Looking to buy soon - Advice needed!

[6 Hour Lawn]

I mow 3.5 acres at least once/week from late April through the end of September (or later depending on weather). The ground is heavy and wet (we have several small ponds, so no standing water in the yard area) and the dirt is black, so the grass grows like crazy and is very thick. I had a 48" rider that finally died on me this month so it's time to make an investment into something that will allow me to cut this beast in under the 5-6 hours that it took me with the basic rider I had. The cut is important, but more important to me is the speed and durability of the mower because the ground can be pretty rough in some areas. My budget max is around $6,000 but I would much rather keep it in the $3,000-5,000 range if possible. 54" is the smallest I'd go, but I'd prefer a 60-61". I started my search last week and after reviewing some posts on here, and looking at dealers available in my area, I have narrowed it down to these 4 brands: Gravely, Toro, Scag and Hustler. Obviously Scag pushes my budget more than I would like, so they are a distant 4th place at this point I think (plus they use B&S engines which I'm not keen on). Gravely is looking pretty good for the price and they use Kawasaki engines, which is what I would like. Don't know a lot about Hustler, but have seen pretty good comments on them. Toro is my fall-back if I cant decide between the more "commercial" type mowers I've looked at.

All that being said, I am interested to get the more expert opinions from you all. Any advice you can offer is appreciated and I'm not stuck on one of the 4 brands listed above - I'm open to any other options and opinions from all!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[djdicetn]

I mow 3.5 acres at least once/week from late April through the end of September (or later depending on weather). The ground is heavy and wet (we have several small ponds, so no standing water in the yard area) and the dirt is black, so the grass grows like crazy and is very thick. I had a 48" rider that finally died on me this month so it's time to make an investment into something that will allow me to cut this beast in under the 5-6 hours that it took me with the basic rider I had. The cut is important, but more important to me is the speed and durability of the mower because the ground can be pretty rough in some areas. My budget max is around $6,000 but I would much rather keep it in the $3,000-5,000 range if possible. 54" is the smallest I'd go, but I'd prefer a 60-61". I started my search last week and after reviewing some posts on here, and looking at dealers available in my area, I have narrowed it down to these 4 brands: Gravely, Toro, Scag and Hustler. Obviously Scag pushes my budget more than I would like, so they are a distant 4th place at this point I think (plus they use B&S engines which I'm not keen on). Gravely is looking pretty good for the price and they use Kawasaki engines, which is what I would like. Don't know a lot about Hustler, but have seen pretty good comments on them. Toro is my fall-back if I cant decide between the more "commercial" type mowers I've looked at.

All that being said, I am interested to get the more expert opinions from you all. Any advice you can offer is appreciated and I'm not stuck on one of the 4 brands listed above - I'm open to any other options and opinions from all!

Thanks in advance!!

For the 3.5 acres you describe I would recommend you continue pushing the budget to $6K. In the Toro lineup I would not recommend anything less than the Titan ZX5420 and really if it were me I'd upgrade to the Titan MX5480. In the Gravely, you would be "pushing it" if you got the ZT HD 52" @ $5099 MSRP and I would recommend the entry level Commercial Pro turn 52" which would run $6199 MSRP. The Hustler FasTrak Super Duty or Scag, like you said, would up the anty a bit more than $6K.

 

[Rivets]

I would also look at the Kubota Kommander, they have been a very good seller for us this year. My second choice would be a Toro in the Titan series.

 

[djdicetn]

I would also look at the Kubota Kommander, they have been a very good seller for us this year. My second choice would be a Toro in the Titan series.

Yep, I agree.....I'm beginning to "come around" on the new Kommander line by Kubota. I think long term, it's gonna be a real contender in the high-end residential ZTR market!!

 

[RustyBoy]

I mow 3.5 acres at least once/week from late April through the end of September (or later depending on weather). The ground is heavy and wet (we have several small ponds, so no standing water in the yard area) and the dirt is black, so the grass grows like crazy and is very thick. I had a 48" rider that finally died on me this month so it's time to make an investment into something that will allow me to cut this beast in under the 5-6 hours that it took me with the basic rider I had. The cut is important, but more important to me is the speed and durability of the mower because the ground can be pretty rough in some areas. My budget max is around $6,000 but I would much rather keep it in the $3,000-5,000 range if possible. 54" is the smallest I'd go, but I'd prefer a 60-61". I started my search last week and after reviewing some posts on here, and looking at dealers available in my area, I have narrowed it down to these 4 brands: Gravely, Toro, Scag and Hustler. Obviously Scag pushes my budget more than I would like, so they are a distant 4th place at this point I think (plus they use B&S engines which I'm not keen on). Gravely is looking pretty good for the price and they use Kawasaki engines, which is what I would like. Don't know a lot about Hustler, but have seen pretty good comments on them. Toro is my fall-back if I cant decide between the more "commercial" type mowers I've looked at.

All that being said, I am interested to get the more expert opinions from you all. Any advice you can offer is appreciated and I'm not stuck on one of the 4 brands listed above - I'm open to any other options and opinions from all!

Thanks in advance!!

Tell us which mower your bought???? I'm now in the market for a ZTM and looking at the Kommander and Gravely ZT HD. I like the appearance of the Kommander but the Gravely appears better built with cast iron spindles, Kawasaki engine, 5 1/2" floating deck but only a 3 year warranty versus the 4 years on the Kommander. I also get the impression that Kubota is not very consumer friendly; seemingly difficult to communicate with as I don't see a phone number to ask a question like Gravely and others like Toro have. And the only break the salesman will give is a few dollars off a set of blades on a $5,000 mower. Gravely is more flexible and salesman more consumer friendly. I guess Kubota tends to cater to the commercial business rather than the residential. Plus, the Kommander has only been on the market for about 1 1/2 years, while the Gravely has not changed in the last few years. I'm also told that Kubota parts are more expensive to purchase than other makes. So I'm tending more to Gravely, but the fat lady has not yet sung her song.

 

[djdicetn]

Tell us which mower your bought???? I'm now in the market for a ZTM and looking at the Kommander and Gravely ZT HD. I like the appearance of the Kommander but the Gravely appears better built with cast iron spindles, Kawasaki engine, 5 1/2" floating deck but only a 3 year warranty versus the 4 years on the Kommander. I also get the impression that Kubota is not very consumer friendly; seemingly difficult to communicate with as I don't see a phone number to ask a question like Gravely and others like Toro have. And the only break the salesman will give is a few dollars off a set of blades on a $5,000 mower. Gravely is more flexible and salesman more consumer friendly. I guess Kubota tends to cater to the commercial business rather than the residential. Plus, the Kommander has only been on the market for about 1 1/2 years, while the Gravely has not changed in the last few years. I'm also told that Kubota parts are more expensive to purchase than other makes. So I'm tending more to Gravely, but the fat lady has not yet sung her song.

How much area are you mowing?? I'm a little "biased" being the happy owner of a 52" 2012 Gravely Pro-Turn 100 XDZ, but can tell you that you would NOT be disappointed with the Gravely. I too have enjoyed a very good relationship with my Gravely dealer and he has extended reasonable discounts to me when I wanted a canopy, mulch kit and most recently a striping kit(he sold me one at the end of last summer at the 2012 price). Sometimes a good dealer is the most important thing(even more important than comparing similar brands) and from what you wrote I would encourage you to follow your gut feeling on that. Especially when you are spending several thousand dollars!! Weather here in middle TN is just now "stabilizing" and I am looking forward to to doing my Spring maintenance on my Gravely and beginning the mowing season(what used to be a REAL chore seems to be more like FUN now:0)
Now....if I could just get rid of all the moles:0(

Good luck in your search!!!

P.S.
The ZT HD is a very good high-end residential ZTR but if you could swing a deal with your dealer to step up to the entry level Pro-Turn you would get a much more "commercial quality" machine. Of course everyone has a "budget" they have to stick with(and normally a spouse that must be convinced spending more than initially planned is worth the investment).

 

[RustyBoy]

How much area are you mowing?? I'm a little "biased" being the happy owner of a 52" 2012 Gravely Pro-Turn 100 XDZ, but can tell you that you would NOT be disappointed with the Gravely. I too have enjoyed a very good relationship with my Gravely dealer and he has extended reasonable discounts to me when I wanted a canopy, mulch kit and most recently a striping kit(he sold me one at the end of last summer at the 2012 price). Sometimes a good dealer is the most important thing(even more important than comparing similar brands) and from what you wrote I would encourage you to follow your gut feeling on that. Especially when you are spending several thousand dollars!! Weather here in middle TN is just now "stabilizing" and I am looking forward to to doing my Spring maintenance on my Gravely and beginning the mowing season(what used to be a REAL chore seems to be more like FUN now:0)
Now....if I could just get rid of all the moles:0(

Good luck in your search!!!

P.S.
The ZT HD is a very good high-end residential ZTR but if you could swing a deal with your dealer to step up to the entry level Pro-Turn you would get a much more "commercial quality" machine. Of course everyone has a "budget" they have to stick with(and normally a spouse that must be convinced spending more than initially planned is worth the investment).

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, the dealer relationship is important and unfortunately, I definitely haven't felt that with Kubota; possibly because they are more commercial oriented. After subtracting out the house and driveway, I have just over 1 acre to cut, maybe slightly more, of St. Augustine grass. One last question: Not sure whether you can answer this but the ZT HD has a seat suspension kit that will raise the seat a couple of inches. Do you think that the suspension seat is worthwhile, and do you think that raising the seat higher by a couple of inches is a good idea?

 

[davbell22602]

Get a Bad Boy mower from a dealer or Tractor Supply.

 

[djdicetn]

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, the dealer relationship is important and unfortunately, I definitely haven't felt that with Kubota; possibly because they are more commercial oriented. After subtracting out the house and driveway, I have just over 1 acre to cut, maybe slightly more, of St. Augustine grass. One last question: Not sure whether you can answer this but the ZT HD has a seat suspension kit that will raise the seat a couple of inches. Do you think that the suspension seat is worthwhile, and do you think that raising the seat higher by a couple of inches is a good idea?

That was another selling point when I looked at my Gravely Pro-Turn 100 XDZ. It has the full suspension seat and the ride is much better than any of the lawn tractors I have previously owned. Don't know about sitting a couple of inches higher but that would be a personal preference. How much is the seat upgrade? What size deck are you looking at? I have about the same size yard and got a 52" and it is really more than enough(I probably could have done fine with a 48"). Not "bashing" the Kubotas, but my father-in-law has owned one of the high-end(a 72" ZD331) for 5-6 years and he complains that it "beats him to death" mowing 5+ acres. We went to a Home & Garden show a couple of weeks ago and he actually worked out a deal with the John Deere dealer there to trade for a "huge"($16K) JD tractor with a 60" belly deck. I've never rode his Kubota and am just telling what he said about it. The seat comfort on a ZTR can be an important decision. Again, my recommendation on the seat is that if the "kit" consists of isolators that absorb the bumps it may be a worthwhile investment, but a step up to a Pro-Turn has that as a standard feature(not the full suspension like my Pro-Turn100 XDZ though). Normally, each series for most ZTR mfrs is about $1K more(I think the Pro-Turn may run about $1,200 more than the ZT HD). JFG, you may want to see what the best "deal" your dealer will give you on a Pro-Turn. If you can swing it financially you wouldn't regret it!!