zero turn mowers EXPENSIVE

[fried1765]

Youd be shocked to find out what is made in China. About 10 years ago, I struck up a conversation with a fella in a HD check out line. He was wearing a Case-IH Magnum windbreaker jacket. I told him I was a big fan of Case IH agriculture equipment. He told me he just moved to PA from Minnesota because they closed the Case-IH Magnum engine foundry and moved it to China. This is where they cast the blocks for the big 8-12 liter 250-600HP AG diesels.
You could see how much it upset him.
I was quite saddened and disgusted, too.
I hope we can continue to make better trade deals and continue to allow the right to work to bring those jobs back.
My 2020 RAM was made in Mexico. It has an American made Cummins Engine and transmission in it. Im ok with that, but not thrilled.
I hear DC is opening a new plant in the Midwest and the heavy duty RAM trucks will once agin be built in USA in a few years.

Hum..mmm, I wonder if any particular individual is responsible for the return to the USA of this manufacturing.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

CAT has had their large motor blocks cast in their china factory for a long time now, LOT'S of deere parts are made in their china factory...

These days lots of company's are doing that, and I wish they weren't too...

BTW, lots of Honda engines aren't made in Japan any longer either...

SR

 

[riptides]

Resale. Yes....think about the brand and how easy it may be to recoup your money if it all takes a turn on you. High end mowers are still holding value.

Something else to ponder.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Hum..mmm, I wonder if any particular individual is responsible for the return to the USA of this manufacturing.

No... not a chance.

 

[Hay Dude]

CAT has had their large motor blocks cast in their china factory for a long time now, LOT'S of deere parts are made in their china factory...

These days lots of company's are doing that, and I wish they weren't too...

BTW, lots of Honda engines aren't made in Japan any longer either...

SR

YOUR part of the country was decimated with factory closings!
Hopefully the comeback of the last few years will continue :applause::applause:

 

[fried1765]

YOUR part of the country was decimated with factory closings!
Hopefully the comeback of the last few years will continue :applause::applause:

We will know more on that issue after November 3rd.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I would look and see what the lawn crews around you are using. Around me it is Scag, Hustler and X-Mark. I visited all 3 dealers and liked the Hustler the best. Bought a high end consumer model and was very happy with it. After 2 years dropped it off for maintenance and warranty work and they gave me a low hour commercial model as a loaner. Wow, what a difference! Much faster, much heavier, air ride seat, bigger deck, bigger engine. I never gave the loaner back. My wife says I have this big grin on my face as I mow with the X-One.

 

[shooterdon]

U6

I would look and see what the lawn crews around you are using. Around me it is Scag, Hustler and X-Mark. I visited all 3 dealers and liked the Hustler the best. Bought a high end consumer model and was very happy with it. After 2 years dropped it off for maintenance and warranty work and they gave me a low hour commercial model as a loaner. Wow, what a difference! Much faster, much heavier, air ride seat, bigger deck, bigger engine. I never gave the loaner back. My wife says I have this big grin on my face as I mow with the X-One.

Just curious how much you mow and how much time you saved. How much more was the commercial unit?

 

[fried1765]

I would look and see what the lawn crews around you are using. Around me it is Scag, Hustler and X-Mark. I visited all 3 dealers and liked the Hustler the best. Bought a high end consumer model and was very happy with it. After 2 years dropped it off for maintenance and warranty work and they gave me a low hour commercial model as a loaner. Wow, what a difference! Much faster, much heavier, air ride seat, bigger deck, bigger engine. I never gave the loaner back. My wife says I have this big grin on my face as I mow with the X-One.

My 48" SCAG Liberty Z (consumer SCAG) is new, and replaced my low hour JD 110LA rider.
I can't imagine buying a better built 48" zero turn for $4,410 OTD.
I will never wear it out.
I did not NEED it,.... I simply WANTED it!

 

[Hay Dude]

I would look and see what the lawn crews around you are using. Around me it is Scag, Hustler and X-Mark. I visited all 3 dealers and liked the Hustler the best. Bought a high end consumer model and was very happy with it. After 2 years dropped it off for maintenance and warranty work and they gave me a low hour commercial model as a loaner. Wow, what a difference! Much faster, much heavier, air ride seat, bigger deck, bigger engine. I never gave the loaner back. My wife says I have this big grin on my face as I mow with the X-One.

Partially agree. I am a commercial user, but within the commercial user category, there are several philosophies.
One kind of owner (I would put myself in that category) like the BEST he can get. They are usually owner-operators. I believe Kubota, Ferris, Hustler, Grasshopper and a few others are in that category. Some commercial owners prefer a mix of commercial grade mower mixed with reliability and affordability. Particularly the ones who have hourly employees running those mowers. They know the employees are likely to not care as much and beat the mowers to death. They flip those mowers every 2-3 years and work with a dealer who gets them replacement new mowers regularly at discounted prices. I see a lot of ExMark and Hustler mowers run by the commercial crews with hourly employees. I rarely see a Ferris or Kubota run by an hourly employee mowing crew. I see a lot of Kubota, Ferris and Hoppers run by owner/operator crews.
I think Hustler makes mowers popular for O/O's or hourly employees.
Neither philosophy is bad and none of those mowers are a bad choice. I wouldnt disparage any of the brands mentioned. I simply am making an observation based on what I see in the lawn care business.