Trading up to a Zero Turn...

[mich3210]

So last year I bought a Husqvarna GT52XLS garden tractor... I've used it one season and hate it. The cut is crappy and the constant stopping and backing up slows me way down.

I have about 3 acres to mow. 2 acres of which are down a hill that we access via a small roadway. This roadway needs to get mowed. I think a zero turn can handle it. I'm going to downsize to a 48" deck from the 52" deck because the ground is uneven in lots of places and I want to limit gouging.

The wife isn't happy because we're going to take a loss on the garden tractor, so I'm working on a limited budget. Here are the models I'm looking at...

Hustler Raptor SD - $3899 - Kawasaki FR691v Engine - 726cc
Scag Liberty Z - $4299 - Kohler 7000 Pro Engine - 725cc
Gravely ZT XL - $4099 - Kohler 7000 Pro Engine - 725cc

Which one would you suggest? I know there isn't a lot of information out there on the new Kohler engines, but I also know that there have been issues with the Raptor SD.

Thanks!

 

[Shughes717]

So last year I bought a Husqvarna GT52XLS garden tractor... I've used it one season and hate it. The cut is crappy and the constant stopping and backing up slows me way down.

I have about 3 acres to mow. 2 acres of which are down a hill that we access via a small roadway. This roadway needs to get mowed. I think a zero turn can handle it. I'm going to downsize to a 48" deck from the 52" deck because the ground is uneven in lots of places and I want to limit gouging.

The wife isn't happy because we're going to take a loss on the garden tractor, so I'm working on a limited budget. Here are the models I'm looking at...

Hustler Raptor SD - $3899 - Kawasaki FR691v Engine - 726cc
Scag Liberty Z - $4299 - Kohler 7000 Pro Engine - 725cc
Gravely ZT XL - $4099 - Kohler 7000 Pro Engine - 725cc

Which one would you suggest? I know there isn't a lot of information out there on the new Kohler engines, but I also know that there have been issues with the Raptor SD.

Thanks!

There were some recalls on the raptor sd last year, but I believe those issues have been resolved. If you have a good hustler dealer in your area then you will be fine. The same can be said for the other two brands as well. You say you are mowing 3 acres. All of those models you mentioned can handle a 3 acre lawn, but if there are slopes on your property you may have some difficulty with those models. if your property isn't too steep and you maintain your machine properly you should get several years of service out of any one of them.

It's fine to ask members on here what they think of those machines, but be careful about listening to someone who says "stay away from this brand, or don't buy a mower with this engine, or this is the best brand". You are getting an opinion from an individual and their opinion may not be based on experience with other brands. I for instance, have no experience with gravely because there are no dealers in my area. You will learn that most brands offer the same drive train for comparable models. I can tell you that all three of the brands you are looking at have great reputations. As for engines, I would read reviews on the model engines you are considering. The consensus on this site is that kawasaki is one of the better engines out there. The fr series is their residential engine. I haven't read many reviews of the kohler 7000 series, but I am sure it is comparable to the fr series Kawi.

Test each model you are looking at for your self and choose the one you like best. You are the one who has to be happy with your choice. IF there are other brands available in your area I would kick the tires on them as well. A quality dealer should factor in your decision when making your purchase. You want a dealer who will stand behind the product they sell. Good luck and let us know what you went with. Often new members will post a question on here and never let us know what they decided on. I am always interested in what they chose and why they went with that brand.

 

[mich3210]

There were some recalls on the raptor sd last year, but I believe those issues have been resolved. If you have a good hustler dealer in your area then you will be fine. The same can be said for the other two brands as well. You say you are mowing 3 acres. All of those models you mentioned can handle a 3 acre lawn, but if there are slopes on your property you may have some difficulty with those models. if your property isn't too steep and you maintain your machine properly you should get several years of service out of any one of them.

It's fine to ask members on here what they think of those machines, but be careful about listening to someone who says "stay away from this brand, or don't buy a mower with this engine, or this is the best brand". You are getting an opinion from an individual and their opinion may not be based on experience with other brands. I for instance, have no experience with gravely because there are no dealers in my area. You will learn that most brands offer the same drive train for comparable models. I can tell you that all three of the brands you are looking at have great reputations. As for engines, I would read reviews on the model engines you are considering. The consensus on this site is that kawasaki is one of the better engines out there. The fr series is their residential engine. I haven't read many reviews of the kohler 7000 series, but I am sure it is comparable to the fr series Kawi.

Test each model you are looking at for your self and choose the one you like best. You are the one who has to be happy with your choice. IF there are other brands available in your area I would kick the tires on them as well. A quality dealer should factor in your decision when making your purchase. You want a dealer who will stand behind the product they sell. Good luck and let us know what you went with. Often new members will post a question on here and never let us know what they decided on. I am always interested in what they chose and why they went with that brand.

Why do you say if there are slopes that I'll have some difficulty with those models? They all actually have the same Hydro Gears in them as my current Husky garden tractor, the ZT2800's. I don't have a lot of slopes, and the ones that I do have can be mowed up and down. I don't need to go across them.

Thank you for the reminder that I'm asking for opinions here, and can get varying degrees of experience and knowledge.

 

[Shughes717]

Why do you say if there are slopes that I'll have some difficulty with those models? They all actually have the same Hydro Gears in them as my current Husky garden tractor, the ZT2800's. I don't have a lot of slopes, and the ones that I do have can be mowed up and down. I don't need to go across them.

Thank you for the reminder that I'm asking for opinions here, and can get varying degrees of experience and knowledge.

They do offer the zt2800 hydros, but ztr mowers in general don't do as well on slopes as a lawn tractor will. A lawn tractor uses the front wheels to steer. Ztr mowers are steered by the rear wheels while the front wheels swivel and don't help hold onto hills. Larger ztr mowers do a little better on slopes than the lower models due to their heavier weight and larger hydros. If you don't have many slopes you should be fine.

 

[mich3210]

They do offer the zt2800 hydros, but ztr mowers in general don't do as well on slopes as a lawn tractor will. A lawn tractor uses the front wheels to steer. Ztr mowers are steered by the rear wheels while the front wheels swivel and don't help hold onto hills. Larger ztr mowers do a little better on slopes than the lower models due to their heavier weight and larger hydros. If you don't have many slopes you should be fine.

No, I don't have many, just one that takes about 8 passes up and down to do. The rest I know a ZTR can handle without issue.

I called another dealer and can get the Gravely ZT XL with 48" deck for $3999, that's only $100 more than the Hustler. Now to see about some demos...

Can anyone point me to some reviews of the new Kohler 7000 Pro series?

 

[Ric]

Why do you say if there are slopes that I'll have some difficulty with those models? They all actually have the same Hydro Gears in them as my current Husky garden tractor, the ZT2800's. I don't have a lot of slopes, and the ones that I do have can be mowed up and down. I don't need to go across them.

Thank you for the reminder that I'm asking for opinions here, and can get varying degrees of experience and knowledge.

I agree with most everything that Shughes717 has mentioned but as far the slope thing goes you said I don't have a lot of slopes, and the ones that I do have can be mowed up and down and that I do disagree with. You should never mow up and down a slope with a ZTR, always across because when you turn down a slope with a ztr all the weight of the mower is behind you and it will tend push you down the slope and you will lose control of the mower. You should always mow across the slope starting from the bottom and moving up the slope and always turning the mower up the slope to maintain control. As I Shughes717 said all of those models you mentioned can handle a 3 acre lawn its just a case of what engine you like or would prefer. You may pay a little more for the Kawasaki vs the Kohler but there both good engines, I've run both and never had any issues with either.