Buying Advice zero turn - or not?

[Jpcjguy]

Hey all,

So I just bought a house with 2 acres - of which about 1.5 is lawn. I first jumped on the zero turn mower thought because that is what the previous owner has and hey - more power toys!
So now that I am looking at the $$$ for them, I wonder if I truly need it.
Here is a picture of the lawn:

Birds eye view:

Basically everything to the left of the red line. There is some behind the house you cant see but that gives you an idea of the terrain.
I am wondering if a standard riding mower with a 48" deck would be fine also - seems to be a bunch cheaper in the used market.

What do you all think?
Thanks
Joe

 

[Katahdin]

I love my Toro z420 (42 inch 2005 model), I would never go back to a non-zero. My coworker paid about 3 grand for the same one, I got mine at Home Depot for about $1600 because it was marked down to make room for the next year's model. Both of ours are still running strong.

 

[smstonypoint]

So now that I am looking at the $$$ for them, I wonder if I truly need it.
.
I am wondering if a standard riding mower with a 48" deck would be fine also - seems to be a bunch cheaper in the used market.

Joe,

How do you value your time? Assuming the same deck size, you will same time with a ZTR, and the more obstacles (trees, buildings, etc.) in your yard, the more time you will save.

Steve

 

[Fishmansdad]

I have used a 52 inch cut Hustler Fastrak for several years. It is powered by a 20hp Honda commercial engine. I mow over three acres with it ranging from wide open field to native lawn with a lot of maneuvering. On the positive side, no one should have this much fun mowing. I can easily cut my 3+ acres in a couple of hours. It is low slung and I can get under low branches that would bar a lawn tractor.

Here are some cons to consider, Price for this model several years ago was 5K. You can get cheaper but it will be built cheaper. To date, I have had no mechanical issues.

If you have sloping land, mowing side hill can be a chore as the machine wants to dash off down hill and the driver has to constantly check that. If not too steep, mow up and down slope. My mower has safety wheels on the back to guard against back flip, but they have never been needed on my gentle slopes.

You can trim closely and rapidly, but that can rip up soil and sod near tree trunks in sharp turns. For trimming under fences, it is useful to have the deck extend out beyond the wheel base on the side opposite ejection. I have scarred up gas tanks cutting beneath barb wire fence.

Maximum speed of mine is 7mph and when sharp it will cut at top speed. The next model up was 1K more, Kawasaki powered, wider cut, and 11mph top speed.

In my model, there is no suspension, not even the seat is sprung. This makes for a rough ride. I have seen a big model with suspension but I wager the price was prohibitive for personal use. If you are a big person, make sure you fit the cockpit comfortably.

Removing the blades on my model is not easy, but that is generally true of lawn tractor mowers or even more so. My old diesel Ford GT75 requires removal of the deck for example.

I cannot get my wife to use it. She prefers the Ford lawn tractor. I suspect because it is hydrostat and steers like a car.

 

[Illini22]

My wright stander is also a Kawasaki 23hp. 11 mph is the top speed. Very rarely will I ever go that fast. It's an awesome commercial mower that I use at my home, a 3/4 acre lot I own and sometimes at a 6 acre property I own (mow 2 acres). My large tractor is way more comfortable than any zero turn/lawn tractor. I've never even have a bolt/nut loosen up on the stander. It's a 2000 model, I bought it with about 2000 hours (newer motor), it now has a bit over 2300.very, very little maintenance.

 

[Bird]

I've owned Cub Cadet and Craftsman lawn tractors; liked both of them, and they served me well. But I now have my second Toro ZTR, and as has been said already, they get the job done much quicker.

 

[jim98]

I've owned Cub Cadet and Craftsman lawn tractors; liked both of them, and they served me well. But I now have my second Toro ZTR, and as has been said already, they get the job done much quicker.

I had a toro ztr and had nothing but bad luck with it, bought a deere ztr and worked great.

 

[cmore]

At my stage in life, most purchases are on a want basis Vs need:- ). Do u need one, no but for me, it is a lot more fun to mow with a zero turn. Would not want to go back to a tractor style mower. I would recommend u try one first as I had a friend who bought a new one and didn't like it and took a hit when he traded it back in on another. He claimed it rode harder but I believe that was because he was running quicker and there fore hitting the bumps harder.

 

[nc redneck]

Nice place. I would think what ever you decide will work, it comes down to what is your time worth. I have a BX2200 and John Deer 60 inch commercial 0 turn. I keep and park the John Deer at one of my commercial property's as it keeps me from trailing machines back and fourth. It is useless for anything other than cutting grass. The BX would be by far my first choice and the last thing I would ever sell. Even my Kioti 45.
Hope This Helps
Scott

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Whatever you buy, don't go cheap. If you buy a cheap ZTR or a cheap lawn tractor from a box store, it won't last and you'll be buying another one in a few years.

Spend a little more and buy a quality one. Not only will it last longer, but you'll enjoy it more when using it.

 

[ecruzin]

Been reading all your threads on mowers. I would definitely go zero turn over riding mower. I had a riding mower at our old home with less than a half acre years ago and could not imagine doing 2 acres with it on a regular basis. I started with a used big box store Toro Z5030 23hp Koehler 50 inch deck and it served me well for 3 years. I beat the snot out of it cleaning up and reclaiming the new to us property we bought in early 2011. I keep approx. 2 acres mowed. We do have some slopes to deal with along our long driveway and I had trouble with the Toro siding down the slopes. My wife almost ended up upside down in a drainage ditch because the Toro coundn't hold the hill. This past spring I decided it was time to upgrade. I looked at Snapper, Husky, Ferris/Simplicity. My local Ferris dealer actually let me take several units home to demo. First was the IS500 with the 61" deck and the B&S 27HP engine. I felt the machine was good but it felt slow and underpowered. Next I took home the IS700 with a 52"deck and the B&S 28hp commercial engine. World of difference. The IS700 is about 3 MPH faster than the IS500. The faster speed more than makes up for the smaller deck. Also the larger tires on the IS700 make the machine much more stable on slopes and uneven ground than the IS500.
I have been more than happy with the IS700. I did keep the Toro for all the garbage work in the barnyards and fence lines. This way I only bend the blades and trash one mower deck doing crap work. Hope this helps and good luck in your search.

 

[Jpcjguy]

Saving time is somewhat a priority but with 3 kids under 4 years old (twin 3.5 boys and 5 month daughter) a little extra time on the mower would not be a bad thing!
I also see that my boys will be eventually doing more and I less - ha!
Living in Richmond VA, I really don't see a need for tractor type for snow or anything since we get hardly any.
Also the current owner is going to leave a cart, aerator, bagger from his kubota zg20 - so I have attachments - which could theoretically attach to any mower - zero or regular I assume. Otherwise I will bust out the welder and make a mount!
I had a JD regular lawn tractor growing up so I know all about them - guess I need to try a zero and see if I like it and then make my decision.
Appreciate all the feedback!

 

[smstonypoint]

Saving time is somewhat a priority but with 3 kids under 4 years old (twin 3.5 boys and 5 month daughter) a little extra time on the mower would not be a bad thing!
I also see that my boys will be eventually doing more and I less - ha!

No one says that you have to operate a ZTR at its capacity. You can slow down and make "non-zero" turns if the need arises, as I am sure it will.

Steve

 

[Jpcjguy]

so do most zeros come with a hitch setup or the ability to buy and install one? I could fab one if needed but rather spend my time elsewhere

 

[ray66v]

so do most zeros come with a hitch setup or the ability to buy and install one? I could fab one if needed but rather spend my time elsewhere

Yes, and yes.

I tried everything else first, because I did not want to spend the money. But, unless you really like mowing grass for hours, and hours, get a zero turn.

When I use my lawn tractor or someone else's,to mow now, after using my zero turn, it's nearly torture.

Also, the seat is the most important part of the unit. If the seat is not comfortable, and does not have some type of suspension, tell the salesman you don't want it. You cannot use the speed these units afford, if you can't stay on it. A good seat will allow you to fly. And keep you from feeling like you are working.

 

[Jpcjguy]

Yes, and yes.

I tried everything else first, because I did not want to spend the money. But, unless you really like mowing grass for hours, and hours, get a zero turn.

When I use my lawn tractor or someone else's,to mow now, after using my zero turn, it's nearly torture.

Also, the seat is the most important part of the unit. If the seat is not comfortable, and does not have some type of suspension, tell the salesman you don't want it. You cannot use the speed these units afford, if you can't stay on it. A good seat will allow you to fly. And keep you from feeling like you are working.

good call. so which models are known for better seats? how about the ferris suspension? seem good but is that just in theory?. So hard to figure out what's what with all the brands available. L

 

[TSO]

Nice aerial shot, looks like a nice setup. I have used all sorts of mowers, and a ZTR is by far my favorite. So, another vote for using a zero turn. And for that size property, you'll only need 42" - 52" decks.

 

[ray66v]

The Ferris units look really good. But the reviews from the people who mow for a living, say the quality of cut suffers with the suspension. They say it's much better to have a real good seat. When you run one of these at 10+ MPH you will see why.

All of them seem to come with good, and bad seats. Some have optional seats, and some can be upgraded with an aftermarket suspension unit if you have to.

All the better zero turns are pretty good. It's mostly about personal preference.

Right now, except for the color, I like the Hustler super Z, or the less expensive X-one.

If your property is flat, I would not settle for a small deck, if you can afford the larger ones, i.e. 60", you will get done a lot faster. But a 54" would be acceptable.

It's only too big, if you can't afford it, or use it in your yard.

 

[Jpcjguy]

So what about speeds? What is the average speed to cut at? Based on relatively flat lawn (see my pics)? Are there brands that are just flat out too slow? or ones with too much speed to be practical?

 

[smstonypoint]

I think the top speed of my ZTR is 13 MPH. I'm not sure about other ZTRs, but I don't think top speed will be an issue. Most of my lawn is flat, but is far from smooth. There's no way I could mow at 13 MPH without serious damage to my kidneys and other vital organs. However, under-powered ZTRs may be a problem in tall grass.

Steve

Edit: I forgot to mention that a fast ground speed can reduce the quality of the cut.