~60 inch commerical grade $12k mower recomendations for 3 acres residential use only?

[clpolcar]

Personally I feel the separate pumps are more responsive. And yes I've owned both engines. I've had old Briggs I/C engines, vanguard engines and Kawasaki engines. I just feel that the Kawasaki engine is very durable and powerful for the size and hp ratings. I'm not a Hugh fan of the newer Briggs. The vanguard is about the only Briggs I would own.

 

[Shughes717]

Personally I feel the separate pumps are more responsive. And yes I've owned both engines. I've had old Briggs I/C engines, vanguard engines and Kawasaki engines. I just feel that the Kawasaki engine is very durable and powerful for the size and hp ratings. I'm not a Hugh fan of the newer Briggs. The vanguard is about the only Briggs I would own.

I will agree with you on the intek and other lower end briggs. Although, there have been several good reviews on the commercial turf engine. If we are talking about engine options on mowers in the $8k range though you are looking at the vanguard or the fx series Kawi. I am a big fan of both. My uncle prefers the kohler efi. he will only buy a mower with that engine. All of the heavy duty commercial engines should be much more powerful and durable than the lower end models. The vanguard isn't even built by briggs. Made by Diahatsu (witch is owned by Toyota). I also hear about how much more responsive separate pumps and motors are. They do respond well, but the hydrogear units respond well. The separate pumps and motors may be a little more responsive. There are advantages to both. The one big thing for me is no hydraulic hoses on hydrogear. As I said earlier hydrogear is what most brands are going with now. There are fewer and fewer models on the market with separate pumps and motors.

 

[Mike Hawk]

So the 2100z 61" is back to the top of my list.

Now to decide on an engine. I'm leaning towards the Vanguard 810cc EFI for $8,350. Unless there's a compelling argument to spend $700 more for the Kohler EFI.

61 inch deck 26 hp Vanguard 810cc V-Twin $7975
61 inch deck 25.5 hp Kawasaki FX $8525
61 inch deck 28 hp Vanguard 810cc EFI $8350
61 inch deck 32 hp Vanguard Big Block $8775
61 inch deck 27 hp Kohler Command Pro EFI $9025

Edit, Dang you Retrodog!!! This post now has me leaning towards the Bad Boy Outlaw XP! lolol http://www.lawnsite.com/showpost.php?p=5213163&postcount=7

 

[Shughes717]

Q

So the 2100z 61" is back to the top of my list.

Now to decide on an engine. I'm leaning towards the Vanguard 810cc EFI for $8,350. Unless there's a compelling argument to spend $700 more for the Kohler EFI.

61 inch deck 26 hp Vanguard 810cc V-Twin $7975
61 inch deck 25.5 hp Kawasaki FX $8525
61 inch deck 28 hp Vanguard 810cc EFI $8350
61 inch deck 32 hp Vanguard Big Block $8775
61 inch deck 27 hp Kohler Command Pro EFI $9025

Edit, Dang you Retrodog!!! This post now has me leaning towards the Bad Boy Outlaw XP! lolol http://www.lawnsite.com/showpost.php?p=5213163&postcount=7

Any answers to this question are going to be opinion based only, but I will try to give a valid reason for my personal rankings. My top choices for the engine options would be as follows.

32 hp vanguard: That's the engine on my dad's s200xt and you can't stall it. He has used that mower to mow the pasture beside his house with 2' grass and clover mix. The belts will spin on the deck before you stall the engine.

28 hp vanguard Efi: still plenty of power and very fuel efficient.

25.5 hp fx series kawasaki: even though it has less hp than the others it is a torque monster. Can handle a deck that 61" mowing at full speed with no problem.

26 hp vanguard: again enough power for a 61" deck to mow just about anything you need to mow.

27 hp kohler Efi: my uncle swears by these engines and seem to hold up pretty well. Not as much torque as the Kawi or vanguard, but still powerful enough for a mower that size.

You won't be disappointed with the ferris no matter what engine you choose. The zt4400 hydros are commercial and rugged enough to last years, the icd deck leaves a great cut, and you can't beat the ride of a ferris.

Btw, retro dog obviously doesn't know much about ferris mowers. Saying the is700 is the same as the zt is crazy. The is700 has commercial zt3400 hydros, and the commercial fs series Kawi engine and weighs 200 lbs more. Which of those two sounds heavier made? The 4999 zt elite has the residential fr series Kawi engine, smaller hydros which are 3 mph slower than the ferris will mow, and holds only half the fuel the is700 does.The outlaw is a very well built, heavy made mower, but I have never heard of the frame on any commercial ztr mower giving trouble. They are all built sturdy. I have a snapper pro s150xt which is on the same frame as the ferris. I mounted a 30 water tank on the frame to spray my lawn. I bounce around with an extra 250 lbs on my mower and have had no frame issues.

 

[1striper1]

Any answers to this question are going to be opinion based only, but I will try to give a valid reason for my personal rankings. My top choices for the engine options would be as follows.

32 hp vanguard: That's the engine on my dad's s200xt and you can't stall it. He has used that mower to mow the pasture beside his house with 2' grass and clover mix. The belts will spin on the deck before you stall the engine.

28 hp vanguard Efi: still plenty of power and very fuel efficient.

25.5 hp fx series kawasaki: even though it has less hp than the others it is a torque monster. Can handle a deck that 61" mowing at full speed with no problem.

26 hp vanguard: again enough power for a 61" deck to mow just about anything you need to mow.

27 hp kohler Efi: my uncle swears by these engines and seem to hold up pretty well. Not as much torque as the Kawi or vanguard, but still powerful enough for a mower that size.

You won't be disappointed with the ferris no matter what engine you choose. The zt4400 hydros are commercial and rugged enough to last year's, the icd deck leave a great cut, and you can't beat the ride of a ferris.

shughes - you may want to clarify which Vanguard is the highly regarded and rated BIG BLOCK engine which is actually made by Daihatsu.

Here is a link to the Vanguard website:

27 Gross HP* H/S Air Cooled V-Twin Big Block | Engine | Vanguard Commercial Power

IMO - if you want to get a B&S it has to be the big block. Otherwise a FX Kawi is a solid choice. Retrodog sure likes that Kohler EFI but I tried to demo a Deere with one last summer and they couldn't get it started. Maybe it was just that one time but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Mike Hawk]

So the 2100z doesn't deserve the down talk retrodog speaks of?

As you can see I am a swaying sale right now. Lol.

 

[Shughes717]

So the 2100z doesn't deserve the down talk retrodog speaks of?

As you can see I am a swaying sale right now. Lol.

The czt elite compares to the is700 not the is2100. The is2100 has the same drive train options as the outlaw Xp. The outlaw is built like a tank, but it's not like the is2100 is made of paper. Just look at the gvw of both. There isn't 50 lbs difference in the weight of the outlaw xp and the is2100. If it was made so much better then why isn't it 200 lbs heavier?

Yes 1striper1, the big block would be my first choice. However, the vanguard engine was designed by Diahatsu and all are great engines. I too am a big kawasaki engine fan. As I mentioned it's going to be varying opinions when it comes to choice of engines.

 

[Shughes717]

As for the ride difference between the is3100 and the is2100, the is3100 is on a larger platform, and is heavier. However the is2100 will ride better than any other mower in its class. If you want to improve it even more get the suspension seat to go along with the independent suspension. Try them for yourself. You will see first hand what I mean.

 

[1striper1]

Yes 1striper1, the big block would be my first choice. However, the vanguard engine was designed by Diahatsu and all are great engines. I too am a big kawasaki engine fan. As I mentioned it's going to be varying opinions when it comes to choice of engines.

I thought only the Big Block Vanguards were made by Daihatsu. ALL Vanguard are? If true.....I stand corrected!:ashamed:

So true on the engine thing. I had an oil burning 27 hp B&S Professional Series that soured me on those engines.

 

[Shughes717]

I thought only the Big Block Vanguards were made by Daihatsu. ALL Vanguard are? If true.....I stand corrected!:ashamed:

So true on the engine thing. I had an oil burning 27 hp B&S Professional Series that soured me on those engines.

Someone posted a link that indicates the vanguard is made in the U.S. Now, but the design is from Diahatsu.

I am no fan of the professional series briggs either. Did yours have the flat style air filter like what is seen in cars and trucks?