7 acres - what zero turn do you suggest?

[Buxus]

I mow about 9 acres. I have two used front deck grasshoppers. Love them. First one is a 720k with a 61 inch deck bought with 700 hrs. Great for around the house. Have had it for 3 seasons and then I bought a used 930D with a 72inch deck and 225 hours, and it is a beast. I wanted the collection system and it could not be added to the 720k. The deck out front is great for under the trees and bushes, and my neck doesn't get sore looking to the side all the time like on a midmount. For 7 acres, I would definitely go 72 inches. They have held up well and are built like tanks.

 

[Stuka]

The Ferris should be close to the Gravely price. I like /bought the Ferris for the suspension system which makes for a much smoother ride on my rough ground. No other zero turn mower has a suspension system like Ferris company. (Simplicity is same co.)

Thanks for the tip. The Ferris has a lot of engineering invested in the suspension compared to other mowers. Are most other mowers suspension-less? From what I've read the other mowers' decks depend on the anti-scaling wheels to keep an even cut....
Commercial Lawn Mower Suspension System Video '|' Ferris

So, either this suspension set up with the floating deck helps the cut quality a lot, or makes no real difference. It would seem that if it was a significant factor, other mowers would have something similar.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I bought a used Grasshopper front-mount 729BT with the 29hp Vanguard engine, and I have been completely happy with it. It only had about 220 hours on it and was 1/2 the price of a new one.

I'm looking for a 2nd mower now, so I'm somewhat up to date on what's out there. Here are my thoughts:

1. Don't overlook John Deere's 9-series zero turn mowers. Such as the 915, 920, 930, etc. You might be able to get into the 915e for just a little over your budget. A lot of people claim the 7-Iron Pro deck is as good as, or even better than, the Velocity + deck on the Scag mowers.

2. Stay away from the box store junk. But you already knew that.

3. If your land is rough, pay heed to Gary Fowler's recommendation of the Ferris. Due to the suspension, they ride better than any other mower I've tried. I tested a Ferris IS2100 back-to-back with a Scag Cheetah with the suspension platform, and it wasn't even a contest. The Ferris was like riding on a cloud. The IS700 won't ride quite as nicely as the IS2100 (which had full four-wheel independent suspension), but it will ride much better than a non-suspension mower.

4. Finally, a good dealer is just as important, if not more so, than the brand of mower you buy. Every brand can have an issue from time to time. You can buy the most expensive model that Scag or Deere or anyone else makes, and if your dealer doesn't have the knowledge or right attitude to service it timely and correctly, you're dead in the water.

I have been in the commercial mowing business for about 15 years now and I agree 100% with this post. I currently have 6 Scag mowers from 36" up to 61". I have also owned John Deere and Exmark.

I also would emphasize the dealer relationship.

 

[Maxify55]

In 2007 I bought a 2003 Ferris 1000Z ZTR. It's still mowing today and just as strong as the day I brought her home to our 7 acres here in North fla.

That being said.... Nothing beats mowing in an A/C'd cab dragging a 72" PTO driven mower behind you when the temp gets over 80.

I just got too old to put up with all the bumping on the bahia grass down here.

Ferris now has the only suspension mower on the market today. Talk about comfort?

My uncle bought the IS3000 and loves it. He doesn't ride it any more, either, but he's got g'kids that do.

My Z now just does the trim work around the house and barn.

 

[762MM]

Hey Stuka,

I have a Hustler FasTrak SuperDuty (60" w/26HP Kawasaki). It's about 6 years old and I have 325 hours on it. It is mainly used for our 5-6 acre lot including the "lawn" of watered St. Augustine and the field with non-watered greenery. We have quite a few trees, so a zero-turn was important. Mostly flat land with some very-slight slopes in spots. It'll leave slight uneven marks on the slope areas, but that's fine with me since I cut in 5 foot swaths (I'd have gone even bigger if it was practical ($, available, etc).

It has been a tank for lawn, field, sticks, leaf cutting, etc. I also hit up a few ditches on occasion when I don't feel like getting the tractor out...or if I know I'm going to change blades. It's been through (and stuck in) a few large ditches with stuff that is 6 foot tall. Very slow going and I'm sure it isn't the best for it...but it'll take it sparingly. Ideally, it's well suited for nice pristine grass, but it gets everything thrown at it on occasion. Maintenance is fairly straightforward - oil/filer, hydro oil/filters, air cleaner, deck adjustments, belts, & blade sharpening/replacement.

The newer model FastTrak SDX looks to be an improvement over mine. Paid $6100 in 2011...I'm sure prices have gone up but everything is negotiable. Made in USA.