Best ZERO Turn Mower.

[Spirited-6]

I know there is a lot of knowledge in our VRCC so I`ll ask ; what is the best ZERO TURN Mower on the market ? My neighbor has gone on a Queen Mary Cruise for two weeks and ask that I cut his lawn with his Huster Z mower. Boy; what a TANK. Now I want one. I mow about 2 1/2 ac. and now useing a 50" Cub Cadet. The 60" Huster really makes short use of my lawn. Shopping makes and prices and thought I would get some input from you guys. TIA.
Don .

[NiteRiderF6]

If I had to buy one right now I'd get the 62" Exmark.

[Michvalk]

Dixie Chopper is the first one comes to mind. If I was gonna buy one, I'd look for parts availability LOCAL. Your gonna break any of them, and getting parts fast is the key. I have used Toro, and one unbranded (cheap) zero turn mowers. I bought a Cub Cadet.

[T.P.]

Hotglue and Flamingobabe just got a DIXI ask HG how he likes it.

[bigfish_Oh]

Dad is on his second Woods,(no problems) because he stays a few years old. He had a new Kubota(I'm not sure of size,big $15K diesel). He liked the bagging/dumping better on the Woods so my brother/nephew have the Kubota now. A Grasshopper served him well also.

[ArmyValker]

I'd go with whatever you got a good local dealer for. I think there are a lot of good brands out there , but local service is the real dealmaker for me. My Dad just bought a 60" Gravely Zero Turn and it's a real nice machine. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything that came with a Kawasaki on it, and has a reasonable reputation, as long as I trusted the dealer.

I wouldn't buy anything without a Kawasaki on it (not counting diesel's).

[bigfish_Oh]

you'll need to decide if best is 5K or 15K

look at what your local landscapers are abusing, they get 2-4 years of constant use

It is hard for me to justify a $5,500 20hp Simplicity LGT in 2006, but it will be around long after others are gone.  I guess compared to a $6,500 Valk....

[fudgie]

The only one I have been on is a Grasshopper. We use it to mow 3 properties on the farm. What I like about it is that it has a mower deck out front. You can get under trees alot easier with it then with the deck underneth. Its a 60" deck and takes me about 2 hours to do my yard. Its got a low center of gravity so it will take alot to tip over. Plus all I mow it only uses a 1/4 tank of gas in each saddle tank. Maybe 2 gal total and this is balls to the wall at WOT.

After riding this one I will not get a deck under the mower again. A couple FF do lawn mowing for a living and the hated their x-mark and the J Deere mowers. They also been happy with the Grasshopper.

They are pricey but are made really well. All metal and only plastic on it is the tanks.

[R J]

My choose would be a Grasshopper, 61" deck size, it is down at the farm, and has been amused and abused for the past 6 years.  Only parts replaced on it is 1 belt and 2 sets of blades.     It mows everyday.     We or they mow 9 acres of grass...........

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/fm_932.php


My place, I have a tractor mower, John Deere with a Cog-a-sock-ie on it.
Series X360 and a 48" deck on this.     It is a 22 hp, w/power steering..

Johnny Pop spec sheet.

http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/HO/servlet/com.deere.u90785.cce.productcatalog.view.servlets.ProdCatProduct?pNbr=SKU22584&tM=HO&link=enav

[Buda]

Last year my brother and I used a Dixon to mow a cemetary and went through 2 Deck clutches.  Other than the clutches it  was quick and tough.

[Lyn-Del]

we really like our Dixie Chopper, have had it for several years now, and the only real problems have been flat tires (neighbor seems to run over something every time he borrows it!)

[bigfish_Oh]

we really like our Dixie Chopper, have had it for several years now, and the only real problems have been flat tires (neighbor seems to run over something every time he borrows it!)

you have flat tires? and he still borrows it ???
   it needs to be flat when he comes to borrow it, and out of fuel

[Lyn-Del]

This is the police officer neighbor who looks after our place while we're out riding around the country for weeks at a time.  An occasional flat is nothing compared to the peace of mind we have going off and leaving him in charge!

[R J]

This is the police officer neighbor who looks after our place while we're out riding around the country for weeks at a time.  An occasional flat is nothing compared to the peace of mind we have going off and leaving him in charge!

10-04 on that.    Have Dewayne put some sealant in the tires and not worry about flats no more.

I got somethjing from O'Reilly's a couple of years ago and treated all 4 tires.   Today when I got done mowing, I checked my tires.   3 of them had things in them but were still holding air.   Pulled all the junk out, run it around the yard, WOT, and parked it at the garage door.   Will check the air pressure here shortly.

[Lyn-Del]

10-04 on that.    Have Dewayne put some sealant in the tires and not worry about flats no more.

It's always the same tire.  Front tire.  So we just bought an extra one, and swap them out when they're fixed.

Can't beat having an LEO with an automatic AK47 looking after the place!!   

[old2soon]

Our church has a cub cadet i like to use cutting the church property. Don't know how many acres we are talking here but it's an all day sucker. I think it's a 60 inch deck with a 2 cylinder 27 horse kawasaki. I M H O nice tractor. RIDE SAFE.

[f6john]

      If I had to guess I would say at least 75% of the pros in my town use X-Mark and they perform very well. All the other brands mentioned are used some but I guess the next would be the John Deere mowers. I suspect that it is partly a regional thing when it comes to brands.

[big d]

go try them before you buy. make sure you like the features and the dealership. my wife tried every kind we could find up hear in western ny. from dixi chopper to john deer to x mark. even tried toro. the one we ended up with was kubota. deck tilts up on the front wheels for easy service or cleaning and was the most comfortable ride. also got the deisel with a little convincing from me.  we have had it for about 6 years and have never had any problems with it. neighbor has the toro and he said it rides like a cadillac of zero turns. it has a 60" deck and 18 horsepower deisel. remember you may pay less for another make but you get what you pay for. biggest thing to remember is that at some point it will have to be serviced. and if there is not a dealer near you it may make things difficult. good luck.

[Lil D]

i'd say the kubota....
here's 3w-lonerider during a visit..... somehow we always hang out in the barn....lol

[Bama Red]

A year and a half ago I bought the 27 hp, 60" inch cut gas-powered Kubota and have never looked back. I cut 8+ acres every week from March thru November and have not had any problems other than one flat tire.

It was a little spendy, but the local dealership is good and have a great service dept (so I've heard - haven't needed it yet).

[Spirited-6]

Thanks guys. A lot of good input.  Now to try out several and ask the wife for some $$$$.  As of now ,the only one I`ve been on is the Hustler Z which like I said is a "tank" well made and damn quick. Takes off about 1 1/2 hours in cutting my lawn.
Don

[bigvalkriefan]

I've been in the business for 25 years now so I know of what I speak. I've had a John Deere 757 60" for 7 years now. I have over 7000 hrs on it. The only major thing I've had to do is the engine. The hydro pump is still strong, the deck is showing signs of wear but it still cuts great. Aside from the normal maintenance stuff the operating cost is minimal. I've had 2 Toros, they cut great but don't last.As far as Dixie's are concerned, they are known for their speed, not cut quality. Exmark makes a good machine. JD's are pricey but you get what you pay for.

[Master Blaster]

Check out the 60 in BadBoy at Tractor Supply.  Thing is built like a tank, and has a great rep around this area.  My Bud has a JD, and its not near the machine.  You sometimes pay dearly for that green paint.  The deck on the BadBoy is some heavy duty welede steel and weighs 200 pounds.  It has a electro/hydraulic system to set the heighth of the deck.

[blackcat]

mid-mount: dixie chopper, badboy, toro, grasshopper, kubota, and ferris (independent suspention), and cub cadet

front mount: grasshopper (get the dual tail wheel),  and walker (if you have a smooth and small yard)

if you have steep ditches to mow a mid mount can be better because of balance over the drive wheels, ZTR, mid-mounts can suck in muddy ditches

my personal choice is Dixie Chopper, we had four of them at one time, they held up to idiot employees that could tear up anvils with rubber mallets

[Kindred Spirit]

My pick would be Scag.  Down in the south it is probably the best cutting mower out there.  It handles Bahia extremely well and leaves a very smooth cut.  Many mowers can't handle Bahia affectively.  They will leave stringers.  The Velocity deck on the Scag, pitched correctly, hanldes it with ease.  Hustler also just came out with a new deck that handes rought stuff as well.  Hustler handles better and rides better, but I'm not sure if the new deck will out cut a Scag.   Go to www.lawnsite.com and start reading.   

[Bob E.]

I used to work with a lady whose husband had his own landscaping business.  He had all Steiners and swore by them.  As for the ZTR's, I've been told they are great when you mow relatively flat areas, but can be a handfull if you have lots of steep slopes.

Between me and my dad (next door), we mow about 4+ acres of grass.  Dad has a Gravely Professional 20hp with a 60" deck that we use.  As for the structure/chassis of the mower, it is built tough.  The mower deck is full-floating and heavy steel plate.  However the driveline sucks.  We are constantly having to adjust the clutches because they slip so bad in high range.  And the shifter on the transmission gets stuck between gears because the gate is so sloppy.  Plus, it has to be the weakest 20hp ever.  Hit some high grass and it practically stalls.  They must be miniature horses or something. 

[Jabba]

My advise it to remember that there are consumer and professional models of most of the Z-Turn mowers. 

As has been repeated, you get what you pay for.  Compare the different models, and you'll see what I mean.

I am running a Ferris Walk behind 48" now.  I only mow a 1/2 acre, but there is a lot of crap to mow around.  I need the exercise.  I wanted a ZTR but couldn't get off the $$$.  I gave $1500 for the Ferris, and it cuts my mow time from 90 minutes to 45.  and looks GREAT. 

Jabba

[Sludge]

Ive got two of the big zero turn mowers.  One is a diesel 61 inch cut Woods Mowin Machine with a 21hp Kubota engine. 



Same machine as a Grasshopper.  Made in the same factory as a matter of fact, just painted a different color.  The other is a 61 inch 27hp diesel Husqvarna mower. 



Both are great machines.  I give a nod to the Woods/Grasshopper machine though for its front mounted deck.  Easier to get under fences and under shrubs etc.  Otherwise both do a fine job on my farm.

[czuch]

 GRASS?
(sarcasm, not volume.)

[hubcapsc]

Carolyn and I got one of these whacky things a few years ago...



Our old Craftsman was rusting out, we were looking around (being shocked by all the
prices on the good mowers) when someone brought this back to Lowes... I was driving
up as the Lowes dude was pushing the Husky back out to the front with a big discount
sign on it. I went over to talk to him, and people started queuing up behind me. I got it
for like $1,500 (close as I can remember)... it does not cut a wide swath, but it is
high quality, made in Sweden, three blades... Carolyn uses it in the "yard" and I run
the bush hog over everything else that the horses don't eat...

-Mike