best zero turn $3000

[PVHIII]

The OP wants to mow 4 acres with a low end residential $3000 mower and several of us (including myself) feel he should be looking at a better quality mower if he wants it to last long.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[scaredychicken]

That Raptor ain't no better and IMO worse than the ones sold at the big box stores...it is a box store mower sold at your dealer and now at BIG BOX STORES...I personally would prefer the Husky or JD over the Raptor simply because of the way the deck is mounted to the mower... very flimsy brackets and the cut quality on the Raptor and Raptor SD is terrible see more negative reviews on'm than positive by far

PHIII - the Hustler Raptor(s) that I have been considering are fabricated steel decks / frames, Kawasaki engines, and about $4500 Cdn. I only need it for residential use, mostly this zero-turn style for ease of getting on/ off. Do you know something contrary to what I'm hearing ? Not too many options / choices where I am ... basically Husqvarna and Snapper. The Dealerships are good here though. Thoughts ? Thanks

 

[PVHIII]

PHIII - the Hustler Raptor(s) that I have been considering are fabricated steel decks / frames, Kawasaki engines, and about $4500 Cdn. I only need it for residential use, mostly this zero-turn style for ease of getting on/ off. Do you know something contrary to what I'm hearing ? Not too many options / choices where I am ... basically Husqvarna and Snapper. The Dealerships are good here though. Thoughts ? Thanks

I wish I knew how to share a link on here but I don't... Go to lawnmowerforum.com and Look for the Hustler forum then Just look at all the issues with these mowers...I'm a Huge fan of Hustler mowers...I wouldn't own any other and I love my Fast Trak SD..I owned one of those raptors for about a month... Bent the deck mounting brackets.. through belts..deck clogged... My Mom in law has one and she nor I am happy with that one either... Deck clogs up EVERY TIME she mows with it which causes the quality of cut to suffer... If you want a Hustler for that much yard spend the extra $$$ and get a Fast Trak or Fast Trak SD...just trying to save you the headache that I and many MANY others have experienced with this mower.

 

[scaredychicken]

I appreciate that PHIII, I'll check (I think I found that forum a few days ago)

 

[PVHIII]

I appreciate that PHIII, I'll check (I think I found that forum a few days ago)

I think alot of the people that brag on these things don't know what a quality cutting/discharging zero turn is...or they're in denial because they don't want to admit they spent $4000 on a mower that doesn't perform like $4000 mower should...JMO ;-)

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have to agree that to get a NEW mower that will last for many, many years, you will have to up your budget to at least $6K and more nearly $7K. $3K will only get you a low end residential mower. Craftsman was supposed to come out with a heavy duty zero turn for about that price with fabricated deck, serviceable drive motors and other heavy duty design items. I haven't heard anything about them lately though.

Look for a mower with a Kawasaki FS or FX motor if you want long lasting. You will pay about $1000 extra for it on new but used with 500-800 hours would work also. I don't think you will find even used that is in excellent shape for $3K though. Up your budget to around $4500 and you open up an entirely different venue of used mowers that should last 20+ years if maintained .

 

[dragoneggs]

I have to agree that to get a NEW mower that will last for many, many years, you will have to up your budget to at least $6K and more nearly $7K. $3K will only get you a low end residential mower. Craftsman was supposed to come out with a heavy duty zero turn for about that price with fabricated deck, serviceable drive motors and other heavy duty design items. I haven't heard anything about them lately though.

Look for a mower with a Kawasaki FS or FX motor if you want long lasting. You will pay about $1000 extra for it on new but used with 500-800 hours would work also. I don't think you will find even used that is in excellent shape for $3K though. Up your budget to around $4500 and you open up an entirely different venue of used mowers that should last 20+ years if maintained .

I hope your wrong... at least with respect to the little Kubota Z122 I just purchased for $3899 a couple months ago. Kawasaki engine, 42in cut. Perfect for my modest mowing needs. Lots of tight spaces. No real complaints so far.

 

[Will_C]

I think that Kubota mower will do a fine job for you-that price can buy quality in a 42" unit. I don't think you all be mowing 2-3 acres with that mower. Most of the discussion in this thread has to do with larger mowers and more acreage-there I think the $6-7000 level is where the game starts.

Will

 

[dragoneggs]

I think that Kubota mower will do a fine job for you-that price can buy quality in a 42" unit. I don't think you all be mowing 2-3 acres with that mower. Most of the discussion in this thread has to do with larger mowers and more acreage-there I think the $6-7000 level is where the game starts.

Will

Yeah I know... I'm pretty happy so far except for the slipping on sloped surfaces. A little hard to control. Most important for me was maneuverability, build quality, and a reliable engine.

 

[farmer2009]

Yeah I know... I'm pretty happy so far except for the slipping on sloped surfaces. A little hard to control. Most important for me was maneuverability, build quality, and a reliable engine.

It's been discussed here many times but if you have trouble keeping a ZTR on slopes then swap the turf tires for bar lugs. They'll sit when turfs won't. And if you make proper turns they will do less damage. If you drag them in turns they'll dig a rut.

 

[dragoneggs]

It's been discussed here many times but if you have trouble keeping a ZTR on slopes then swap the turf tires for bar lugs. They'll sit when turfs won't. And if you make proper turns they will do less damage. If you drag them in turns they'll dig a rut.

Yep getting better every time out. Proper turns and judging the power to each wheel is a learning curve. Still loving it!

 

[scaredychicken]

I'm a bit scaredychicken of the zero-turns, never having used one - but it seems to be the next step for me. what is the biggest adjustment from a regular ride on lawn tractor ? I'm thinking brakes more than steering ... ?

 

[Beltman60]

I'm a bit scaredychicken of the zero-turns, never having used one - but it seems to be the next step for me. what is the biggest adjustment from a regular ride on lawn tractor ? I'm thinking brakes more than steering ... ?

no brakes on a zero turn
you just use the hydraulics and pull back on the sticks to neutral for it to stop

 

[aczlan]

With a ZTR, one trick is to set your speed with one stick and use the other to control your direction. You will end up with less wandering and straighter lines that way.

Aaron Z

 

[farmer2009]

If you have any slopes or banks. Get use to the machine on fairly flat ground then mow slopes. And only mow when dry. Although dusty grass can be as slick as wet grass. Nothing worse then having both sticks in reverse and going forward faster. That's when you have to overthink your instincts and move the sticks forward to slow down. If flat ground no worries. But always find an open flat spot and get use to the steering first.

 

[farmer2009]

Yep getting better every time out. Proper turns and judging the power to each wheel is a learning curve. Still loving it!

Yep there's a learning curve to it. After about 10 years on a zero turn if I get in a hurry I'll still catch myself dragging that inside tire. What kind of tires are you running?

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep there's a learning curve to it. After about 10 years on a zero turn if I get in a hurry I'll still catch myself dragging that inside tire. What kind of tires are you running?

Turfs! Yeah I am realizing that I need to slow down to minimize tire skidding and tearing up the grass. The slower speed gives a much better cut too.

 

[roadhunter]

I'm a bit scaredychicken of the zero-turns, never having used one - but it seems to be the next step for me. what is the biggest adjustment from a regular ride on lawn tractor ? I'm thinking brakes more than steering ... ?

I bought green lawn tractors for many years. Then I tried a zero turn. The only learning curve was figuring out what to do with all the time I saved using the zero turn. The only downside to the the zero turn is my wife can't drive it. But that's not entirely a bad thing.

 

[scaredychicken]

good info as always... my wife told me that if I bought a zero turn, she would NOT be cutting the grass. She said it like a threat, but I'm counting on that

the best feature (for me) is that there is no leg work / foot pedals to mess with (that's why I want one)

 

[dragoneggs]

Actually I think the Z turn is much more fun to drive than a traditional rider (again on flat or gentle slopes) and it very easy to maneuver in tight spots. It is slopes that are the challenge so if you aren't dealing with that, anyone should be able to handle them. Cutting around trees and other obstacles takes much less time since you don't have to make multiple passes from different angles. Just my :2cents: