Best commercial mower under 8500

[Shughes717]

All you have to do is look at and compare the spec's to see how it can be built heavier and weigh less, I've already gave you some reasons or examples. The Snapper frame is a 2 x 1.5 11ga frame. The Toro is a 3 x 1.5 10 ga. it's larger and heavier, look at the spec's. As far as how I know how Snapper and Ferris are built is the fact I've seen them on the showroom floor at the dealers, I've looked at them, I've set on them and compared them to the Toro just like I have the Gravelys and Scags and Cub Cadet and a few others and the only mower that even comes close to the build quality of a Toro ZM IMO is a Hustler X One and up. I talk about frame relating to the ride of the mower, the heavier the frame the better the ride, I'm not worried about a frame or a lift system breaking. The thing is really it doesn't take some one with a degree to look at and compare two or three different mowers and tell which one is a better built mower and which is not. :smile:

Thickness of frame has nothing to do with the ride of the mower. Tire size, space between tires, weight, and suspension does. Z master doesn't even compare to the ride of an is2100. Instead of just looking at them on the show room floor you should demo one without bias. Toro doesn't show the dry weight of their mowers on their site. Heavier metal should weigh more. If it's built with more metal it should weigh more. Doesn't take someone with an engineering degree to figure that out.:smile:

 

[Ric]

Thickness of frame has nothing to do with the ride of the mower. Tire size, space between tires, weight, and suspension does. Z master doesn't even compare to the ride of an is2100. Instead of just looking at them on the show room floor you should demo one without bias. Toro doesn't show the dry weight of their mowers on their site. Heavier metal should weigh more. If it's built with more metal it should weigh more. Doesn't take someone with an engineering degree to figure that out.:smile:

Maybe the frame does weigh more but the ZM mower itself weighs less because of other factors like your drives in your snapper weighing twice as much as the ZM 2000 or the fact you carry more gas or maybe you engine is larger that probably has some weight difference. Is it inconceivable that there are others things on your mower that could make a difference? Your talking about a 900 lb mower vs an 1100 Your carrying almost 60lbs more weight alone just with your drives than the ZM with the 3400 drives. and if you would like to see the toro's weight you can go to their site it's listed there. It"s listed in the English PDF Owners manual, it will be on page 13 and it's 926 lbs with a 48" deck 944lbs with a 52 and 988lbs with a 60" for the ZM 2000 series.

 

[Shughes717]

Maybe the frame does weigh more but the ZM mower itself weighs less because of other factors like your drives in your snapper weighing twice as much as the ZM 2000 or the fact you carry more gas or maybe you engine is larger that probably has some weight difference. Is it inconceivable that there are others things on your mower that could make a difference? Your talking about a 900 lb mower vs an 1100 Your carrying almost 60lbs more weight alone just with your drives than the ZM with the 3400 drives. and if you would like to see the toro's weight you can go to their site it's listed there. It"s listed in the English PDF Owners manual, it will be on page 13 and it's 926 lbs with a 48" deck 944lbs with a 52 and 988lbs with a 60" for the ZM 2000 series.

I gave the weight of the s125xt which has the same size engine and hydros as well at 1059. If the z master is built heavier explain that.

 

[Fish]

Ask to demo the mowers next spring!!!! Do not buy one until you have used it and "love" it!!!!!!!!

 

[Ric]

I gave the weight of the s125xt which has the same size engine and hydros as well at 1059. If the z master is built heavier explain that.

Well you may want to go to their site (Snapper) and check out some pictures. Another added weight feature that contributes to thr weight is probably that big wrap around engine guard on the mower, it probably weighs 40 lbs if not more and that's something the ZM doesn't have and you also have metal covers over your pulleys on the deck and again not something the ZM has. There is probably a lot of things just like that on Snapper mower that contributes to it's weight. I think if you check you'll also find the Snapper sets a lot higher than the ZM which tells me there's a lot more metal construction going on up top plus you have duel gas tanks on the sides, the ZM doesn't, it has one tank mounted under the seat that contributes to a lower center of gravity.

 

[Shughes717]

Ask to demo the mowers next spring!!!! Do not buy one until you have used it and "love" it!!!!!!!!

Totally agree with that statement!:thumbsup:

 

[Shughes717]

Well you may want to go to their site (Snapper) and check out some pictures. Another added weight feature that contributes to thr weight is probably that big wrap around engine guard on the mower, it probably weighs 40 lbs if not more and that's something the ZM doesn't have and you also have metal covers over your pulleys on the deck and again not something the ZM has. There is probably a lot of things just like that on Snapper mower that contributes to it's weight. I think if you check you'll also find the Snapper sets a lot higher than the ZM which tells me there's a lot more metal construction going on up top plus you have duel gas tanks on the sides, the ZM doesn't, it has one tank mounted under the seat that contributes to a lower center of gravity.

The demensions on the specifications of the mowers goes to the top of the rops not from seat to ground, so it's difficult to say which sits lower. However, the 46.5 inches from ground to folded rops on the z master 2000 is 3.5 inches shorter than the s150xt 48". If the zt5400 hydros weighs 60 pounds more each I would think that gives the s150xt a lower center of gravity seeing as how they are attached to the rear wheels.The s125xt has one 5.5 gallon fuel tank, not 2 tanks. There are two metal covers on the icd deck, and there is a well made engine guard on the back where a hitch can be added. Nothing mentioned indicates to me the toro is made any better. Specs about the thickness of the frame doesn't mean much if there is no added benefit from it. As I mentioned earlier I can't see how a thicker frame improves the ride at all. Not understanding that claim. Larger tires, weight, and suspension does make a difference in the ride though.

 

[Ric]

The demensions on the specifications of the mowers goes to the top of the rops not from seat to ground, so it's difficult to say which sits lower. However, the 46.5 inches from ground to folded rops on the z master 2000 is 3.5 inches shorter than the s150xt 48". If the zt5400 hydros weighs 60 pounds more each I would think that gives the s150xt a lower center of gravity seeing as how they are attached to the rear wheels.The s125xt has one 5.5 gallon fuel tank, not 2 tanks. There are two metal covers on the icd deck, and there is a well made engine guard on the back where a hitch can be added. Nothing mentioned indicates to me the toro is made any better. Specs about the thickness of the frame doesn't mean much if there is no added benefit from it. As I mentioned earlier I can't see how a thicker frame improves the ride at all. Not understanding that claim. Larger tires, weight, and suspension does make a difference in the ride though.

Being 3.5 inches shorter would contribute to a lower center of gravity and the 5400 drives are only about 30 lbs more each the the 3400 and the pictures online at there site shows duel tanks on the s125xt although they maybe showing the same picture for all there models. I just clicked on the picture of the s125xt and scrolled through the 6 pictures and it showed duel tanks.
It only stands to reason that a frame the is 1.5 inches wide and 3 inches deep and 10ga. would not only sustain or carry more weight but would also be better to pull anything than a 1.5 x 2" 11ga would.
Not saying your theory about Larger tires, weight, and suspension making a difference in the ride doesn't have merit but it isn't necessarily hold true either, if that were true than my GS would have a terrible ride because it has smaller tires, narrower wheel base and only weighs 750 lbs and has a better ride than any ztr I've ever been on and it also has a higher degree of slope operation (20 degree) than any ztr.

 

[Shughes717]

Being 3.5 inches shorter would contribute to a lower center of gravity and the 5400 drives are only about 30 lbs more each the the 3400 and the pictures online at there site shows duel tanks on the s125xt although they maybe showing the same picture for all there models. I just clicked on the picture of the s125xt and scrolled through the 6 pictures and it showed duel tanks.
It only stands to reason that a frame the is 1.5 inches wide and 3 inches deep and 10ga. would not only sustain or carry more weight but would also be better to pull anything than a 1.5 x 2" 11ga would.
Not saying your theory about Larger tires, weight, and suspension making a difference in the ride doesn't have merit but it isn't necessarily hold true either, if that were true than my GS would have a terrible ride because it has smaller tires, narrower wheel base and only weighs 750 lbs and has a better ride than any ztr I've ever been on and it also has a higher degree of slope operation (20 degree) than any ztr.

Lol, it's not a theory saying larger tires, weight, and suspension improves the ride. Larger wheel base improves the ride of cars it's stands to reason it would improve the ride of mowers. Diesel ztrs ride better than gas ztrs. They are heavier. Larger ztr mowers with larger wheels ride better than smaller ztr mowers with smaller tires. It is crazy to say that suspension doesn't improve the ride either. If that were the case cars, trucks, 4 wheelers, and agriculter sprayers would all have rigid frames with no suspension. You are mistaken about the photos of the s125xt. If you look you will notice there is no fuel cap on the right side, just controls. You are the one who mentioned the zt5400 weighs 60 pounds more each. Even at 30 pounds more each that's still 60 pounds at the wheels. 8 gallons of gas weighs 48 pounds. As I also mentioned earlier the frame on the s150xt is strong enough to not only carry the weight of the heavier mower with no issues, but I have 25 gallons of water and chemical I carry on mine with me on it. That 425 pounds up steep hills. My dad also has a trailer style 80 gallon sprayer that I pull for larger jobs with no problems either. You still haven't substantiated your claim about the thicker frame improving the ride. The 3.5" difference mentioned in the specs is from ground to the top of the rops, not ground to seat. That just proves the rops is mounted lower on the z master. Your grand stand rides better because you are standing. Have you not ever been on a motor cycle or 4 wheeler on really rough ground and not stand up to get a little extra shock absorption? Stand on mowers do have a lower center of gravity. Not a fair comparison.

 

[Ric]

Lol, it's not a theory saying larger tires, weight, and suspension improves the ride. Larger wheel base improves the ride of cars it's stands to reason it would improve the ride of mowers. Diesel ztrs ride better than gas ztrs. They are heavier. Larger ztr mowers with larger wheels ride better than smaller ztr mowers with smaller tires. It is crazy to say that suspension doesn't improve the ride either. If that were the case cars, trucks, 4 wheelers, and agriculter sprayers would all have rigid frames with no suspension. You are mistaken about the photos of the s125xt. If you look you will notice there is no fuel cap on the right side, just controls. You are the one who mentioned the zt5400 weighs 60 pounds more each. Even at 30 pounds more each that's still 60 pounds at the wheels. 8 gallons of gas weighs 48 pounds. As I also mentioned earlier the frame on the s150xt is strong enough to not only carry the weight of the heavier mower with no issues, but I have 25 gallons of water and chemical I carry on mine with me on it. That 425 pounds up steep hills. My dad also has a trailer style 80 gallon sprayer that I pull for larger jobs with no problems either. You still haven't substantiated your claim about the thicker frame improving the ride. The 3.5" difference mentioned in the specs is from ground to the top of the rops, not ground to seat. That just proves the rops is mounted lower on the z master. Your grand stand rides better because you are standing. Have you not ever been on a motor cycle or 4 wheeler on really rough ground and not stand up to get a little extra shock absorption? Stand on mowers do have a lower center of gravity. Not a fair comparison.

You need to read my posting because I basically agreed with you to a point, I said... Not saying your theory about Larger tires, weight, and suspension making a difference in the ride doesn't have merit but it isn't necessarily hold true either, it just depends on what mower your talking about that was the reason I used the GS as an example because according to what you say it should be a terrible riding mower due to the smaller tires and lack of weight and the thing that makes me is the fact it's a better built mower than either of the mowers were talking about including drives. As far as substantiating my claim about the thicker frame improving the ride? I don't have to substantiate that because you already did. Your own words ( Lol, it's not a theory saying larger tires, weight, and suspension improves the ride.) It stands to reason that a 3" x 1.5 10 ga. frame will weigh more than a 2" x 1.5 11ga. frame. As far as my rops and where it's mounted, it's mounted to the frame behind the seat.

Gotta go Dallas and the Seahawks are playing