trying to buy the right mower!

[COLTman]

I recently took a job for the town i live in and am in charge of mowing 3 parks and a lagoon. The mowers we have now are lets just say getting pretty tired. I mow with a 2210 John Deere utility tractor and well it sucks i got them talked into buying a new mower but i dont know what kind to go with. I know i want to get a zero turn and since they like to trade mowers about once a decade i want to stick with a diesel just cause i think the motor will with stand the time and abuse. i've looked at the Bad Boy,gravely,scag,hustler and dixie choper i'm really leaning to the scag just cause it's built like a tank. I'd really like to get some insite from the pros so if anyone could help with some advise feel free.




Thank You,
COLTman

 

[djdicetn]

I recently took a job for the town i live in and am in charge of mowing 3 parks and a lagoon. The mowers we have now are lets just say getting pretty tired. I mow with a 2210 John Deere utility tractor and well it sucks i got them talked into buying a new mower but i dont know what kind to go with. I know i want to get a zero turn and since they like to trade mowers about once a decade i want to stick with a diesel just cause i think the motor will with stand the time and abuse. i've looked at the Bad Boy,gravely,scag,hustler and dixie choper i'm really leaning to the scag just cause it's built like a tank. I'd really like to get some insite from the pros so if anyone could help with some advise feel free.




Thank You,
COLTman

I'm by no means a pro, but based upon my ZTR research(and purchase) you can't go wrong with the Gravely, Scag or Hustler. I'm not really too crazy about the Bad Boy or Dixie Chopper ZTR's(and I actually made an offer on a Bad Boy Outlaw last fall:0) Can you tell us what your budget range is???? You would be surprised how spending an additional $1k to go up a series in about any reputable ZTR manufacturer will benefit you in added durability and longevity. I wanted a Commercial grade ZTR and started out with a $4k-$5k budget and after looking at a few discovered that a $6k-$7k range was more in line with getting a true Commercial grade machine. Let us know what you can afford and we will try to give you some comparable models for several brands that will allow you to pick the one you feel meets your needs the best.

 

[jimrs]

I don't know who makes a Z-Turn mower with a diesel but I do know that your looking a a big price tag.

 

[Carscw]

Kubota- bad boy - junk Deere all make diesel zero turns

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[Carscw]

Sorry forgot TORO

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[djdicetn]

Sorry forgot TORO

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

If it's OK(cause I'm biased:0), I'll add Gravely to that list of diesels. They offer that in the Commercial "flagship" Pro-Turn 400XDZ Series(BTW, if anyone is "interested" the "XDZ" acronym in the Pro-Turn Series stands for "X-tra Durability Zero Turns") for the 60" & 72" cut(but your wallet better be prepared for a $14,599 or $15,599 expenditure:0)
Another sidebar(I know I'm good at those:0)
Propane-driven ZTR's..........does anybody actually use these in a lawn maintenance business???? I noticed the Gravely Pro-Turn 400XDZ series offers that in the 72" and also had seen it offered by Toro in the Z-Master 6000 Series). It seems that these have a Kawasaki FX engine that has been converted to run on propane. The Gravely runs $13,699 MSRP(actually a little cheaper than the 72" Diesel counterpart). The 2012 Toro brochure I have touts lower fuel costs, less engine maintenance and of course lower emissions for the propane 60" & 70" models. So are these "widely" or "seldom" used in businesses and why????

 

[Parkmower]

What size are the parks and areas needing to be mowed. I've worked and mowed in parks for 16 years. I do agree diesel is a good option but don't rule out the gassers. Again what's you purchase and then maint budget?

 

[Parkmower]

If it's OK(cause I'm biased:0), I'll add Gravely to that list of diesels. They offer that in the Commercial "flagship" Pro-Turn 400XDZ Series(BTW, if anyone is "interested" the "XDZ" acronym in the Pro-Turn Series stands for "X-tra Durability Zero Turns") for the 60" & 72" cut(but your wallet better be prepared for a $14,599 or $15,599 expenditure:0)
Another sidebar(I know I'm good at those:0)
Propane-driven ZTR's..........does anybody actually use these in a lawn maintenance business???? I noticed the Gravely Pro-Turn 400XDZ series offers that in the 72" and also had seen it offered by Toro in the Z-Master 6000 Series). It seems that these have a Kawasaki FX engine that has been converted to run on propane. The Gravely runs $13,699 MSRP(actually a little cheaper than the 72" Diesel counterpart). The 2012 Toro brochure I have touts lower fuel costs, less engine maintenance and of course lower emissions for the propane 60" & 70" models. So are these "widely" or "seldom" used in businesses and why????

Gettin real tired of hearing gravely anytime someone thinks about a new mower and then upselling them. I agree they are good machines. But please give it a rest.
Remember your a first time zt owner/ user and never mowed commercially.

 

[djdicetn]

Gettin real tired of hearing gravely anytime someone thinks about a new mower and then upselling them. I agree they are good machines. But please give it a rest.
Remember your a first time zt owner/ user and never mowed commercially.

I will stop recommending a Gravely if you won't recommend a Husqvarna, Cub Cadet or Toro:0)
Have you read most of the threads for all four of those brands in the Brand Specific forums and discerned the numer of relative major problems reported???? Or maybe checked out the most recent 2013 Dealer Ratings of those brands(see link below). First time/non-Commercial experience doesn't always mean "incorrect/bad advice".

http://www.msdeda.com/pdf/2013 Dealer Manufacturer Survey.pdf

P.S.
If the dealers for the Husqvarna's, Cub Cadet & Toro's don't rate the overall quality as high as the Ariens/Gravely dealers why should your "experienced advice" be any more reliable that a newbie??? Maybe you were just "lucky" to get a good one. If a dealer disses a brand I am a little more reluctant to invest in one, maybe other users will feel the same way about a Gravely. Actually, I prefer a dealer survey to a owner survey because it doesn't have the "emotional/bias" aspect of the quality opinion.

P.S.S.
If, over the years, my Gravely has any major problems I won't hesitate to advise users on this forum. Have you had any major repairs on your mowing equipment???

 

[Carscw]

I would just get a toro grounds master don't hold back spend all your money.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))