ZTRs and what to look out for

[JimMorrissey]

More horsepower....bigger deck. You won't be sorry. This is an investment in your time. You can't spend three hours mowing the lawn. That is nearly 1/4 of your weekend (if you're a m-f 9-5 guy). Yes, it's more money, but you don't want to have to go back and do this again next season. You'll get used to the prices of the bigger machines, it just take a bit to digest and accept. Take a look at these....

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/zd.cfm

If properly maintained it will save you thousand of hours of mowing and cut well for many many years. My suggestion is to not buy the cheap stuff. If you have a large lawn like you describe.....you need to get serious. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spiffy]

I've heard plenty of mixed results on Snapper (litterally lovers and haters), but it's a SnapperPro commercial so:

<font color="blue"> My suggestion is to not buy the cheap stuff.

<font color="black"> that seems to be the route I took; I'm thinking I'll be all right.

One model year and a few demo [just driving not even mowing] hours gave me $1500 leverage on a 2004 NZM21521KWV (meter says 40 hours, but the dealer claimed the key switch was left on resulting in 30hours or so...the conditions and everything else this guy has said, good or bad, give me every reason to believe him) with the warranty fully intact.

Kawaski 21HP and similar [I think same, but don't know the numbers] drive train components as the SCAGs, Exmarks, CC Tanks, etc.: twin pumps, twin motors, twin filters. Fabricated 7gage deep deck. No pivoting front axel, but wait 'till the warranty runs out, or I'm convinced I won't need it.

Any opinions whether I chose wisely [against the CC ZForce...yeah strange comparison: couldn't find used commercials of decent condition and wouldn't pay for a new commercial machine] ? A few other members here gave me some great advice before my purchase, but I saw this thread and it seemed to apply.

Most important, anything I need to pay extra maintenance attention to? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks!!!

Chad

 

[LarrySano]

For 1.5 to 2 acres, I'd suggest looking at an Ariens/Gravely ZTR (same company builds both lines). They have a really wide range of models going from their smaller homeowner units to full commercial setups.

http://www.ariens.com

 

[Spiffy]

Don't know about the Ariens or Gravelys personally (just don't seem have them around my parts), but I've read some good things.

Larry's post reminds me that Simplicity, Snapper, and Ferris are all cousins too [but I only see the Snappers up this way]. I read about the same things on both "families": the mowing sites have threads that pretty much go like this: yeah, decent machines if you stay away from more residential models...but just spend a little more and get a Scag [or Exmark, or a couple others too] even if it has to be used. They do admit you have to base some of it on what your favorite local dealer has. Now remember they put on 10X the hours you do in a given season, but at the same time if you have lots of ground, odd conditions, or want a 25 year machine, they're probably the people to listen to.

Can't bring up Simplicity and Ferris without noting that there are many who swear by the indepedant suspension on many models for the perfect ride, but others are afraid of more moving parts. IMHO [based ZTR research, but experience only with other, but applicable machines] CC and others with the pivoting front axel [and no rear suspension], may have a reasonable [simple and proven] compromise.

If only I had a crystal ball, this would be so much simpler. Oh well; perhaps I'll have good news in 10 years or bad news in a few monthes (please no! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif).

Chad