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Newbie-WHICH $3000 ZTR?

May 1, 2013#1

V

vetteless

Losing the old Cub tractor and getting a Zero Turn. Need to buy local, new, either 48"/50" and at that $3k price point. Here's whats out there at the local shops.

Hustler Raptor-no reviews since its new.
Ariens Zoom 50
Gravely ZT 50
Toro TimeCutter SS5000
Cub Cadet RZTS

I can do my own annual maintenance. Are there any real differences between machines at this level other than color?

Thanks folks!

May 2, 2013#2

lawn mower fanatic

I don't have any experience with any of these mowers, but I do know the Ariens and Gravely you are looking at are pretty much the same machines.

May 2, 2013#3

djdicetn

vetteless said:
Losing the old Cub tractor and getting a Zero Turn. Need to buy local, new, either 48"/50" and at that $3k price point. Here's whats out there at the local shops.

Hustler Raptor-no reviews since its new.
Ariens Zoom 50
Gravely ZT 50
Toro TimeCutter SS5000
Cub Cadet RZTS

I can do my own annual maintenance. Are there any real differences between machines at this level other than color?

Thanks folks!

vetteless,
Yep, just like eluded to by user lawn mower fanatic, Ariens now owns Gravely so the low-end Gravely ZT and the Ariens Zoom are about the same "quality"(I don't believe they are the same machine, one painted red and one painted orange....but I could be wrong). Same goes for a Dixon ZTR made by Husqvarna or an Ex-mark made by Toro(sme mfg, but "most" models have MANY differences in their build/components). How much area will you be mowing and how long do you expect the ZTR to last(durability/longevity is almost always better the more you spend and $3K is pretty well the entry level ZTR so it won't be the same as a $5K model in that same brand). If you are mowing 2-3 acres, 4-5 months/year an entry level might not hold up under that work load. Give us more info and we'll try to give you some advice.

May 2, 2013#4

lawn mower fanatic

djdicetn said:
Ariens now owns Gravely so the low-end Gravely ZT and the Ariens Zoom are about the same "quality"(I don't believe they are the same machine, one painted red and one painted orange....but I could be wrong).

I could be wrong, too...but to me these mowers look almost identical!

May 2, 2013#5

djdicetn

lawn mower fanatic said:
I could be wrong, too...but to me these mowers look almost identical!
View attachment 14157 View attachment 14158

lmf,
You are probably right on those entry models, but if you move up one series at a time in each brand you will come to a point where the Gravely is a Gravely and there is nothing comparable on the Arien side(especially in the Commercial series which Ariens never really had before buying Gravely). Same goes for the Dixon/Husqvarna when you get into the Dixon Ram & DX(Commercial) series. Husqvarna did add some "new models" this year that for some reason look a lot like an orange Dixon:0) And probably the same goes for Ariens. This is common in multi-brand manufacturers(the Ex-marks I think have different decks and maybe drives than the Toros, but come off the same assembly line too. User ric can probably elude to the differences/similarities between the Ex-Mark & Toro better than I.

May 2, 2013#6

lawn mower fanatic

djdicetn said:
(the Ex-marks I think have different decks and maybe drives than the Toros, but come off the same assemly line too.

Yes...the Exmarks have the UltraCut deck while the Toros have something else.

May 2, 2013#7

RatRacer

lawn mower fanatic said:
I could be wrong, too...but to me these mowers look almost identical!
View attachment 14157 View attachment 14158

Ohhhhh! Twins.......

May 2, 2013#8

lawn mower fanatic

RatRacer said:
Ohhhhh! Twins.......

:laughing::laughing:

May 2, 2013#9

S

Seanroos

I bought a Toro Timecutter SS 4235 last year and I am having problems with it already.

May 2, 2013#10

djdicetn

Seanroos said:
I bought a Toro Timecutter SS 4235 last year and I am having problems with it already.

Seanroos,
What kind of area and conditions is the lawn(s) you are mowing? What aspect of the ZTR is giving you problems? I never even considered a Timecutter, but did look at the Toro Titan Residential and Z-Master 2000 Commercial. I am pretty leary of any models of ZTR's they sell in the big box stores. Hate to hear you are having problems an hope they are not too serious!!

May 2, 2013#11

lawn mower fanatic

djdicetn said:
....What aspect of the ZTR is giving you problems?....

In this thread he says what problems he is having: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/small-engine-mower-repair/15545-mower-starts-shuts-off.html

May 2, 2013#12

B

Brucebotti

lawn mower fanatic said:
I could be wrong, too...but to me these mowers look almost identical!
View attachment 14157 View attachment 14158

I have been looking at the Ariens ZoomXL48 and the Gravely equivalent. They look identical and even the manuals I downloaded are identical. The only difference was that the Ariens now has a Kohler versus a Kawi in the Gravely.
Bruce

May 2, 2013#13

djdicetn

Brucebotti said:
I have been looking at the Ariens ZoomXL48 and the Gravely equivalent. They look identical and even the manuals I downloaded are identical. The only difference was that the Ariens now has a Kohler versus a Kawi in the Gravely.
Bruce

Brucebotti,
Even if it wasn't a Gravely I'd go with the Kawasaki over the Kohler:0)

May 2, 2013#14

djdicetn

lawn mower fanatic said:
In this thread he says what problems he is having: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/small-engine-mower-repair/15545-mower-starts-shuts-off.html

lmf,
That doesn't sound like a very "serious" problem and you would think with it only being a year old it would be covered by the warranty(unless he bought it at Lowes and doesn't have an authorized Toro dealer/repair facility nearby:0(

May 3, 2013#15

V

vetteless

Thanks guys for the responses.
I'm only mowing just shy of an acre and a half. Its not perfectly flat and I do have two culverts to mow in.
I'd like to see the mower I get to last at least five years. I always do annual maintenance...oil, filters, clean machine, sharpen blades and scrape deck.
As for price, I just can't see spending more than $3000 to mow my lawn.
I do prefer the Kawaskie engine over the rest, so that limits me to the Gravely ZT or the Hustler Raptor. Raptor is very simple & no frills, low center of gravity and looks like an entry level machine. The Gravely has a higher stance and seems to show a few other features...4 point deck mounting, 4 deck wheels, foot controlled deck.
Gravely has 36 month financing and Hustler has 48.
Both dealers are local and charge $55 pickup fee for repairs.
On a side not, anyone know why powered baggers are offered on these machines? Never needed a power system on my Cub rider.
Thanks again guys!

May 3, 2013#16

djdicetn

vetteless said:
Thanks guys for the responses.
I'm only mowing just shy of an acre and a half. Its not perfectly flat and I do have two culverts to mow in.
I'd like to see the mower I get to last at least five years. I always do annual maintenance...oil, filters, clean machine, sharpen blades and scrape deck.
As for price, I just can't see spending more than $3000 to mow my lawn.
I do prefer the Kawaskie engine over the rest, so that limits me to the Gravely ZT or the Hustler Raptor. Raptor is very simple & no frills, low center of gravity and looks like an entry level machine. The Gravely has a higher stance and seems to show a few other features...4 point deck mounting, 4 deck wheels, foot controlled deck.
Gravely has 36 month financing and Hustler has 48.
Both dealers are local and charge $55 pickup fee for repairs.
On a side not, anyone know why powered baggers are offered on these machines? Never needed a power system on my Cub rider.
Thanks again guys!

vetteless,
Loaded question.......why do you use/want a bagger system???? Do you use the grass clippings to make your own compost/mulch/fertilizer? Or do you use it simply to avoid leaving piles of grass clippings on your lawn when you are done mowing? Just an FYI, I had a mulch kit on my 2006 54" Craftsman(Husqvarna) lawn tractor....AND....a $300 lawn sweeper to pull behind it "specifically" to get rid of piles of grass clippings. Effective, but the lawn sweeper was a REAL HASSLE to dump!!!! With my new Gravely ZTR(without a mulch kit) I have yet to see evidence of ANY grass clippings after I am done mowing(and the lawn sweeper is collecting dust in my garage until I can give it to my son..who inherited the old Craftsman). When I bought my Gravely I told the dealer I would probably be buying a mulch kit and he asked me why. When I told him he smiled and said "mow with this Gravely before spending that money....it is in a completely different league than that Craftsman". I often wonder why users shopping for a ZTR are so insistent that they want a bagger, so enlighten me:0)

P.S.
I cannot attest, though, that a $3,000 ZTR will have the deck design and or blade tip speed to effectively disperse grass clippings like my ZTR.

May 3, 2013#17

V

vetteless

djdicetn said:
vetteless,
Loaded question.......why do you use/want a bagger system???? Do you use the grass clippings to make your own compost/mulch/fertilizer? Or do you use it simply to avoid leaving piles of grass clippings on your lawn when you are done mowing? Just an FYI, I had a mulch kit on my 2006 54" Craftsman(Husqvarna) lawn tractor....AND....a $300 lawn sweeper to pull behind it "specifically" to get rid of piles of grass clippings. Effective, but the lawn sweeper was a REAL HASSLE to dump!!!! With my new Gravely ZTR(without a mulch kit) I have yet to see evidence of ANY grass clippings after I am done mowing(and the lawn sweeper is collecting dust in my garage until I can give it to my son..who inherited the old Craftsman). When I bought my Gravely I told the dealer I would probably be buying a mulch kit and he asked me why. When I told him he smiled and said "mow with this Gravely before spending that money....it is in a completely different league than that Craftsman". I often wonder why users shopping for a ZTR are so insistent that they want a bagger, so enlighten me:0)

P.S.
I cannot attest, though, that a $3,000 ZTR will have the deck design and or blade tip speed to effectively disperse grass clippings like my ZTR.

Just as you mentioned, the only reason I was looking at a bagger was to keep all the clippings off the lawn. My current Cub leaves trails of clippings. I'll typically mow twice, bagging on the second run. Takes all day, but I have the best manicured lawn in the hood (I only bag once every month). If the ZTRs don't leave the lawn a mess, I'd be a happy camper. One thing I wont know until I get it though.

Went out to another dealer today, looked again at the Gravely ZT50 $3k. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on that one. Dont see the need to bump up to the next level at $4k, unless someone out there has a valid reason. When you jump up from the Gravely ZT, the motor stays the same, but frame gets a bit thicker and back tires get a drop taller. I can do without that.

May 25, 2013#18

txzrider

djdicetn said:
vetteless,
Loaded question.......why do you use/want a bagger system???? Do you use the grass clippings to make your own compost/mulch/fertilizer? Or do you use it simply to avoid leaving piles of grass clippings on your lawn when you are done mowing? Just an FYI, I had a mulch kit on my 2006 54" Craftsman(Husqvarna) lawn tractor....AND....a $300 lawn sweeper to pull behind it "specifically" to get rid of piles of grass clippings. Effective, but the lawn sweeper was a REAL HASSLE to dump!!!! With my new Gravely ZTR(without a mulch kit) I have yet to see evidence of ANY grass clippings after I am done mowing(and the lawn sweeper is collecting dust in my garage until I can give it to my son..who inherited the old Craftsman). When I bought my Gravely I told the dealer I would probably be buying a mulch kit and he asked me why. When I told him he smiled and said "mow with this Gravely before spending that money....it is in a completely different league than that Craftsman". I often wonder why users shopping for a ZTR are so insistent that they want a bagger, so enlighten me:0)

P.S.
I cannot attest, though, that a $3,000 ZTR will have the deck design and or blade tip speed to effectively disperse grass clippings like my ZTR.

I have to disagree with this last statement... I used a sub $3k ztr for 15 years and was very pleased with the quality of the cut. so unless the current crop of $3k mowers have really gone down hill. I have to believe any of the mowers discussed would do as well as my snapper and it lasted 15 years. (only 1 belt and the deck never rusted through!)

May 28, 2013#19

djdicetn

txzrider said:
I have to disagree with this last statement... I used a sub $3k ztr for 15 years and was very pleased with the quality of the cut. so unless the current crop of $3k mowers have really gone down hill. I have to believe any of the mowers discussed would do as well as my snapper and it lasted 15 years. (only 1 belt and the deck never rusted through!)

Notice my disclaimer of "I cannot attest, though".....so maybe you "have attested" that a $3k ZTR(or at least the Country Clipper) does not leave grass clippings without using a mulching or bagger system.

May 28, 2013#20

txzrider

If I mow weekly, and blow off my sidewalk's when done... you will never see clippings. If I go 2 or more weeks, you might see some.

May 28, 2013#21

djdicetn

txzrider said:
If I mow weekly, and blow off my sidewalk's when done... you will never see clippings. If I go 2 or more weeks, you might see some.

After 2-3 weeks that would probably hold true for any ZTR(including mine). I too am pretty religious about mowing weekly(if there is rain in the forcast I'll mow the day before that when I get home from work).

May 29, 2013#22

E

edd

i used a toro timecutter for 4 years mowing commercially and never had any problems.....with culverts you will want one with a low center of gravity...the timecutter or the hustler raptor fit the bill

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Newbie-WHICH $3000 ZTR?

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