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Hey all,

I apologize in advance for the length of this post. I hope some of you guys that have experience with one or bith of these can confirm my research or offer thoughts on something i might have missed. I am writing this much in part to help save other people some of the time I spent researching these mowers. The ones I ruled out were all excellent mowers (strike that. I really didn't like the dixie). After a lot of research, I feel these two offer the best combination of quality parts and the best value. I do appreciate everyone's personal loyalties, but please focus on these machines.

I'm looking for pros and/or cons for these two mowers. I would like to pick it up on Monday the 17th (two days) so if you have thoughts please post ASAP. I have looked at, priced, and rode comprable mowers from scag, bad boy, toro, exmark, gravely, dixie, deere, huskvarna, ferris, and hustler. I am down to the ferris and the hustler. Both dealers were very helpful, seem well respected, and are about 20 minutes from home. The hustler dealer was a a bit more knowledgable, but not enough to push me there. The guys at the ferris shop we very good too. I will break down my observations below. I welcome any thoughts, corrections or feedback. I am leaning toward the ferris, but its close to a coin flip.

I will spend most of my time mowing my fairly small and flat yard. The reason I am looking at this grade mower is that I have four rental homes. I will not mow them regularly, but when I do, I'm sure it will be because the tenants fell behind and the grass will be very long. At home time is not really an issue (but quicker is always better). At the rentals I would prefer to get in and out as quickly as possible and not have to deal with a mower that is bogging down.

Here are my observations.

Price - advantage ferris (barely). $5500 on the hustler and $5800 on the ferris with free regular maintenance for the first year (200 value according to the dealer.) I am sure I could do it myself, but its worth something.

Ride - advantage ferris. It's hard to compare, since I was not on the same lawn with both and they were both good. I did feel like the shocks on the ferris worked as advertised though. It was heads and shoulders above most other mowers. For some reason the hustler felt pretty close though.

Engine - advantage hustler. The Kawasaki is an 800 upgrade on the ferris and is standard on the hustler. The ferris I would get does have the commercial 28hp Briggs with cyclonic filtering. Everyone online seems to think the Kawasaki is a big upgrade and it is an expensive one on the ferris. If not for this, I would probably just get the ferris and be done with it. HP is less on the Kawasaki, but from my research that has more to do with how they rate it than the actual power of the engine.

Trans - advantage ferris. 3400 vs 3100

Build quality - advantage hustler. I'm probably not qualified to say, but hustler seems to have done a better job with the details. It seems like the big stuff that would impact durability is great on both though with one possible exception. Do the additional moving parts in the suspension create issues in the long run? Ferris would argue they actually help prevent them, but there is more to break.

Deck - advantage ferris. This is actually pretty close but the ferris comes with a striping kit standard and it would be a minor upgrade on the hustler. The hustler is 2" bigger though. I don't feel like this is a huge deal in my situation. The ferris also lifts 5" vs 4.5". Negligible I'm sure, but this could make a difference in deep grass. I really don't know though. I think they are both 4" deep.

Cut quality - I don't know. They both seem excellent to me.

Speed - advantage ferris. 10mph vs 8mph top speed.

Wheels - advantage ferris. 22/13 vs 20/10

Warranties are basically the same for me (residential warranty).

Spindles - advantage ferris?? Greasable seems to be the preference, but it is something that I could forget to do and end up being a problem.

Overall look - advantage hustler. The ferris looked pretty cool to with the shocks, but the ferris just looked better. A e end of the day, not really a factor, but there you have it.

Misc items.

Hustler - dual gas tank, ROPS is fixed so i would probably remove it, no need for parking break (clever design), there were quite a few small design things that seemed nice like an easy way to take tension out of the belt, easy access to the top of the spindles, convenient oil drain, etc..

Ferris - adjustable ROPS so I would probably keep it on, they claim the suspension will help with longevity and I guess it makes sense, the floor pan comes up easily, on the hustler it comes up but it's a bit of a pain.


There you have it. That is my super long post. Hopefully it is helpful to others in my situation and I really hope you guys can fill in any details that I may have missed or or been misinformed on.


Thanks!!

Mowsley

WELCOME to these Forums...

I am Very partial to Hustler... and from your lists I am fairly sure you will be also... :smile:KennyV

Mowsley, this is a fantastic post. It hits on exactly the points that I am looking at between the Ferris and Hustler. I have narrowed my search between a 2012 Ferris 1500z for $6,000 out the door (otd), a 2013 Ferris 600z for $5,400 (otd), a 2013 Hustler Fastrak for $5,200 otd, or a 2012 Scag Freedom Z for $5,500 otd. All have 48" decks and Kawasaki FS engines, though the Hustler has about 3 more horses than the other machines. Unfortunately, none of the dealers I've been to have an area where I can engage the blades and see the quality of cut, which is of the highest level of importance to me. Close in importance is build quality/longevity combined with affordability of parts and ease of service when something inevitably goes wrong.

Mosley has done a great job of pointing out nearly all of the differences I have observed between the Ferris and Hustler along with some new ones. The dealer with the 2012 Ferris 1500z is telling me that $6,000 is dealer cost, and with this unit I will be getting dual drive motors, which none of the other machines have. The dealer described this a closer to a "true commercial" machine but admitted that these motors are more expensive to maintain and repair. Other than that, if going Ferris, I would lean towards the 2013 Ferris 600z because it is less money and newer, plus the 2012 has been left outside and is showing rust in areas including on the suspension. The 600z has a slightly upgraded hydro compared to the Huster and Scag but probably not enough that I would notice as a consumer. Scag has a reputation for fantastic cut quality, but this is on their higher grade velocity decks, which the Freedom Z does not have. The Ferris units both have their iCD cutting system with Marbain blades, but I have read a review online that the Huster deck tends to bog down and clog in thick grass. I have not seen any good comparison reviews online about the cut quality of these units, so this has been my biggest disadvantage in my shopping. I did really like the Ferris suspension, but I know for $200 I can add a caster wheel shock absorber to the Hustler. The Scag, I believe, does not offer anything to help the suspension, but they do offer a seat upgrade for about $400.

Mosley, I hope you don't mind my post. I am not trying to hijack your thread. Your post was just so good that it encouraged me to join this forum, as it hit on exactly the points that I am seeing between the Huster Fastrak and the Ferris 600z.

Anyone in the forum with some real world experience cutting with any of these units? I'd really appreciate some useful feedback. Thanks!

No problem. Btw. I went with the Ferris and I couldn't be happier. It sounds like I'm sitting on a helicopter when I engage the blade. I did upgrade to the Kawasaki engine.

This is not to say the hustler would not be a good choice. I'm sure it would.

If you have not owned a zero turn before, go to you tube and search "three point turn mower" (sorry, not sure how to do a link) the first result will show you how to do it. I have a neighbor that actually got rid of his zero turn because he didn't know it was possible to turn without tearing up the lawn.

Good luck!!

Thanks. I'm leaning towards the Ferris too. Both of the Ferris units I'm considering are with 18.5 hp Kawasaki and 48" cut, so it's not 100% apples to apples, but how do you like the cut on your 52" deck?

Does anybody else here on the forum have any feedback on the cut quality of the 48" decks on the Hustler Fastrak and Scag Freedom Z?

I think the cut quality is top notch. There seems to be a lot of suction so the blades stand up straight and are cut cleanly. I can't compare to anything else, but I am happy.

I feel like you can't really go wrong here. From my research, these two are the best value. Pick a color you like and mow off into the sunset ;-)

Let us know when you decide. I am curious.

Mowsley said:

Let us know when you decide. I am curious.

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I will. I don't think I can go wrong with any of the units I'm considering, so pricing is now at the forefront.

Right now, I'm leaning heavily towards the Ferris models and trying to negotiate the best deal on the is600z and the is1500z between two different dealers. I read a few reviews about the Hustler Fastrak having clogging issues with its deck, so I've started to rule that out. The Scag Freedom Z is still competitively in the running, but it all hinges on what the local Ferris dealers are willing to do on price. Thanks, and wish me luck!

Mowsley said:

Let us know when you decide. I am curious.

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I ordered the Ferris is600z today. It was not in stock with the Kawasaki engine locally, so I have ordered it. I hope to have it within the next 7 to 10 days.

Thanks again for your great post and feedback.

Mowsley, does your 700 really cut to 5", as the specs indicate? My 600 arrived on Saturday, and it is clearly marked that when the deck is in the transport position, it is only cutting to a max height of 4.5". I'm a little disappointed that my mower was not marketed properly to true specs!

Floodwaker said:

Mowsley, does your 700 really cut to 5", as the specs indicate? My 600 arrived on Saturday, and it is clearly marked that when the deck is in the transport position, it is only cutting to a max height of 4.5". I'm a little disappointed that my mower was not marketed properly to true specs!

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Don't get me wrong, but would you ever mow your grass at 5"???? My Gravely is adjustable in 1/4" increments up to that 5" height, but I never cut at more than 3". You would almost be using the ZTR as a "bush hog" if the grass is so tall you had to cut it at 5". I "store mine" with the deck at 5" because it takes all of the tension out of the deck stabilizing springs and I figure it will extend their lifespan. If I stored it at the lowest cutting height I would be afraid that the springs(even though they are pretty heavy duty springs) would "stretch out" sitting all winter like that. That's about the only purpose I really see for the 5" deck height setting.

djdicetn said:

Don't get me wrong, but would you ever mow your grass at 5"???? My Gravely is adjustable in 1/4" increments up to that 5" height, but I never cut at more than 3". You would almost be using the ZTR as a "bush hog" if the grass is so tall you had to cut it at 5". I "store mine" with the deck at 5" because it takes all of the tension out of the deck stabilizing springs and I figure it will extend their lifespan. If I stored it at the lowest cutting height I would be afraid that the springs(even though they are pretty heavy duty springs) would "stretch out" sitting all winter like that. That's about the only purpose I really see for the 5" deck height setting.

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In fact my first cut was just such an occasion where I wanted to cut at 5". The mower I am replacing was out of commission for two weeks while I waited for my Ferris to come in, and we had plenty of rain. The grass was well overgrown, and I would have preferred to take 1/3 of the blade off with a 5" setting and come back and do a finish cut. This was my rational for choosing the Ferris with its advertised 5" cut capability, and I am disappointed that the advertised specs do not meet the equipment's real capabilities.

Floodwaker said:

In fact my first cut was just such an occasion where I wanted to cut at 5". The mower I am replacing was out of commission for two weeks while I waited for my Ferris to come in, and we had plenty of rain. The grass was well overgrown, and I would have preferred to take 1/3 of the blade off with a 5" setting and come back and do a finish cut. This was my rational for choosing the Ferris with its advertised 5" cut capability, and I am disappointed that the advertised specs do not meet the equipment's real capabilities.

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Well, hopefully this being due to not having a mower for a while, this won't be an ongoing "problem" for you...and the 4.5" max cutting height will be OK.

P.S.
Soooooo, how did it do at 4.5"?????

djdicetn said:

Well, hopefully this being due to not having a mower for a while, this won't be an ongoing "problem" for you...and the 4.5" max cutting height will be OK.

P.S.
Soooooo, how did it do at 4.5"?????

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Not great, but okay. With brand spanking new marbain blades, I did not expect to see as many stringers left over. Maybe I was expecting too much, as the grass was pretty tall and is very thick. I was traveling about half speed, but I may need to slow down even further on my next mow to see how it does.

You're right that the inability to cut to 5" is not going to be a regular problem as I cut to a max height of 4" in the summer, but there are times when I travel for business or vacation, and these are the times when I'd prefer to be able to cut to 5" before applying a finish cut. Besides, it's the principal of being mislead by the marketing. I doubt that there was any intentional disception, but you still expect better when spending over 5 grand on a piece of equipment. I've actually contacted Ferris 2 days ago to make them aware of the situation, but they have not responded yet to my message. I asked them to correct their marketing and to get back in touch with me to discuss the matter. I am definitely curious to see if they handle this properly. I hope they do.

Floodwaker said:

Not great, but okay. With brand spanking new marbain blades, I did not expect to see as many stringers left over. Maybe I was expecting too much, as the grass was pretty tall and is very thick. I was traveling about half speed, but I may need to slow down even further on my next mow to see how it does.

You're right that the inability to cut to 5" is not going to be a regular problem as I cut to a max height of 4" in the summer, but there are times when I travel for business or vacation, and these are the times when I'd prefer to be able to cut to 5" before applying a finish cut. Besides, it's the principal of being mislead by the marketing. I doubt that there was any intentional disception, but you still expect better when spending over 5 grand on a piece of equipment. I've actually contacted Ferris 2 days ago to make them aware of the situation, but they have not responded yet to my message. I asked them to correct their marketing and to get back in touch with me to discuss the matter. I am definitely curious to see if they handle this properly. I hope they do.

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Let us know how they respond.....I totally agree, inacurrate specs are misleading to the consumer, period.

Maybe they'll "compensate you" with a huge discount(free would ne nice:0) on a mulch kit or bagger to help with those windrows:0)

djdicetn said:

Let us know how they respond.....I totally agree, inacurrate specs are misleading to the consumer, period.

Maybe they'll "compensate you" with a huge discount(free would ne nice:0) on a mulch kit or bagger to help with those windrows:0)

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I will definitely let you know. I called and had to leave a message with the Briggs and Stratton employee who handles their web contact forms, so we'll see.

I really didn't have too many issues with windrows, which was nice. I did open the discharge chute wide open to ensure good throw, and I tried to blow into uncut areas. There was very little that I had to go back over with the blower. The only issue was the stringers (if that's the right term for miscellaneous uncut grass blades.) Somebody told me that the marbain blades come packaged with a coating over the blade tip that wears off after a few cuts, but I can't confirm. They said that could be the reason that I had so many tall grass blades that did not cut properly. Someone here may be able to confirm or deny...

Floodwaker said:

I will definitely let you know. I called and had to leave a message with the Briggs and Stratton employee who handles their web contact forms, so we'll see.

I really didn't have too many issues with windrows, which was nice. I did open the discharge chute wide open to ensure good throw, and I tried to blow into uncut areas. There was very little that I had to go back over with the blower. The only issue was the stringers (if that's the right term for miscellaneous uncut grass blades.) Somebody told me that the marbain blades come packaged with a coating over the blade tip that wears off after a few cuts, but I can't confirm. They said that could be the reason that I had so many tall grass blades that did not cut properly. Someone here may be able to confirm or deny...

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I got a Ferris 1500 and have had the same issue with "strings" of grass left sticking up. I only have about 5 hours on the mower right now. It seems to do better if the grass is a little taller. I used to cut weekly. I let it sit for almost 2 weeks and then cut. There were less stringers. I also cut some of my in-laws and it was pretty long. It did a great job! The only other issue I am having is getting used the hydros. My old cub ZT was much less responsive. This thing is very touchy. Is yours the same?

jrapp said:

I got a Ferris 1500 and have had the same issue with "strings" of grass left sticking up. I only have about 5 hours on the mower right now. It seems to do better if the grass is a little taller. I used to cut weekly. I let it sit for almost 2 weeks and then cut. There were less stringers. I also cut some of my in-laws and it was pretty long. It did a great job! The only other issue I am having is getting used the hydros. My old cub ZT was much less responsive. This thing is very touchy. Is yours the same?

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My first cut was in extremely thick and high grass (like 3 weeks of growth), which was when I had a whole lot of stringers left over. This past weekend, I was able to cut at a normal interval (1 week of growth) and a 4" height, and the stringers were much fewer and far between. Really, not enough to mention at this point.

Does your 1500 reach a 5" cut in the storage position? I'm still waiting to receive a legitimate response from Briggs and Stratton on the marketing issue. The lady I've spoken to, three times now, told me that I would be receiving a call or email from someone there in the engineering department who had some type of "solution" for the issue. It's been nearly a week since I made them aware of the issue, and I'm beginning to get the impression that they are dodging and delaying me until they can figure out the best way to make me go away...

Floodwaker said:

My first cut was in extremely thick and high grass (like 3 weeks of growth), which was when I had a whole lot of stringers left over. This past weekend, I was able to cut at a normal interval (1 week of growth) and a 4" height, and the stringers were much fewer and far between. Really, not enough to mention at this point.

Does your 1500 reach a 5" cut in the storage position? I'm still waiting to receive a legitimate response from Briggs and Stratton on the marketing issue. The lady I've spoken to, three times now, told me that I would be receiving a call or email from someone there in the engineering department who had some type of "solution" for the issue. It's been nearly a week since I made them aware of the issue, and I'm beginning to get the impression that they are dodging and delaying me until they can figure out the best way to make me go away...

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Yes. In storage it is the 5 inch cut. I think mine even has a label on the cut height adjustment that says that. I will have to check.

Just to give an update:

Briggs and Stratton (Ferris) has been dragging their feet on this, big time! The girl I originally spoke with first claimed to have not received my email, after repeated contacts from my end, she finally said she found my email in their spam folder (FYI, I submitted my message through the web contact form on the Ferris website, so she is telling me that the Briggs and Stratton email server is recognizing their own internal web forms as spam.) She then told me that a guy there had devised a "work around" and would be in touch with me. Several more days and no word, I called back again and again. I was then put in touch with one of the repair guys who said I could raise the deck myself and just realize that the markings are all off by 1/2 inch. Really, does that change the fact that the specs state this mower will cut from 1.75" to 5" in quarter inch increments? In real life it can cut from 1.75" to 4.5", or it can be "worked around" to cut 2.25" to 5" inches, but never 1.75" to 5", which is the marketing that I spent a lot of money on.

I also called my local dealer (who is the authorized repair center) to discuss the issue. (To give background, while shopping, I offered to pay him $300 more than the out of state price which included $200 in delivery, i.e. $500 more than the out of state price, to keep my business local, but he told me that even at that price he couldn't make money selling me that unit. I physically drove over to speak with him eye to eye and explain that I wasn't running a negotiation game on him, I appreciated his time, but I am a man with a family, and there is no way I could justify paying $700 more overall to simply give him the business. I did tell him that I would like to continue working with him after the purchase for local parts and service, and he said of course, we'll still be friends.) Well, when I called him to discuss the unit, I guess he finally realized that I wasn't BS-ing him in an attempt to get a better price, and I could tell in his voice that he was mad. He was very short on the phone, told me that he would work with me based on whatever Briggs and Stratton tells him to do, and he left me feeling pretty out in the cold with no real manufacturer or local dealer support at this point. (Mind you, the real purpose of my call was to get the price on a new set of blades, a tow kit, and possibly a bagger and/or mulching kit.)

If things continue down this path, I will probably start a brand new thread in the Ferris area, but ever the optimist, I will give a few more days to see if things turn around... I'm honestly getting so turned off by all of this that I may end up going through my credit card company and forcing a return on this...

Floodwaker said:

Just to give an update:

Briggs and Stratton (Ferris) has been dragging their feet on this, big time! The girl I originally spoke with first claimed to have not received my email, after repeated contacts from my end, she finally said she found my email in their spam folder (FYI, I submitted my message through the web contact form on the Ferris website, so she is telling me that the Briggs and Stratton email server is recognizing their own internal web forms as spam.) She then told me that a guy there had devised a "work around" and would be in touch with me. Several more days and no word, I called back again and again. I was then put in touch with one of the repair guys who said I could raise the deck myself and just realize that the markings are all off by 1/2 inch. Really, does that change the fact that the specs state this mower will cut from 1.75" to 5" in quarter inch increments? In real life it can cut from 1.75" to 4.5", or it can be "worked around" to cut 2.25" to 5" inches, but never 1.75" to 5", which is the marketing that I spent a lot of money on.

I also called my local dealer (who is the authorized repair center) to discuss the issue. (To give background, while shopping, I offered to pay him $300 more than the out of state price which included $200 in delivery, i.e. $500 more than the out of state price, to keep my business local, but he told me that even at that price he couldn't make money selling me that unit. I physically drove over to speak with him eye to eye and explain that I wasn't running a negotiation game on him, I appreciated his time, but I am a man with a family, and there is no way I could justify paying $700 more overall to simply give him the business. I did tell him that I would like to continue working with him after the purchase for local parts and service, and he said of course, we'll still be friends.) Well, when I called him to discuss the unit, I guess he finally realized that I wasn't BS-ing him in an attempt to get a better price, and I could tell in his voice that he was mad. He was very short on the phone, told me that he would work with me based on whatever Briggs and Stratton tells him to do, and he left me feeling pretty out in the cold with no real manufacturer or local dealer support at this point. (Mind you, the real purpose of my call was to get the price on a new set of blades, a tow kit, and possibly a bagger and/or mulching kit.)

If things continue down this path, I will probably start a brand new thread in the Ferris area, but ever the optimist, I will give a few more days to see if things turn around... I'm honestly getting so turned off by all of this that I may end up going through my credit card company and forcing a return on this...

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Many would say that this is simply a technicality and not worth pursuing(actually my "first reaction"), but after the subsequent conversations in the thread I wholeheartedly agree with your stand on this. You have a legitimate complaint and I see both the responses from Ferris and the dealer as inappropriate in regard to "resolving your problem". I have been employed for over 40 years in a "service-oriented organization career" and understand fully the two basic rules of business:

1)The customer is always right.

2)When the customer is wrong.........refer to Rule#1.

I encourage you to continue pushing the envelope" on this and remember......."right has might"!!!!

As an aside, when I found out that Briggs & Stratton manufactured Ferris, Snapper and Simplicity lawn equipment I basically eliminated those brands from my search. This was due to a very bad taste in my mouth over a 24hp B & S Intek V-Twin engine on a 2006 Craftsman 54" YS4500 lawn tractor that had a major "assembly defect" that appeared just after the warranty expired. My previous lawn tractor(a 1993 Lawn Chief from True Value) had a 16hp Briggs Vanguard which was an extremely good engine(still running like day one when my son retired it last year....19 years old) and the 24hp B & S engine was one of the main reasons I went with the Craftsman(actually a Husqvarna manufactured machine). That disappointment was enough for me to be highly reluctant to purchase another "Briggs product". Another user on these forums had a similar experience with the 24hp B & S Intek, so it boiled down to B & S making a very bad decision to change from the Vanguard design to the Intek!! Keep us posted on how things go....a LOT of potential Ferris customers read these forums and it would behove Ferris to "make it right" to avoid this topic swaying them to another product.

djdicetn said:

1)The customer is always right.

2)When the customer is wrong.........refer to Rule#1.

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That is a most quoted WRONG statement... but then again it is Usually stated by someone that is acclimatized to Being Wrong and generally complaining.
"The customer is always right." IS statistically Impossible. Anyone that has such a notion is not connected to reality & likely has Never Owned a business. The concept that it is 'Okay' to patronize a potential customer, who is in fact wrong, in No way shows any credibility toward the particular business. If someone is so Desperate for consumer trade that they encourage a Wrong position just to secure a sale, That says negatively more about that particular business than anything else that could ever be said.
I have always had More respect for my employees than to subject them to that particular type of impossible reasoning.

this particular 'complaint' really should have a thread of it's own, that way it would not bog down this particular subject... Deciding between Ferris 700z 52" and Hustler Fastrak 54"...
Ether the indicator is showing inches, mm, reference numbers, alphabetic units or whatever to show relative deck height, Should have very little to do with important meaningful differences between the two OP's mowers. :smile:KennyV

KennyV said:

That is a most quoted WRONG statement... but then again it is Usually stated by someone that is acclimatized to Being Wrong and generally complaining.
"The customer is always right." IS statistically Impossible. Anyone that has such a notion is not connected to reality & likely has Never Owned a business. The concept that it is 'Okay' to patronize a potential customer, who is in fact wrong, in No way shows any credibility toward the particular business. If someone is so Desperate for consumer trade that they encourage a Wrong position just to secure a sale, That says negatively more about that particular business than anything else that could ever be said.
I have always had More respect for my employees than to subject them to that particular type of impossible reasoning.

this particular 'complaint' really should have a thread of it's own, that way it would not bog down this particular subject... Deciding between Ferris 700z 52" and Hustler Fastrak 54"...
Ether the indicator is showing inches, mm, reference numbers, alphabetic units or whatever to show relative deck height, Should have very little to do with important meaningful differences between the two OP's mowers. :smile:KennyV

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In Post#4, the OP(user Mowsley) basically satisfied the original subject line of this thread with his decision to purchase the Ferris over the Hustler so there is no bogging down in my opinion. User Floodwaker subsequently extended the subject of this thread specifically after also purchasing a Ferris to then discover that the specifications for that ZTR were not factual information. When it comes to a business that prides itself in customer satisfaction(as I have personally observed, very rare today), whether it be the manufacturer or the retail distribution dealer the object to address this inconsistency should not be "avoided" as in the case of Briggs & Stratton or "ignored" by the dealer who represents that product. I guess we will have to agree to disagree that either B & S needs to offer a viable solution to support how the product was marketed, or the dealer needs to give a complete refund to user Floodwaker for a product that purported to have a feature that it didn't. In either case, any company manufacturing or selling a product that does not follow those two business rules is in fact saying to the consumer "we don't care that you were mis-led by the information we provided you to base your decision to purchase our product on, you are stuck with it and don't bother us with your complaints". I too would encourage user Floodwaker to start a fresh thread with the subject line "Ferris Misleads Consumers About Their Products" in the Ferris forum and continue to let other forum users know whether the reputation of Ferris is questionable or not. My question to you is if you buy a car that purports to have "Drive" & "Reverse" only to discover after purchasing it that it will ONLY go forward would you "be right" to complain to the dealer or manufacturer for selling it under that premise? You don't have to respond, just answer that within your own consciense.

djdicetn said:

..... if you buy a car that purports to have "Drive" & "Reverse" only to discover after purchasing it that it will ONLY go forward would you "be right" to complain to the dealer or manufacturer for selling it under that premise? You don't have to respond, just answer that within your own consciense.

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If you are going to 'compare' a car not having forward or reverse to a mower's top setting being off 10 percent in the "transport" setting... I do see the problem in reasoning.
The lack of that top half inch may merit a comment somewhere... the Future value of This particular thread for the comparison of the 2 mentioned mowers 'may' be of some value to someone in the future...

To repeat a nonsense 'The customer is Always Right' statement was my real objection...

If there was a guarantee stating this particular model Ferris would Mow grass on a lawn to 5 inches, in the transport position Or you can get your money back... then go for the return & refund.
I have no idea what the actual verbiage might be... I myself am partial to Hustler, But that is not to say that Ferris is in any way lacking in the ability to build a quality machine.

Again my Only actual point was that in real life the Customer is (NOT) Always right... and anyone approaching a situation thinking that somehow being a 'customer' automatically makes you right, will "Always" be Wrong, about that assumption.
:smile:KennyV

KennyV said:

If you are going to 'compare' a car not having forward or reverse to a mower's top setting being off 10 percent in the "transport" setting... I do see the problem in reasoning.
The lack of that top half inch may merit a comment somewhere... the Future value of This particular thread for the comparison of the 2 mentioned mowers 'may' be of some value to someone in the future...

To repeat a nonsense 'The customer is Always Right' statement was my real objection...

If there was a guarantee stating this particular model Ferris would Mow grass on a lawn to 5 inches, in the transport position Or you can get your money back... then go for the return & refund.
I have no idea what the actual verbiage might be... I myself am partial to Hustler, But that is not to say that Ferris is in any way lacking in the ability to build a quality machine.

Again my Only actual point was that in real life the Customer is (NOT) Always right... and anyone approaching a situation thinking that somehow being a 'customer' automatically makes you right, will "Always" be Wrong, about that assumption.
:smile:KennyV

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Well, up to this point I have simply been taking user Floodwaker's information as facts(with the assumption that he had no reason to state other than facts). So to determine whether or not he actually has a valid complaint you and I can cease and desist with the controversy over my "customer is always right" statement and focus on the real issue at hand. So I have taken the time to go to the Ferris website to see what their product information for the 48" IS600Z actually states and I find the following:

MOWER DECK
iCD Cutting System with striping kit
on 48" model
10-gauge, fabricated deck on 44" model
Cut height: 1.75"- 5" adjusts in
1/4" increments
Features greaseable aluminum spindles

Now based upon that excerpt from their own website, I interpret the specifications to indicate that there indeed should be a "Cut height" setting of 5 inches.....NOT a "Transport height" of 5 inches. You can argue all you want with me, but user Floodwaker has every right to confront the manufacturer and/or dealer regarding some of the information(obviously an important influence on his decision) that he based his purchase on. Again, no matter how "we" feel about this, and in all fairness either Ferris(Briggs & Stratton) and/or their dealer network need to (1)apologize for the incorrect specs (2)offer a resolution acceptable to the consumer and (3)correct the inaccurate information on their marketing information. There is no debate as to whether that is the right or wrong thing to do, regardless of whether user Floodwaker informs other forum users here or on the Ferris forum. And IMHO, if I were shopping, considering the Ferris line of ZTR's and happened upon this thread I would find the postings by user Floodwalker beneficial in influencing my decision to buy a Ferris or not(if the cut height is wrong......what other spec(s) may also be inaccurate). Also he did ask the OP, who purchased the IS700Z whether he could actually mow at 5" or not and did not receive a reply back(that I can find). The IS700Z literature states the exact same spec as the IS500Z. Again, I reiterate that you and others may brush this off as a "minor technicality".......BUT it is not our money that was spent on a ZTR that did not conform to the manufacturer's stated performance characteristics. I have no more to add to this discussion unless it is a response to user Floodwaker, who I still encourage to "push the envelope" on this if it is important to him!!!!

djdicetn said:

.... So to determine whether or not he actually has a valid complaint you and I can cease and desist with the controversy over my "customer is always right" statement and focus on the real issue at hand.

Click to expand...

Oh Really...
My intent was to respond to the outrageous, but 'cutsie' notion that "customer is always right" statement. Least someone may actually believe that.

As to the cut settings:
If this is the Worst "defect" that can be found on that model... I'm going to have to suppose it's a great machine.
:smile:KennyV

Floodwaker said:

Mowsley, this is a fantastic post. It hits on exactly the points that I am looking at between the Ferris and Hustler. I have narrowed my search between a 2012 Ferris 1500z for $6,000 out the door (otd), a 2013 Ferris 600z for $5,400 (otd), a 2013 Hustler Fastrak for $5,200 otd, or a 2012 Scag Freedom Z for $5,500 otd. All have 48" decks and Kawasaki FS engines, though the Hustler has about 3 more horses than the other machines. Unfortunately, none of the dealers I've been to have an area where I can engage the blades and see the quality of cut, which is of the highest level of importance to me. Close in importance is build quality/longevity combined with affordability of parts and ease of service when something inevitably goes wrong.

Mosley has done a great job of pointing out nearly all of the differences I have observed between the Ferris and Hustler along with some new ones. The dealer with the 2012 Ferris 1500z is telling me that $6,000 is dealer cost, and with this unit I will be getting dual drive motors, which none of the other machines have. The dealer described this a closer to a "true commercial" machine but admitted that these motors are more expensive to maintain and repair. Other than that, if going Ferris, I would lean towards the 2013 Ferris 600z because it is less money and newer, plus the 2012 has been left outside and is showing rust in areas including on the suspension. The 600z has a slightly upgraded hydro compared to the Huster and Scag but probably not enough that I would notice as a consumer. Scag has a reputation for fantastic cut quality, but this is on their higher grade velocity decks, which the Freedom Z does not have. The Ferris units both have their iCD cutting system with Marbain blades, but I have read a review online that the Huster deck tends to bog down and clog in thick grass. I have not seen any good comparison reviews online about the cut quality of these units, so this has been my biggest disadvantage in my shopping. I did really like the Ferris suspension, but I know for $200 I can add a caster wheel shock absorber to the Hustler. The Scag, I believe, does not offer anything to help the suspension, but they do offer a seat upgrade for about $400.

Mosley, I hope you don't mind my post. I am not trying to hijack your thread. Your post was just so good that it encouraged me to join this forum, as it hit on exactly the points that I am seeing between the Huster Fastrak and the Ferris 600z.

Anyone in the forum with some real world experience cutting with any of these units? I'd really appreciate some useful feedback. Thanks!

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You know, I never intervened or second guessed your comparison choices(all well built machines...even the Ferris), but based upon the unsatisfactory outcome regarding your desired cutting height I wish I had recommended that you take a look at the Gravely Pro Turn 48. It's regular MSRP is $6,699(a little pricier than some of the others, but worth every penny), is on sale right now for $5,999 and with the right Gravely dealer you may have gotten one out-the-door for fairly close to the $5,400 you paid for the Ferris. The Pro Turn has the FS691 Kawa, but only has the ZT-3200 HydroGear trannies(my Pro Turn 100XDZ has the ZT-3400's but the XDZ is even pricier and as you stated, this is for your personal use and the ZT-3200 would be fine...the Pro Turn is now regarded as Gravely's entry-level commercial ZTR). The Pro Turn has a 1" to 5" cut height(17 positions in 1/4" increments) and I can "guarantee you" that it would cut at 5"!!! I sincerely hope that Briggs comes up with a viable resolution to your complaint, but should the only agreeable resolution be returning the IS500Z for a refund you may want to throw Gravely's in the mix when you resume shopping for another ZTR. I sure am happy with mine.

Guys. I didn't realize that all this conversation had taken place since my last post. For some reason, I did not get emailed updates to the thread.

As I said earlier, I'm happy to make this a new thread if Ferris doesn't make good, but I simply entered into this thread to get the opinion of the OP who bought a Ferris while comparing similar mowers that I was considering. As far as the semantics of the phrase "the customer is always right", I'm not real concerned. In this case, I happen to be the customer, and I am confident that I am right. To one user of the mower, cut height may seem like an extremely unimportant issue. For me, it is the entire reason I upgraded from a $1,700 mower that cut 3.5". I am not a professional, so the only reason I bought a commercial mower was to achieve a higher cut. $5,400 is a ton of money to me, and since I don't cut lawns for a living, I don't recoup any of that cost. With that said, anything I buy from a manufacturer ought to do exactly what they say it does, and I make no apologies for expecting this.

I have been updating this thread only because I was asked to do so. If B&S ended up trying to burn me on this, I would certainly start a new thread. However, we have been slowly getting to a solution that should get me satisfied. I had my unit picked up on Friday by a dealer who is 40 miles away from me. I had to go this far because the local dealer ended up refusing to do the warranty work for B&S, which shocked me, but so be it. B&S is going to pay to have the deck raised by 1/2", so the markings will be off, and the lowest setting will now be over 2", but this is better (for my particular needs) than nothing. I'm still unsure whether B&S will pay for everything, as the guy seemed to cop out a little on covering the pickup and delivery fees, but I'm hoping he will so the right thing and pay the extra $35 since it was his local dealer that declined to do the work. It's not really my fault that he requires the work be done by his dealers, as I told him I have a repair guy 5 miles away who does good work and can be trusted.

I will post a final update to keep those who are interested informed, but I do want to repeat this: Ferris is definitely a good quality mower. I have made no representation otherwise. I always wonder why people get bent out of shape over people posting real world issues. It has never been my intent to attack Ferris or B&S. I chose them over several high quality competitors (including Gravely), but I had faith in their quality, I liked their suspension, and I ultimately went with them because of their max cut height, which made them the best dollar for dollar deal for me personally. I'm sure I'm in the 1% of people who decided their purchase decision on these final factors, but that doesn't make my concern any less valid than any other forum member. I'm not thrilled with the solution of losing my bottom cut height, but to me, it is better to be able to pre-cut tall grass to 5". I will say that I am disappointed that B&S has been aware of the incorrect specs for a month now and still hasn't updated the web specs, but I guess they are counting on the fact that I am only 1 person, and others will not have the same issue. I'm sure some would say I'm wrong, but I expect more, particularly from an American company. I will now step down from my soap box. Thanks.

Floodwaker said:

Guys. I didn't realize that all this conversation had taken place since my last post. For some reason, I did not get emailed updates to the thread.

As I said earlier, I'm happy to make this a new thread if Ferris doesn't make good, but I simply entered into this thread to get the opinion of the OP who bought a Ferris while comparing similar mowers that I was considering. As far as the semantics of the phrase "the customer is always right", I'm not real concerned. In this case, I happen to be the customer, and I am confident that I am right. To one user of the mower, cut height may seem like an extremely unimportant issue. For me, it is the entire reason I upgraded from a $1,700 mower that cut 3.5". I am not a professional, so the only reason I bought a commercial mower was to achieve a higher cut. $5,400 is a ton of money to me, and since I don't cut lawns for a living, I don't recoup any of that cost. With that said, anything I buy from a manufacturer ought to do exactly what they say it does, and I make no apologies for expecting this.

I have been updating this thread only because I was asked to do so. If B&S ended up trying to burn me on this, I would certainly start a new thread. However, we have been slowly getting to a solution that should get me satisfied. I had my unit picked up on Friday by a dealer who is 40 miles away from me. I had to go this far because the local dealer ended up refusing to do the warranty work for B&S, which shocked me, but so be it. B&S is going to pay to have the deck raised by 1/2", so the markings will be off, and the lowest setting will now be over 2", but this is better (for my particular needs) than nothing. I'm still unsure whether B&S will pay for everything, as the guy seemed to cop out a little on covering the pickup and delivery fees, but I'm hoping he will so the right thing and pay the extra $35 since it was his local dealer that declined to do the work. It's not really my fault that he requires the work be done by his dealers, as I told him I have a repair guy 5 miles away who does good work and can be trusted.

I will post a final update to keep those who are interested informed, but I do want to repeat this: Ferris is definitely a good quality mower. I have made no representation otherwise. I always wonder why people get bent out of shape over people posting real world issues. It has never been my intent to attack Ferris or B&S. I chose them over several high quality competitors (including Gravely), but I had faith in their quality, I liked their suspension, and I ultimately went with them because of their max cut height, which made them the best dollar for dollar deal for me personally. I'm sure I'm in the 1% of people who decided their purchase decision on these final factors, but that doesn't make my concern any less valid than any other forum member. I'm not thrilled with the solution of losing my bottom cut height, but to me, it is better to be able to pre-cut tall grass to 5". I will say that I am disappointed that B&S has been aware of the incorrect specs for a month now and still hasn't updated the web specs, but I guess they are counting on the fact that I am only 1 person, and others will not have the same issue. I'm sure some would say I'm wrong, but I expect more, particularly from an American company. I will now step down from my soap box. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the update...and I'm glad to hear that Ferris/Briggs is working with you to bring your purchase to your satisfaction!!!!!! Don't worry about the back-and-forth between user KennyV & myself(this is not the first time we have not seen eye-to-eye on something and it usually leads to a pi__ing match:0)
I still contend that you were right to demand what you have based upon the misleading specifications, and obviously at least Ferris/Briggs agrees with that:0)
Please let us know how it all works out(here or in another post). Again, I will make the statement(right has might!!!:0)

djdicetn, thank you.

Update: The mower has been returned. I drove it to verify that the left hydraulic is functioning correctly, and it is. In fact, it handles much, much better now, as you would expect. I must assume, for now, that the deck has been adjusted properly. I will end up measuring it, but I'm not in a rush as I can't cut for a while until my new seed has fully established.

Murphy's Law though: The three rear protective bars were damaged while it was away. I spoke to the mechanic, and he suspects that the guys who delivered the mower back to me drove another mower into the back of it when loading the trailer. I told him that I understand that things happen (though it sucks). I explained to him that the damage was deep enough that it was scraped to bare metal, and he agreed at my request to send me some touch up paint to at least protect against rust. At least Ferris had the foresight to install the protective bars to begin with! If the engine had been exposed like I have seen on several homeowner grade models, it would have most certainly caused real damage to the engine.

I am going to assume that there will be no issue with the deck height adjustment. The only other issue hanging out there is the bill. I bought a spare set of blades and a hitch kit from the dealer, and he will be mailing me the invoice. Only then will I know if Ferris/Briggs agreed to pay the full pick-up and delivery fee. Even if they don't, after the delivery damage, the dealer will likely just write it off or should at the very least.

To close, I'd like to restate that the Ferris IS 600Z appears to be a well made mower, which is the reason I purchased it. Obviously, I have issue with Briggs and Stratton's marketing department, as I just checked online, and they still have not corrected the specs. (I do understand not going through the expense and headache of correcting thousands of catalogs that are already in distribution, but how about making one simple correction on your website?! It only seems right seeing as you've now known about this since August 26!) I also have less than full confidence in the dealer network based on my experiences thus far, but I believe I will be in decent hands with the dealer 40 miles away (so long as I install a bumper on this thing next time.) :laughing: The mower blades and other parts and accessories seem pretty expensive and can only be bought through dealers, but that is a business model that I knew about going into the purchase. I expect that I will be very happy in the long run with my mower. I am excited to finally be able to cut higher that 3.5" and will be extremely excited next summer to be able to keep my lawn from burning out once temperatures get above 90 degrees.

Thanks again to everybody for your input.

Floodwaker said:

djdicetn, thank you.

Update: The mower has been returned. I drove it to verify that the left hydraulic is functioning correctly, and it is. In fact, it handles much, much better now, as you would expect. I must assume, for now, that the deck has been adjusted properly. I will end up measuring it, but I'm not in a rush as I can't cut for a while until my new seed has fully established.

Murphy's Law though: The three rear protective bars were damaged while it was away. I spoke to the mechanic, and he suspects that the guys who delivered the mower back to me drove another mower into the back of it when loading the trailer. I told him that I understand that things happen (though it sucks). I explained to him that the damage was deep enough that it was scraped to bare metal, and he agreed at my request to send me some touch up paint to at least protect against rust. At least Ferris had the foresight to install the protective bars to begin with! If the engine had been exposed like I have seen on several homeowner grade models, it would have most certainly caused real damage to the engine.

I am going to assume that there will be no issue with the deck height adjustment. The only other issue hanging out there is the bill. I bought a spare set of blades and a hitch kit from the dealer, and he will be mailing me the invoice. Only then will I know if Ferris/Briggs agreed to pay the full pick-up and delivery fee. Even if they don't, after the delivery damage, the dealer will likely just write it off or should at the very least.

To close, I'd like to restate that the Ferris IS 600Z appears to be a well made mower, which is the reason I purchased it. Obviously, I have issue with Briggs and Stratton's marketing department, as I just checked online, and they still have not corrected the specs. (I do understand not going through the expense and headache of correcting thousands of catalogs that are already in distribution, but how about making one simple correction on your website?! It only seems right seeing as you've now known about this since August 26!) I also have less than full confidence in the dealer network based on my experiences thus far, but I believe I will be in decent hands with the dealer 40 miles away (so long as I install a bumper on this thing next time.) :laughing: The mower blades and other parts and accessories seem pretty expensive and can only be bought through dealers, but that is a business model that I knew about going into the purchase. I expect that I will be very happy in the long run with my mower. I am excited to finally be able to cut higher that 3.5" and will be extremely excited next summer to be able to keep my lawn from burning out once temperatures get above 90 degrees.

Thanks again to everybody for your input.

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Hello - I know this is an older thread, but are there any new comments as to the debate on a new Hustler vs Ferris purchase. I am in all of this now, and enjoyed reading this thread (although it seemed to go elsewhere for a while). I am looking at the Ferris 700 and a Hustler Raptor (SD) which I know is not as "rugged" of a mower. I like the Hustler though because I found the last Kawasaki engine at the Lowes near me (new, but last years model) vs. possibly having to get the B&S most likely (due to cost) of the more expensive Ferris model. Any feedback on the Ferris 700 with the Briggs engine? Any feedback on the Hustler SD? I am cutting a rough few acres (sloppy at times, somewhat bumpy, and various roots/stumps to avoid) and leaning to the Ferris for durability/smoother ride, but the Hustler for the lighter weight and engine. Just a retired dude, here, not a professional - will only cut every 3 or 4 weeks or so, mainly from April until October.

shanewoodsman said:

Hello - I know this is an older thread, but are there any new comments as to the debate on a new Hustler vs Ferris purchase. I am in all of this now, and enjoyed reading this thread (although it seemed to go elsewhere for a while). I am looking at the Ferris 700 and a Hustler Raptor (SD) which I know is not as "rugged" of a mower. I like the Hustler though because I found the last Kawasaki engine at the Lowes near me (new, but last years model) vs. possibly having to get the B&S most likely (due to cost) of the more expensive Ferris model. Any feedback on the Ferris 700 with the Briggs engine? Any feedback on the Hustler SD? I am cutting a rough few acres (sloppy at times, somewhat bumpy, and various roots/stumps to avoid) and leaning to the Ferris for durability/smoother ride, but the Hustler for the lighter weight and engine. Just a retired dude, here, not a professional - will only cut every 3 or 4 weeks or so, mainly from April until October.

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The Raptor sd has a residential Kawasaki engine and zt2800 hydros, which are also residential. The Ferris IS 700z has a commercial B&S engine and commercial zt3400 hydros. There is no Comparing the two. One is a residential mower, and the other is a commercial mower. How many acres are you mowing? The Ferris IS 600z is a 48" commercial mower and can handle several acres very easily as well. If you like the Kawasaki engine better the IS 600z comes with the Kawasaki FS600v as an option, and the same zt3400 hydros at a lower price than the IS 700z.

Shughes717 said:

The Raptor sd has a residential Kawasaki engine and zt2800 hydros, which are also residential. The Ferris IS 700z has a commercial B&S engine and commercial zt3400 hydros. There is no Comparing the two. One is a residential mower, and the other is a commercial mower. How many acres are you mowing? The Ferris IS 600z is a 48" commercial mower and can handle several acres very easily as well. If you like the Kawasaki engine better the IS 600z comes with the Kawasaki FS600v as an option, and the same zt3400 hydros at a lower price than the IS 700z.

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Those are really good points, thanks! I was comparing these two because the local Hustler dealer is terrible so I was comparing the best Hustler I could buy from Lowes (the SD) vs. what I'd really like to get (but can't get local) which is the Ferris (my local Ferris dealer caught fire and is closed). Anyway, I'd be spending more on the Ferris, but gaining suspension (vs. optional flex forks that did nothing beneficial on my last Hustler) but would be purchasing online which is basically purchasing without a warranty..... vs. Lowes that comes and get a broken ZTR and fixes it with the Extended Warranty if you purchase it. Apples vs. Oranges - that is true, but I am also jumbled by the other considerations. I am a textbook case of overthinking this... and the engine cost vs. potential reliability thing. I am not sure how much I will mow - was mowing 1.5 acres but recently bought the 1.5 next to it, but not all of it is growing or needing to mow yet, plus lots more trees on the 2nd property (so now I am confused on the deck size). Plus it is soft right now (gets rock hard later in the Spring/Summer) so also concerned about the mower weight. And, that bad back/suspension thing! Seems to be a "mower therapy" session - it began when I put a deposit on a Hustler, and then saw the Ferris!

shanewoodsman said:

Those are really good points, thanks! I was comparing these two because the local Hustler dealer is terrible so I was comparing the best Hustler I could buy from Lowes (the SD) vs. what I'd really like to get (but can't get local) which is the Ferris (my local Ferris dealer caught fire and is closed). Anyway, I'd be spending more on the Ferris, but gaining suspension (vs. optional flex forks that did nothing beneficial on my last Hustler) but would be purchasing online which is basically purchasing without a warranty..... vs. Lowes that comes and get a broken ZTR and fixes it with the Extended Warranty if you purchase it. Apples vs. Oranges - that is true, but I am also jumbled by the other considerations. I am a textbook case of overthinking this... and the engine cost vs. potential reliability thing. I am not sure how much I will mow - was mowing 1.5 acres but recently bought the 1.5 next to it, but not all of it is growing or needing to mow yet, plus lots more trees on the 2nd property (so now I am confused on the deck size). Plus it is soft right now (gets rock hard later in the Spring/Summer) so also concerned about the mower weight. And, that bad back/suspension thing! Seems to be a "mower therapy" session - it began when I put a deposit on a Hustler, and then saw the Ferris!

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I am a big fan of Hustler and Ferris mowers. If you want to make a fair comaprison then you should compare the Fastrack SD to the IS 600 and IS 700. The suspension on the Ferris IS 2100z models and up is great, and is the most comfortable riding mower I have ever used. The suspension on the IS 600 and 700 doesn't have near as much travel. The suspension on the IS 600 and 700 does improve the ride some, but you can get a suspension insert or suspension seat and get just as good a ride on other brands. As for the acreage you are mowing, the IS 600 could handle 3 acres easily. I mow over 4 acres with a 48" snapper pro s150xt (same design as Ferris, just doesn't have the suspension) in a little over two hours. Lots of trees and some hills. Are there any other brands available in your area? There are several great mower brands out there that offer a mower that will suit your needs.

Shughes717 said:

I am a big fan of Hustler and Ferris mowers. If you want to make a fair comaprison then you should compare the Fastrack SD to the IS 600 and IS 700. The suspension on the Ferris IS 2100z models and up is great, and is the most comfortable riding mower I have ever used. The suspension on the IS 600 and 700 doesn't have near as much travel. The suspension on the IS 600 and 700 does improve the ride some, but you can get a suspension insert or suspension seat and get just as good a ride on other brands. As for the acreage you are mowing, the IS 600 could handle 3 acres easily. I mow over 4 acres with a 48" snapper pro s150xt (same design as Ferris, just doesn't have the suspension) in a little over two hours. Lots of trees and some hills. Are there any other brands available in your area? There are several great mower brands out there that offer a mower that will suit your needs.

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I never got a chance to drive a Ferris (the dealer I found that had them had no demonstration mowers available) and I was wondering if it was better (the suspension) than a suspension seat (I was assuming it was). If it is "equal" to a suspension seat that opens up a wide range of mowers in that price range (Exmark, etc) - I was going to look at the Fastrak but when the Hustler dealer was so unfriendly I had to scratch that one off the list (knew I wasn't going to buy there). Toro's and Huskys are very common around here along with Cubs but those were not on my list. With any of them, and the one I purchase, I will have to get confidence cutting this ground with them because my last ZTR weighed about 500 lbs. and I could only mow after it dried up some (it is soaking wet right now) - that clay is a mess when it gets really wet, but like concrete during dry periods (when I mostly am able to cut). Then some roots and stumps to avoid and some cypress knees - I need a strong set of spindles, for sure, or I could just get a cheapie and replace periodically! The seat suspension thing is a good point I didn't consider enough - thank you for reminding me of that. I guess I should compare tire dimensions too, because if it is like a car/truck, taller tires could also improve the ride!

shanewoodsman said:

I never got a chance to drive a Ferris (the dealer I found that had them had no demonstration mowers available) and I was wondering if it was better (the suspension) than a suspension seat (I was assuming it was). If it is "equal" to a suspension seat that opens up a wide range of mowers in that price range (Exmark, etc) - I was going to look at the Fastrak but when the Hustler dealer was so unfriendly I had to scratch that one off the list (knew I wasn't going to buy there). Toro's and Huskys are very common around here along with Cubs but those were not on my list. With any of them, and the one I purchase, I will have to get confidence cutting this ground with them because my last ZTR weighed about 500 lbs. and I could only mow after it dried up some (it is soaking wet right now) - that clay is a mess when it gets really wet, but like concrete during dry periods (when I mostly am able to cut). Then some roots and stumps to avoid and some cypress knees - I need a strong set of spindles, for sure, or I could just get a cheapie and replace periodically! The seat suspension thing is a good point I didn't consider enough - thank you for reminding me of that. I guess I should compare tire dimensions too, because if it is like a car/truck, taller tires could also improve the ride!

Click to expand...

You should compare tire dimensions. Wider tires will displace the mower weight better. Bigger tires will improve the ride. If you are mowing a rough area, then you should definately look into a commercial mower. Toro and Exmark are basically the Same mower (Exmark is a Toro brand), as is Ferris and Snapper Pro (both owned by Briggs & Stratton), Hustler and Big Dog (both owned by Excel industries) etc. You will notice that most brands offer the same drive train options (Kawasaki, B&S, or Kohler engines and most will utilize Hydrogear trannys). The main differences will be some extra features that are specific to some brands, paint color, warranty, and price. You should find a quality dealer. These commercial mowers are all very well made, but good dealer support is important when you are looking at spending $5k plus on a mower. Brands such as Big Dog, Husqvarna, Snapper Pro, and Bad Boy will give you more mower for your money. Good luck with your search and let us know what you went with.

Thanks for all of the guidance. I have been shopping for 2 weeks (between the Ferris and Hustler, mainly) and have made a complete change of thought this afternoon. I am cutting 2 mainly rough acres (or so) at the maximum deck height (just to keep it under control, and not to hurt any blades/spindles) - with everything from a trail mower, in past years (swisher deck), to a Hustler Raptor ZTR (last year) - maybe I need to get a Lawn Tractor instead - not sexy, but would do the job (I can't drive fast anyway because it is somewhat bumpy when dry), and that way I can pull a cart to throw lawn debris in it as I go. Unfortunately neither of these companies make one, so I am now seeking suggestions on that, and I am officially on the wrong thread! It was a long process to get to that mindset, for sure! Starting over, again.......

shanewoodsman said:

Thanks for all of the guidance. I have been shopping for 2 weeks (between the Ferris and Hustler, mainly) and have made a complete change of thought this afternoon. I am cutting 2 mainly rough acres (or so) at the maximum deck height (just to keep it under control, and not to hurt any blades/spindles) - with everything from a trail mower, in past years (swisher deck), to a Hustler Raptor ZTR (last year) - maybe I need to get a Lawn Tractor instead - not sexy, but would do the job (I can't drive fast anyway because it is somewhat bumpy when dry), and that way I can pull a cart to throw lawn debris in it as I go. Unfortunately neither of these companies make one, so I am now seeking suggestions on that, and I am officially on the wrong thread! It was a long process to get to that mindset, for sure! Starting over, again.......

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Lol, good luck with your search. What's wrong with the Raptor you are using? You can put a trailer hitch on it.

Shughes717 said:

Lol, good luck with your search. What's wrong with the Raptor you are using? You can put a trailer hitch on it.

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Honestly, I owned the (base) 52" Raptor and didn't like it at all. Sure, the Kawasaki engine ran like a top, but it was so lightweight that my back felt everything. No cushion the seat either. I tried all kinds of things to make it ride better - different tires (somewhat larger, with less tire pressure). A suspension seat bracket. Flex forks (my worst experiment, because the mower was too lightweight to flex them - Hustler doesn't tell you this, on the base Raptor). It was my first ZTR, and although Lowes couldn't stop talking about it, and why I should get it, it was the wrong mower for me. The deck was also unusually noisy and shaky. I tried new blades (gator blades) but was concerned the spindles couldn't handle them, so I took those off.... just not happy with it. The only modification that I felt worked on this mower was larger ribbed tires on the back - to keep it from slipping so easily. Eventually I got Hustler to take it back (through Lowes) - didn't expect that, but was thrilled when it happened. This is why I am shopping again, but the local dealers overall are not that great, and Lowes has a limited selection of mowers, so I have been looking somewhat online too, and although the prices are better, I wouldn't have warranty coverage from local dealers, so this is pretty much where I am. I was, though, thinking the Raptor SD would definitely be better than what I had (and I can get that one at Lowes, also - and buy an extended warranty), and my back is telling me to get the Ferris, and add a suspension seat to it down the the road, if my land can handle the extra weight of the Ferris. Now I am thinking maybe I should just go back to a lawn tractor. I did like the ATV/swisher deck setup I had years ago but the swisher was constantly breaking.

P

shanewoodsman said:

Honestly, I owned the (base) 52" Raptor and didn't like it at all. Sure, the Kawasaki engine ran like a top, but it was so lightweight that my back felt everything. No cushion the seat either. I tried all kinds of things to make it ride better - different tires (somewhat larger, with less tire pressure). A suspension seat bracket. Flex forks (my worst experiment, because the mower was too lightweight to flex them - Hustler doesn't tell you this, on the base Raptor). It was my first ZTR, and although Lowes couldn't stop talking about it, and why I should get it, it was the wrong mower for me. The deck was also unusually noisy and shaky. I tried new blades (gator blades) but was concerned the spindles couldn't handle them, so I took those off.... just not happy with it. The only modification that I felt worked on this mower was larger ribbed tires on the back - to keep it from slipping so easily. Eventually I got Hustler to take it back (through Lowes) - didn't expect that, but was thrilled when it happened. This is why I am shopping again, but the local dealers overall are not that great, and Lowes has a limited selection of mowers, so I have been looking somewhat online too, and although the prices are better, I wouldn't have warranty coverage from local dealers, so this is pretty much where I am. I was, though, thinking the Raptor SD would definitely be better than what I had (and I can get that one at Lowes, also - and buy an extended warranty), and my back is telling me to get the Ferris, and add a suspension seat to it down the the road, if my land can handle the extra weight of the Ferris. Now I am thinking maybe I should just go back to a lawn tractor. I did like the ATV/swisher deck setup I had years ago but the swisher was constantly breaking.

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A tractor may be the better solution for you. It is slower, and should ride better than the Raptor. You can pull things with either though. The only down side to going with a tractor is the amount of trees you mentioned. A tractor will take much longer to mow the property than a ztr mower, especially if there are a lot of obstacles to mow around. As for the weight of the commercial ztr mowers go, they are much heavier. They do, however, have larger/wider tires. The weight plus the bigger tires help them ride better than the Raptor, and the wider tires displaces the weight over a larger area. To reduce soil compaction when mowing you should mow in different directions when possible, and when it isn't possible you should make sure you don't follow the same tracks each time you mow. Are there no Kubota dealers near your area? The Kommander may be worth a look if there are.

Spending $6k on a mower is a big investment. I get that, but finding the right ztr mower can save you a lot of time mowing and last much longer than an average garden tractor. I purchased mine when I only had 1 acre to mow. I hated mowing the lawn, and wanted to get it done in as little time as possible. Went from taking me 3 hours to mow my lawn to it only taking about 45 minutes. I sold my house a year later and purchased one with a 4 acre lawn. The people I bought the house from said it took them all day long to mow the lawn with their 48" cub can't lawn tractor. I mow it in a little over two hours, and have a blast doing it. I can't see myself ever going back to a lawn tractor.