Are Ferris zero-turn mowers really smoother?

[srs]

I've been reading through the Ferris mower brochure and they advertise that their suspension gives you a much smoother ride than their competitors. If this is true why haven't the other large zero-turn manufacturers come out with their own "smoother" suspension system? My dentist got rid of his Kubota zero-turn because he said the ride was miserable, and yes he did check the air pressure in his tires. Just wondering what others are saying about the ride on their mowers. I can't believe that Kubota, Exmark, Scag, Deere, etc. zero-turns ride that rough compared to Ferris. I certainly don't want to buy a mower for my 3+ acres and hate the ride. I thank you in advance. Stanley

 

[PBinWA]

I've been reading through the Ferris mower brochure and they advertise that their suspension gives you a much smoother ride than their competitors. If this is true why haven't the other large zero-turn manufacturers come out with their own "smoother" suspension system? My dentist got rid of his Kubota zero-turn because he said the ride was miserable, and yes he did check the air pressure in his tires. Just wondering what others are saying about the ride on their mowers. I can't believe that Kubota, Exmark, Scag, Deere, etc. zero-turns ride that rough compared to Ferris. I certainly don't want to buy a mower for my 3+ acres and hate the ride. I thank you in advance. Stanley

I really like my 1500Z. Bad Boy also makes a suspension ZTR but the Ferris dealer network was better in my area.

You will still notice some bumps with the Ferris but it's not as bad as other machines I tried. I think you can mow faster since it "hurts" less.

 

[gamble77]

Larger the frame size and larger the tires the smoother the ride (in theory of course). Telling you the truth in a non bias form the smoothest mid-mount commercial ZTR I have ever been on was a GrassHopper. I don't sell them anymore but that is my honest opinion...and I have been on all the big name brands including Ferris (use to sell them). Good luck with your search, just drive as many as you can!

 

[coobie]

In one word yes !! I had a 2004 ferris/simplicty ZTR and can say the ride of the ferris is much smoother than my 2007 kubota 326 pro ZTR.coobie

 

[bobmisi]

If you are after a smooth ride the Ferris is good, but the suspension can actually work against you when moving fast over bumps. It makes it bounce too much and the smoothness of the cut is compromised. My friend has a landscaping business and was using Ferris and Bobcat zero turns. Both were good units with very little maintenance needed. I bought an Exmark after a very thorough search over a full year. When he tried mine and saw the quality of the cut, he was so impressed he now has swithched to Exmark also. He claims they also are the fastest cutting zero turn, which in his world means more money. I run mine slower, as I'm in no hurry. All I can say is, go for a quality machine which gives great reliabilty, a great cut, and has parts readily available. If you're looking for a better ride, go for the optional suspension seat. All those suspension parts will wear out eventually and it makes the machine more difficult to level. Keep it simple.

 

[Oleozz]

I have never been real impressed with the quaility of cut on my Ferris. The ride is o.k but I have nothing to compare it with. My brother has a Walker and that's a nice little mower.

 

[srs]

If you're looking for a better ride, go for the optional suspension seat. All those suspension parts will wear out eventually and it makes the machine more difficult to level. Keep it simple.

Bobmisi, I never really thought about the suspension parts wearing out, the suspension seat might be the way to go. I thank all members who replied for their comments. Stanley

 

[westbrooklawn]

Ferris makes a good mower, and their suspension system does take some of the bumps out... I am not, however, a big fan of their quality of cut. If you want the best of all worlds... fast mowing, great cut, and comfortable ride, take a look at the Hustler Super Z with suspension seat and Flex Forks. The seat is standard on the Super Z, and the Flex Forks are a $200 option.

 

[art]

We sell three brands of zero turns but you might say four. Ferris does build a good machine and for many the suspension is a plus for the cost of the unit they are buying. We've found that the Kubota with larger tires offers a better ride in some cases then the Ferris. It is important to have a mower set at the proper air pressure for the rider not so much what the books recommend as a starting point to go by when comparing. Quality of cut is another issue which takes into account the ground speed, type of grass and if the blades are sharp.

Years ago at a Snapper school we took 2x4's on edge after running several mowers across a strip. What a difference when getting down to look and see if you had a good solid line across the 2x4 or a haggard non-showing line for some mowers.
Here in this area even with the best of mowers we are often mowing nearly twice a week.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The suspension does help, its better than most machines, but one with a good seat and large tires can come close. We sell mostly Ferris and Kubota. Personaly, i prefer the small Ferris machines and the larger Kubota.

The reason you don't see other companies offering suspension like Ferris does is that Ferris holds all the patents to the technology.