5k Zero Turn Question

[camps23]

Hey All,
I posted my first post a few days ago in the general questions regarding if I should get a compact or zturn for a new to me property I am purchasing. I have since been to the local kubota and JD dealers looking and decided as of now a zturn is the way to go. First off the property I'm purchasing is around 1.5acres but with house, pool, shop Im guessing around 1 acre of grass to cut. I have been reading as much as I can online to get an idea of some good models but havent found the exact answers I have been looking for. Im hoping to spend in the $5,000 range. Im also noticing that in this price range the Kubota and JD's come with briggs or kohler courage engines. I have always heard that the kawasaki engines are the most reliable. Can anyone let me know what the best options are for a zturn 48"-54" deck in that price range ? The local dealers carry Kubota ,JD ,Ferris ,Husqvarna ,massey ferguson ,bob cat, Toro. I do have a Hustler dealer about 45min away.
Thanks for all your help

 

[CowboyRon]

Hey All,
I posted my first post a few days ago in the general questions regarding if I should get a compact or zturn for a new to me property I am purchasing. I have since been to the local kubota and JD dealers looking and decided as of now a zturn is the way to go. First off the property I'm purchasing is around 1.5acres but with house, pool, shop Im guessing around 1 acre of grass to cut. I have been reading as much as I can online to get an idea of some good models but havent found the exact answers I have been looking for. Im hoping to spend in the $5,000 range. Im also noticing that in this price range the Kubota and JD's come with briggs or kohler courage engines. I have always heard that the kawasaki engines are the most reliable. Can anyone let me know what the best options are for a zturn 48"-54" deck in that price range ? The local dealers carry Kubota ,JD ,Ferris ,Husqvarna ,massey ferguson ,bob cat, Toro. I do have a Hustler dealer about 45min away.
Thanks for all your help

Tractor supply has the bad boy for that price, I'm very happy with ours.

 

[camps23]

Unfortunately in Canada they only carry the husqvarna models

 

[Bird]

I have a Toro with the Kohler Courage and I like it, but I know their more expensive mowers have the Kawasaki engines, and are well within your price range. The other brands may be as good or better, but part of my concern is having a good dealer for parts and service IF NEEDED.

Toro | TimeCutter® MX5060 - Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

 

[yomax4]

I adopted a lowly Cub Cadet ( MTD ) It has 2200 hrs on it with a Briggs 25hp Twin. This thing has been run hard it's whole life but with oil changes and grease, Still going strong. Only replaced 1 spindle, belts and blades. I'm not making a pitch for this mower but it has been a pleasant surprise for a -3K entry level ZT mower.

 

[Beltman60]

I think most these engines will do fine with regular maintenance
The thing that has helped them is a pressurized lubricating system with a filter
changing the filter and oil annually will make them trouble free for many years

I've had my simplicity 50" zero turn for almost 16 years now with a B&S 18 HP and cut about 2 1/2 acres a week

just remember to grease and check fluids often

 

[djdicetn]

Unfortunately in Canada they only carry the husqvarna models

camps23,

I don't know where in Ontario you are located, but I do see two Gravely dealers listed in Ontario. The one with online pricing and info is CHAINSAW CENTRE & EQUIPMENT @ 174 POWLEY ST in THUNDER BAY, ON P7A2K7. A link to their website is as follows:

Gravely ZT HD & Zero Turn Lawn Mowers at CHAINSAW CENTRE & EQUIPMENT in THUNDER BAY, ON P7A2K7

Wow....just noticed though, what I thought would be in your price range(ZT HD 48-MSRP of $4,999 here in Nashville TN) is considerably more on the website in Ontario($5,670) for the exact same model(991082). That kinda stinks($671 more in Ontario), unless you are close enough to the border to find a dealer here in the USA and hook up your trailer and go get it:0(
That ZT HD 48 would definitely fit your needs though!!

 

[tcartwri]

Johnsons equipment in Metcalfe ( Ottawa ) carries the Gravely line, and they have an up to date website showing their prices. Make sure you are looking at a unit with at least an 8 mph ground speed, or you're wasting your money. That will knock almost all of the sub 5K units out of contention.

Allan Johnston Repair & Sales

 

[Bird]

Make sure you are looking at a unit with at least an 8 mph ground speed, or you're wasting your money.

I don't know whether you're kidding, or serious, but anyway I'd disagree; 7 mph is plenty of speed for most people and I sure don't consider a 7 mph machine to be a waste of money.:laughing:

 

[camps23]

Im located in Southwestern Ontario so Thunder Bay is deff out of the question and Quebec is still 7hrs away.
It seems most of the models in this price range have alot of the same components what makes one better than the other ?
Ergonomics and comfort ?
Seems the major brands (JD, Kubota ) are using briggs or kohler. While the brands that are more zero turn specific (ferris , hustler, gravely)
are using the kawasaki's. I have always been told kawi is the way to go.
Im thinking of heading to the ferris dealer sometime this week.

 

[camps23]

Ok I was able to locate a Gravely dealer about 30min from home. I will be checking them out this week as they are in the same town as the ferris dealer. So far this is the list of mowers I have been interested in. Please add or give me a reason to eliminate off my list. Thanks again...glad I came to the experts...alot better than listening to the salesman on commission.

Kubota Kommander ZG127s 54" - $6,034 (Can get one used with only 24hrs for $5500 no tax. Keep in mind its 13% tax in ON.)
John Deere Z445 54" - $5,500
Gravely ZT HD 52" - $5,874
Ferris IS500z 52" - ???
Toro MX5060 50" - $4,800

Out of that list the Gravely and Toro are the only ones using Kawasaki engines

 

[tcartwri]

I don't know whether you're kidding, or serious, but anyway I'd disagree; 7 mph is plenty of speed for most people and I sure don't consider a 7 mph machine to be a waste of money.:laughing:

Well hate to break it to ya, but my old craftsman lawn tractor does 7.5 and it was $2800 new. 48" high speed deck, 26 HP. Why would I spend another 2K on a machine that's slower?

 

[Bird]

Well hate to break it to ya, but my old craftsman lawn tractor does 7.5 and it was $2800 new. 48" high speed deck, 26 HP. Why would I spend another 2K on a machine that's slower?

Now you're comparing apples to oranges and there's really no comparison between a lawn tractor and a ZTR. I've had a Cub Cadet and a Craftsman lawn tractors, as well as 2 Toro ZTRs, and I can certainly get more done faster with a slower ZTR.

 

[tcartwri]

Again. Why would I spend more money for a slower machine.

 

[Bird]

Again. Why would I spend more money for a slower machine.

Tim, I get the impression that you've never used a ZTR. Is that right? Your concern about the top speed of the machine puzzles me. Do you always mow wide open; just as fast as the machine will go? I don't. When I was using a tractor that would do about 12 mph, with a finish mower, I didn't actually mow at that speed. Even when using a brush hog, I didn't run at top speed. And with a lawn tractor or other mower, there are other considerations that are more important than a traveling speed of more than 8 mph. One such example might be blade tip speed. Are the blades turning fast enough to cut the grass when you're moving at top speed. I know when I had lawn tractors that had a top traveling speed of about 7 mph, in tall, heavy grass I had to slow down to 2 or 3 mph or I'd just be running over the grass without cutting it. Now my Toro ZTR will actually cut the grass going faster than the lawn tractors would. But I don't mow right next to buildings, fences, around trees, through gates, etc. at its top speed. But with a ZTR that will do 7 mph, I can mow most lawns a lot faster than you can with your 7.5 mph lawn tractor because of its superior maneuverability.

But if you have enough huge open areas to mow, then there are certainly ZTRs that will run faster (whether you actually mow at top speed or not), and you were correct when you said requiring higher speed would probably eliminate those that sell for less than $5k.

So it seems to me that your question is not "why spend more for a slower machine" but instead should be "why spend more for a ZTR than a lawn tractor". Now lawn tractors are pretty nice and have their uses, and prices, but how many professional lawn workers have you seen using one instead of a ZTR?

 

[camps23]

So I went out to the John Deere and Hustler dealers today. Both are in Town and 5min from the new property.
My list as of now looks like this.....

New Gravely ZT HD 52" - $5,874 plus tax (Havent been to dealer yet, about 25min from home)
Used 2013 Kubota ZG127S 54" 30hrs - $5500 (cash price no tax)
New John Deere Z445 54" - $5,500 plus tax
Used 2008 John Deere Z830a 60" 550hrs - 5,000 (cash no tax)
New Ferris IS500Z 52" - $? (havent been out to dealer yet..about 25min away)
New Toro MX5060 50" - $4,900

Priced out the Hustlers but they arent in my budget...looked at the fastrak 54" model and it was well over 7K.
Really like the price on the JD Z830a but worried the 60" will be to big. The overall condition looks to be a 8/10 but not sure on
the motor.

 

[Bird]

Naturally, I know that I'd be buying that Toro, but that's because (1) it's new and would have a warranty, (2) I have a good dealer nearby, and (3) prior personal experience with Toro but no such experience with the others.

But your mileage may vary.:laughing: I don't own any stock in Toro, so I'm not trying to sell them.

 

[Beltman60]

I think that 60" deck would be too big for your 1.5 acres
but looks like a good deal

 

[cletus99]

Take a good look at Ariens Zoom mowers also. They are the exact same mower as the Gravely ZT HD mowers. I emailed Ariens and asked and posted a thread about it in the Ariens/Gravely forum. Should save you a good bit of money.

Honestly though, do you really need a ZTR for only 1 acre?

 

[cletus99]

Take a good look at Ariens Zoom mowers also. They are the exact same mower as the Gravely ZT HD mowers. I emailed Ariens and asked and posted a thread about it in the Ariens/Gravely forum. Should save you a good bit of money.

Honestly though, do you really need a ZTR for only 1 acre?