Need advice on good zero turn mower??

[parts]

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

 

[glenwolde]

Got a lot of trees?

 

[armorer951]

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)

 

[Pete99004]

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

 

[parts]

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

 

[GKC]

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.

 

[Slidemuzik]

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!

 

[phantomcycle]

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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[doublesharp]

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.

 

[Ballistic147]

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.

 

[tops]

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

 

[Breakaway500]

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.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

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.

 

[wingriderz]

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

 

[Targets Guy]

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.

 

[parts]

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

 

[Whitwabit]

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 ..

 

[ky wonder]

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

 

[phantomcycle]

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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[muddocktor]

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.