Another newbie question

[devorjp]

Hey guys, just found this site....great stuff....

Anyway, I have a little over 2 acres to mow. I just built the house on what used to be a field so there are a few rough areas. As of now, there are no trees to mow around.

I'm going to purchase a zero turn in a couple of months and have narrowed the choice down to three....Cub Cadet Z-Force 50 for $4,000....Hustler Fastrack 52/20 for $4,999...and the Gravely ZT2148XL for $5,094....

My question are:
1) For my residential use only, are the Hustler and Gravely worth the $1,000 difference??

2) If so, which of the two more expensive mowers is better??

 

[donaldprice]

(2) Hustler /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Strugglewithin]

Hustler is a better machine. I don't care for the way they feel driving them. But that could just be me and my bad back too..

I like sitting on a Gravely and using it. Just feels better to me. But again, after having worked on them both, the Hustler is made better. Just make sure it doesnt have the Honda engine on it. Those really are a nightmare.

 

[JasonH]

A lot of people Don't seem to realize that with a ZTR you can get away with a smaller deck because the mower moves a lot faster. I'm still using the same 42 inch Dixon that my parents bought me when I was 12 (which is back in 1988.) It looks like an 18 year old mower. My neighbors are always patting themselves on the back for getting the latest 26HP monstrosity from sears. They do nothing with them but cut grass. I can't say I blame them. What is most entertaining though is that most of us have lawns that are all about the same size. They're on their 54" 26HP turbo-charged blah, blah, blah. And I'm on an odd looking 18 year old Dixon with a 12 HP Kawasaki. I get done before they do, every single time.

The point of all of this is that the rules change a bit when you're talking about ZTR mowers. You can away with something that is a bit smaller and makes less power. As I always put it, they make more efficient use of their power. It's just something to think about because a 42" ZTR costs a lot less than a 50".

 

[donaldprice]

hustler is a ztr with a 72 inch mowing deck and will mow circles around most any brand they say a dixie chopper is the world fastest mower but hustler has been around along time before dixie chopper


Don /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hustler is a ztr with a 72 inch mowing deck and will mow circles around most any brand they say a dixie chopper is the world fastest mower but hustler has been around along time before dixie chopper Don /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>


<font color="red"> I agree! Hustler is clearly superior!

I question the comment about Honda. I have had many Honda products (ATVs, motorcycles, lawn tractor, and automobiles) and have never had a problem. The 20hp Honda in my Hustler FasTrac 52/20 just purrs along, and provides plenty of cutting, speed, and climbing power! I can't see any need for more hp or speed.

The top speed for the FasTrac 52/20 is 7mph, which seems ideal. Unless cutting a putting green, higher speed (big Hustlers and Dixie Choppers claim 13mph) would produce a wild ride and a very poor cut!

Installing my $5.oo Air Suspension Seat made it even sweeter! Just keep the blades sharp and you will be "Good to go!!"!



</font>

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hustler is a ztr with a 72 inch mowing deck and will mow circles around most any brand they say a dixie chopper is the world fastest mower but hustler has been around along time before dixie chopper


Don /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>

A lot of brands have 72" decks and Hustler makes them in all different sizes also. Hustler makes nice equipment but to say it will mow circles around most other brands is a stretch.

 

[deereowner]

I also looked at the CC Zforce 50 and the Hustler 52/20, and picked the Hustler. No regrets. I picked it after getting a lot of feedback on this web site, and also for the warranty on the Hustler. Lifetime warranty on the leading edge of the deck, and based on my past experience, that is worth a lot. Also, I was sold on the Honda engine, also based on my experience with them. The Hustler is built like a tank, and the engine purrs. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I figured that I did not want to be telling myself in 6 months that I wish I had spent the additional money. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[donaldprice]

Congratulations! Nice machine!


Don /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MarkSchmitt]

I have a 2005 Gravely ZT2148XL and I have never liked the way it cuts grass. When the grass gets tall 5-6", it always leaves uncut strips of grass. I have tried different blades and currently have 2 blades on each spindle in an X pattern. Still doesn't cut right. I think the Cub is the bargain.