Recommendations for zero turn under $3K?

[twgerber]

I own a 3 acre lot and I am looking for a zero turn mower. The terrain is glently sloping.

I was looking at some zero turns out there like the cub cadet ztr50.

What recommendations would folks have on a zero turn for my size acreage?

Money is my biggest concern to be honest. After building my house and coming in way over budget I just don't have much money left.

Thx

 

[JasonH]

Considering your budget and the fact that most vendors refuse to grow up and post their prices online, it looks like the Cub Cadet you've mentioned will probably be a good bet.

Some will insist that a 50" deck is too small for the acreage but in reality it shoud be just fine.

 

[Gatorboy]

For 3 acres, you are going to need a quality mower, for you will be putting on quite a few hours each year and a low-budget model will not hold up to the demand you will be putting on the machine.

 

[Bird]

There is one that posts their prices on the Internet. As I've mentioned before, I got this Toro for a couple hundred under the posted price about a year and half ago. How long will it last? I don't know, but it's been great so far. You might want to step up a size or two in size, but you could still stay within your budget.

 

[5030tinkerer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For 3 acres, you are going to need a quality mower, for you will be putting on quite a few hours each year and a low-budget model will not hold up to the demand you will be putting on the machine. )</font>
I am not so sure about this. I bought a cheapo Murray with a 52" deck and a 26hp Briggs engine maybe seven years ago. Outside of a few design shortcomings, I am not unhappy. Repaired items include:

1. Transaxle. The transaxle did need to be opened up last year to have some gear selection engagement pins replaced (I forget what their official name is). $50 in parts and maybe four hours later, it was fixed.
2. Starter gear. Also last year. Made of plastic. Grr. $10 and it was fixed, though.
3. Deck engagement spring. Kept coming off. Just heated it up and rebent the loop a little tighter. Cost: $0.

A few annoyances, certainly. But what did I expect for the $1600 or so ithat I paid for it? It mowed five acres for a year, 2/3 acre for another year, and two acres for the last five years. Oh, and I used it for snow blowing for four years (200' drive), for spreading fertilizer, spraying weedkiller, light duty box blading, and general dirt hauling with a utility trailer.

ZTR's sure are nice, but more money.

 

[gamble77]

Ther is nothing on the market for under 3K that is rated to cut 3 acres. You need to step up into the Cub Cadet Z-Force. A Cub Cadet Z-Force with a 44" deck should run around $3,599.00. Stay away from the Cub Cadet RZT model, it is not rated to cut that much grass. Spend a little extra $$ and get a much better product.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Ther is nothing on the market for under 3K that is rated to cut 3 acres. )</font>

Now I won't disagree with you, but can you, or anyone else, explain those "ratings" to me. In most cases, I can't find anything from the manufacturers stating that a certain mower is "rated" to mow a certain amount. I know they differentiate between "homeowner" and "commercial" grades and I can understand some quality and/or design features that would make some last longer than others.

What I don't understand is a rating for a certain amount. If a mower (ZTR, riding mower, or even walk behind) will mow half an acre, why wouldn't it be just as good for 3 acres; if you didn't mind taking 6 times as long to do the job?

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> What I don't understand is a rating for a certain amount. If a mower (ZTR, riding mower, or even walk behind) will mow half an acre, why wouldn't it be just as good for 3 acres; if you didn't mind taking 6 times as long to do the job? </font>

To things like transmissions and bearings, it does matter. Heat kills parts, the longer your mowing sessions, the longer the parts need to operate at elevated temps [which might even be out of design parameter temps at that after say {pulling arbitrary # out of thin air} 1/2 hour for consumer grade components]. So your machine life doesn't degrade only linearly, but exponentially:
i.e. on a given use [whether lot size, conditions, or a combination thereof], a 500 machine might become a 100 hour machine {still arbitrary! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif } rather than it's 600hour brother still being a 600hour machine in the same conditions.

I don't know whether it's the pure number of variables, legal prudence, fancy marketing, or downright cowardice, but it does seem few manufactures list tangible ratings on anything these days. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[gamble77]

Has to do with two main things, both being the life expectancy of the motor and transmission. And nobody puts these things on their website because unknowing customers will buy whatever an unkowning salesman says will do the job for the cheapest $$. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bird]

Thanks to both of you. It appears that Chad is talking about running one too long at one time and you're talking about total running time or life expectancy, and I guess they're both good points. I do tend to believe that the operator, physical characteristics of the terrain, and routine maintenance can lengthen or shorten the life expectancy of any of the machines. In other words, I believe a cheaper homeowner model operated at a leisurely pace on smooth ground with oil changed regularly may very well outlast a commercial model run hard and fast on rough ground with infrequent oil changes even if they've mowed the same number of acres. Am I wrong? If so, it won't be the first time. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif