Equipment for maintaining 5 acres

[djrussell]

Will do.

I just got a couple prices.
Ferris IS700Z is $6350 - very attractive for the features
Toro Z Master 60" Kaw $6399 - also very attractive and eeks out ahead of the Ferris due to the Kaw FX engine.
Ferris ProCut S 61 is $8025 - probably too much to spend right now but not ridiculously so. I expected much higher.

 

[djrussell]

What you're looking for is a good combination but if you fear the 2800 drives I'd fear that FR to last a decade. As far as stepping up to the FS / FX and ZT-3400's making sense for your use? If your looking for a machine to last a decade it makes perfect sense. The thing is nobody can make any guarantee or any on this stuff to last. Like you said they all have similar specs, they all run the same drives , engines. The differences comes in with the build quality, What size and gauge is the frame, what gauge is the deck, what size are your spindles 4"maybe 6" 8"or a 9 3/8" are they sealed bearing or do you use a grease gun every 25 hours and the list goes on. Personal preference doesn't make a difference if you want the most for your money.

Excellent post. Thank you.

 

[Ric]

Excellent post. Thank you.

Just to add, Check the warranty's on the mowers they can be very valuable if your talking about keeping a mower for the time period your talking about. I think you'll find the Toro warranty hard to beat.

 

[reynoldston]

Will do.

I just got a couple prices.
Ferris IS700Z is $6350 - very attractive for the features
Toro Z Master 60" Kaw $6399 - also very attractive and eeks out ahead of the Ferris due to the Kaw FX engine.
Ferris ProCut S 61 is $8025 - probably too much to spend right now but not ridiculously so. I expected much higher.

The Ferris ProCut would well be worth the extra money. You will get a lot more then one decade out of the Ferris. Kawasaki would be my last choice for a engine. But each his own on that. It just seems that I see more Kawasaki's in my shop for repairs a then any other engine and the price of parts are out of site. But also I find on this forum that Kawasaki is the only engine to buy for some reason I don't understand.:confused2:

 

[djrussell]

Warranty and repair shop proximity is absolutely a consideration also. Both the Ferris and Toro carry 4 year / 500 hour warranties.

Huh, that's the first I've heard about Kawasaki not being the preferred engine. Otherwise I should be looking at Briggs Vanguard / Commercial Turf or Kohler Command / Confidant? I am kind of biased though as I have a Kawi street bike.

 

[Ric]

Warranty and repair shop proximity is absolutely a consideration also. Both the Ferris and Toro carry 4 year / 500 hour warranties.

Huh, that's the first I've heard about Kawasaki not being the preferred engine. Otherwise I should be looking at Briggs Vanguard / Commercial Turf or Kohler Command / Confidant? I am kind of biased though as I have a Kawi street bike.

Warranty along with a good dealer can save you big money if something should go wrong. The Kawasaki and Kohler engines are the preferred engines by most of the commercial guys.The Best warranty I've found is the 5 year 1200 hour on the Toro Grandstand. What Street bike do you ride, I've had a couple of Kawasaki the Last was the 96 Vulcan 1500 that had the four speed tranny.

 

[reynoldston]

Warranty and repair shop proximity is absolutely a consideration also. Both the Ferris and Toro carry 4 year / 500 hour warranties.

Huh, that's the first I've heard about Kawasaki not being the preferred engine. Otherwise I should be looking at Briggs Vanguard / Commercial Turf or Kohler Command / Confidant? I am kind of biased though as I have a Kawi street bike.

So I am not the only person that rides street bikes. If you are comfortable with Kawasaki I say stay with it. Just because I am not doesn't make it a bad engine and you will find a lot of people on this forum love the engine. I also get few bike repairs in my shop, but more off road then on road bikes. I ride a Harley Davidson sportster now but had a Honda CB750 before this bike. The only thing I didn't like about the Honda was it had a lot of plastic body parts. Other then I have enjoyed both bikes. Nothing better then two wheels and a twisty mountain road. :thumbsup:

 

[MRCo.]

Just to return to the Hustler Fastrak SD- 2014 model is Fx / ZT3100, 4 yr 800 hr warranty. 2015 model is FS / ZT3400, 4 yr 600 hr warranty. The 2014 you will be able to get under $6000. Bear in mind that most major internal components on FR, FS and FX engines are the same. Air filtration, carb and engine shielding are the main differences. Briggs Commercial turf I would avoid. I repowered a mower with one last year and it's been nothing but trouble. Kawasaki as a rule own the ZTR market.

Tillers...I rent Honda. They never give me issues, even with rental user abuse. Five years break even is good to me...no storage, no oil changes, no rotted air filter, mouse chewed wires, fuel system gumming... 95% of tiller owners would be better off renting. It might cost more over the lifetime but it's easier. My most popular rental is a Honda F501. $55/day. Versus buying a cheap $700 tiller it's a no brainer to rent it and not have maintenance cost. And you are using a @$2000 machine. This is my honest opinion- ain't like I'm the one renting it to you!

 

[Ric]

Warranty and repair shop proximity is absolutely a consideration also. Both the Ferris and Toro carry 4 year / 500 hour warranties.

Huh, that's the first I've heard about Kawasaki not being the preferred engine. Otherwise I should be looking at Briggs Vanguard / Commercial Turf or Kohler Command / Confidant? I am kind of biased though as I have a Kawi street bike.

The warranty on the Ferris is what they call a 2 plus 2 with unlimited hours the first two years and a 500 hour 4 year, just don't go over the 500 in the first to years. :smile: They don't cover the things like belts, tires, hoses battery's or blades and the things like that that will probably be what goes bad for only 90 days.

 

[djrussell]

Thanks again for all this great, candid feedback. I love this place. :thumbsup:

Either the 14 or 15 Fastrack SD would be just fine for me I think. If I can get the 14 for a bargain that'd be great. I'll just have to shop around to check inventory.

I have an 07 Ninja 650r. It's plenty fast enough and still has good ergos. For those unfamiliar, it's kind of a modern UJM, very similar to the CB750's of old. People see it and think "rice burner, crotch rocket" because it's wrapped in plastic bodywork. Underneath is a 650cc parallel twin cylinder though. I've swapped out the front forks, added an aluminum swingarm, and am working on mounting side cases currently.