Cadillac of Zero Turn Mowers (ZTR)?

[SixHoeBob]

Ferris 61". Full suspension for all four wheels, 27 hp air cooled horizontal crankshaft V-twin gas engine. 10 mph forward and reverse. When finishing a small area, the high speed reverse can save a lot of turning around.

Whatever machine you buy, make sure it has the oscillating front axle. It will steer and stop much better on uneven ground. The rigid frame design is to save manufacturing costs. After bumping a few trees, the rigid frame no longer seems like a good idea

 

[JDL538]

I have owned an exmark for the past 5 years have not owned any other zeros.
60 in best cutting machine I have ever been on.
Much faster than a bush hog and the grass is beautiful when finished.
My Son own's a scag bigger heavier he has a lot of hills scags are better on hills.
Exmark can be a little dangerous on wet hills untill you get used to them.

I can cut my grass in half the time and looks much better than the regular smaller tractors, but they all work and do a good job its all up to what you want to spend on a tractor.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

You better go check out the Kubota, don't want your toys to clash ! :laughing:

Good suggestion.

We got our Swisher 60" ZTM from a guy who after putting 27 hours on it went and got a Kubota. The Swisher is no top of the line ZTM but $2200 for a 2010 in 2010 with 27 hours and 27 HP B&S sucked me in.

 

[srs]

I've seen a few members here on TBN complain of the terrible rough ride of zero turn mowers so I think this should be something to consider also. If your property is smooth then not an issue but if rough you may end up hating the mower. Simplicity and Ferris (from my understanding) is made at the same plant and you can get Simplicity for $$$ less. Just something to consider since this is a pricey investment.

 

[om21braz]

The Ferris has to be close, if not on top, with the CAT diesel and a suspension. But if the overall appearance of the freshly cut lawn has anything to do with it - Walker has to be considered.

 

[trailbuilder]

I just bought the new 925a from JD and am happy with it. I would have considered the diesel Kubota but my other tools are mainly JD and I can get better pricing and service by having the same color.

 

[thomasalva]

I have a Toro Z Master with Gator blades. I think the ride quality is better than some of the others (Scag especially). If you have any trees or anything that could grab the ROPS bar, please be careful. When I first bought mine the ROPS grabbed an apple tree branch and the mower lifted right off the ground. Good thing I was going slow around the tree, rather than at the 7 MPH or so ground speed the mower is capable of, or it could have been a disaster.

I spoke with the dealer about this, and while due to liability laws, etc. he couldn't exactly advise to remove it, I know that was his recommendation. Maybe if you have hilly ground where a real roll-over might be possible it would be worth keeping, but my property is all flat. I immediately removed it, since for me it was the most dangerous part of the mower. I wouldn't use one on a tractor for the same reason, but again if my property was not flat I might reconsider.

 

[beppington]

I have a Toro Z Master with Gator blades. I think the ride quality is better than some of the others (Scag especially). If you have any trees or anything that could grab the ROPS bar, please be careful. When I first bought mine the ROPS grabbed an apple tree branch and the mower lifted right off the ground. Good thing I was going slow around the tree, rather than at the 7 MPH or so ground speed the mower is capable of, or it could have been a disaster.

I spoke with the dealer about this, and while due to liability laws, etc. he couldn't exactly advise to remove it, I know that was his recommendation. Maybe if you have hilly ground where a real roll-over might be possible it would be worth keeping, but my property is all flat. I immediately removed it, since for me it was the most dangerous part of the mower. I wouldn't use one on a tractor for the same reason, but again if my property was not flat I might reconsider.

ZTR owners concerned about that could consider adding a sunshade to the ROPS, for both shade & so you're more aware of the sunshade heading for an obstacle, since it would extend into your peripheral vision.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

As noted our Swisher 60ZTM is only about a $5K mower new but being new to ZTM use I would like to echo all the warnings about their use being throughout this tread.

They are totally dangerous on hills and banks. Due to no upper body rotation ability l like ours because I can spin in place to check for traffic coming both ways.

However if you slow down too much or stop when cutting on the side of a bank it will head down the bank so never mow in a place if you do not like the potential 'landing zone' . One should go up and down a hill but that is not always possible.

I have found our RR tire will spend/loose traction first so I really need to keep it on the low side. If you start down a bank there really is only one option that I have found and that is try to keep it straight going down.

The cool think is you can go down into many side ditches and up out the other side just fine since the four tires are at the four corners. They have many pluses.

All I am saying if you are an older person new to driving without a steering wheel is be aware. I notice the kids (age 13) do not have a hard as time at the controls but I keep them off places that do not have a acceptable landing zone at the bottom.

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

My 48" Scag has probably close to 900hrs. Nothing but belts and fluids. I would buy another in heartbeat, except it would be a 61".
When the time comes for a bigger mower, I'm going to check Ferris too. Simply for the suspension.