Input needed on Zero Turn Mower purchase

[MickeyDBC]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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My needs are very similar.

 

[RSKY]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.