Recommendations for zero turn under $3K?

[twgerber]

I own a 3 acre lot and I am looking for a zero turn mower. The terrain is glently sloping.

I was looking at some zero turns out there like the cub cadet ztr50.

What recommendations would folks have on a zero turn for my size acreage?

Money is my biggest concern to be honest. After building my house and coming in way over budget I just don't have much money left.

Thx

 

[JasonH]

Considering your budget and the fact that most vendors refuse to grow up and post their prices online, it looks like the Cub Cadet you've mentioned will probably be a good bet.

Some will insist that a 50" deck is too small for the acreage but in reality it shoud be just fine.

 

[Gatorboy]

For 3 acres, you are going to need a quality mower, for you will be putting on quite a few hours each year and a low-budget model will not hold up to the demand you will be putting on the machine.

 

[Bird]

There is one that posts their prices on the Internet. As I've mentioned before, I got this Toro for a couple hundred under the posted price about a year and half ago. How long will it last? I don't know, but it's been great so far. You might want to step up a size or two in size, but you could still stay within your budget.

 

[5030tinkerer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For 3 acres, you are going to need a quality mower, for you will be putting on quite a few hours each year and a low-budget model will not hold up to the demand you will be putting on the machine. )</font>
I am not so sure about this. I bought a cheapo Murray with a 52" deck and a 26hp Briggs engine maybe seven years ago. Outside of a few design shortcomings, I am not unhappy. Repaired items include:

1. Transaxle. The transaxle did need to be opened up last year to have some gear selection engagement pins replaced (I forget what their official name is). $50 in parts and maybe four hours later, it was fixed.
2. Starter gear. Also last year. Made of plastic. Grr. $10 and it was fixed, though.
3. Deck engagement spring. Kept coming off. Just heated it up and rebent the loop a little tighter. Cost: $0.

A few annoyances, certainly. But what did I expect for the $1600 or so ithat I paid for it? It mowed five acres for a year, 2/3 acre for another year, and two acres for the last five years. Oh, and I used it for snow blowing for four years (200' drive), for spreading fertilizer, spraying weedkiller, light duty box blading, and general dirt hauling with a utility trailer.

ZTR's sure are nice, but more money.

 

[gamble77]

Ther is nothing on the market for under 3K that is rated to cut 3 acres. You need to step up into the Cub Cadet Z-Force. A Cub Cadet Z-Force with a 44" deck should run around $3,599.00. Stay away from the Cub Cadet RZT model, it is not rated to cut that much grass. Spend a little extra $$ and get a much better product.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Ther is nothing on the market for under 3K that is rated to cut 3 acres. )</font>

Now I won't disagree with you, but can you, or anyone else, explain those "ratings" to me. In most cases, I can't find anything from the manufacturers stating that a certain mower is "rated" to mow a certain amount. I know they differentiate between "homeowner" and "commercial" grades and I can understand some quality and/or design features that would make some last longer than others.

What I don't understand is a rating for a certain amount. If a mower (ZTR, riding mower, or even walk behind) will mow half an acre, why wouldn't it be just as good for 3 acres; if you didn't mind taking 6 times as long to do the job?

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> What I don't understand is a rating for a certain amount. If a mower (ZTR, riding mower, or even walk behind) will mow half an acre, why wouldn't it be just as good for 3 acres; if you didn't mind taking 6 times as long to do the job? </font>

To things like transmissions and bearings, it does matter. Heat kills parts, the longer your mowing sessions, the longer the parts need to operate at elevated temps [which might even be out of design parameter temps at that after say {pulling arbitrary # out of thin air} 1/2 hour for consumer grade components]. So your machine life doesn't degrade only linearly, but exponentially:
i.e. on a given use [whether lot size, conditions, or a combination thereof], a 500 machine might become a 100 hour machine {still arbitrary! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif } rather than it's 600hour brother still being a 600hour machine in the same conditions.

I don't know whether it's the pure number of variables, legal prudence, fancy marketing, or downright cowardice, but it does seem few manufactures list tangible ratings on anything these days. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[gamble77]

Has to do with two main things, both being the life expectancy of the motor and transmission. And nobody puts these things on their website because unknowing customers will buy whatever an unkowning salesman says will do the job for the cheapest $$. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Bird]

Thanks to both of you. It appears that Chad is talking about running one too long at one time and you're talking about total running time or life expectancy, and I guess they're both good points. I do tend to believe that the operator, physical characteristics of the terrain, and routine maintenance can lengthen or shorten the life expectancy of any of the machines. In other words, I believe a cheaper homeowner model operated at a leisurely pace on smooth ground with oil changed regularly may very well outlast a commercial model run hard and fast on rough ground with infrequent oil changes even if they've mowed the same number of acres. Am I wrong? If so, it won't be the first time. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JLS_SNAPPER]

Get on ebay and look around there. You might find just what your lookin' 4.

 

[Deere_parts]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( For 3 acres, you are going to need a quality mower, for you will be putting on quite a few hours each year and a low-budget model will not hold up to the demand you will be putting on the machine. )</font> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I disagree with the demand on this but do agree with buying quality. but that is my opinion.

Make sure that whatever you do decide on that you can get good parts support 5, 10 or 15 years down the road if you decide to keep it that long. It's nice to be able to call my local John Deere dealer and get something for these 20+ year old tractors I play with and have the correct part the next day.

My old John Deere 430 garden tractor with a 60" deck only took me 30 - 45 minutes to mow 2 acres at 2/3 throttle with the transaxle in low range and those zero turn mowers can run circles around that thing. He should only be putting about 1 to 1-1/2 hours on that thing max each time he uses it and that is nothing if he cuts twice a week that's 3 hours a week which will be about what 100 - 150 hours hours a season?

If he takes care of it, it should last 10 - 15 years like that. The second 430 I just bought has 4264 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif hours on it and was overhauled just before I bought it and it was always maintained by the dealership. Preventative maintenance, ladies and gentlemen, saves big $$$ down the road.

Best of luck to you on whatever you decide to purchase.

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My old John Deere 430 garden tractor with a 60" deck only took me 30 - 45 minutes to mow 2 acres at 2/3 throttle with the transaxle in low range )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Spiffy]

That math has me a bit confused too: that'd take 5mph in a straight line with no overlap.

Possible, but I have to wonder if that was property size not lawn size. Regardless, a quality machine being well maintained is a good point for getting the most of your dollar.

 

[Kiohio]

Amen Gamble77
Companies make them to do the job they state.
WIth enclosed non changeable trans oil in most low end 0's,
There isn't alot you can do to make them last longer.
Usually the engine, with proper maintenance outlasts the transmissions.
At 3 acres you will want to step up a bit.
KO

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

take a look at the hustler 52/with honda 20 hp.....about 5k in this area....i just posted on another thread......
good luck.
bluebonnet2

 

[swiftboot]

Not trying to hijack this thread but i have a toro tractor with single blade 30" cut. It takes me about two and half hours to mow, all level but many plants, trees etc and additional weed eater time. I have pretty muich ruled out the ZTR CC due to the critiques offered up here. Question is this, would the Z force 48 or 50 hold up or do i need to consider moving up to a better machine? I realize you are in the business but your knowledge has always seemed to be straight up. Is the fabricated deck on the 48 worth the extra $$ in my situation? Thanks Much

 

[gamble77]

So long as the ground is decent with not many harsh areas then the extra money for the fabricated deck would be hard to justify. I mean you are looking at an extra $600.00 for the deck, but you loose 2" in cut and 3hp...which is obviously not much but the Z-Force models sell like crazy around here and to date they have all held up well.

I have only ever sold one deck for a Z-Force (non-fabricated deck) but the guy was using commercially and the deck still lasted three years. They are great machines, nothing but praise for them...especially since they are now using the Kohler Command motors. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Starise]

Old thread I know. I wanted to jump in and say I have a Cub Cadet Z turn sub 3000.00 mower. Bought it around 6 years ago. The only thing I've replaced are the belts. I had to tube one front tire and the blades. It has the Kawasaki engine. I mow around acre once a week on combined terrain with maybe 10% of it at a 15% pitch.

There were three options I considered when I bought it:
- Hire an outside company to mow for me
-Buy mid level Z trun
-Buy a commercial z turn

In doing the math I probably could have hired a reasonably priced company to do it for me when compared to a 3000.00 cash outlay over 5-7 years. It's actually more than 3K when you consider maintenance and parts. Not to mention your time.
I'm still at the do-it-your-selfer stage, so the mid level mower seemed a good deal. I didn't need something designed to run all day every day 5 or 6 days a week. I can get the job done in about 45 minutes with the Z.

I guess long term the largest consideration is how long the Kawasaki engine will hold up. I keep the oil and filter changed in it. So far at 6 years in no signs of wear. Almost everything else is likely financially feasible to change, the deck bearings, the blades, the hydraulic drives even. If they aren't too much. I don't see the scales tipping to get 10+ years out of it so long as that motor holds. If the motor goes, almost as much as a new mower. It's probably over unless I can find an inexpensive replacement.

3000.00
500.00 maint. into the first 7 years.
New motor at 10 years? If I can get one for a grand maybe. If not, it's a new mower or an outside company............or a townhouse into retirement. No mowing again...ever

Buying a commercial more at double the cost is loosing my shirt.

3 acres for this mower would be a piece of cake. I'd say go for it if you don't mind some replacement parts over the long haul and can regularly service it.