I have been looking at both the Cub Cadet RZTL54FAB 54" and Troy Bilt Mustang XP 50" ZTR mowers. I have 5 acres but will be mowing about 3-3.5 acres. I'm a first time buyer and don't know much about either one! They are both under $3000 which is my budget. The Cub Cadet has a Kohler 24 HP V-twin engine, and the Troy Bilt has a 724cc Briggs & Stratton engine. Any suggestions on which way to go (or not to go)? Or, If you guys have any other suggestions apart from these (under $3000), please let me know! Thank you all!
Cub Cadet or Troy Built ZTR?
- Thread starter Zpapa2309
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So they are both MTD products and neither one is a slouch really. You could go down the line and compare specs, but it would be extra great if you could get a feel for both before you bought. The "selling point" of the Cub is the fabricated deck. To me, if the structural strength of the deck housing is paramount- it is a good way to go. It will add significantly more weight to the machine. Removing the fab decks require more muscles to horse them around and should you be concerned about softer ground, the advantage goes to the lighter machine. I won't speak for this deck in particular, but it seems to come up that quality of cut issues on fab decks are more prevalent. Hopefully you can get some specific responses from owners of them. Welcome to the forum!
TheMadOne
Platinum Member
I'll reiterate what I said in general buying/pricing. A used high quality commercial unit will give you a much better experience than a consumer unit like these. Exmark, Dixie Chopper, Kubota, Toro, ETC.
Beltzington
Platinum Member
Last year I bought a Cub Cadet steering wheel Z-turn 48" and while it is about twice your budget I'll share a few lessons learned.
- Seriously consider buying from a dealer, their prices are very close to the box stores and they service what they sell
- Look into dealer financing, they often offer zero percent for a fixed term and if you make sure you pay-off the loan on time you can keep your money in the bank
- Consider a steering wheel ZTR, my wife won't let me mow, she loves driving it. Also since the front wheels don't free spin they are much more stable on slopes.
- Used is good if you have the time to shop and know what to look for, otherwise you could very well be getting someone else problems, commercial mowers are well used and often abused
Good Luck
- Seriously consider buying from a dealer, their prices are very close to the box stores and they service what they sell
- Look into dealer financing, they often offer zero percent for a fixed term and if you make sure you pay-off the loan on time you can keep your money in the bank
- Consider a steering wheel ZTR, my wife won't let me mow, she loves driving it. Also since the front wheels don't free spin they are much more stable on slopes.
- Used is good if you have the time to shop and know what to look for, otherwise you could very well be getting someone else problems, commercial mowers are well used and often abused
Good Luck
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daugen
Epic Contributor
Allegedly Cub Cadet (I own two, one ancient) is the top end line for MTD, but you could be just getting
different paint jobs on some models. Important to sit in it, drive it around their parking lot.
I personally can't drive a Zturn due to arthritis problems and if Cub Cadet had made a diesel steering wheel
z turn, I'd have bought one. MTD seems very serious about playing with the big boys in their top CC models, if you've seen
them in the dealerships. Beltzington, nice machine.
In your price range, warranty is important. Either one longer? Dealing with competent dealer is priority number one.
Another issue is whether the spindles are greasable or not. If you are careful and grease your own bearings, pretty likely those
spindles will last longer than sealed units. But even high end brands have gone to sealed spindles I'm thinking due to warranty costs
for folks who never grease their machines. Seal the spindles and they will last until the day after your warranty expires.
We all want the quality of a commercial mower at a residential price. So you look for the lower priced models (I'm old enough to have bought a number of new cars in your mower price range...) that have the best components.
I'd take a pressed deck over a fab deck any day if it cuts better. I have a fab deck on my CC LX2 with a Kawasaki engine. I loan that unit to a friend who mows near a beach and hits sandy areas, so there I wanted the thickest deck I could find for the price.
If it were me, when in doubt, based primarily on warranty, I'd buy the CC.
I bet it has better resale value too due to brand name recognition.
I also own a diesel JD garden tractor and a diesel Kubota F mower. Both have steering wheels.
If you want your wife to help you mow more often, get a steering wheel. Easier learning curve on controls and usually
a little better on hills.
different paint jobs on some models. Important to sit in it, drive it around their parking lot.
I personally can't drive a Zturn due to arthritis problems and if Cub Cadet had made a diesel steering wheel
z turn, I'd have bought one. MTD seems very serious about playing with the big boys in their top CC models, if you've seen
them in the dealerships. Beltzington, nice machine.
In your price range, warranty is important. Either one longer? Dealing with competent dealer is priority number one.
Another issue is whether the spindles are greasable or not. If you are careful and grease your own bearings, pretty likely those
spindles will last longer than sealed units. But even high end brands have gone to sealed spindles I'm thinking due to warranty costs
for folks who never grease their machines. Seal the spindles and they will last until the day after your warranty expires.
We all want the quality of a commercial mower at a residential price. So you look for the lower priced models (I'm old enough to have bought a number of new cars in your mower price range...) that have the best components.
I'd take a pressed deck over a fab deck any day if it cuts better. I have a fab deck on my CC LX2 with a Kawasaki engine. I loan that unit to a friend who mows near a beach and hits sandy areas, so there I wanted the thickest deck I could find for the price.
If it were me, when in doubt, based primarily on warranty, I'd buy the CC.
I bet it has better resale value too due to brand name recognition.
I also own a diesel JD garden tractor and a diesel Kubota F mower. Both have steering wheels.
If you want your wife to help you mow more often, get a steering wheel. Easier learning curve on controls and usually
a little better on hills.
kthompson
Elite Member
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No mention on your yard other than the size, if you are new to ZTR mower first be sure it is a good fit for your yard. If you have slopes espeically that often are wet, would suggest you rethink a ztr mower. Reread the comment about a wheel model being better on slopes, never sat wheel model ztr but the normal design you are basically driving a shopping cart front wheel design as they do not steer nor hold against any side sliding action.
We have a mid price Bush Hog and top end Ferris and enjoyed both. Do agree with greaseable bearings and grease with high temp grease and often. Bigger tires ride better. Normally faster than a tractor style mower so ride and seat are important. Doubt at the price you are looking the Kawasaki is the fuel injection model, stay away from it. That system cost me more to repair than it would have on my Honda car. Be sure the blades are not odd size for replacement. For trimming does the deck extend past the left tires (hard to trim on right side with discharge chute), if so makes trimming easier. Is it easy to see the left side of the deck again for trimming sitting in the seat in operators position. Be sure you have the travel you need in the seat, you will want to ride with your feet resting against the foot rest as you will be traveling faster and sharper turns than a tractor style mower. Oh, back to your lawn, if you have the slopes or wet area aggressive thread design will handle that better and with all they said, easy to bog down due to the rear wheels do all the pushing or pulling and if you are turning then you may have one even locked still while the other is trying to steer and move the machine....recipe for quick bogging. If it begins to spin stop and raise deck quickly. Do watch for wash outs around any drop off, have run one for 10 plus years and last year almost went side slide into a 3 to 4 feet ditch which is good way to roll one, only due to experience did I know to quickly steer into the ditch and prevent a roll over. Seat belt and roll bars are good.
We have a mid price Bush Hog and top end Ferris and enjoyed both. Do agree with greaseable bearings and grease with high temp grease and often. Bigger tires ride better. Normally faster than a tractor style mower so ride and seat are important. Doubt at the price you are looking the Kawasaki is the fuel injection model, stay away from it. That system cost me more to repair than it would have on my Honda car. Be sure the blades are not odd size for replacement. For trimming does the deck extend past the left tires (hard to trim on right side with discharge chute), if so makes trimming easier. Is it easy to see the left side of the deck again for trimming sitting in the seat in operators position. Be sure you have the travel you need in the seat, you will want to ride with your feet resting against the foot rest as you will be traveling faster and sharper turns than a tractor style mower. Oh, back to your lawn, if you have the slopes or wet area aggressive thread design will handle that better and with all they said, easy to bog down due to the rear wheels do all the pushing or pulling and if you are turning then you may have one even locked still while the other is trying to steer and move the machine....recipe for quick bogging. If it begins to spin stop and raise deck quickly. Do watch for wash outs around any drop off, have run one for 10 plus years and last year almost went side slide into a 3 to 4 feet ditch which is good way to roll one, only due to experience did I know to quickly steer into the ditch and prevent a roll over. Seat belt and roll bars are good.
