OK here is my comparisons......advice on new ZTR

[dchance]

OK I posted about the Big Dog vs Bob Cat but I have expanded some. here is what I am looking at getting. I absolutely have NO idea which way I am leaning.

Bigger mowers, would love and can afford, but not sure if really "needed". opportunity to save money by going with smaller yet totally sufficient. BUT these would be sweek!!
Big Dog R754
54" 23hp Kawasaki, ZT 3100 transmissions, $4900

Gravely
ZT HD 60
60", 24h Kawasaki, ZT 3100 trans. $5199

OR the smaller versions

Gravely
ZT XL
54", 24hp kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans. $4199

Bob Cat
CRZ 61"
23hp Kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans, not sure price

CRZ 52"
21.5hp Kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans. $4300


I'm stuck on paying more for a low end commercial mower or save and get a very high end residential. I mow 3 acres of weedy country grass.currently have a Cub Zforce 50 that Im selling.

 

[djdicetn]

OK I posted about the Big Dog vs Bob Cat but I have expanded some. here is what I am looking at getting. I absolutely have NO idea which way I am leaning.

Bigger mowers, would love and can afford, but not sure if really "needed". opportunity to save money by going with smaller yet totally sufficient. BUT these would be sweek!!
Big Dog R754
54" 23hp Kawasaki, ZT 3100 transmissions, $4900

Gravely
ZT HD 60
60", 24h Kawasaki, ZT 3100 trans. $5199

OR the smaller versions

Gravely
ZT XL
54", 24hp kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans. $4199

Bob Cat
CRZ 61"
23hp Kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans, not sure price

CRZ 52"
21.5hp Kawasaki, ZT 2800 trans. $4300


I'm stuck on paying more for a low end commercial mower or save and get a very high end residential. I mow 3 acres of weedy country grass.currently have a Cub Zforce 50 that Im selling.

It is VERY difficult(for me) to give you comparison advice when the deck sizes of the different ZTR's you have listed are all over the map!!! You simply cannot compare("especially" pricing) when you have 52", 54", 60" and 61" models that you are considering. Firstly, you currently have a 50".....sooooo, are you happy with the amount of time it takes you to mow now or are you wanting to "mildy upgrade" or get a similar 52"....update a bit more to a 54" or get really big with an upgrade to a 60" or 61"????? You need to decide that first and then(i.e. if you decided to go the 52"-54") use the Gravely ZT HD 52"(instead of the 60") to compare to the Big Dog R754, Gravely 54" ZT XL and BobCat 52" CRZ dropping the CRZ 61". Otherwise, if you are looking to go to the 60"-61" you'll have to drop the Gravely ZT XL(because they don't come with that large of deck), upgrade to the Big Dog R760 and drop the BobCat CRZ 52". I, for one, cannot point out pros/cons when there would be so many different trannies, engines, etc. when you move up & down deck sizes within a specific brand therefore comparisons to other brands gets to be apples-and-oranges:0( Please advise.

 

[dchance]

I guess I am kind of asking is the price difference worth bumping up to a low end commercial over a high end residential. Deck size is not that big of deal as all are over 50 inch which is fine with me. I am really not all over the map as the only real differences being the size of deck. The Gravely ZT HD 54 is only $100 cheaper than the 60 so the dealer stocks those instead. I listed all the trannies, engines, etc. that come on the mowers I am considering. gonna get a Kawasaki engine and the commercial mowers have the zt3100s and the residentials have the zt2800s. I am basically comparing the Bob Cat and the lower end Gravely if I want lesser expensive residential and the Big Dog and the gravely if I want more commercial.

I did drive the big dog and the bob cat and I will say the big dog did ride better than the bob cat.

 

[RatRacer]

I guess I am kind of asking is the price difference worth bumping up to a low end commercial over a high end residential. Deck size is not that big of deal as all are over 50 inch which is fine with me. I am really not all over the map as the only real differences being the size of deck. The Gravely ZT HD 54 is only $100 cheaper than the 60 so the dealer stocks those instead. I listed all the trannies, engines, etc. that come on the mowers I am considering. gonna get a Kawasaki engine and the commercial mowers have the zt3100s and the residentials have the zt2800s. I am basically comparing the Bob Cat and the lower end Gravely if I want lesser expensive residential and the Big Dog and the gravely if I want more commercial.

I did drive the big dog and the bob cat and I will say the big dog did ride better than the bob cat.

All are solid choices, so it's really up to you on whether it's about saving $ or getting better components.
Now that you have a list of contenders, I would start looking at the finer points, like:
Waranty's
Fuel capacity
Forward speeds
Seat comfort
Local support

 

[djdicetn]

All are solid choices, so it's really up to you on whether it's about saving $ or getting better components.
Now that you have a list of contenders, I would start looking at the finer points, like:
Waranty's
Fuel capacity
Forward speeds
Seat comfort
Local support

dchance,
User RatRacer pointed out some of what I consider "as important" as construction/components but are sometimes(with all the tech specs) overlooked. I'll have to say that Warranty(s) are one of the things that swung my pendulum towards the Gravely(when you compare the bumper-to-bumper, Commercial, frame & deck and spindle warranties). Another would be weight(the ZT HD 60 comes in at 853lbs) which is also an "indication" of the build. And the "local support" aka a nearby dealer you can trust that RatRacer mentioned can't be emphasised enough!!!
Again, my "opinion" would be yes.....it is worth stepping up to a low-end Commercial ZTR...the ZT HD 60 @ $5199 is a high-end Residential and you will have to move up to the Pro-Turn(52"=$6199 and 60"=$6499) to get a Commercial-grade Gravely. That's quite a bit more. Did you buy the Cub Z-Force 50" new??? The Z-Force is a high-end residential with some major Commercial components and if it's not meeting your needs then that would be another reason to move up into a Cub Tank, gravely pro-Turn, etc.

 

[dchance]

dchance,
User RatRacer pointed out some of what I consider "as important" as construction/components but are sometimes(with all the tech specs) overlooked. I'll have to say that Warranty(s) are one of the things that swung my pendulum towards the Gravely(when you compare the bumper-to-bumper, Commercial, frame & deck and spindle warranties). Another would be weight(the ZT HD 60 comes in at 853lbs) which is also an "indication" of the build. And the "local support" aka a nearby dealer you can trust that RatRacer mentioned can't be emphasised enough!!!
Again, my "opinion" would be yes.....it is worth stepping up to a low-end Commercial ZTR...the ZT HD 60 @ $5199 is a high-end Residential and you will have to move up to the Pro-Turn(52"=$6199 and 60"=$6499) to get a Commercial-grade Gravely. That's quite a bit more. Did you buy the Cub Z-Force 50" new??? The Z-Force is a high-end residential with some major Commercial components and if it's not meeting your needs then that would be another reason to move up into a Cub Tank, gravely pro-Turn, etc.

thanks for the insight. I am really leaning on the Gravely ZT HD 60. I call it low end commercial but you are right. it is high residential with commercial components. I think that will suit me well. I don't have the $$ to upgrade to the others. I did not buy the Z Force new. I worked it into the deal when we bought the house. it was 2 years old at the time. It did not however have any commercial components. EZT trannies, stamped deck. the only thing close would be the 23hp Kohler Command I guess.

Guy locally here has a 4 year old Scag Wildcat that is commercial 52" cut with 25hp Kawasaki for $4500. I would look but I am worried that its 1100 hours in four years to mow 3.5 acres (so he says) doesn't add up. With no warranty and that kind of money I am not sure I want to take the risk.

 

[djdicetn]

thanks for the insight. I am really leaning on the Gravely ZT HD 60. I call it low end commercial but you are right. it is high residential with commercial components. I think that will suit me well. I don't have the $$ to upgrade to the others. I did not buy the Z Force new. I worked it into the deal when we bought the house. it was 2 years old at the time. It did not however have any commercial components. EZT trannies, stamped deck. the only thing close would be the 23hp Kohler Command I guess.

Guy locally here has a 4 year old Scag Wildcat that is commercial 52" cut with 25hp Kawasaki for $4500. I would look but I am worried that its 1100 hours in four years to mow 3.5 acres (so he says) doesn't add up. With no warranty and that kind of money I am not sure I want to take the risk.

For the money that ZT HD 60 will hold it's own compared to any similar class ZTR's. I tend to agree that for most residential needs a full Commercial model is an overkill. And I agree, with the experience with the used Cub I wouldn't be too eager to buy another previous owner's "problems" either.