Export thread

Son just bought a house with 1.5 acres 1 acre to mow.
Not interested in big box brands
Looking at 4k and less, what would be some good models to look at?

Preferences
NOT big box
Kawasaki or Briggs
48 manufactored deck

What type of grass? Any hills or berms ? Any ditches or culverts? What towable accessories would be needed down the road? Any gates? 4K will get you into the entry-level units but 5K might get you into a mid-range unit and you might need it depending on some of your answers. Simplicity, Snapper, John Deere, Scag, Ferris, Exmark, Toro.+ + + + lots of choices but more info needed first to advise. You might also consider a low hour used or trade-in unit. Do you want a tractor or a ZT?

Dixie Chopper Z2 is a nice mower comes in 42 48 54 inch cutting deck. Showing Kawasaki engines but could be coming with Briggs this year. It is also available in a HP model.

anyone with experience with the snapper 360? Seems like a nice unit, I had a snapper pro once and it was nice.

Toro Timecutter is one I'd recommend, having had one for 7 years. Never gave me any issues.

With a $4000 budget buying brand new you will be in a mid level residential market. Box Store = residential. There isn’t any difference between a residential mower at Home Depot and a residential mower at the dealership. The dealership may have more residential mowers to choose from but there wont be a marked difference In quality vs price. (All have only 120 hour guarantees ) But there will always be better mowers available at a dealership that you won’t see at Home Depot because box stores don’t usually sell commercial mowers. Here is what I would recommend for buying in 2022 with 4k budget
Ariens Ikon X 915267 ·

Ultima ZT1 50 in. Fabricated Deck 23HP V-Twin Kawasaki FR Series Engine Dual Hydro Drive Gas Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower​

Zero Turn Mower.

Husqvarna Z248F 26HP 747cc Kohler Engine 48" FAB Z-Turn Mower​

Cub Cadet

Ultima ZT1 50 in. Fabricated Deck 23HP V-Twin Kawasaki FR Series Engine Dual Hydro Drive Gas Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower.​

This is best someone can get new or used at a $4000’ price point. It’s just not going to get you out of box store / residential quality. Non box store=commercial .
probably wont get a one piece stamped deck and reinforced framing and joints,anti roll protection or a 1000/1500 hour certification guarantee on a commercial engine unless you are willing to spend 9k-12k. Like a John Deere ztrac- 900 series.(still only 600 hours are guaranteed) Wright stander, scag turf tiger. X mark and toro Diesels.
hope this helps you better understand your situation. Commercial mowers with less than 500 hours rarely come up for sale and don’t usually come with any warranty.

Find a used John Deere 925A . 54" if you can . 1000 Hrs. or less would be good . It will outlast any new residential machine you can buy for $4000.00 .

I would take a serious look at the Toro Timecutter. I would stay away from any from any unit built by MTD, as they are built mainly for the low end big box stores, but could have a major brand name such as TroyBilt, Cub Cadet and Craftsman. Finally, please buy from a reputable dealer.

pinkstonm said:

anyone with experience with the snapper 360? Seems like a nice unit, I had a snapper pro once and it was nice.

Click to expand...

The Snapper 360 is made by Briggs & Stratton ( parent company) and is a shared design with Simplicity. The Simplicity Courier is built like the Snapper 360 but with the added rear deck roller that aids in lawn striping. Both are good choices in the under $4 K range and will probably serve you longer than anything purchased at a Big Box Store. Good warranties, Good performance, at a reasonable price. I wouldn't hesitate with either brand. More money will get you into mid-range units but I am not sure you require one if you are mowing 1-acre once or twice a week.

I'd start with what's sold in your son's area. Narrow it down from there. Having the dealer nearby can be pretty handy.

I know a couple of good farm and garden equipment stores, but they sell only new machine. There is no need to buy a new lawnmower. You can order a used lawnmower on eBay and use a discount card. That way, you can save money. There are other online stores where you can order good quality used lawnmower. If you're interested, text me, and I'll tell you more.

If you're buying anything with a stamped deck....you're just wasting your time and money .. drop a couple $$$ and get a fab deck .
That's what I would start with

Rivets said:

I would take a serious look at the Toro Timecutter. I would stay away from any from any unit built by MTD, as they are built mainly for the low end big box stores, but could have a major brand name such as TroyBilt, Cub Cadet and Craftsman. Finally, please buy from a reputable dealer.

Click to expand...

I agree with Rivets. My Timecutter is 12 years old, twin Kawasaki, no problems though I do store it inside my garage. I had an MTD employee tell me that their products are cheaply made and don’t hold up (made locally). They make a lot of well-known brands as Rivets said. Stanley B&D recently bought MTD. My son mows his 3+ acres with an Ariens which he loves.

Does your son really need a commercial grade to mow one acre? Budget is a limiting factor if buying new.

Last year I bought a Makita ELM4621 and was delighted with it. Of course, a 32-kilogram lawn mower cannot be called lightweight, but an 1800-watt motor allows it to work hard. The width of the strip is 46 cm, the eight–stage height adjustment is almost standard – from 20 to 75 mm, while the grass collector has a decent volume of 60 liters. Are you sure it's worth buying such an important technique without your son? For example, at a housewarming party, you can give him a gift basket and go to the store with him so that he can describe to the seller more accurate characteristics of the lawn mower.