Everride, Kubota, Ferris, or CC ZForce

[jmak]

I have about 1.5 acres I'm mowing with sloped areas and some wet areas. I have looked at and driven the following models:

2009 Everride Warrior 60" $4000 Neighbor's commercial grade home mower with 600 hrs KW 25hp
Kubota Z121S48 $5400 KH 21 720 ZT3100
Ferris IS600Z48 $5748 BS Comm 25hp ZT3400
Ferris IS700Z52 $6503 BS Comm 27hp ZT3400
2015 CC Z Force SZ60 $5130 KW 24hp ZT2800
2015 CC Z Force Comm SZ60 $5939 KH 23.5hp ZT3100
2016 CC Z Force SX54 $6100 KW 24hp ZT3100

The Everride is discontinued and my local dealer carries CC, Ferris, and Kubota. My neighbor easily navigated up and across my slopes with the Everride but I have very limited experience with lab bar drive and am nervous on the slopes. I think I will eventually get comfortable with more experience. I don't have any issues using it on flat ground.

I like the heavy duty build and price of the Everride but am concerned about getting parts for it. I like the suspension on the Ferris and like the larger tires on the 700. The Kubota was rough riding and has odd size rear tires. I may want to switch from turf tires to the Carlile AT101s and would have to buy new wheels for the Kubota. I am also looking at the steering wheel CCs. I am more familiar with the controls on these and you can steer them if you start sliding down slopes.

I am looking for opinions on which of these will work best for my lawn and which one is the best overall deal? I think I have it narrowed it down to the Everride, Ferris IS700Z52, or the 2016 CC SX54 but am open to suggestions.

Thanks a lot,
jmak

 

[xtruckerbob]

We have a kubota Z121 which cuts great, When you get the seat adjusted it will not be quite as rough. Keep in mind if you get a BX it will be lots more stable on hills and slopes, plus you can do a lot of stuff with the BX other than mowing. Good luck with what ever you get.

 

[ruffdog]

My dad's neighbor has very steep areas to mow. After dealers brought their equipment out and tried the hill (some failed and some refused to try), he bought the CC that has the steering wheel and front wheels that steer. He is very happy with it.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

FWIW, My 52" Ferris 2100 (which has narrower wheels than the 61" version) has difficulty holding lines on 13 degree or steeper slopes (as measured by with my Bosch digital level). I can traverse 19 degree slopes but on the downside my Ferris is skidding a little because the rear wheels cannot hold the 1200 pounds of mower and my weight.

All to say that you want wide rear wheels and if possible, front wheels that steer for real hills.

You may want to consider and AWD mower for hills or inventing a solution for your mower like this guy did for his Ferris 1500.