Used Commercial Zero Turn Mowers

[Dynasty]

I am searching for a zero turn mower to mow 3 acres. While researching, I keep seeing the advice to "get a used commercial grade machine".

I will begin that search, but what are some make and models I should be looking at. I would like something with at least a 50" cutting deck. When it comes to operation hours, what is the ideal hour count? The lower the better, but for a unit that was used by a professional, what is the cut off that is considered too many hours?

Thank you.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Commercial grade is what you are being told not commercially used. Commercial machines are built with heavier duty pumps and drive motors that outlast the transaxle put in most residential machines.
Decide on a budget, call a dealer and go from there. Exmark, Grasshopper, Scag, Toro, Kubota just to name a few are all good machines, that list is not the end all be all but you won't go wrong with commercial machines from those brands. Pretty much all of them will have a Kawasaki, Briggs or Kohler engine. I like the Kawasaki's moreso that others but your Grasshoppers will come with a kohler which mine to date hasn't given me any issues.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I was always told to look at the deck.. it should be WELDED STEEL.. rather than a pressed out "stamped" deck.. THATS probably one of the main diff. between homeowner & commercial..
Another thing is.. if a commercial user is getting rid of their equipment, theres usually something wrong w/ it that's to costly to repair..?? otherwise WHY get rid of it..??
Good luck in your search..
I've always been told SCAG & Bad-BOY mowers were the best made..

 

[check 6]

I would also recommend that if your budget will handle get a diesel. I had a kubota ZD1800 for 13 years and traded it on a more powerful ZD 1211 they gave me over 75 percent of the original price on my trade. The diesel does not bog down as easily in heavy grass , is more economical on fuel and will run forever

 

[MF2604h]

I own a lawn care company. I run a John Deere z915e and a snapper pro s150. The snapper pro has the Kawasaki engine and John Deere has the kohler. I haven't had any problems with either mower. My JD has 715 hours and the snapper pro has 790 hours. Both are commercial grade. Just because a professional is getting rid of a mower doesn't mean anything is wrong with it. Most companies have to buy new equipment for tax reasons. I also have a Ferris f60z with a Kawasaki engine. I bought this mower because it has a 36 inch deck to get in backyards with narrow gates. It also has the mulch kit on it. I do not recommend a ferris. It does not cut good you have to go over ares two or three times sometimes. Before anyone says anything a ferris is supposed to be the same as a snapper pro, but I don't agree. My snapper pro will cut circles around my ferris. I would recommend snapper pro over all the lawn mowers I have ever owned. Good luck on your search

 

[foreman Etexas]

I bought mine from a guy that used it commercially,he was going from 60 to a 72,it had been well taking care of a 2016 model with like 230hrs. Paid like $5000 less then same new,I have put around 20hrs on it ,I did have to replace the ignition switch and battery.
I added the Z-glides and few other things.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Oops.. I forgot about the "tax" aspect..
..then yes, some commercial business' buy new equipment every so often & sell off the old..
{BUT AGAIN.. they decide to do this because "the fleet" is worn out.. Lol}
U might do good going to a dealer & looking thru their "PRE-owned" equipment.. & possibly get a warranty..??
At least in most cases {you would hope} all the fluids & filters would have been changed already.. & blades sharpened.{properly}

 

[nyone]

Personaly i wont own another ride on home owner mower or buy a commercialy owned mower. Box store mowers are junk, so type the model numbers in tonsee where it was sold before ou even go look at one. Cub cadet, JD, toro, husqvarna and arins all have box store models.

Here are some more quality manufactures. Gravley, bobcat, badboy mower, walker, white, kubota...im sure thres more. Basicly what you need to do is pick what engine and deck size you want and go from there. Almost all the manufactures above all buy there hydraulics from one manufacture then add there stuff to make it a bobcat or walker and so on.

I paid $2300 for a 48in bobcat CRZ with 120hrs last fall. Cut my mowing time way down from a 48in ride on mower. The ability to mow at 5in tall is also very handy for parts of my land.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I only ever buy used government equipment. The money isn't theirs and they don't care how much money they spend on maintaining and repairing equipment, even if they are going to sell it a month later. The private contractor beats their stuff to death and gets every last bit of use out of it, before it starts costing too much to repair. Then some sucker ends up with it, thinking they are getting a great "commercial" unit.

 

[flewism]

I looked at some used commercial machines prior to buying new, they were all pretty beat up.

 

[nyone]

I only ever buy used government equipment. The money isn't theirs and they don't care how much money they spend on maintaining and repairing equipment, even if they are going to sell it a month later. The private contractor beats their stuff to death and gets every last bit of use out of it, before it starts costing too much to repair. Then some sucker ends up with it, thinking they are getting a great "commercial" unit.

I use to work for a big government agency as a diesel mechanic. They use the cheapest oils, filters and other parts they can get there hands on. The operators ride them hard and harly have enough sence to turn the key off. I also use to beable to go to gov auctions that where on site. Never bought a single piece of equipment. Its all junk, at least from the agency i worked for any any of the surrounding ones.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's all I ever bought. Low hours, gently used. Even got maintenance records for some after the fact. Can't say that I have ever bought a single piece of government equipment that I regretted, on account of it being junk. Nothing ever had makeshift repairs, or was in any way defective. Backhoes, loaders, tractors, mowers, Vermer stump grinders, oh god, the list goes on and on.

Here, a Government Maintenance department has a budget and the more they spend, the more they get next year! The more the manager spends, the more he is paid, it seems. There is no incentive to save tax money.

 

[Tomtint]

I have had numerous mowers over the years. You can certainly look for and find a used commercial unit at a good price if you take your time. I would look right before and right after New Years as some guys may have money they need to spend or they will have to pay it out in taxes. ..new euipment is almost the first thing bought and stuff that has already been depreciated is dead wood. Scag is a really nice brand and IMO built to last. Xmarks are popping up around here and guys appear to like them. I have a Walker GHS that is a nice unit but maintenance heavy..and has a Kohler.. ( for that reason alone I wouldn't buy another one new ). Take your time ..they are out there.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Exmark is highly regarded in the commercial grass cutting world. But they have various lines and you have to know what you are buying. Get a Diesel with a fairly low number of hours and then you pretty much only have to worry about the cost of pumps.