Guess what - need help deciding on zero turn

[Emptyjones]

First off - new member. Have been reading the forums quite a bit and are very informative and not so opinionated like a lot of the other forums I have whizzed through.

The JD LT160 hydro crashed a few weeks ago so looking into the ZT market. I have narrowed it down to the Kubota Kommander, Ferris IS600Z and the Gravely ZT HD - all with 48" decks. Kub has a Kohler, Ferris the new B&S turf series, and Gravely the Kawi FRXXX. All "seem" to be fairly evenly matched but different. I realize the Kub is fairly new but has the brand recognition and long standing name and a couple extra bling items. Love the idea behind the iCD deck on the Ferris, suspension, ZT 3400's and a lot of little things that make a lot of sense. The Gravely is a .... Gravely - name says it all. The Kub and Gravely are very close in price while the Ferris is a little bit more. The Ferris dealer/saleman is my favorite. The Kub salesman was kinda cheezy (read used car salesman) but I can overlook that. Havent had a chance to meet the Gravely dealer yet - he's a bit further out (about 45mins - 1 hr). The Kub and Ferris dealer I can be at in 15 mins. Ive been using a friends Gravely ZT HD 52" and like it pretty well. I'm sure its just a matter of preference but I wanted you guys to chime in with your opinions/experience of each. I appreciate anyone who will take the time.

 

[Mike88se]

I haven't owned a Ferris but I've owned a Gravely. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. The Kubota is residential isn't it?

 

[Emptyjones]

I haven't owned a Ferris but I've owned a Gravely. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. The Kubota is residential isn't it?

I guess they consider it a "prosumer" model. I test drove it and it was pretty smooth in the gravel lot. Like that it comes standard with a suspension seat and LED lights, has a good 4 year warranty and has pretty good compenents. I also like that it has 1-4 gallon tank under the seat as oppsed to 2 separate tanks that require switching a valve. It also has the new "ultrascaper" 22" tires and a "dial" cut height adjustment. My Deere had that and it is super easy to adjust on the fly.

 

[Shughes717]

First off - new member. Have been reading the forums quite a bit and are very informative and not so opinionated like a lot of the other forums I have whizzed through.

The JD LT160 hydro crashed a few weeks ago so looking into the ZT market. I have narrowed it down to the Kubota Kommander, Ferris IS600Z and the Gravely ZT HD - all with 48" decks. Kub has a Kohler, Ferris the new B&S turf series, and Gravely the Kawi FRXXX. All "seem" to be fairly evenly matched but different. I realize the Kub is fairly new but has the brand recognition and long standing name and a couple extra bling items. Love the idea behind the iCD deck on the Ferris, suspension, ZT 3400's and a lot of little things that make a lot of sense. The Gravely is a .... Gravely - name says it all. The Kub and Gravely are very close in price while the Ferris is a little bit more. The Ferris dealer/saleman is my favorite. The Kub salesman was kinda cheezy (read used car salesman) but I can overlook that. Havent had a chance to meet the Gravely dealer yet - he's a bit further out (about 45mins - 1 hr). The Kub and Ferris dealer I can be at in 15 mins. Ive been using a friends Gravely ZT HD 52" and like it pretty well. I'm sure its just a matter of preference but I wanted you guys to chime in with your opinions/experience of each. I appreciate anyone who will take the time.

I have a snapper pro with the icd deck. Cuts great. The ferris has the commercial zt3400 hydros, and the b&s engine is considered commercial as well. That's why it has a higher price. The fr series Kawi is a residential engine and the zt 3100 hydros are lighter duty and slower. It would help if we knew how many ares you are mowing and what kind of terrain. Nothing wrong with any of those mowers, but the ferris is built a little heavier.

 

[Shughes717]

I haven't owned a Ferris but I've owned a Gravely. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. The Kubota is residential isn't it?

The kubota and the zthd are both high end residential, low end commercial. They both have zt3100 hydros which are what some call low end commercial. They both offer residential grade engines. The 10 gauge fabricated deck isn't quite as heavy duty as commercial decks which are usually reinforced with 7gauge steel.

 

[Emptyjones]

I have a snapper pro with the icd deck. Cuts great. The ferris has the commercial zt3400 hydros, and the b&s engine is considered commercial as well. That's why it has a higher price. The fr series Kawi is a residential engine and the zt 3100 hydros are lighter duty and slower. It would help if we knew how many ares you are mowing and what kind of terrain. Nothing wrong with any of those mowers, but the ferris is built a little heavier.

I'll be mowing 1 to 1 1/2 acres. You're right it does look to be built heavier than either of the others. It also has a lot of small details that tell me the designers have "been there, done that" or at least listened to their customers over the years. The thing that intrigues me the most is the Suspension. Seems to me that it will allow the wheels to stay in contact with the ground longer than the typical rigid frame ZT. I've been using a friends Gravely ZT HD for a few weeks now and there are certain parts of the yard where the inside wheel will always break loose resulting in a multi-point turn to get it to go where I want it to. I THINK the suspension will help out here. My yard's not rough so the general ride is not a huge factor but rather a bonus for my situation. The dealer did a great job pointing out all of the little details and explaining the iCD. As I said earlier I really did like him (they are the local Farmers CO-OP - just good old country boys who now their outdoor power equipment and never once offered to bash their competitors).

There is a snapper on Craigslist with the iCD deck I noticed -$4450 with 36 hours, Kawi FX (I think), and 48" deck. Not sure Snapper is what it used to be though and of course it doesn't have the suspension. How do you like yours and how long have you had it? Any probs? I have a snapper dealer very close to the house. Haven't checked them out though.

 

[Shughes717]

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I'll be mowing 1 to 1 1/2 acres. You're right it does look to be built heavier than either of the others. It also has a lot of small details that tell me the designers have "been there, done that" or at least listened to their customers over the years. The thing that intrigues me the most is the Suspension. Seems to me that it will allow the wheels to stay in contact with the ground longer than the typical rigid frame ZT. I've been using a friends Gravely ZT HD for a few weeks now and there are certain parts of the yard where the inside wheel will always break loose resulting in a multi-point turn to get it to go where I want it to. I THINK the suspension will help out here. My yard's not rough so the general ride is not a huge factor but rather a bonus for my situation. The dealer did a great job pointing out all of the little details and explaining the iCD. As I said earlier I really did like him (they are the local Farmers CO-OP - just good old country boys who now their outdoor power equipment and never once offered to bash their competitors).

There is a snapper on Craigslist with the iCD deck I noticed -$4450 with 36 hours, Kawi FX (I think), and 48" deck. Not sure Snapper is what it used to be though and of course it doesn't have the suspension. How do you like yours and how long have you had it? Any probs? I have a snapper dealer very close to the house. Haven't checked them out though.

Ferris, snapper pro, and simplicity are all owned by Briggs & stratton. The only difference between the snapper pro and ferris is the suspension. They are almost identical other wise. I have a 48" s150xt. Mine has the fx series Kawi engine, which is their top of the line commercial model and the zt5400 hydros which are heavy duty commercial and top of hydrogear's line. My mower is the best one I have ever owned. It's rugged, and will cut my lawn very fast compared to anything I have ever owned before. I mow 4.2 acres with it in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. I have experience on ferris mowers as well, and would love to own a is2100 I just can't afford a $9000 mower. The suspension on them is great. The suspension on the is600 and is700 does improve the ride some, but doesn't offer the same amount of travel as the is2100. You can buy a suspension seat, or suspension insert for just about any brand and get as smooth a ride as the is600 or is700 has. You are right about the suspension allowing the wheels to maintain contact with the ground on uneven portions of the lawn. I have a couple of places where a front wheel will leave the ground and lift that corner of the deck, but my mower still leaves a great overall cut. Any of the mowers you are looking at will be fine for your lawn and will last you many years. You really don't need a heavy duty commercial mower for 1 and1/2 acres. 36 hours is nothing on a commercial mower. It sounds like the snapper pro you looked at is either a s50xt, or an s150xt. The s50xt has zt3100 hydros like what is on the zthd or the kommander. The difference between it and the other two is it has a much better engine than what is on either if them.

 

[Dave1954]

you should check out the Husqvarna line most times you will find more bang for the buck. better motor and trannies than most in the same price range

 

[Shughes717]

you should check out the Husqvarna line most times you will find more bang for the buck. better motor and trannies than most in the same price range

The mzt is a good mower, but there are mowers out there that offer the same drive train for a comparable price. If there is a husqvarna dealer in the op's area he should definitely give them a look as well. Shopping around is the best way to get what the mower that fits the buyers needs at the best price.

 

[Emptyjones]

The mzt is a good mower, but there are mowers out there that offer the same drive train for a comparable price. If there is a husqvarna dealer in the op's area he should definitely give them a look as well. Shopping around is the best way to get what the mower that fits the buyers needs at the best price.

The Ferris dealer is also a Husqvarna, Simplicity and Stihl dealer. I glanced at the two he had on the floor. He had a lawn tractor I looked at earlier in the year - was not impressed so I assumed the rest of the bunch was similar. Maybe I'm wrong.