Short version: I am in the market for a new 60" mower. I have it narrowed down to the Hustler Raptor SD and the Snapper 550Z. Both have the Kawasaki 24 HP engine. Both are priced at $4,600. Which is the better choice?
The longer version: My 15+ year Gravely Pro Master 60" is in need of replacement. I mow only my yard. 3 acres weekly during the summer and every other week or so during the winter months. About 38 cuts per year. I also mow our 2 acre horse pasture about once a month. I have searched and read plenty of threads on here as well as talking to various salesmen and commercial guys in an effort to do my due diligence and narrow things down. I have decided I want to go new as opposed to used. I want the comfort of a warranty and I do not want to take on anyone else's problems that may present right away or down the road as a product of prior poor maintenance. I entered into my search hoping to maintain a price point of under $6,000.
Initially I was leaning heavily toward the residential Bad Boy mower available at Tractor Supply. The good I hear about the Bad Boy mower greatly eclipses the few negative things I have heard. I do not like though that warranty repair providers are a solid hour drive from me in any direction. I am also told that the parts can be hard to come by and some repairs are held up waiting on parts to ship and arrive. Not deal breakers, but worth being aware of.
Today I looked at a Hustler Raptor SD. It's available with a 26 HP Kohler or a 24 HP Kawisaki. Consensus favors the Kawisaki motor even though it's 2 HP less. Top speed of 7.5 MPH, which is way faster than I'll ever drive the mower. I really like the size of the the wheels, both the drive (20x12) and caster wheels (13x6.5). The warranty is 2 years parts and labor and a third year covering just parts. There are multiple service centers close to me for any warranty work that may be needed. Although I wish the fuel tank was bigger than 3 gallons, I see no downside with this mower. Price tag is $4,600 and they'll knock some off for cash.
I then stopped in at the next dealer who had a single Snapper 550Z available and discounted to $4,600. They'll also take some off of the price for cash. The Snapper is a 61" versus a 60", but to me that's a wash. The Snapper also comes with the 24 HP Kawasaki. Specs show it to move at 8 MPH, so that too is a wash with the Hustler for me. I do like the larger 6 gallon fuel tank that the Snapper has compared to the 3 gallon tank on the Hustler. I wish the tires on the Snapper were larger. The drive tires are 20x10, 2" narrower than the Hustler. The caster tires are 13x5, 1.5" narrower than the Hustler. Like the Hustler, warranty service centers are a plenty in my area. The warranty on the Snapper is slightly better than the Hustler being 3 years parts and labor.
With the Hustler and the Snapper being the same money, which one do you more knowledgeable folks recommend? To me, the Snapper name lends itself to a higher price point, yet paying for a name doesn't always ensure quality. Are the larger tires on the Hustler enough reason to choose it over the Snapper? Is the Snapper a truly better product in every other regard?
If I was buying a new mower and could only pick from these 3 I would get the bad boy.
Most people look at what engine a mower has. Me I don't care. I look at the deck. Out of the 3 bad boy has the best deck set up. It handles tall wet grass better then the snapper.
The spindles will out last the hustler and snapper.
