ZTR - Which economic ZTR is the best?

[dbear]

I must live in the wrong area. When I was last looking, a process that encompassed from Oct thru May, the only used commercial machines I found (mostly Exmark, JD, and Scag) within a 75 mile radius all had >2500 hours, and were priced from $2500 to $3000.

Texbdr, a little more info would be very helpful to our being able to give advice about specific machines. How large is your lawn? Is it flat or smooth, level or sloped? How many obstacles? What's your approximate budget (breaking the bank is different for different people)?

 

[JTKub]

Agreed.

I too would rather spend $3000 on a good used commercial beast, but $3000 cash is more than most folks want to spend.

FWIW, my 2010 Cub Z-Force with a fabricated deck and serviceable drives cost me ~$3700 new. I sold it about a year later for ~$2200 just before we moved.

Joel

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Mid NOV+ some stuff gets dumped for Christmas money. Keep looking.

Should be some cheap flooded stuff in the NE but could be a lot of work to rehab. Since there are no titles it will be hard to know what comes out of the flood in that part of the country I expect.

 

[ae_ted]

I was straped for cash trying to replace a blown engine on a woods mowin machine that was going to be around $2000. Found a used 2001 Kubota diesel ZD21 60" with 700hrs for $3000. jumped on it! It is one awsom mower and hardly uses any fuel. My B.I.L. bought a new cheap john deer at same time. Mine is still going strong and his is spendidng a lot of time in the shop. My point is I would rather spend my money on a good used commerical than a cheap(and it is hard to say $4000 to $5000 is cheap but it is) mower.

 

[djdicetn]

I was straped for cash trying to replace a blown engine on a woods mowin machine that was going to be around $2000. Found a used 2001 Kubota diesel ZD21 60" with 700hrs for $3000. jumped on it! It is one awsom mower and hardly uses any fuel. My B.I.L. bought a new cheap john deer at same time. Mine is still going strong and his is spendidng a lot of time in the shop. My point is I would rather spend my money on a good used commerical than a cheap(and it is hard to say $4000 to $5000 is cheap but it is) mower.

ae_ted,
That is spot on advice!!! I can attest that a couple of months ago I began shopping for a "new" ZTR mower(telling my wife it was a "retirement investment"), and had $4,000-$5,000 in mind. Everything I looked at in that price range just didn't measure up to my expectations for the features that pretty well guarantee reliability, avoiding costly repairs for the first several years and longevity(important factors "post-retirement"). When I moved the budget allotment up to the $6,000-$7,000 range I began to find the entry level commercial models that had the build and the features that give you that "warm & fuzzy". I think the OP would be wise that if the budget is $5,000 or less to invest that in a good used commercial like you have recommended!!! BTW, I am VERY pleased with the Gravely Pro-Turn 152 I settled on and I am already having visions of my grandson(currently 6-years-old) mowing his yard with Grandpa's ZTR long after I'm gone:0)

 

[PVHIII]

Never buy a ZT without a chain hung deck

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I don't have one of these but it sounds pretty good. Introducing The All New MZ Magnum - Bad Boy Mowers

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have at this time 3 mowers, an older model 332 JD diesel tractor style, A Craftsman 6000 ZTS and my new Ferris IS 700. I gave $2800 for the JD 2 years ago so I could mow my slopes because the ZTS wouldn't hold on much more than 10 degree nor would it climb a very steep slope with the turf tires. Shortly after getting the JD (which worked well on the slopes but is a bit awkward mowing around all the shrubs and trees in the yard even though the wheels turn much sharper than most tractor type mowers) I found that I could put tractor lug type tires on my Craftsman and make it grip well enough to hold on the slopes to mow horizontal and climb any hill I had. It worked well although if an aggressive turn was attempted it would dig quite a hole in the lawn.
Both mowers are quite rough riding on my really rough lawn that was a former pasture and my bad back really takes a beating when I mow. I happened to be at a tractor dealer that sold Dixie Chopper and Ferris mowers. The Dixie choppers while having a reputation for excellent mowers didn't look to be any smoother riding than the mowers I had since it has stiff frame and no suspension seat and some were above $12,000 in price. I looked closely at the Ferris with the spring and shock suspension, stood on the rear bumper and jumped up and down with my 230 # and noticed that the shocks and spring did work to smooth things out.
Well I bought one and love it, it is the smoothest riding mower I have ever seen, mows great, has plenty of power and uses much less gas than my Craftsman while cutting the same amount. I have approximately 6 acres to mow and can mow it in about an hour with the Ferris (max speed is 9.8 MPH) and still get off and walk normally when finished. It isn't cheap, at around $6600 including tax but it was money well spent. I got the 52" one with the Kawasaki FS691V motor which is supposedly a much better engine than the B&S which also is put into the Ferris. The FS and FX prefix motors are the heavy duty ones with the FX being heavy commercial motors. It also has the 3800 transaxle which is a premier upgrade from most residential mowers and its serviceable. It also has a very thick commercial quality fabricated deck with good access to all the mower belts.
DID I SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS MOWER? I cant wait for the grass to grow so I can mow. I have mowed my entire yard 3 times and my brother in laws yard once and have 5 hours on it and burned less than 5 gallons of gas. With the Craftsman it takes a full 5 gallons per mowing and about 5 hours of time to do it. The JD will do it on about 3 gallons of diesel but it is still a rough ride on it.