I cut about 3 acres a week, level yard, no rocks, ditches, etc.

Would like to have a 60-72 inch deck; what horse power do I need?

Hopefully in the $4-5K range.

What's a good brand and what should I stay away from?

Thanks

David

Got a lot of trees?

Scag makes a mower called the Turf Tiger....and now a Turf Tiger II. Very durable, well made. Have been using one of these on our church property for 10 years with zero problems. (no pun intended)

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I have a Hustler FasTrak I purchased new in 1998. Still running very strong with just normal maint. needed over the years. I do about 6 acres a week here on the farm - sometimes twice a week during the wet season. You might check out their line if you have a dealer in your area. Web page is below.

Hustler Zero-Turn Residential Lawn Mower Family | Mowers - Residential

Good luck with your purchase.

Pete99004

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Don't tread on me

I have a few trees, but property is mostly open.

Before we sold our home and moved to a retirement community, we had a little over an acre of grass to mow...and I first had a Craftsman and then a Husqvarna ZT. They worked fine for my size yard, and I paid around $3K for them new (this was several years ago.) My BIL lived across the highway, and he had 7 acres to mow. He had a Kubota diesel ZT, and I think he paid about $8K for it. It was very heavy duty, mowed a lot faster than mine, and was in all respects a lot better mower.

I am thrilled with the new Cub Cadet ProZ commercial 100 series we got. First of all it uses a steering wheel instead of dual bars. That means you don't have two hands committed all the time. Direction and speed is determined by foot control. Mine has the fuel injection, so no choking to start. Being commercial, it has super fast blade speed which gives a superior cut and look to the lawn. Most zero turns have serious issues on any kind of horizontal cut on a hill. The steering wheel model will NOT wash out on hills. MUCH safer and Cub claims it will speed up your cutting time significantly. Very comfortable seat with armrests and seatbelt.

CubCadet - PRO Z 160S EFI

I'd do some research on their lesser models, as some had reliability issues. Be very wary of any of the zero turns from the big home improvement guys. The models they offer may have major manufacturer names in green, yellow, and orange, but are built for them to meet a low price point and are not the same as what you'll find at lawn equipment dealers.

My advice is look long term. What is it realistically going to cost you to mow x amount of grass for a period of years. Do you want a mower that you pay to have hauled off after 10 years or less, or do you want something that still has value and life left? Spending more now should save you on expenses for repairs and stress in the future.

You will need service on anything you buy eventually. This is where a relationship with your local dealer will be especially meaningful. They would much rather service a unit they sold than one from the Home Improvement stores. Most importantly that means in and out quicker, and perhaps less expensive than servicing a unit they didn't sell.

Because of those considerations, for me, my highest priority was choosing a dealer I felt comfortable doing business with that was close enough to be convenient. Then I chose from what mfg they carried. I was lucky to have several dealers that carried Cub Cadet.

Now I have a mower that should last over 10 years with minimal maintenance that is comfortable and doesn't hurt my back. (hard to express what that's worth). It makes the lawn (fields) look great, and it will even tow a cart. They also come with steering bars if that's your preference, but drive the steering wheel model before you make up your mind.

Good Luck!

I have a grasshopper 430D 72" deck diesel powered this mower will last a lifetime it's a zero turn commercial grade lawn mower I mow my 5 acres every week during mowing season
If you mow acreage you should buy one that's as wide as possible I like my 72" deck and because I have a diesel motor it never boggs down I can mow fast and it still looks like a golf course

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Most all brands of mowers are good so buy the best dealer. There are some particularly good deals in Louisville right now on Snapper Pro 52" w 28hp B&S Vanguard EFI engines. Mid level commercial and well made. Same parent company as Ferris. My local dealer is running these for $6100 and they are quality machines.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Any of the major brands should be fine. Best idea is to look at the dealers you have close by and choose a brand based on service and parts availability. I went with a Hustler due to a good local dealer. Mine is 52" cut with a 23HP Kawasaki engine and handles heavy grass really well.

For you cutting 3 acres per week I would recommend a full on commercial mower if you want something that will hold up long term. Expect to pay closer to $7k and up to get a good quality mower in the size range you're looking for.

I mow 2 or 3 acres (we have several acres and I guess the yard is 2 or 3 acres) and have been using a 19 hp, 52 in. Bobcat since 2003 and not had any problems. My yard is kinda rough and the mower takes a beating. Larry

I use to maintain my 4 acres of field with a tractor and 3 point hitch mounted 72" cutter box.It use to take me 8hrs on a good day and mowing quality was acceptable.I bought a 2yr leftover John Deere 997 ZTM (diesel,72" deck) about 7 years ago,and cut that time in half,and quality of the mow doubled.(I don't bag) Make sure your seat is spring or air ride..the zero turns don't ride "soft" and unless you are mowing a fairway..a smooth ride seat is a must.

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Remain Viable

Used an 8N Ford (52 model) tractor with a BM59 Woods mower for years, but bought a 54" Hustler FasTrak with a Kawasaki engine. It cut my time from 4+ hours to 2.5 hours and much less muscle required. About 4 1/2 acres with trees, hills, etc. In the summer, the heat is now behind me and the seat more comfortable. Just don't turn into the wind.

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TOMBECK

Cub cadate is a good option. I would get it with the Honda vs Kolher engine. Here in Florida they can be bought at Home Depot for your budget range. Only thing I would caution is I would want one out of crate. Why those big stores put so many outside on display in all kinds of weather is beyond me. I will be buying a new one in a few years . I wont be buying any make or model thats been sitting out in weather . Thats just me

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Spin The Wheel

Make sure you have no slope on your level ground. Mine kept drifting into the fence line when there was any moisture on the grass. Great mower but my yard wasn't right for it.



JD 720A with a 60" commercial mowing deck. Great mower and fast but my land was just too hilly for me to feel safe on it.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Thanks for the info so far. Looks like I may be a little low on my estimate of $4-5K. But thats OK. I tend to buy a good product, take care of it, and keep things for awhile.
David

look commercial .. PTO instead of belt mower deck/blade drive .. easy one person attaching attachments a must .. if its all smooth manicured grass I might look at a golf course style of gang mowers pulled behind a tractor which could be used for snow plowing, dirt moving etc. other chores ..

back in 2007 I lost a barn with my yard stuff in it, so I replaced my lawn tractor with a residential Dixie chopper, its still serving well with just routine maintenance ( 1 deck belt and oil and grease)after 10 years of mowing 3.5+ acres.

I wanted a new Grass hopper with the front self lifting fold up deck but I went with the mid mount chopper at a lower price

I have a cousin that's been using grass hoppers for years on a large acreage estate and he buys a new one about every 5 years, he tells me he has never sold a used mower for less than he bought it for new,
he is a guy who takes super care of his equipment
the front deck design is great for getting under shrubbery, the self lifting deck is a lot easier to service and clean

this is my 2007 Dixie chopper silver eagle, the same basic mower is still sold under their magnum series but the new ones use two blades per spindle I bet that leaves a nice cut


Dixie Chopper 60" Magnum 2560BR Zero Turn 25 HP Briggs - SLE Equipment

one fact is for sure, I will buy a goat before I go back to a slow tractor type mower

I mow 5 acres during growing season and the best thing I ever did was to buy a grasshopper diesel 72" mower now I don't spend all weekend mowing just a couple hours and I'm done
These mowers aren't cheap but it will last a lifetime I bought mine new retail price was $17000 I didn't pay that much because mine was a end of year model close out but it's worth ever cent I paid mine has a electric deck lift and a very comfy chair I only use OEM blades because they last longer before sharping then the China blades also mine has a rear discharge not a side one so if I mow heavy grass it doesn't look like a hay field


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Like the others have said, look for more of a commercial quality machine if you want long life out of your purchase. Get one that has a welded steel deck instead of a stamped steel deck as it will hold up longer and is a lot more resistant to getting bent. I have a pro-sumer model model myself; a Toro XZ4820, which is a 48" welded deck model, but I only cut 1 1/2 acres and don't need a larger deck. I've had it 5 years now and it's a keeper. Another brand that one of the guys I work with has and loves is Exmark and it's also a commercial quality mower.

Ballistic147 also brought up a good point about running them in hilly terrain. We are flat as a board where I live, but I know that my Toro doesn't do ditches near as well as the conventional lawn tractor I had before my Toro. It will slide to the low side if the grass is the slightest bit damp. Part of that is probably the rear drive tires, as the ones on my Toro are rounded with no shoulder to speak of. I think a ZT with drive wheels that have a squared off shoulder would probably do a lot better than the ones on my mower and that is one thing I might try out down the road.

Hi Dave, 35 years on my property here in Va. Cutting 4 acres a week. Been thru quite a few mowers including using a 1954 Ford 600 tractor and a Woods finish mower. I bought a Scag Turf Tiger 8 years ago, $9K. Best yard investment I ever made. Key word is commercial. Landscapers drive these things 8 hours a day. You and me a couple of hours a week. Should last forever. I keep mine inside too. During the last 8 years I have replaced to arm cylinders (they do wear out) $100, and one electric blade clutch last year $280. Mainly my fault as I got it wet when I washed the mower (my bad). Did the work myself. The deck belt is showing no wear. I also rotate two sets of blades during the year. Cutting time for 4 acres is less than 2 hours and I enjoy every minute of it.
ps. my neighbor was so impressed with mine he bought one..got tired of trying to keep his Cub Cadet running properly.

As mentioned above, do not buy one with a stamped deck. I got a 23 HP Gravely with a 52" deck last year and love it. I actually enjoy cutting grass now.

I have a relatively inexpensive Ariens zero turn with a Kohler engine. It does have the welded deck.

Been cutting for 12 seasons with it. Absolutely no concerns or problems. Very low maintenance. Rock solid.

I would rather have a zero turn mower than a new Corvette. I'm serious.

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Death? Smile back...

Until the vette comes with mower deck and zero turn... me too.

Yea man. I cut my property and my rental property. Mine is a 40" cut, because of the all the obstacles (gates, fences, flower beds and trees).

It's small and really fast. Saves me hours each summer. Makes cutting grass a small thrill instead of a chore.

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Death? Smile back...

check the SLE site on my previous post
SLE Equipment: Zero Turn Mowers, Concession Trailers
they have 61" huskevarnas with brigs or Kawasaki power at the 4200 price point and they have them with a 6.5x 10' trailer packages for just over 5000

they are just outside Nashville if you are in northern AL.

I wasn't the one who originally mentioned this but it is a very true statement. I've been mowing with a zero turn for over 20 years now and for a first timer it is definitely a learning experience but once mastered you'll never own another steering wheel mower again. You will mow much faster with less effort and have fun the whole time.

My lawn has hills and a decent bank at the road and my zero handles it very well but I only mow when the grass is dry. I've spent quite a bit of time and money on my lawn and mowing wet grass is bad for it. This time of year it gets cut twice a week until the summer heat kicks in and growth slows (tall fescue lawn).

Learning to make your turns takes a little time but will lead to a happier lawn. Stopping the inside wheel while using the outside wheel only to spin the mower around will leave you with "twisty's" and damaged grass. Always keep both rear wheels turning either forwards or backwards. When mowing on the side of a bank turning up on the bank will cause the wheel on the high side to slide and damage the grass. Also, turning while going downhill can be tricky. Best method is to slowly come to a stop and then begin your turn. A heavy commercial zero turn in the hands of an inexprienced operator can do almost as much damage to the lawn as an ATV but with the correct techniques they do a very good job.

I too have been trying to become educated on zero turn mowers.

I mow about 6 acres, and had been happily plugging away with mu Kubota tractor and a 72" finish mower, until last year, a lady offered to give me her non running 42" Dixon zero turn.

I got it working, and haven't used the tractor for mowing since. The 42" ZTR mows the lawn as fast as the 72" mower on the tractor, and does a better job.

I'd like a 60" commercial zero turn, but 8-10k for a mower is a big decision in my view. Everyone I've asked has a different opinion and differing preferences.

I'll take the jump before long, but I'd really like to know I'll be happy with whatever mower I buy before I shell out that kind of coin.

My Gravely is smaller than Charlies', but it has been mowing a couple acres or more for about 15 years. It's flat, except for the road ditch, but some of the places I mow are rough. Mine has an 18 hp Kohler engine. I've replaced the deck drive belt once and bought new blades for it a couple times. Gravely has an excellent online source for parts.

What I like best about this mower is that it has three small blades instead of two larger (longer) blades. This have given me a much smoother cut over the years since the shorter stiffer blades do not tend to bend or warp. I bought a mower lift from Tractor Supply that allows me easier access to the underside of the deck and the blades. I carefully sharpen the blades at the beginning of each year, change the oil minimum of once a year, and religiously keep the air filter clean and replaced when needed. It starts and runs as well today as it did when new. Some other very good mowers are mentioned here. I gave more for my Gravely than any mower I've ever bought, but it has been well worth the money. Sometimes I wished for a larger mowing deck, but I bought this one so I could get through some small gates to access areas I wished to mow. My son bought a larger size Gravely about three years ago, and his mowing job is as large as mine but his mowing job is tougher due to the type of grass and the significantly larger amount of rainfall where he lives. It's especially tough if he doesn't get to mow when it would be best to do so. Grass gets taller!!! This is just my experience with the Gravely FWIW.

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So long ... Ken

I went Saturday with the intention of buying a Kubota, but once I got to the store, I learned the Bad Boy was a lot better built mower for about the same price. Heavier, better tires, a suspension, easier to get to for maintenance, etc.

I left with a Bad Boy Outpaw XP 6100. It's like sitting in your easy chair on top of a very fast bulldozer while mowing you lawn.

I'm not saying it's the best choice for everyone, but it's way more than I expected.