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I am in the mood to buy a zero turn mower. I have never owned, nor used one. It takes me 10+ hours to cut the two places I cut, not counting the trim work. Place 1 is my Dad's, place 2 is mine. I am using a Kubota BX2200.

I am seeking opinions from y'all, as to what mower is the best and hopefully you will tell me why you feel as you do.

Thanks, Mule.

confederatemule said:

I am in the mood to buy a zero turn mower. I have never owned, nor used one. It takes me 10+ hours to cut the two places I cut, not counting the trim work. Place 1 is my Dad's, place 2 is mine. I am using a Kubota BX2200.

I am seeking opinions from y'all, as to what mower is the best and hopefully you will tell me why you feel as you do.

Thanks, Mule.

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How many acres total and how much of your money can we spend:0)
Now I know why you were looking at that Swisher 66" if you have two properties to maintain. You'll get some good recommendations but tell us more about what you are looking for

djdicetn said:

How many acres total and how much of your money can we spend:0)
Now I know why you were looking at that Swisher 66" if you have two properties to maintain. You'll get some good recommendations but tell us more about what you are looking for

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djdicetn, I decided to start a new thread instead of getting the "Swisher" thread all mixed up.

I am drawn to the Swisher because of the steering handles, due to my shoulder problems, although the ZTR will be driven by my wife most of the time. I also like the rear discharge system. (I had a rear discharge mower once, and it left less mess. I like no wind row.) As far as price, like most other folks, I want Gold at scrap tin prices. I am expecting to pay a pretty penny.

I don't know what I want other than that. What I see, mostly, are the ZTR's at Lowe's and Home Depot. We have a local Tractor Supply, that I go in, on occasion.

A friend brought his Kubota over, the other day, to help speed up the mowing. We were impressed. Before I got started good, he was finished. That is when my wife started talking about, and showing me advertisements about ZTR's. What ever she wants, she will get.

The area to be mowed can be more, (if she wants it), My Dad's place is 10 acres, with enough trees to eliminate mowing for hay, but, when cut looks like a town park (with no benches). Mine is 20 acres, I give a large portion of my grass to a feller for hay. I will be using the ZTR to cut the part, of both places, that she considers yard. She considers all out buildings as being in the yard. So, the yard is pretty large, at both places.

What else do I need to add?

Thanks for any help.

Mule

There are so many good ZTRs that it would be hard to say one is better than another. Me... I love my Gravely but I'd be happy with a Snapper Pro or Ferris too. I wouldn't want to cut 30 acres w/ my 34z though
One thing I can say is you're going to like using a zero turn and ...

That is when my wife started talking about, and showing me advertisements about ZTR's. What ever she wants, she will get.

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that's a good sign :thumbsup: In this situation anyway

What about the ones with the mowing deck out front, instead of mid mount?

Mike88se, now I have to look up Gravely and Snapper Pro and Ferris. Thanks Mike88se.

Mule

confederatemule said:

What about the ones with the mowing deck out front, instead of mid mount? Mike88se, now I have to look up Gravely and Snapper Pro and Ferris. Thanks Mike88se. Mule

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You can look at the Grasshopper line of ZTR's for out front mowers. They are good mowers with excellent reliability. I don't know what you consider a pretty penny, but you would probably spend 10k or better on those models.

confederatemule said:

What about the ones with the mowing deck out front, instead of mid mount?

Mike88se, now I have to look up Gravely and Snapper Pro and Ferris. Thanks Mike88se.

Mule

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The front-mount deck makes me think of Grasshopper ZTR's. VERY nice Commercial quality machines for their mid-mount and front-mount deck ZTR's. With your requirements you really need to invest in a Commercial ZTR and most of those are going to run you between $6k-$8k. My Gravely is a Pro-Turn 100 XDZ which was the entry level Commercial Gravely in 2012. In 2013, they introduced the base Pro-Turn which is now considered their entry level Commercial model. Below is a link to the 2014 Pro-Turn 100 XDZ. I gave $6,800 OTD for my 2012 52" but that was approx. $1,300 off the MSRP for a 2013(I bought mine in the Fall, just before the new models came out...the 2012 MSRP was $7199 and the 2013 models were going up $300 to $7,499). All mowers have gone up considerably over the last couple of years and mine now has a MSRP of $8499(plus tax) and is on sale at my dealer for $7,699(plus tax). A 60" is on sale right now for right at $8k. Other ZTR's you should consider would be a Toro Z-Master series; Hustler FasTrak SD or Hustler X-One series; Cub Cadet Z-Force series; Dixon DX100 series and the Kubota ZG300 series. The Gravely base Pro-Turn in a 60" deck would be a "best buy" right now at $6,599 MSRP. You are probably not going to find much that will cut the acreage you have and hold up for less than $6K. BTW, the Snapper Pro & Ferris recommended by user Mike888se are also nice machines but are manufactured by Briggs & Stratton which I'm not real high on. Good luck in your search and make sure you get a ZTR with serviceable trannies and good warranty. For gasoline engines, Kawasiki's are considered the most reliable on the market right now.

Ooops, almost forgot the link:

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for a homeowner model the toro timecutter at home depot is hard to beat.....around 3000 dollars

edd said:

for a homeowner model the toro timecutter at home depot is hard to beat.....around 3000 dollars

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Aren't those things kind of slow compared to a commercial mower? If so I don't think I'd want to cut almost 30 acres a week with one. For $3000 you can find a really good used commercial mower.

edd said:

for a homeowner model the toro timecutter at home depot is hard to beat.....around 3000 dollars

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That mower wouldn't even last a year if you cut 30 acres a week.

the one i had was used commercially for 4 years .....they are good mowers......didnt say how much he wanted to spend..........used commercial wont have any warranty ........speed? timecutter is just as fast as an entry level commercial......

I do not intend to cut all of it with a ZTR. I have a Massey Ferguson tractor and Rhino 72" cutter to cut what is not used for yard and what the hay cutter does not cut. Sorry, I did not intend to leave the impression that I was going to cut it all with a ZTR.

My plan is to take a day this week and search my area for what is available locally. I do not want to buy one out side of my local area (max. 50 miles) I, also, want to be able to buy parts and have it serviced locally. Although I may have to wait a week to search, cause this plan is set up for the benefit of my bride (I don't know her plans for this week).

Mule

Thanks to all of you who have responded. Your input has helped.

Mule

confederatemule said:

Thanks to all of you who have responded. Your input has helped.

Mule

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If you are going to mow 30 acres a week, I wouldn't spend under 10k. A toro timecutter would be scrapped incredibly fast on 30 acres. I would start with Grasshopper, Toro, or Scag Commercial models. Kubota would also be a good bet.

Aaron

Get a ferris. I would get one with a diesel engine. It will last longer that a gas engine.

clpolcar said:

Get a ferris. I would get one with a diesel engine. It will last longer that a gas engine.

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That is if you can afford diesel fuel....it has gotten so much more expensive than regular gasoline it would be a major purchase option decision for me. My father-in-law has a 35 foot Class A motorhome that is diesel and I won't tell you how much it costs for them to travel any distance in it(at 2-4mpg). IMHO, the longevity wouldn't offest the cosdt over ownership of a gasoline powered ZTR. Besides, the other components on a ZTR will usually start to go south long before the engine.

confederatemule said:

Thanks to all of you who have responded. Your input has helped.

Mule

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Let us know what your short list ends up being and we will try to give you some feedback!!!

Well, we looked at local options today.

The Kubota dealership will deliver one in the morning. ZD331RP-60R.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and opinions based on your actual experience.

Mule

confederatemule said:

Well, we looked at local options today.

The Kubota dealership will deliver one in the morning. ZD331RP-60R.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and opinions based on your actual experience.

Mule

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I have 330 hours on my ZD 326. It has been run under brutal conditions most of those hours. I would definitely go with the Kubota. ZD in the 300 series.

You won't go wrong.

confederatemule said:

Well, we looked at local options today.

The Kubota dealership will deliver one in the morning. ZD331RP-60R.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and opinions based on your actual experience.

Mule

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That was quick and painless:0)
I think that Kubota will get the job done for you!!!

I think I'll be happy with it. I sat on a a bunch of ZTR's. The one I was most interested in, when I left the house, was the first we looked at, a grasshopper. No one came out to try to answer any questions, so that one was removed from the list of favorites. Apparently they did not want/need our money. But, ultimately, the same man got the money. One man owns every tractor dealership within a 60 mile radius of my area. With the exception of the John Deere Dealership.

Lowes (big box store) had a Hustler Raptor that was the second choice, below the Grasshopper. I did not really plan on a Kubota, at all. The fact that the Hustler would of had to be sent off to have warranty work done and no local parts available, shot it out of the race. After searching all of the box stores and the only local Grasshopper dealer, We went to the Kubota dealer, in Texarkana. The salesman spent near 2 hours with us and everything he had to offer, which included Dixie Chopper. He had almost every option available in Kubota or Dixie Chopper. What he did not have he offer to have one on the yard the next day, including my choice of Grasshopper.

The ZD331RP-60R won the race, hands down, in every entry.

djdicetn, it was NOT painless and we had to spend a VERY pretty penny. But, we will survive.

Mule

confederatemule said:

I think I'll be happy with it. I sat on a a bunch of ZTR's. The one I was most interested in, when I left the house, was the first we looked at, a grasshopper. No one came out to try to answer any questions, so that one was removed from the list of favorites. Apparently they did not want/need our money. But, ultimately, the same man got the money. One man owns every tractor dealership within a 60 mile radius of my area. With the exception of the John Deere Dealership.

Lowes (big box store) had a Hustler Raptor that was the second choice, below the Grasshopper. I did not really plan on a Kubota, at all. The fact that the Hustler would of had to be sent off to have warranty work done and no local parts available, shot it out of the race. After searching all of the box stores and the only local Grasshopper dealer, We went to the Kubota dealer, in Texarkana. The salesman spent near 2 hours with us and everything he had to offer, which included Dixie Chopper. He had almost every option available in Kubota or Dixie Chopper. What he did not have he offer to have one on the yard the next day, including my choice of Grasshopper.

The ZD331RP-60R won the race, hands down, in every entry.

djdicetn, it was NOT painless and we had to spend a VERY pretty penny. But, we will survive.

Mule

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I hear ya...I was going to comment that you ended up getting what I consider one of the "pricier" ZTR's(my father-in-law has the same one in a 72" deck and even though it's a beast it set him back well over $12k). Of the three at that dealer I probably would have leaned towards the Dixie Chopper but that's because both the Grasshopper and Kubota are out of my price range. I hope you got one that will take care of all your mowing needs and I would think it most definitely will. Post a picture when you get a chance(we wanna see it:0)

Old & new.

confederatemule said:

Old & new.

View attachment 20373View attachment 20374

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Again, congratulations......VERY nice looking machines(including the old one:0)
Looks like you are set for your lawn care needs!!!!!!