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Hey guys,

I'm new to the site but it looks like there's a good crew of knowledgeable people here and I need some advice. I'm sitting on 8.9 acres of property here in Northeastern Louisiana and need a mower that will handle it. For 4 years, I had been using a Cub Cadet SLT1550 but that machine has almost had it and I've for sure had it with that machine to the point that I just stopped mowing my yard the past 3 months. I'm ready for something bigger and better that will mow in a more reasonable amount of time. I'm eyeballing the Gravely ZTHD60 from a local dealer, but wanted ya'lls recommendation because I want to make sure that the next mower I get will handle my property. Will the Gravely ZTHD60 be capable of mowing on these slopes or is that asking too much of any ztr? Would I be better served by moving up to a commercial class mower for long term durability and speed of mowing? If so what would you recommend? I've tried to attach some images of my property so you guys can see what whichever mower I choose will need to do. Thanks, ya'll!

noland1001 said:

Hey guys,

I'm new to the site but it looks like there's a good crew of knowledgeable people here and I need some advice. I'm sitting on 8.9 acres of property here in Northeastern Louisiana and need a mower that will handle it. For 4 years, I had been using a Cub Cadet SLT1550 but that machine has almost had it and I've for sure had it with that machine to the point that I just stopped mowing my yard the past 3 months. I'm ready for something bigger and better that will mow in a more reasonable amount of time. I'm eyeballing the Gravely ZTHD60 from a local dealer, but wanted ya'lls recommendation because I want to make sure that the next mower I get will handle my property. Will the Gravely ZTHD60 be capable of mowing on these slopes or is that asking too much of any ztr? Would I be better served by moving up to a commercial class mower for long term durability and speed of mowing? If so what would you recommend? I've tried to attach some images of my property so you guys can see what whichever mower I choose will need to do. Thanks, ya'll!


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I would definitely look into going with a commercial mower for that kind of job. That many acres is too much for a residential mower unless you want to replace it every few years. What is your budget? Do you own horses? If so, toro has a great equine discount program. If not there are other brands out there with better prices. What brands are available in your area? There are a lot of great mowers out there and each offer different extra features.

P.s. Is that dog any good at hunting squirrels?

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Sure, there are plenty of other choices in my area but the dealer that I'd like to use has Gravely, Altoz, Grasshopper, and Walker. From what you're saying will the Gravely ZTHD60 need replacing every couple of years? Are there any other opinions on the ZTHD60? I don't have my heart set on it or anything, but it does seem to be a pretty good machine. If I need to spend another $1000 or so to get something that will last, I will but I need to know they why of it all. I'd love to hear from users of the ZTHD60 on how it holds up over time and how it performs on hills.

And that dog is about as useless as tits on a boar hog but I keep her around anyway.

noland1001 said:

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Sure, there are plenty of other choices in my area but the dealer that I'd like to use has Gravely, Altoz, Grasshopper, and Walker. From what you're saying will the Gravely ZTHD60 need replacing every couple of years? Are there any other opinions on the ZTHD60? I don't have my heart set on it or anything, but it does seem to be a pretty good machine. If I need to spend another $1000 or so to get something that will last, I will but I need to know they why of it all. I'd love to hear from users of the ZTHD60 on how it holds up over time and how it performs on hills. And that dog is about as useless as tits on a boar hog but I keep her around anyway.

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If you have grasshopper in your area I would go that route. Most people around here don't sell theirs till there about 20 years old. They're also know for their durability.

LoCo86 said:

If you have grasshopper in your area I would go that route. Most people around here don't sell theirs till there about 20 years old. They're also know for their durability.

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Grass hopper mowers are quality machines. Like them a lot.

noland1001 said:

Hey! Thanks for the reply. Sure, there are plenty of other choices in my area but the dealer that I'd like to use has Gravely, Altoz, Grasshopper, and Walker. From what you're saying will the Gravely ZTHD60 need replacing every couple of years? Are there any other opinions on the ZTHD60? I don't have my heart set on it or anything, but it does seem to be a pretty good machine. If I need to spend another $1000 or so to get something that will last, I will but I need to know they why of it all. I'd love to hear from users of the ZTHD60 on how it holds up over time and how it performs on hills.

And that dog is about as useless as tits on a boar hog but I keep her around anyway.

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If you want to stick with gravely I would at least go with the pro turn. Has the commercial fs series Kawi engine and zt 3200 hydros. However, if I would prefer the pro turn 100 because it has a heavier deck, bigger hydros, and a higher ground speed. With the amount of acres you are mowing you need heavy components. Altos would be very interesting to me as well, but I have no idea what the prices are for those mowers. Grass hopper has some great mowers in their lines. The grass hopper 225 is a great option if you like kohler engines. Walker is better known for their front mount mowers, so I have little experience with them. A front mount mower may be a good option for you since you have such a large area to mow. I suggest you determine a max budget and demo each brand that falls in that budget. You will have to spend a little more for a commercial mower than you will for the zthd, but it will pay for itself in the long run. I saw fences in your photos. That's why I asked if you own horses. Toro mowers are quality mowers and very affordable for people with horses.

Shughes717 said:

Grass hopper mowers are quality machines. Like them a lot.

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I have a grasshopper with over 28 hundred hours. bought it used, has the G2 with 3 cyl Kubota water cooled engine front mounted 61 in deck. mow 6 ac in a little over 2.5 hours. old hay field very rough could use a better seat though.
Hope this helps.

trock said:

I have a grasshopper with over 28 hundred hours. bought it used, has the G2 with 3 cyl Kubota water cooled engine front mounted 61 in deck. mow 6 ac in a little over 2.5 hours. old hay field very rough could use a better seat though.
Hope this helps.

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Don't know if it is in the op's budget to get a new Diesel powered mower, but a diesel would outlast a gas powered mower. The kubota gas engines are great too. Those mowers are going to come at a higher cost unless the op is thinking about looking for used mowers as well.

Man, these are great suggestions. I'll look into the Grasshopper. I was hoping to find something for around 5-6 thousand but I could probably swing 7-7.5 if that's what's needed. I definitely would like this mower to be the last one I ever buy if that's even possible. Also, I would rather buy new.

I don't have any horses, just that stupid dog:laughing:

What about hill performance? What mower qualities determine how it will perform on steep slopes?

Well, now you've got me looking at the Gravely Pro-Turn Series. Is there enough of a performance difference between the Pro-Turn and Pro-Turn 100xdz series to justify the extra price?

This isn't my mower (which I can't even look at right now), but here's a picture of the same model of mower that I have been using. Please help me find a replacement for this nightmare:



Here's another picture of my useless dog:

noland1001 said:

Well, now you've got me looking at the Gravely Pro-Turn Series. Is there enough of a performance difference between the Pro-Turn and Pro-Turn 100xdz series to justify the extra price?

This isn't my mower (which I can't even look at right now), but here's a picture of the same model of mower that I have been using. Please help me find a replacement for this nightmare:

View attachment 23694

Here's another picture of my useless dog:

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The pro turn has a 10 gauge deck and the pro turn 100 has a 7 gauge deck which is sturdier. Most of your heavier commercial decks will be at least reinforced with 7 gauge steel so they can handle striking objects with little to no damage. The pro turn 100 offers the heavy duty fx series kawasaki engine where the pro turn offers the commercial fs series engine. The fx series is a better engine. The pro turn 100 offers the commercial zt3400 hydros where the pro turn offers the zt3200 hydros. The zt3400 hydros have more torque and have a higher top speed. The pro turn 100 is heavier and should handle slopes better as well. Now is a good time of year to look into purchasing a new mower. Dealers will be ready to offer a better deal for this year's models to get ready for next year's models. You should be able to get a pro turn 100 in the 7k range. Most brands out there offer similar drive train features. You may be able to shop other brands and get a better price, but there are many on this site that own gravely mowers and like them a lot. In truth, all of the brands that offer mowers in the commercial range you are looking at are very good machines. You just have to find the one you are most comfortable with. The most important things to look at if you want to shop other brands are drive train, deck, dealer support, and of course price. If you really like the dealer that sells the mowers you mentioned then it may be best to choose from one of the brands they offer.

Thanks, Shughes717, you've been a big help. I'm heading to the dealer tomorrow to check out a Pro-Turn 100 but while I'm there I'll talk to them about a Grasshopper, though that might be a little out of my price range. Now the question becomes 52" or 60" deck. Whichever way I go, I'm sure I'll be happy.

noland1001 said:

Thanks, Shughes717, you've been a big help. I'm heading to the dealer tomorrow to check out a Pro-Turn 100 but while I'm there I'll talk to them about a Grasshopper, though that might be a little out of my price range. Now the question becomes 52" or 60" deck. Whichever way I go, I'm sure I'll be happy.

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You have 9 acres to mow. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 60" deck. The grass hopper 225 may not be in the same price range. The 226v would be, but it comes with the Briggs commercial turf engine. Both are well built mowers. I have had more experience with grass hopper, but the specs on the pro turn 100 are similar to several other mowers I have used. The engines and hydros are all made by the same companies. Btw, your little dog may not be useful for hunting but I bet she is a good companion at least.:smile:

When I went to talk to the dealer they told me that Gravely was offering a $400 rebate on the 160, so I am now the proud owner of a Gravely Pro-Turn 160. I just mowed the back half of my property in two hours and that used to take me five. In fact, it was down right fun. I don't know how I managed so long with that little Cub Cadet.

And of course, I love my dog whether she's useless or not. She is useless though....just good for nothing.

noland1001 said:

When I went to talk to the dealer they told me that Gravely was offering a $400 rebate on the 160, so I am now the proud owner of a Gravely Pro-Turn 160. I just mowed the back half of my property in two hours and that used to take me five. In fact, it was down right fun. I don't know how I managed so long with that little Cub Cadet.

And of course, I love my dog whether she's useless or not. She is useless though....just good for nothing.

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Congratulations on the new ztr. I also think mowing with one is about as much fun as you can have on a mower. You made a great choice. If you service it properly it should last you many years.