I’m fixin to buy my first zero turn. I’ve been looking at John Deere, Gravely, and Hustler (I have good local dealers for each brand). In the end I want a machine with longevity and I have enough hills to warrant a grippier unit.
I have 1.5 acres to mow, plenty of trees, a couple steep spots, and want a 60 inch deck. The yard is fairly smooth, the few bumps left I am slowly filling in and seeding. It isn’t necessary to discuss scalping, striping, or whether this mower is too big because I just want to mow the grass quickly. I’m using a 25 year old 48 inch Craftsman hydrostatic drive so any zero turn I end up with will be a vast improvement.
Of the units I am comparing they all have Z-3100 hydros and 13x6.5 casters. Cost is a small issue to me, I’d like a mechanically sound motor and hydros and prefer to do my own maintenance. I’ll spend what I think will get me those things (within reason).
I had nearly settled on the Gravely Pro Turn Z. What concerns me I’d that it weights 930 pounds. I understand that it has a heavy duty frame and deck. It has 22x12-12 drive tires. The other Gravely, the ZT HD, has the same drive tires and weighs 870 pounds. The John Deere 730 weights 970 pounds. Oh, and the Pro Turn Z has a Loncin motor. The Gravely ZT HD has a Kawasaki FR730, John Deere has a John Deere, and the Hustler has a Kawasaki FR730.
The Hustler Raptor SDX has a bit smaller drive tire, 22x11-10, however it weights 670 pounds.
I realize this weight difference comes from build material. I’m not concerned about all-out durability or a super cushy ride. Our family must be pretty easy on equipment because we have never cracked that old Craftsman deck or frame, the spindles lasted 24 years, and the motor and hydros are still strong. Back when we got it my dad instructed us to run it a bit off full throttle and not too fast, especially in tall grass. We pull a utility trailer behind it when collecting leaves.
LONG story short, will the lighter weight Hustler handle hills better? All the mowers have similarly powered motors so I assume the lighter weight model has more power to spare. Do you have any insights I may not be considering? Thanks!
I have 1.5 acres to mow, plenty of trees, a couple steep spots, and want a 60 inch deck. The yard is fairly smooth, the few bumps left I am slowly filling in and seeding. It isn’t necessary to discuss scalping, striping, or whether this mower is too big because I just want to mow the grass quickly. I’m using a 25 year old 48 inch Craftsman hydrostatic drive so any zero turn I end up with will be a vast improvement.
Of the units I am comparing they all have Z-3100 hydros and 13x6.5 casters. Cost is a small issue to me, I’d like a mechanically sound motor and hydros and prefer to do my own maintenance. I’ll spend what I think will get me those things (within reason).
I had nearly settled on the Gravely Pro Turn Z. What concerns me I’d that it weights 930 pounds. I understand that it has a heavy duty frame and deck. It has 22x12-12 drive tires. The other Gravely, the ZT HD, has the same drive tires and weighs 870 pounds. The John Deere 730 weights 970 pounds. Oh, and the Pro Turn Z has a Loncin motor. The Gravely ZT HD has a Kawasaki FR730, John Deere has a John Deere, and the Hustler has a Kawasaki FR730.
The Hustler Raptor SDX has a bit smaller drive tire, 22x11-10, however it weights 670 pounds.
I realize this weight difference comes from build material. I’m not concerned about all-out durability or a super cushy ride. Our family must be pretty easy on equipment because we have never cracked that old Craftsman deck or frame, the spindles lasted 24 years, and the motor and hydros are still strong. Back when we got it my dad instructed us to run it a bit off full throttle and not too fast, especially in tall grass. We pull a utility trailer behind it when collecting leaves.
LONG story short, will the lighter weight Hustler handle hills better? All the mowers have similarly powered motors so I assume the lighter weight model has more power to spare. Do you have any insights I may not be considering? Thanks!