good.

I would take a hard look at the Kubotas.

handtools · Apr 21, 2019

I've got 100 hours on my Ariens Apex 60 cutting 2 acres and can't say a bad thing about it.

mddorange · Apr 22, 2019

I have a Kubota Z121s w/48" deck. It works great and I love the air seat on it. It mows my 2 acre area in just a few hours that used to take me days with my old riding mower.

check 6 · Apr 22, 2019

I have a Kubota ZD 1800 that I have had for over 12 years and it has never failed me. 54 inch deck. My lot is 1 acre and I also do some mowing on our neighborhood grass runway. In 12 years I have replaced the battery twice and the blades once a year. Other than that oil and filters annually. I could not be happier with the mower and the cut I get

Turbys_1700 · Apr 22, 2019

Ariens and Gravely are the same unit. My local Gravely dealer despises Ariens. He is swamped with servicing his Gravely sales units. The Airens Home Depot units get put in the back of the line. He keeps his own customers serviced first.

If service is not an issue go with the Ariens. If it is you will need to find a servicing center. Local Gravely dealers will service those units but they are in protected regions and you may need to drive some distance. The other option is an independent service center.

JerryK · Apr 22, 2019

I have a new last year Cub Cadet Pro Z 154L, 27hp Kohler EFI [ starts easy, little better fuel consumption ], with HydroGear 3400's.... Mows pretty nice and the blades seem to stay sharp here in sand country with the Marbain steel blades. Had an old Toro Z-Master commercial unit before that, and they were a good unit. It had separate pumps/wheel motors... Sand ate all the Gator blades I put under it.

MickeyDBC · Apr 22, 2019

I bought a Ferris IS700 52" last week and love it. Suspension on them is great (even on the smaller units) and makes cutting grass at 10mph and making it look like a golf course a walk in the park. Mowing at the ranch went from 4 hours to 1.5 and even cut an easter maze in a field of heavy cover crops. Take a look at Ferris - much more commercial grade than the Ariens.

3gunr · Apr 22, 2019

I have a bad boy pup with a 30 hp kohler i mow about 10 acres a week. had it six yrs now no problems.

RSKY · Apr 24, 2019

Let us be realistic. For 3/4 acre you do not need a big high hp machine with a six foot deck. A smooth 3/4 acre yard with few trees/flower beds/obstacles will take you 3/4 to an hour with any homeowner type zero turn mower. If that is all you are mowing each week I would get a cheaper homeowner model and pocket the extra $1000-$2000 to buy some other toy. If your wife ever gets out on it you won't get to mow much anyway. Somehow or the other it seems that women try to take over the mowing when a ZTR is involved.

If you have money to burn and want a super high end machine go ahead and burn those greenbacks. I have a neighbor with about a half acre that inherited a bunch of money and he has the biggest gas powered Bad Boy with a six foot deck. He barely gets up to speed and has to turn. Three years and it is barely broke in.

I would also stay away from the box stores. Brands like Bad Boy and Cub Cadet that are sold at TSC for example are priced the same at the local dealer WHO HAS A REPAIR SHOP AND MECHANICS. Same thing with Home Depot and Lowes. They sell but do not service.

I do like my Bad Boy and I have a Kawasaki engine and a 54" deck and live on a one acre lot. I also mowed three other yards this week that ranged from 1/4 acre to 4 acres.

Once again, unless you have money to burn get a cheaper mower and spend the extra money on something else. Take care of the mower, change oil and filters, keep sharp blades on it, and keep it clean, and it will last you ten years or more.

RSKY, aka the Cheapskate

Code54 · Apr 25, 2019

For smaller lots Hustler also has the Raptor line of mowers that are priced pretty competitively and built well. There are several models within that line and the prices vary a good bit so there maybe something that fits your wants/need and budget. Places like Rural King and Lowes carry some of the Raptor models but a dealer may offer better service if it comes from his shop. The perk with Lowes is you can get 10% with coupons (see Ebay) or a military discount if that applies to you. Look at the rear tire size, larger rides better and lowers ground pressure.
Since your lot is flat I would not be too concerned about a ROPS unit. I mow some slopes (20-25 degree) with my zero turn so I personally use a stand on unit, If things go bad I can just step off so it adds another level of safety on slopes)

shooterdon · Apr 25, 2019

Subscribed

My needs are very similar.

RSKY · Apr 25, 2019

Oh yeah, tire size. Code54 gave some good advice. My first ZTR was a Gravely with a 40" deck and very small tires. I needed the narrow deck to carry the mower in a pickup as I didn't have a trailer at the time. If you have a choice between two equal mowers, same engine and deck size, go with the one with the larger rear tires. Your back and kidneys will thank you.

RSKY

nybirdman · Apr 25, 2019

Check out the Simplicty line of mowers;the Z's are built by Ferris.My SIL has one and he could break an anvil.

NoTrespassing · Apr 27, 2019

Buy a used Walker and you won't regret it. Best cut in the business in my opinion for nice residential lawns. Mine is 20 years old with over 1000 hours on the Kohler. I just did maintenance on it last week. There are more grease zerks on a Walker than any other mower I know of. You do need a plan to get rid of the grass it collects though. I till it in to my garden and have really improved my clay soil with it. During the summer we use the grass to keep weeds down in the garden.

There are mulching options but I prefer to collect the clippings.

Walker Mowers

Kevin

RSKY · Apr 29, 2019

A neighbor made a statement to me that made me think about this thread. How much is your time worth? A $3000 ZTR will mow 3/4 acre in 45 minutes to an hour. A $5000 ZTR might mow the same 3/4 acre in 30-45 minutes. Is the 15 minutes saved each week worth a $2000 investment spread over ten years?

Let us know what you buy.

RSKY

Gale Hawkins · Apr 29, 2019

We wore out a new Swisher ZT that gave the son a lot of mechanicing experience then we bought a used ExMark of about the same age but with many more hours. It is still going strong.

Quality only costs ONCE but that cost is UPFRONT.