Lawn Tractor vs Zero Turn

[2manyrocks]

Better seats make a difference. Bar tread tires can make a difference on hillsides.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm from the same scenero as you are now. I had a 52" Husqvarna 27hp riding mower with a mulching kit, that served me fairly well before blowing the pinion gear, with no preplacement parts available. The Husq. did seem to handle our 25* slopes but with a lot of apprehension. And it would actually climb those slopes straight up. No fear of a flip-over.

We replaced it this year with a 48" Kubota 26hp ZTR with the muching kit. Mowing time did cut about in half. The 'Bota will not climb the 25* dam banks, and I am not at all comfortable in mowing with it sideways on those slopes. The 'Bota also handles deep grass/weeds much better than the Husq. Both machines had trailer hitches, so pulling a cart etc. was the same.

Turning with leaving a mark on the lawn is a problem with the ZTR. I'm sure it's a matter of learning to drive it better and slower. That thing simply wants to 'GO'. But turing around is a 1-horse operation whereas wtih the Husq. it was a 3 or 4 type turn. And we have many trees and flower beds. I don't drive either type with one hand, although that's easy enough. It took about 5 minutes on the ZTR to adapt to the paddle-type steering; no big deal at all.

My recommendation to you is to follow your best judgement. You won't be disappointed either way. I'm satisfied with the give & takes on the ZTR vs tractor type mowers.

 

[pennwalk]

I used to mow with a JD 425 all wheel steer. Now I am using a Simplicity Contender XT. The zero turn is definitely faster and it cuts better. I used to bag when the grass was long and in the fall to pick up leaves. Now I mulch it all. The simplicity doesn't like hills but you can do it but the John Deere was better on the hills. The zero turn is hopeless in mud.

Chris

 

[oldnslo]

Does any company make a ZT with steering wheel in larger frame like some of the older John Deeres? This would provide familiarity of steering wheel with convenience of ZT.

 

[2manyrocks]

Not sure if this is what you mean, but this?

Simple Slope Mower

The Kubota F-3680 (or any of the Kubota F series mowers) is the most stable mower I know of that a person rides upon. I have owned one for 5+ years and cut crazy steep stuff without feeling worried. It has a very robust rollover structure and seat belt system. It has wide set wide rubber and...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[ruffdog]

Does any company make a ZT with steering wheel in larger frame like some of the older John Deeres? This would provide familiarity of steering wheel with convenience of ZT.

Like this?

Commercial Zero Turn Slope Mower| Pro Z 972 SD | Cub Cadet US

 

[2manyrocks]

Like this?

Commercial Zero Turn Slope Mower| Pro Z 972 SD | Cub Cadet US

That's the top of the line model. My dealer said they got something like 3 units. People buy them faster than they can get them.

 

[CH4Ohio]

As mentioned above, check out the "S" series of zero-turns from Cub Cadet. Instead of having casters on the front that just follow the terrain, you can actually steer the front wheels while applying inputs to the rear hydro-pumps that drive the back wheels. Makes it easy to handle slopes whereas lap-bar ZT's just want to trail off downhill. They used to make a Z-Force S but I think that's been replaced -- maybe with the Ultima series? It's worth a look.

For a couple acres I'd just get the 60" deck on a residential unit. Should be in your price range.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Lol.

Does anyone remember the part where the OP said his budget for his new lawn mower was $6-$8K?

Just lol, at some of these suggestions...

 

[2manyrocks]

At the rate things have been going, this year's $3,800 ZTR will be $6-8k.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Op,

Nothing wrong with staying within a budget.

For your budgeted 6-8K, I would only look at riding mowers. Any zero turn in that price range is going to be more of a liability in how many hours you get out of it. My opinion is you are better off with a very nice riding mower, then getting a cheap zero turn.

 

[CH4Ohio]

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Buy lightly used…

 

[Torvy]

OK, I'll poke at the question not asked.

Given the stated purpose of lawn, the maximum you should have to mow is about 1 acre. Assume 100 feet in each direction from the house. Roughly 200'x200' (assuming everything was in grass, which is unlikely) that would be just under 1 acre.

I'd measure out to that point and plant something else that looks nice, but doesn't need mowing. (Native grasses, ground cover, whatever. Now you have a more reasonable size to handle. If you really want/expect gf to be doing some/most of the 'lawn' cutting, narrow it down to 2-3 ZTR and 2-3 small lawn tractors and let her choose. Heck, maybe even one of the stand-on ones (no idea on price, we are lawn-free).

 

[CH4Ohio]

For what it's worth, my dad bought a new 500 series JD lawn tractor. It's nothing more than a lawn mower. I've used it and there's no comparison between the steering wheel zero-turn and the JD lawn "tractor". The ZT is MUCH better at everything. Also with the steering wheel system, you really have 4-wheel steering and your steering inputs also drive both rear hydros so they're coordinated. Makes it almost impossible to tear up the grass.

 

[drumminj]

Op,

Nothing wrong with staying within a budget.

For your budgeted 6-8K, I would only look at riding mowers. Any zero turn in that price range is going to be more of a liability in how many hours you get out of it. My opinion is you are better off with a very nice riding mower, then getting a cheap zero turn.

I need to do my own searching on this, but stopped by the Kubota dealer today and the 200-series zero turns are in my price range (Z242 w/ 48" deck and kawasaki engine would be $6800). ZT-3100 hydros, 10 gauge welded deck, suspension seat, foldable rops. Seems like a good package overall.

While it's their "residential" grade, specs are similar to SCAG Patriot though the Scag has the FX series Kawasaki vs the FR series in the Kubota.

Wondering if you still feel the same way about the Kubota. Seems they don't really stock lawn tractors around here, just ZTs.

 

[drumminj]

For what it's worth, my dad bought a new 500 series JD lawn tractor. It's nothing more than a lawn mower. I've used it and there's no comparison between the steering wheel zero-turn and the JD lawn "tractor". The ZT is MUCH better at everything. Also with the steering wheel system, you really have 4-wheel steering and your steering inputs also drive both rear hydros so they're coordinated. Makes it almost impossible to tear up the grass.

Thanks for the insight. Sadly the Cub Cadet dealer was closed by the time I got there (would have gotten motivated sooner had I realized everyone closed at noon today). It does seem like the Ultima ZTS2 or ZTXS4 are good candidates. The ZTX has 3100 hydros and 10 gauge steel deck vs 2800 hydro and 11 gauge on the ZTS.

Will have to go check them out!

 

[2manyrocks]

Maybe they'll be willing to make a deal along around December-January when hardly anyone wants to buy a mower.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

ZT any day of the week.
I even mow my 3 acre field once a month with ZT. Much faster than the BX.

 

[drumminj]

Maybe they'll be willing to make a deal along around December-January when hardly anyone wants to buy a mower.

The Kubota pricing is already below MSRP, and with zero percent financing. The $6800 was offered vs $7400 MSRP with 36 months at zero percent. I didn't push at all on pricing as I wasn't looking to buy today, so not sure if they're willing to deal more.