We need a new, heavy duty Z-turn.

[MilesToEmpty]

OK so aside from the fact we have 1' tall grass we have to cut...

What a good heavy duty zero turn mower... Im still getting opinions from people that own the certain ones.

 

[two_bit_score]

OK so aside from the fact we have 1' tall grass we have to cut...

What a good heavy duty zero turn mower... Im still getting opinions from people that own the certain ones.

I'm pretty much in the same situation and also have been looking at some ZTR's. To me $6,000 plus is a lot to spend for something to just cut grass

Ferris, Scag, Kubota, Exmark and JD seem to be the better known more widely used brands around me. Then there is Dixie Chopper, Hustler and Gravley. TSC has the "Bad Boy". They all have their proponents and opponents.

I've been leaning towards the JD 810A which runs about ~$6700-$6900 right now. It's their smaller commercial mower.

I was pretty much sold on a Scag because everybody doing commercial mowing it seems is using them. I've watched those guys and they can make a Scag do just about anything. The Scag is pretty impressive. They seem rugged, durable and from what I can tell maintenance must not be that bad.

The Ferris has come out with a big bang and seems to be trying to take market share from Scag. I talked to a dealer in Corpus Christi recently and was pretty impressed with the Ferris. They have a diesel motor option but so does Scag and JD when you get into their 997 model.The shock absorbers are Ferris's selling point. You can mow faster over rough ground because the shocks smooth out the ride. I'll pick up a lot of speed with a ZTR over the lawn tractor so that's good enough for me. Mowing at 12 mph vs 5mph??? Plus I question the life of the shocks and how much they will cost to replace. But, the Ferris is a quality mower from what I've seen. I believe it would handle whatever you put it up against.

I checked Kubota but just never got really warmed up to them.

Right now my choice is the JD 810A just because I like the way it is set up, the controls, larger gas tank, the 7 Iron deck seems to be really quality. I've also seem some commercial mowers using them. I've been really happy with my JD 110 TLB and my dealer so that factors in.

 

[jcummins]

I'm kind of in the market for a ZTR too. Just don't have the money right now.

What about Grasshopper? Seems many like them, but I have not come across any discussion that can compare them to the named players mention here. Scag does seem to be at the top of the list.

 

[art]

Looking at the pic's I'd say that most commercial mowers should handle that type mowing even at the 1' mark.
The Ferris will handle it, the Cadet will do fine and the Kubota will start leaving it looking like it's been manicured.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

i haven't really had mine in a field cutting situation yet.....but my 61" 25hp ferris bogs some when i'm cutting a regular yard that has over-grown some......i haven't sharpened the blades yet but i'm sure that would make a world of difference....

i guess it everything is thick and 1' deep, if you raise the deck up, it may cut alright (i'm going to find out, probably this weekend, i'm going to take it out to the property and really see what she'll do) but if your grass is just basically grass with 1' tall stuff sporadically spread out, then i'd say it won't have a problem.....

i'd sure try one before i flopped down the money...

i wouldn't get to hung up on scag, scag scag.....even though they are certainly a top teir mower.....what i mean is, any brand that has a heavy duty deck, the basic same HP rating and if the bade speed is the same.....the rest is in the details; how good does it ride, quality of cut, parts availability, etc....

as has been said here and many times in other threads; ferris, scag, hustler, dixie chopper, kubota, JD, grasshopper, etc. are ALL good mowers....

i'd still make sure i saw something in action, though....

 

[wushaw]

I have a 322D (Kubota Diesel) Grasshopper 61" deck, it has 109hrs and four yrs old, I had to replace a $2.50 steering rod end a few week ago. It mows fine, It's comfortable...etc.
If I needed to replace this unit today I would look at every manufacture just to see what is available but GH has a rear discharge deck now that looks interesting....

I also have a 36" Hustler MFT that doesn't get much use that is the same age as GH but alot less hrs, It is for where the Grasshopper can't get.

 

[two_bit_score]

I have a 322D (Kubota Diesel) Grasshopper 61" deck, it has 109hrs and four yrs old, I had to replace a $2.50 steering rod end a few week ago. It mows fine, It's comfortable...etc.
If I needed to replace this unit today I would look at every manufacture just to see what is available but GH has a rear discharge deck now that looks interesting....

I also have a 36" Hustler MFT that doesn't get much use that is the same age as GH but alot less hrs, It is for where the Grasshopper can't get.

I like a rear discharge deck. Don't see them anymore, it seems to me, anyway.

Had an old craftsman with a rear discharge that I wore out years ago. Good deck back then for what I was doing with it.

 

[DaddyRabbit]

I am demoing a new Ferris 4500Z 72'' w/a cat diesel tomorrow so I'll let you know how it turned out. I want the 35h/p big block but the dealer said this should at least let me know regardless if the Ferris is right for me.

 

[MilesToEmpty]

Well out local ExMark dealer had 11 '08 Lazer Z's in stock, for abour 8k each. All the '09s are almost 10k.

 

[kthompson]

Are you needing this only for this location or you pulling it each trip? If you are buying for only this location, have you check on price of having it cut weekly by a local?