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

[Mike Hawk]

So now I'm back to the 460 after this guy said it ran smoother than the Ferris. Lol, dang I need to get off the pot!

Yellow Bullet Forums - View Single Post - Zero turn? Ferris,Scag or Bad Boy

 

[Shughes717]

So now I'm back to the 460 after this guy said it ran smoother than the Ferris. Lol, dang I need to get off the pot!

Yellow Bullet Forums - View Single Post - Zero turn? Ferris,Scag or Bad Boy

You are getting others opinions, and they they are just that (an opinion). Try them all for yourself. That is the best way to get what you want. The 460 is more comparable to the is3200 if you are wanting a fair comparison. Btw, the is3200 also has zt5400 hydros. They are common on the high end mowers you are looking at. Even my snapper pro s150xt has zt5400 hydros. All of the high end mowers will offer similar drive trains. You should pay less attention to those who say this mower is built better than that mower. All of them come with a heavy duty frame, fabricated deck, and top of the line power train. You said you were looking in the $8k range. The 460 is going to run quite a bit more than $8k. You should set a budget, and test every brand you can find in that budget. Pick the one you like best. No one else's opinion should matter to you. Any machine you go with that cost $8k and up will be a quality mower.

 

[Mike Hawk]

Thank you for the input. I really have no budget on this subject, I want the best. Granted I'd much rather spend $4k on the mower but my time/comfort are worth a lot to me, hence why my budget is out the window.

And yes, I do need to demo the mowers I have my heart set on. Only problem though is I highly doubt a 5 min run up and down a dealer's lot is gonna give me a good feel for a mower. I realize they all basically have the same guts, it simply boils down to this:

Ferris: Patented coil overs,are they worth it? Is it a gimmick, how does it compare to a Gravely air seat?
Gravely: Air seat: is it worth it? Is it a gimmick, how does it compare to a Ferris coil overs?
Bad Boy: Is their value worth looking into? Will they provide me the same/better ride than a Ferris or Gravely for thousands less?

 

[Shughes717]

Thank you for the input. I really have no budget on this subject, I want the best. Granted I'd much rather spend $4k on the mower but my time/comfort are worth a lot to me, hence why my budget is out the window.

And yes, I do need to demo the mowers I have my heart set on. Only problem though is I highly doubt a 5 min run up and down a dealer's lot is gonna give me a good feel for a mower. I realize they all basically have the same guts, it simply boils down to this:

Ferris: Patented coil overs,are they worth it? Is it a gimmick, how does it compare to a Gravely air seat?
Gravely: Air seat: is it worth it? Is it a gimmick, how does it compare to a Ferris coil overs?
Bad Boy: Is their value worth looking into? Will they provide me the same/better ride than a Ferris or Gravely for thousands less?

The badboy outlaw won't be thousands less than a comparable ferris or gravely. I have already addressed that. Just look at the drive train on the model outlaw you are looking at compared to other brands with the same drive train. Badboy is priced in line with them. If you want to save thousands on a high end mower then snapper pro will give you the most bang for your buck. You can get a top of the line drive train, and the same icd deck as on the ferris for a little over $8k. You can get a suspension seat for it and it will ride as good as the badboy. A suspension, or air ride seat is not a gimmick. Both will improve the ride. Imo nothing compares to the ride of a ferris. You will have to kick the tires and form your own opinion to ensure you will be happy with your purchase.

The is2100 and a suspension seat gives one of the best rides I have ever had on a mower. If you want to spend $12k to mow 3 acres then by all means look into a gravely 460, ferris is3200, john Deere 960, exmark lazer z, hustler super z, etc.. All are top of the line mowers. You are right about not getting a complete feel for a mower by running it 5 minutes on a parking lot. You should see if they will allow you to mow some with it and run it over some ground that's not as smooth. Around here dealers have demo machines, but I understand thats not common in other areas.

All of the mowers you are looking at are complete overkill for 3 acres. It shouldn't take much over an hour to mow. As I mentioned earlier I mow a little over 4 acres that has numerous obstacles on the property with a 48" snapper pro s150xt and it takes me 2 hours and 15 minutes.

 

[Vanousb]

Exmark pioneer s 60 inch. Add the full suspension seat. Will be at you 8k end, but unless you want to go into the lawn business (and if I missed that comment in you post sorry and I up it to lazer series) it will give you speed, quality, and longevity for many years to come. It is residential but is boarder line professional mower. Can only speak from my experience from looking to buying to mowing with a 60 inch pioneer s. I mow 3 with mine. With that said, you price point will get you a quality mower from any of the big hitters. Best bet...try to demo as many as you can and go with what feels right. You friend is right,..go local and build relationship you can count on.

 

[Shughes717]

Exmark pioneer s 60 inch. Add the full suspension seat. Will be at you 8k end, but unless you want to go into the lawn business (and if I missed that comment in you post sorry and I up it to lazer series) it will give you speed, quality, and longevity for many years to come. It is residential but is boarder line professional mower. Can only speak from my experience from looking to buying to mowing with a 60 inch pioneer s. I mow 3 with mine. With that said, you price point will get you a quality mower from any of the big hitters. Best bet...try to demo as many as you can and go with what feels right. You friend is right,..go local and build relationship you can count on.

The pioneer s series is a commercial mower. The fx series Kawi engine is heavy duty commercial.The zt3400 hydros are commercial as well. The deck is also a commercial deck. It may not be the largest engine or hydros available for a 60" mower, but it is a commercial mower. The E series is the one that would be closer to a higher end residential unit.

 

[Vanousb]

The pioneer s series is a commercial mower. The fx series Kawi engine is heavy duty commerciall. The zt3400 hydros are commercial as well. The deck is also a commercial deck. It may not be the largest engine or hydros available for a 60" mower, but it is a commercial mower. The E series is the one that would be closer to a higher end residential unit.

Thanks for clarifying shughes 717. When I bought it was advertised as the in between mower with features of commercial mower targeted at residential users price point. Guess that's where I get my description from. The pioneer kind of offers both. And yes...those features you list are what comes on s series....thus commercial features. So entry commercial might be a good way to describe.

 

[diamatron]

When I first started looking into zero turns I wanted john Deere. But after looking into things further I noticed most all the brands share the same parts. So I started looking at who gave you the most heavy duty parts for the money. Then started gathering review of mowing decks performance. Because thats what the finish products relies on. Then I narrowed it down even more by dealer locations.

I went with snapper pro. Has most heavy duty parts and frame for the money. Dealer support is 15 minute drive.

Actually went to Ferris dealer first, had a bad experience there.

 

[Shughes717]

When I first started looking into zero turns I wanted john Deere. But after looking into things further I noticed most all the brands share the same parts. So I started looking at who gave you the most heavy duty parts for the money. Then started gathering review of mowing decks performance. Because thats what the finish products relies on. Then I narrowed it down even more by dealer locations.

I went with snapper pro. Has most heavy duty parts and frame for the money. Dealer support is 15 minute drive.

Actually went to Ferris dealer first, had a bad experience there.

Totally agree about snapper pro. Can get a lot of mower for a better price. Btw, how are you liking that s200x with the commercial turf?

 

[diamatron]

Totally agree about snapper pro. Can get a lot of mower for a better price. Btw, how are you liking that s200x with the commercial turf?

Love my Snapper Pro. No issues with anything. Of course I only have a little over 20 hours on it! Had to mow wet grass this week, the ICD deck performed very well! I would like to to get a set of Gator Mulching blades, but they don't seem to make a compatible set.