When I got my house my father gave me a spare Cub Cadet LTX 1042 thats at least 8-10 years old. Its worked well but im looking to step it up a bit and get a decent ZT. I live about 1hr east of Raleigh NC if this helps any, most brands can be found within an hour drive which is OK by me, I'll 9/10 be doing all service myself except anything that may fall under warranty work.
I mow about .75-1acre of property with a mix of tall fescue in the back and bermuda in the front equally split in size. very slight gradual incline from front to back and the front has a grassed drainage swale up by the road. Mower needs to do well with a mulching kit, I have no plans/desire to bag. I will not be buying another cub cadet after the hard start nightmares I've dealt with on this LTX since it was purchased. I'd like to stay at 3500 +/- $100 but if I'm gettting substantially more I'd be OK stretching it to 4300 MAX, not including a mulch kit if needed. Looking to stay 42-48" deck, open to smaller if for any reason it will give a better cut but not convinced I need/want bigger than 48.
My list so far, open to suggestions and opinions, feedback on how well they cut and will do mulching.
*JD Z365R - Comes with mulch kit already, largest HP engine in the 48" size deck. Hesitant from all the spindles my father has eaten through on his Z4XX JD, not fully welded fram
*Hustler Raptor X or XL in 42" - XL is at my cap, is the engine difference worth it?
*Gravely ZTX 42: - Its a kholer 7000 engine, will I have similar issues as my current CC ? Seems all other models are above my price cap.
*BigDog Alpha 42 - not fully welded frame
I mow about .75-1acre of property with a mix of tall fescue in the back and bermuda in the front equally split in size. very slight gradual incline from front to back and the front has a grassed drainage swale up by the road. Mower needs to do well with a mulching kit, I have no plans/desire to bag. I will not be buying another cub cadet after the hard start nightmares I've dealt with on this LTX since it was purchased. I'd like to stay at 3500 +/- $100 but if I'm gettting substantially more I'd be OK stretching it to 4300 MAX, not including a mulch kit if needed. Looking to stay 42-48" deck, open to smaller if for any reason it will give a better cut but not convinced I need/want bigger than 48.
My list so far, open to suggestions and opinions, feedback on how well they cut and will do mulching.
*JD Z365R - Comes with mulch kit already, largest HP engine in the 48" size deck. Hesitant from all the spindles my father has eaten through on his Z4XX JD, not fully welded fram
*Hustler Raptor X or XL in 42" - XL is at my cap, is the engine difference worth it?
*Gravely ZTX 42: - Its a kholer 7000 engine, will I have similar issues as my current CC ? Seems all other models are above my price cap.
*BigDog Alpha 42 - not fully welded frame
