Zero Turn Lawn Tractors, Take 2

We have a Ferris with a 60" deck for our farm we rent. It's a little over 2 acres of yard to mow. Other then having to replace a rear bearing the thing has been bulletproof in the last 6 years.

 

I'm shopping for a mower now and have decided on a Hustler. Going with a Fast Trak SD as it's on of their top residential/base commercial mowers which seems to be a decent compromise for me.

Well, that or a boat.

 

Buy the boat, rent the lawn care.

 

It's not so simple. The mower will make money...

 

...and the boat will take money. But which will make you giggle like a 6YO girl when you fire up the engine?

 

True.

 

I have a Scag Turf Tiger w/ 61" deck. The mower has been great, but the Kawasaki liquid cooled engine in it has been spotty. Both coil packs had to be replaced after only 50 hours. It's also my understanding those engines are going the way of the dodo bird. They are going back to air cool only.

 

When I started out as a lowly construction laborer many years ago, one of my duties was driving the Bobcat. It was kind of fun the first day, after that it generally sucked. And that's what I don't get about why any homeowner with less than 3 acres would want a skid steer mower. My bad..."zero turn"

I've got right at 2 1/2 to mow. Front is about an acre flat, rear is hilly. Current mower is a 12 Y. O. Cub 50" with a Kohler. Works perfect. I have a couple of beers, pop on my headphones and that couple of hours is my peaceful time to listen to music uninterrupted. I cherish my mowing time. I see my neighbor with his new skid steer jerking right and left and think to myself that doesn't look like fun.

I'm sure many of you will comment that you hate mowing and just want to get it done. If I have to do it, I at least want to make it fun.

 

Your neighbor needs to learn how to drive.

I can operate my zero turn with one hand whilst drinking a beer with my other hand (and like you, wearing headphones and listening to music the whole time)..................it takes about 45-60 minutes to mow my acre at a leisurely pace. That's about as much time as I'm interested in investing in weekly lawncare.

 

Good news is I have a Ferris, Cub Cadet and Hustler dealer within 10 mins of me.

and for Rd......I hate mowing and just want to get it done. As a high school and college summer job, I worked for Tecumseh engines as a "field test engineer", meaning I mowed lawn 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to put hours on their mowers for testing purposes. We push mowed an airport and a local community.
I did my time. I'd rather play now than mow. And its too bloody expensive to hire out based on the quotes I got. The mouthbreathing local kid would mow down all the plants and small trees in our yard, so he is out also as an option.

 

It's been a long time since I checked out these newer zero turns. I just figured they all drove like a Bobcat. Not that I plan on buying one (you can't pretend you're Niki Lauda screaming around a tree without a wheel in your hand). But maybe my prejudice against them would be tamed.

 

I'm with you on hiring it out. They want $100+ to do my yard weekly.

When I was 13 mom bought me a Craftsman push and said her yard is free. Anything else I wanted to do was my call. I cut every neighbors yard on my street and with mom being a realtor I also cut her homes for sale too. Did that for years and made killer money. This was the 70's before every jackass with a truck and trailer is a "lawn care specialist." So for some weird reason I kind of have an attachment to mowing. I never let my son do it because I freakin enjoy it!

I know it sounds nuts...what can I say

 

I made my first hundred mowing lawns.

 

Go ride them all. The Ferris would be my choice, but I worked for the Western Canadian distributor of ferris for 10 years. I still think it is the best ZT on the market.

 

Just like any topic, we all have different opinions, but I recently picked up a Gravely Stand-On 48" to take care of 1 acre of turf.

I freaking love it thus far and it will be the last mower I ever have to purchase. For what its worth, I considered the Ferris, Gravely and Toro. I wanted a stand on for two reasons: 1) It takes up less room in my shed. 2) I believe you can get a better cut as you are more focused on your lines/cut than you are relaxed and drinking a beer.

Chose the Gravely as it just felt the best to me over the Toro and the Ferris was about 2.5 grand more for about the same quality as the Gravely.

 

Just starting my second season with a TORO MX4250. The beefy welded deck was a big decision maker. I've got 3.75 acres to mow (Our 2 and my MIL's 2). Both properties have numerous trees and beds. Used to take the best part of a day to do all of it with a 38" Craftsman yard tractor. Did the whole shebang yesterday in 1.5 hours. LOVE this machine!!!

 

Be green.

 

Of the people I know that went from a lawn tractor to a ZTR not one has regretted it. The only regret was not having done it sooner. In general the time savings is substantial.
Although similar in operation, a ZTR is much smoother than a skid steer. A ZTR is not jerky unless you purposely drive it that way.

 

I went through this and finally sold my ZTR and hired someone to mow. My yard is now PERFECT and I didn't have to do it. Plus, in my experience, you will never pay them enough to make up for the initial cost and upkeep of your own expensive mower. I came home yesterday and my yard was beautifully mowed.

Also... buy the boat.

 

I'll add an additional question, if I may. My 21 yr old Toro Wheelhorse is possibly on it's way out. I'm looking for a sub-$2k lawn tractor. My old wheelhorse is a 14 hp, 38" deck, so I don't think I need more than a 42" deck. I have 3/4 acre, fairly flat, a bit bumpy. Husqvarna? Cub Cadet? John Deere? Is there still a difference in the quality buying at a dealer vs a big box store?