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OK, here is the deal. I own a home in GA that has 1.5 acre of land that is mostly flat, but, and this is a big but, it has a pond that borders the entire length of the back yard with between 10 to 20 degree grade. Now, I just signed a lease on a home in AL with four acres that is bumpy, but no big hills.(I plan on going back to the GA home in 2 years or so).

My question is, what mower to buy? I have been looking and I have it down to a 4 brands, that I will list below. I would like to get some opinions of which is the better mower that will last and do better on the slope that I mentioned. I threw the cheaper model on the list because of the price and had some of the features of the higher end ones.

* Hustler Fastrak Super Duty 48" with a Kawasaki FX 22 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax. It has the ZT-3100 Drives on it.

* Ferris IS 700Z 52" with a Briggs Com Turf 28 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax on this unit as well. it has the ZT-3400 Drives on it.

* Bad Boy CZT Elite with a 48" or 54" deck and a Briggs Cyclonic or a Kawasaki FS 726cc engine. I have not go pricing on these yet.It has the ZT 3400 Drives.

Now, I looked at the Dixon Ultra 52 but after reading the bad comments online about the Kohler Courage engine I ruled it out. I am thinking about the Dixon Speed ZTR 48SE 9 $3500) or the Dixon Ram because they are a lot cheaper and with a fab welded deck and cast iron spindles and Kawasaki engines - do you think they will hold up?

I will not go over $5800 and would like to be between 4 & 5K,

Any help on this will be great.

I find that the best thing in slopes (hills) is just a riding mower. I go cut yards for guys all the time that there ZTR or walkbehind can not mow the hill.
With the slope going down to the pond I am thinking you can't mow it up and down.

Where in ga are you? I will come cut it for you Lol

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Carscw said:

I find that the best thing in slopes (hills) is just a riding mower. I go cut yards for guys all the time that there ZTR or walkbehind can not mow the hill.
With the slope going down to the pond I am thinking you can't mow it up and down.

Where in ga are you? I will come cut it for you Lol

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Click to expand...

My house is in Covington. I have a 99 model Scotts (John deere) that is still going strong, so I can still cut the slope with that if needed. I just would like to know which ztr is the best for my situation. As you can see from the 99 Scotts that I still have I keep my mowers a long time, so If my Scotts JD made it this long I want to be sure if I spend thousands more on a ztr it will last even longer. From what I can tell the Ferris is the only true commercial grade on my list, problem is I can't find specs on the frame and gauge of deck? I know Ferris is owned by Briggs / Snapper so I hope they did not cut corners on the Ferris line. I do not want a Home Cheepo throw away mower.

imamolder said:

OK, here is the deal. I own a home in GA that has 1.5 acre of land that is mostly flat, but, and this is a big but, it has a pond that borders the entire length of the back yard with between 10 to 20 degree grade. Now, I just signed a lease on a home in AL with four acres that is bumpy, but no big hills.(I plan on going back to the GA home in 2 years or so).

My question is, what mower to buy? I have been looking and I have it down to a 4 brands, that I will list below. I would like to get some opinions of which is the better mower that will last and do better on the slope that I mentioned. I threw the cheaper model on the list because of the price and had some of the features of the higher end ones.

* Hustler Fastrak Super Duty 48" with a Kawasaki FX 22 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax. It has the ZT-3100 Drives on it.

* Ferris IS 700Z 52" with a Briggs Com Turf 28 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax on this unit as well. it has the ZT-3400 Drives on it.

* Bad Boy CZT Elite with a 48" or 54" deck and a Briggs Cyclonic or a Kawasaki FS 726cc engine. I have not go pricing on these yet.It has the ZT 3400 Drives.

Now, I looked at the Dixon Ultra 52 but after reading the bad comments online about the Kohler Courage engine I ruled it out. I am thinking about the Dixon Speed ZTR 48SE 9 $3500) or the Dixon Ram because they are a lot cheaper and with a fab welded deck and cast iron spindles and Kawasaki engines - do you think they will hold up?

I will not go over $5800 and would like to be between 4 & 5K,

Any help on this will be great.

Click to expand...

imamolder,

(1)Hustler Fastrak Super Duty 48" with a Kawasaki FX 22 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax. It has the ZT-3100 Drives on it. - I made an offer on a 2012 54", dealer would not budge from $7,000 plus tax and it's got a ZT3100 tranny. Good machine, but didn't buy it(see below).
(2)Ferris IS 700Z 52" with a Briggs Com Turf 28 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax on this unit as well. it has the ZT-3400 Drives on it. - I did not include the Ferris ZTR's when I was shopping, but have only heard good things about them. I'm not high on B & S engines after a very bad experience with a 24hp Intek. At least this has the better Commercial grade ZT-3400 trannies.
(3)Bad Boy CZT Elite with a 48" or 54" deck and a Briggs Cyclonic or a Kawasaki FS 726cc engine. I have not go pricing on these yet.It has the ZT 3400 Drives. - Looks like the 48" has a $5799 MSRP(plus taxes). I made an offer on a 2012 54" Bad Boy Outlaw(dealers "best price" was $7,033 out-the-door. ROPS(even though "pictured" on the website) was $300 extra over that. The Kawasaki CZT's FS means "Heavy Duty".....FX is "Commercial". The Outlaw had the top-of-the-line ZT5400 trannies, but that didn't "sell me on it". The Outlaw has a MASSIVE 5gauge deck(you better have a real strong leg) and I think the CZT Elite has a 7gauge. And, CZT stands for Commercial Zero Turn and with a Kawa FS, that's disappointing.
(4)I looked at the Dixons(same reservations as you on the Ultra with the Kohler courgage), and I made an offer on a 2012 52" Dixon DX152(dealers best price was $6,391 OTD and I offered $6150). VERY good mower for the money, but all things considered(deck, spindles, warranties) the Gravely was already my "favorite" and the Dixon was my second choice. When the Gravely dealer accepted my counter-offer i didn't hesitate and have not looked back.

With your expectations of ZT-3400 trannies and "Commercial features" I'm afraid you will be disappointed with most Zero Turns that have those level of features with a $5,800 budget(and really wanting $4k-$5k). That's where I started and found out quickly that if I wanted a "Commercial" ZTR, I'd better raise the limit to $6K-$7K minimum(out-the-door). I got a very good deal on my 2012 52" Gravely Pro-Turn XDZ 100(Commercial entry level) for $6,800 OTD which had a MSRP for the 2012,s of $7199(plus tax) and the 2013 is $300 more than the 2012. User Carscw may have hit the nail on the head by suggesting with your budget that you consider a "high-end" lawn tractor. I recommend Husqvarna lawn tractors for the best bang for your buck and case in point...you can get a 48" model YT48XLS for $2899 that sports a Kawasaki(FR-Residential) engine, a hydro tranny with locking differential and a fabricated deck with a lifetime warranty(not many lawn tractors with a fab deck). A link to the Husqvarna site is below if you want to check them out. Good luck finding the right mower for you.

Garden Tractor Mower - Lawn mower and accessories, reviews, buying guide and comparison charts | Husqvarna

imamolder said:

OK, here is the deal. I own a home in GA that has 1.5 acre of land that is mostly flat, but, and this is a big but, it has a pond that borders the entire length of the back yard with between 10 to 20 degree grade. Now, I just signed a lease on a home in AL with four acres that is bumpy, but no big hills.(I plan on going back to the GA home in 2 years or so).

My question is, what mower to buy? I have been looking and I have it down to a 4 brands, that I will list below. I would like to get some opinions of which is the better mower that will last and do better on the slope that I mentioned. I threw the cheaper model on the list because of the price and had some of the features of the higher end ones.

* Hustler Fastrak Super Duty 48" with a Kawasaki FX 22 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax. It has the ZT-3100 Drives on it.

* Ferris IS 700Z 52" with a Briggs Com Turf 28 HP engine. I got a price of $5700 plus tax on this unit as well. it has the ZT-3400 Drives on it.

* Bad Boy CZT Elite with a 48" or 54" deck and a Briggs Cyclonic or a Kawasaki FS 726cc engine. I have not go pricing on these yet.It has the ZT 3400 Drives.

Now, I looked at the Dixon Ultra 52 but after reading the bad comments online about the Kohler Courage engine I ruled it out. I am thinking about the Dixon Speed ZTR 48SE 9 $3500) or the Dixon Ram because they are a lot cheaper and with a fab welded deck and cast iron spindles and Kawasaki engines - do you think they will hold up?

I will not go over $5800 and would like to be between 4 & 5K,

Any help on this will be great.

Click to expand...

The Maximum slope you can safely operate most ZTR mowers on is 15 degree and the same for most Lawn / Garden Tractors. If you are operating in more than 15 degrees a Stander of some type like the Toro Grandstand, Exmark Vantage or maybe a Wright would be the best alternative. Most of the Stander type mowers can safely operated on slopes and are rated to 20 degrees.

imamolder,

I missed the additional comments you made about considering Dixons(Speed ZTR & Ram). Keep in mind, that Dixon was purchased by Husqvarna a few years ago and the consensus I found was that the quality wasn't quite what it was before that(they are really "blue Husqvarnas"). Personally I'd be reluctant to go down-line from the Ultra(just wish they would put a Kawa FS on it:0) And you may want to re-check the specs on the spindles. That 2012 "Commercial" DX152 I was looking at had aluminum spindles....not cast iron(another reason why the Gravely won out over it). User Ric mows commercially and you can take his advice about the slope degrees to the bank....he knows what he is talking about.

djdicetn said:

imamolder,

I missed the additional comments you made about considering Dixons(Speed ZTR & Ram). Keep in mind, that Dixon was purchased by Husqvarna a few years ago and the consensus I found was that the quality wasn't quite what it was before that(they are really "blue Husqvarnas"). Personally I'd be reluctant to go down-line from the Ultra(just wish they would put a Kawa FS on it:0) And you may want to re-check the specs on the spindles. That 2012 "Commercial" DX152 I was looking at had aluminum spindles....not cast iron(another reason why the Gravely won out over it). User Ric mows commercially and you can take his advice about the slope degrees to the bank....he knows what he is talking about.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. You can get the Dixon with the cast iron spindles, it is an option that is 300 more. I think I am leaning toward the Ferris as it is the only true commercial grade on my list and within my budget. I can still cut my slope with my old Scotts if need be. I have a Briggs Intec on my Scotts and it has served me well for 13 years without a single issue, maybe I got lucky??? I really want a ztr so I am not spending 4 hours on a Saturday cutting grass. I did look at the 4 wheel steering John Deere tractor but for what they want for it I can by a ztr. I also considered the Cub Cadet ztr with the front steering for the slope, but to get that in a commercial model it is 2K more than the Ferris.

djdicetn said:

imamolder,

I missed the additional comments you made about considering Dixons(Speed ZTR & Ram). Keep in mind, that Dixon was purchased by Husqvarna a few years ago and the consensus I found was that the quality wasn't quite what it was before that(they are really "blue Husqvarnas"). Personally I'd be reluctant to go down-line from the Ultra(just wish they would put a Kawa FS on it:0) And you may want to re-check the specs on the spindles. That 2012 "Commercial" DX152 I was looking at had aluminum spindles....not cast iron(another reason why the Gravely won out over it). User Ric mows commercially and you can take his advice about the slope degrees to the bank....he knows what he is talking about.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, I am going to check out the Gravely as well. Btw, you can get the cast iron spindles,
It is an option on the Ram and the Ultra and I think it is standard on the residential speed ztr 48SE with a fab deck. If I were looking to by a 3500 dollar ztr I think that the Dixon Speed ztr 48SE can't be beat.

Oh, the aluminum spindles are good as long as they are machined and not cast.
If I were going to get cast spindles I would want iron.

WOW.....i'm in the market for our 1st ZTR too .....and I didn't realize it was going to be so much work!!!!!
We have about a total of 4 acres. I'd like to stay with a 48 - 54 cut. My husband said something about a 60 cut in order to get bigger wheels.
Wonder if we can get bigger wheels on any model we buy???
My husband wants a BAD BOY, but i'm trying to research as many as I can.....and I had no idea there were so many.
I would love to hear more comments, what mowers people would buy and would NOT buy and why.
p.s....I LOVE cutting grass. I had a Snapper push mower for years that I LOVED...but that was years ago and I heard that the company may not be the same.

Fry your Husband is right about the bigger wheels, and most of the Upper Class mowers have the larger wheels, that makes a Big difference in the ride, Check out Ex Mark, Gravely , Scag, The Bad Boy is also agood mower, they all make good mowers, once you get in to the higher class mowers, you need a mower that can be serviced close by, fine a good Dealer & you/Youll will be fine

fry said:

WOW.....i'm in the market for our 1st ZTR too .....and I didn't realize it was going to be so much work!!!!!
We have about a total of 4 acres. I'd like to stay with a 48 - 54 cut. My husband said something about a 60 cut in order to get bigger wheels.
Wonder if we can get bigger wheels on any model we buy???
My husband wants a BAD BOY, but i'm trying to research as many as I can.....and I had no idea there were so many.
I would love to hear more comments, what mowers people would buy and would NOT buy and why.
p.s....I LOVE cutting grass. I had a Snapper push mower for years that I LOVED...but that was years ago and I heard that the company may not be the same.

Click to expand...

fry,

What's your budget....that's the main question? With 4 acres you should consider either high-end Residential or entry-level Commercial only. I made offers last fall on a 54" Bad Boy Outlaw(considered Commercial), 52" Dixon DX152(considered Commercial), 54" Hustler Fasttrak Super Duty(considered high-end Residential) and Gravely 52" Pro-Turn XDZ100(considered Commercial). Like you have found already.....all of those are good machines but the Gravely had more "Commercial bang" for my money(build, components and warranties). I also looked at Toro Titans(high-end Residential) and Toro Z-Master 2000 series(Commercial). It's not an easy decision to choose, but i love my Gravely and have not looked back.
P.S.
Usually it takes a more expensive "model" to get bigger wheels(they don't interchange them).

fry said:

WOW.....i'm in the market for our 1st ZTR too .....and I didn't realize it was going to be so much work!!!!!
We have about a total of 4 acres. I'd like to stay with a 48 - 54 cut. My husband said something about a 60 cut in order to get bigger wheels.
Wonder if we can get bigger wheels on any model we buy???
My husband wants a BAD BOY, but i'm trying to research as many as I can.....and I had no idea there were so many.
I would love to hear more comments, what mowers people would buy and would NOT buy and why.
p.s....I LOVE cutting grass. I had a Snapper push mower for years that I LOVED...but that was years ago and I heard that the company may not be the same.

Click to expand...

Seems no one knows about Big Dog!

You owe it to yourself to check them out. I got big wheels on a 54" cut for $4800. But you have to do your HOMEWORK.

Dealers in your state.
Residential and Commercial Zero Turn Radius Lawn Mowers and Tractors - Big Dog Mowers

djdicetn said:

fry,

What's your budget....that's the main question? With 4 acres you should consider either high-end Residential or entry-level Commercial only. I made offers last fall on a 54" Bad Boy Outlaw(considered Commercial), 52" Dixon DX152(considered Commercial), 54" Hustler Fasttrak Super Duty(considered high-end Residential) and Gravely 52" Pro-Turn XDZ100(considered Commercial). Like you have found already.....all of those are good machines but the Gravely had more "Commercial bang" for my money(build, components and warranties). I also looked at Toro Titans(high-end Residential) and Toro Z-Master 2000 series(Commercial). It's not an easy decision to choose, but i love my Gravely and have not looked back.
P.S.
Usually it takes a more expensive "model" to get bigger wheels(they don't interchange them).

Click to expand...

I just purchased my first ztr. I went with a hustler fastrak after doing quite a bit of research and shopping. They also had a $750 rebate. I have mowed once so far so time will tell.

Old Goat said:

Seems no one knows about Big Dog!
You owe it to yourself to check them out. I got big wheels on a 54" cut for $4800. But you have to do your HOMEWORK.

Dealers in your state.
Residential and Commercial Zero Turn Radius Lawn Mowers and Tractors - Big Dog Mowers

Click to expand...

Ha ha! Funny you should mention them. I'm looking to replace my JD with a ZTR, and I happened to notice that the hole in the wall tractor supply joint I pass every day to and from work has a Hustler sign on the door. I stopped to check them out, and they are also a Big Dog dealer. They are bringing by a 54" R series to for me to try in it's natural environment Saturday, and assess trade in value of my JD. Big Dog is a sub line of Hustler, and typically both not found at same location.

Thank you all for all your informative replies!
Budget....can't beleive i'm even considering financing for a mower!
I really don't want to go over $5,000......and we go that much - I really want it to last.
Is there any place on the internet that compares a lot of them?...like the warranties, engines, etc.
I'm trying to take notes on paper from all that I've learned on this forum.....and it's been alot for just a few days!
I see a dealer close by is important - what do i punch in to see what dealers are close by?
We are in farm country - so i know we have JD dealers close.
In your all "expert" opinions, it sounds like I don't want to buy from Menards, HomeDepot, Lowes, or Rural King - am i correct?
My husband doesn't want to buy used - even tho I've seen quite a few on craigslist.
Thank you all again for all your help!:smile:

RatRacer said:

Ha ha! Funny you should mention them. I'm looking to replace my JD with a ZTR, and I happened to notice that the hole in the wall tractor supply joint I pass every day to and from work has a Hustler sign on the door. I stopped to check them out, and they are also a Big Dog dealer. They are bringing by a 54" R series to for me to try in it's natural environment Saturday, and assess trade in value of my JD. Big Dog is a sub line of Hustler, and typically both not found at same location.

Click to expand...

That's the machine I bought. R754. BTW, Hustler was the first manufacturer of ZTR mower in 1966.
Please come back to let us know what you think about it.

fry said:

Thank you all for all your informative replies!
Budget....can't beleive i'm even considering financing for a mower!
I really don't want to go over $5,000......and we go that much - I really want it to last.
Is there any place on the internet that compares a lot of them?...like the warranties, engines, etc.
I'm trying to take notes on paper from all that I've learned on this forum.....and it's been alot for just a few days!
I see a dealer close by is important - what do i punch in to see what dealers are close by?
We are in farm country - so i know we have JD dealers close.
In your all "expert" opinions, it sounds like I don't want to buy from Menards, HomeDepot, Lowes, or Rural King - am i correct?
My husband doesn't want to buy used - even tho I've seen quite a few on craigslist.Thank you all again for all your help!:smile:

Click to expand...

Don't you just wish they were? Can you say Excel Spreadsheet? Two years of looking at these drove me batty! UH, battyer.

I sure agree with him! Pay a little extra from a dealer you can trust and get a lot extra down the road!

fry said:

Thank you all for all your informative replies!
Budget....can't beleive i'm even considering financing for a mower!
I really don't want to go over $5,000......and we go that much - I really want it to last.
Is there any place on the internet that compares a lot of them?...like the warranties, engines, etc.
I'm trying to take notes on paper from all that I've learned on this forum.....and it's been alot for just a few days!
I see a dealer close by is important - what do i punch in to see what dealers are close by?
We are in farm country - so i know we have JD dealers close.
In your all "expert" opinions, it sounds like I don't want to buy from Menards, HomeDepot, Lowes, or Rural King - am i correct?
My husband doesn't want to buy used - even tho I've seen quite a few on craigslist.
Thank you all again for all your help!:smile:

Click to expand...

Fry, I am in the same boat as your husband. I started with a budget of 5k and then figured out that I had to raise it to the 6k range to get what I am wanting in a ztr mower. I started out saying I wanted a Bad Boy as well, and Bad Boy claims they give you more for your money but I have since found out that is not exactly the case. From all of my research (and I have been researching this until my eyes go crossed) I think I have it narrowed down to either Ferris or maybe Bad Boy. I have also been looking hard at Hustler and Dixon. I have ruled out Hustler based on the mower they have in my budget has the 3100 Hydro Drives and for the same money I can get the Bad Boy or Ferris with the 3400 Hydro Drives (the 3400 has 1.25" axles vs 1" on the 3100) also, the 3400's will give you more speed. I think I am going to rule out the Dixon because for my price range they only offer the Kohler Courage engine which from everything I have read is garbage. I would suggest that you go to each company's website and look at the specs and write them down or put them on a spread sheet to compare. Look at warranty, deck design & material thickness for the deck and frame, hydro drives, engine type, weight of the mower, etc... I can tell you for the 5500 to the 6k range they all have models that compete with each other and once you compare the things above you will see what you can get with the most options for the money. FYI, Ferris has the IS 600 and the IS 700 in the 5k to 6k range and they offer a suspension system for a superior ride that you will not find on the other brands.

fry said:

Thank you all for all your informative replies!
Budget....can't beleive i'm even considering financing for a mower!
I really don't want to go over $5,000......and we go that much - I really want it to last.
Is there any place on the internet that compares a lot of them?...like the warranties, engines, etc.
I'm trying to take notes on paper from all that I've learned on this forum.....and it's been alot for just a few days!
I see a dealer close by is important - what do i punch in to see what dealers are close by?
We are in farm country - so i know we have JD dealers close.
In your all "expert" opinions, it sounds like I don't want to buy from Menards, HomeDepot, Lowes, or Rural King - am i correct?
My husband doesn't want to buy used - even tho I've seen quite a few on craigslist.
Thank you all again for all your help!:smile:

Click to expand...

Most of the mfg's won't even advertise a MSRP on the interwebz for you to compare a price point for these non consumer pitched, upper versions.

Like OG says, list them on spread sheet to compare specs, or screen shot the spec page and save it to Word. Figure out what specs matter most to you

My new tactic has now switched from web to who has locally. What I wanted intially, nobody stocked. So now I am listing out all my local dealers as to who has what, and also researching them for their "service after the sale" ability (parts and repair). Face time with a dealer allows you to wheel and deal, and also to try the unit out to see if it suits you to whether you want to haggle at all. Then there's their leftover stuff and demo units they may have laying around that were never on your radar to begin with, that they want to move, and you being armed with desired specs can make an informed decision.

Old Goat said:

That's the machine I bought. R754. BTW, Hustler was the first manufacturer of ZTR mower in 1966.
Please come back to let us know what you think about it.

Click to expand...

Well, this one is a bit different then your R754. Behold the the R Power Bar, KW FR691/ZT3100/8mph. This is a left over they had buried in their pole barn I spied when I asked to look at the "sequestered" fleet, and my wife likes it better than the lap bar model. So just for giggles, we are going to testdrive it on my yard tomorrow.

Dealers always have something out back for there VIP customers.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

RatRacer said:

Well, this one is a bit different then your R754. Behold the the R Power Bar, KW FR691/ZT3100/8mph. This is a left over they had buried in their pole barn I spied when I asked to look at the "sequestered" fleet, and my wife likes it better than the lap bar model. So just for giggles, we are going to testdrive it on my yard tomorrow.

Click to expand...

I sure want to hear about that. Wondering about the T bar and how it works in the comfort area. My wife didn't even want to sit on one.
She did most of the cutting before, but I think I like to cut grass again with this ZTR, we'll see.

fry said:

Thank you all for all your informative replies!
Budget....can't beleive i'm even considering financing for a mower!
I really don't want to go over $5,000......and we go that much - I really want it to last.
Is there any place on the internet that compares a lot of them?...like the warranties, engines, etc.
I'm trying to take notes on paper from all that I've learned on this forum.....and it's been alot for just a few days!
I see a dealer close by is important - what do i punch in to see what dealers are close by?
We are in farm country - so i know we have JD dealers close.
In your all "expert" opinions, it sounds like I don't want to buy from Menards, HomeDepot, Lowes, or Rural King - am i correct?
My husband doesn't want to buy used - even tho I've seen quite a few on craigslist.
Thank you all again for all your help!:smile:

Click to expand...

fry/imamolder,
If a 12" rear wheel is important to you, you would need to step up to the Pro-Turn in the Gravely line(new this year and different from my Pro-Turn XDZ 100). The Gravely ZT HD series has 10" wheels(but both fine machines). Price-wise the Pro-Turn will run you $5999 MSRP for a 48" and $6199 MSRP for a 52". Remember now, this mower is a "Commercial", not a "Residential". The ZT HD will run you $4999 MSRP for a 48" and $5099 for a 52" and is the high-end Residential model with some Commercial components(even though "Residential" it has a 1 Year Commercial Warranty, which for any "Residential" ZTR is a good indicator of quality). Make sure when you compare different brands that it is an apple-to-apple comparison of deck gauge and chain-hung(commercial method), engine make/series(Kawasaki most recommended...FR=Residential, FS=Heavy Duty, FX=Commercial), trannies(series ZT-2800 minimum, 3100-5400 upgrade to better, best and commercial-3400 recognized as truly commercial), spindle(cast iron better than aluminum) etc. or you will wonder why one is so much more expensive than the other:0( Below is a link to the Pro-Turn on the Gravely website which will give descriptions and warranty info, and by clicking on "Downloads" you can get full specs, then by clicking on "Find A Dealer" you can locate a nearby Gravely Dealer and then click on "Online Pricing" there to go to the dealer's website for complete "MSRP" pricing. I believe user Old Goat has already given a link in this thread for the Big Dogs and a Google of "Bad Boy" and other brands can assist with locating the mfg websites(but as pointed out...some won't have pricing, although Bad Boy does). Other users(or myself) will assist with links to brands as you inquire. User imamolder seems to have developed a good approach to retaining info for comparisons and other users like Ratracer have eluded to methods as well. Welcome to the wonderful world of ZTR shopping(been there, done that:0)

Don't let info overwhelm you, take your time and determine the important things you are looking for(dealer you trust and warranty coverage are top considerations outside of the tech specs)!!! Here's that link:

Pro-Turn Zero Turn Mower

Has anyone compared the toro 42" built up deck to the Dixon speedster 48SE?

fry said:

WOW.....i'm in the market for our 1st ZTR too .....and I didn't realize it was going to be so much work!!!!!
We have about a total of 4 acres. I'd like to stay with a 48 - 54 cut. My husband said something about a 60 cut in order to get bigger wheels.
Wonder if we can get bigger wheels on any model we buy???
My husband wants a BAD BOY, but i'm trying to research as many as I can.....and I had no idea there were so many.
I would love to hear more comments, what mowers people would buy and would NOT buy and why.
p.s....I LOVE cutting grass. I had a Snapper push mower for years that I LOVED...but that was years ago and I heard that the company may not be the same.

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Take a look at a HUSTLER FASTRAK SUPER DUTY...it's built like an ABRAHMS TANK...with enough power from the KAWASAKI FX COMMERCIAL ENGINE...to MOW A CORN FIELD... and it has a 4 YR 800 HR RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY & A 2 YR 400 HR COMMERCIAL WARRANTY.... the best in the industry... at a price range of $5700-$6500...you won't be dissapointed with this mower and no other ZTR manufacturer stands behind their mowers as well as HUSTLER

PVHIII said:

Take a look at a HUSTLER FASTRAK SUPER DUTY...it's built like an ABRAHMS TANK...with enough power from the KAWASAKI FX COMMERCIAL ENGINE...to MOW A CORN FIELD... and it has a 4 YR 800 HR RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY & A 2 YR 400 HR COMMERCIAL WARRANTY.... the best in the industry... at a price range of $5700-$6500...you won't be dissapointed with this mower and no other ZTR manufacturer stands behind their mowers as well as HUSTLER

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You do realize that the post by user fry that you responded to is quite old...right??? She and the hubby have already purchased a Gravely Pro Turn 48. I notice you are relatively new to the forums, so some constructive advice would be that if the post is several months old...click on the user's profile and then view some of their more recent posts(sometimes in other threads). No big deal since if user fry is still participating on the forums and she gets an email of your post she will bring you up to date.

djdicetn said:

You do realize that the post by user fry that you responded to is quite old...right??? She and the hubby have already purchased a Gravely Pro Turn 48. I notice you are relatively new to the forums, so some constructive advice would be that if the post is several months old...click on the user's profile and then view some of their more recent posts(sometimes in other threads). No big deal since if user fry is still participating on the forums and she gets an email of your post she will bring you up to date.

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Yeah I knew it was old thread...and I figured they had already made a purchase...but quiet frankly I didn't really care.. so thanks for your input but I already knew everything you just informed me of and yes I'm knew to the forum but I'm pretty sure I had it figured out in about 10 minutes

PVHIII said:

Yeah I knew it was old thread...and I figured they had already made a purchase...but quiet frankly I didn't really care.. so thanks for your input but I already knew everything you just informed me of and yes I'm knew to the forum but I'm pretty sure I had it figured out in about 10 minutes

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Not a problem, glad you are participating and sharing your experience with the Hustler. I won't dispute any of your recommendations of the Fastrak SD which is a high quality machine!!