Oh, Im 62, in reasonable shape, dont mind the exercisein fact, kinda keeps the joints lubricated (smile). I dont have any issues with Hustler mowers. It has a very low center of gravity and I believe you can adjust the weight of the deck to give it even more traction if needed. The gray AUTOMOWER 435X AWD Model 967 85 33-66 is the homeowner version. Hi Jeffery, I have no preference between the Kawasaki and Kohler. Its a very heavy-duty mower. Do you have an aftermarket blade recommendation for use with a mulch kit, other than the OEM blades that cub cadet sells? Hi Charlie, Is the dealer getting some in or will your local Ariens Dealer order the mower? Hi Paul, Thank you for this info, it has been a tremendous help to me. Hi Paul! Mow heights 3.8cm to 11.4cm. The Bad Boy MZ Magnum zero-turn mower runs on a 725cc Kohler Pro 7000 HD series engine for a powerful mowing operation. The deck couldnt handle the bumpy ground. I have a 1.5 acre country lot with some 10 degree slopes and trees to maneuver around. Both have dealer support and both have the same sticker price. Lay on the ground on the non-discharge side of the mower. Both are rated for a lawn up to .9 acres and max cutting height of 2.8 inches. Toro Titan MX $6,100. He is a very good mechanic, but I want to help him with a proper mower. Speed is nice, but the landscape will keep me moving slow to stay in the seat. If its not cutting well the most likely cause is the deck is not level. Thanks for your help. (Most commercial decks depth are 5-6 inches) Thoughts? Dual hydrostatic transmission. If you see a pulley bouncing up and down or an idler bracket wobbling replace it. Dont use one from the local hardware store. Bush Hog has always catered to the farm and ranch crowd so you will only find them at a farm implement dealer. It uses ZT3200 commercial transmissions. Thanks Paul. Hustler fixed all the issues with the Raptor series with the new XD. In my opinion, this is the lowest price point you should go for what you want to mow. Buy Toro 60 in. I considered the battery-powered Ryobi briefly for its quieter operation, but as of now I think Ill wait to ensure the battery technology is up to par, and save on the upfront costs. The Intek is the standard Briggs engine and is found in lawn tractors under $2000 and ZTRs under $3000. The models I list here cut great, bag well and have great parts and service networks. Hi Rob, Lets start with the Toro. I think i would prefer to keep it under 48 inches as well. Finally, check out my youtube channel. OEM might even be kevlar belts but they pretty much always cost more. I actually would prefer the Exmark or Toro. YOU.AREDA.MAN!! I recommend the comfort seat and trailer hitch options. Strength To Go Anywhere You Need. Hi,Paul. The Titan Max replaces my 52" cut Grasshopper 718 that was starting to show it's age. Its worth the extra $400 over the Toro has better transmissions than the Toro and cuts as well as the Ariens. I really tried to like the Cub. There are over 400 different Zero-Turn Mowers available for your residential lawn. (About $2999) If you husband is over 200 lbs I recommend the IKON. Ive been told to get a fabricated deck, though Ive read what you say about the John Deere stamped decks being good. My Deere dealer, on the other hand, is a large ag dealer and every time I go visit it feels like since I dont own a million dollars of farm equipment they arent that interested in developing the trust I expect. Bad Boy zero turn towing capacity. Why? Both have great engines. The 3100 trannys are nice but the mower is Kubotas entry model. Im fine with spending up to $4,000. You can buy an Arm Rest Kit for Cub Cadet XT1 This turned into long story long so again i really appreciate your time! ), The Ryobi is a good choice. And engines with Briggs CX125 are in this range of deck sizes 48, 54 & 60 inches. trans) Do you have a preference in the Ariens XD 52 vs the Toro 50? Costco always wants a product they can sell at a special price and this Jonsered is no exception. I have seen some concern about the non-serviceable transmission on this model. I like having my weekends free for fun time. For example, I like my local Toro Dealer a lot. Thank you. The 42 inch Model 75746 is also a good choice since you have less than 1.5 acres. Electric Riding Mower Lithium-Ion and Lead Acid Battery- 10 Best Tips. We do have wet grass often in the spring. The Smart speed is a lever that lets you reduce the maximum forward speed so you are not tempted to push the transmissions too hard when towing and it allows you to go slow when trimming so you dont bang into stuff as much. Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel Please Note:If you click on most of the links in this article and buy any product I will make a small commission from that sale. 5. I especially like the price around $4300. The Ultima is getting all the advertising this year but the Troy-Bilt is basically the same mower for a little less money. Was looking at Toro with myRide setup.. Hi Dave, the only choice is the MyRide. Expect it to last at a minimum twice as long as a Kaw FR. All of these machines seem to be comparable to each other but of course theyre a lot of money and I definitely want to make the right choice. You get a great mower at an honest price. My land is rough and still with the frequent stump and small Yaupon bushs still popping up in east Texas. But the real market is Europe so not everyone is selling here yet. Of those 400 there are actually quite a few good zero-turn mowers on the market right now. I went to a kubota dealer today and saw a really nice mower (i imagine they are all nice in this range!) (Home Depot Link) this mower mows well and will handle the ditch. I would like a mower with a long life-expectancy that is fast and dependable, cuts down on our extensive weed-eating, and wont fall apart when/if we mow the ditch or pull a cart or lawn sweeper. If you dont have the experience get a 36-44 inch walk-behind and use that until you get the experience. I got 1/3 acre to mow with not much obstacles in the way (4 trees). The Fastrac is a great mower and the Raptor series has a good reputation especially if you have a good dealer to set the mower up initially. Yes, Toro is discontinuing their steering wheel models. Seems like a few people I have talked to during my research have all said to not get Cub and go with the Toro. With Toro putting the MX5000 on sale right now it does make it the better deal. Hey Paul have you ever looked into Dixie Chopper or Bush Hog ZT products? Home Depot has both the MX5075 and MX6050 available in CA compliant models. Take care. Hi Dave, Everyone is very satisfied with the Toro/Exmark engine. I also like the fact that the Ariens has a center anti-scalp wheel which will help with scalping on my uneven ground. Theyve always made the best commercial mowers. I also have a chance to purchase a used exmark Z series for 4K with about 900 hours , but the concern over buying used as someone who isnt familiar with engines is a bit scary? In my opinion, the Toro deck cuts just as well and is actually a little more durable with the bullnose bumper along the front edge. The Toros select speed control is also the best for pulling loads without worrying about your transmissions. Fabricated Decks Good value residential mowers Best for most people that want a mower that cuts well and will last. The Walker also rides great because you sit directly over the large drive tires. Paul, I bought a Cub Cadet Ultima 54 inch deck ZTR. The wire comes out the middle of the underside of the seat. My local Country Clipper only has a new 2018 Boulevard and a used 2016 Boulevard with 38.5 hours on the meter. I would like your thoughts on my situation if you will, I live in rural eastern NC where the soil tends to have a lot of clay and its necessary to have drainage ditches for storm runoff. A 900-hour machine is ripe for $300-$1500 of minor repairs. The Joystick is one lever just point the lever in the direction you want to go Its really nice because you only use one hand and you can rest your arm on the armrest when you are driving. The shelter for the elderly homeless (where I live and work) has about 2 1/2 acres of mostly flat, open land to mow. I cut about 2.5 acres per week of mostly flat terrain, including some tough pasture grass. If the model number starts with 247 it was made by MTD 917 it was made by Husqvarna. Z-BEAST 62 25 HP Briggs & Stratton Zero Turn Mower (62ZB Yellow) Your site here and responsiveness is some of the best I have seen in my researching journey. As always, if you have any questions please ask them in the comment section at the end of this article. Change the oil, air filter, and the belts as needed. Are you familiar with or have you had experience with this Toro model? The fuel tank is located under the seat and the wide-tread rear tires, ensuring a low center-of-gravity for outstanding stability . Thank you for being frank. You can get it with the two lap bars but they also offer their Joystick Steering System. Since then I have went to a local dealer that sells Toro and Cub Cadet. Youll be able to mow your whole property in about four hours. (cost divided by the years of use) 2-3 years for the lawn tractor, 3-5 years for the Jonsered zero-turn and 10 years for the Ultima. I am leaning towards the Ryobi, but there isnt much online about it besides the HD and the manufacturers site. Toro TimeCutter MX6050 60 in. Use the side discharge until June or so. Ive noticed that they offer two different engines though. Fab 22.5 HP V-Twin Gas Zero-Turn Riding Mower with Smart Speed is over your budget. Please tell me what front deck zero turn commercial or semi commercial mower you recommend. Right now the ZTR market is saturated badly and there are new brands entering the market every month. If I buy the Boulevard, Ill try to make that up to you somehow. Many smaller commercial owners are using the Patriot and it holds up to 10 acres a day every day use. 1. Scag is still using horizontal shaft engines pointed backwards so they do equip that model with a driveshaft from the rear of the mower to the deck. Thanks! The Deere has the best cut in the industry but on your lawn, I doubt if you would see a difference between the Deere deck and the Cub Cadet. My local Exmark dealer has hundreds of them out mowing lawns every day and the owners love the engine. I was looking at the exmark radius 48 but they dont offer the kawasaki engine with them, do you know anything about those engines that exmark is using in their radius mowers. I would like to upgrade from my 2000 dixon with a 50 deck and a 15.5 hp vanguard. Yard is level. Our turn-tight craftsman mower has been OK, but I really think that a zero turn would improve our efficiency cutting this yard. I guess I am torn between the Ariens Ikon 42 and the Cub ZT1 42. It fills the bagger full all the time. At the time I spent about $2k more because I was told it was a premium mower. I suggest the same for zero-turns. They are the same price. Yes, I know pretty anal. DO NOT use the Atomic blades on this deck for mulching (atomic blades have teeth/notches on the back of the blade). Im obviously wanting good cut quality and longevity out of the machine. Toro made a bad looking mower for this special edition release! The Cub Cadet is the clear winner right now but we need to give the EGO a chance this year to prove itself. That said, I dont recommend it for rough bumpy lawns and especially not areas like your 1 1/2 acres that you dont mow every week. John Deere Z345R Thanks. Mow high, mow in the afternoon and side discharge until the spring growth has subsided. My front yard is fairly steep with an 18 degree grade. It seems to me that you appreciate the Ariens mowers as the better built and maybe longer lasting. You'll glide on air with the MyRIDE Suspension System, and enjoy pro-level confidence with a commercial drop pin, canister style air filter, a rubber chute, and massive rear drive tires with aggressive tread for maximum traction. Please rank or help me eliminate machines that would be overkill/over buy. 1. I also have balance challenges and some minor fine motor control issues (mild multiple sclerosis). It appears Cud Cadet has tried to up their game with the big boys. The kids who stayed in the business got used to the Kaws so they continued to put them on their next mower and so on. Toro TITAN 60 in. Check them out here: Toro TimeCutter MX5075 with MyRIDE Suspension System 50 in. Engine output is estimated at 22.2hp at 3,700 RPM. (I grew up with International Harvester tractors so the Reb/Black paint scheme appeals to me too!). Unless your grass is wet from rain they will work well for you. Fabricated Deck 24 HP Kawasaki FR Series V-Twin Gas Engine Zero Turn Mower with Lap Bar ControlAvailable at, Toro 60 in. Both are a lot more agile so you can go around obstacles faster. So let me go quickly through some of the options youve mentioned. There are a lot of factors that make mulching a pain in the butt. 1.5 plus acre yard, mostly flat but bumpy enough to hammer 3 lawn tractors to death in 20 years. I mow a little over 1/2 acre that is flat but not smooth or soft ground. Z700 SERIES. Read more here: How to Support TodaysMower.com. Walker Model H. One really nice thing about the Walker is you can demo it on your yard before you buy. Mower Blades, deck belts, air cleaner, oil filter, etc. The Walker will also give you the best cut out of all the mowers and stripes as well as the best commercial decks. Thanks Paul. 4. The Boulevard costs about $300 more than the Ariens, and about $400 more than the Toro. I really appreciate your help. I know the Pro Z might be a little much for a residential mower but Im willing to pay $1400 more for the upgraded mower, providing the Kohler Motor is reliable and the transmission with charge pumps will add longer life to transmissions. Not sure what engine you have for the Hustler option but if it has a kawasaki or honda I would go that route. This 60-inch zero turn features a 26 HP Kohler 7000 series engine with a canister air cleaner. Kawasaki has a lot of name brand recognition with the small owner/operators. If the last what could the cause be? If you let your lawn get over 10 inches you may have to go back over areas to get a clean cut. Why? This in comparison with the ZT1s EZT-2200. It is one of the best engines for fuel economy and is instantly responsive to heavy loads. I have been a follower of your site for a few years now. Extremely noticeable and an advantage if you have any back problems.. Since your lawn will be rough you want the strength of the HD line. It one of the best riding ZTRs on the market. 42 inch stamped deck. I lived in a condo that took care of the yard for 9 years so I havent mowed in almost a decade. By the way, is that cub cadet engine in a ZT1 it must be a previous year because this years model has the Kohler 7000 series (also a good engine) Personally if I have a choice Ill pick the Kaw first and then the Toro engine. The Ariens Apex is the mower I would buy for my father. Its not a bad idea for the first year. I also understand Briggs parts are much cheaper than the other manufacturers, should I ever need them. Im moving into a just less than 3 acre lot/home. Toro with its smart speed control allows you to pull much heavier loads than all the other ZTRs. My current seat does not have (that I can find) any electrical connections and a seated person is required to start the mower. Skaggs has a good blade change system, for no lift style. The HD models have a significantly heavier frame and transmissions. Yes, the Joystick does take a little practice but its actually a lot easier to use than lap bars and not as tiring. Bobcat mowers have been around a long time and the mowers are very good. In terms of riding stability and safety (making turns) on a 15 degree slope, would a 46 zero turn with a steering wheel be more stable than a lawn tractor with a 46 deck? (Because of the way the Walker steers it does not need the heavy-duty transmissions) I have 2 acres I mow Is this too much acreage for a mulch kit?i feel like Im shortening the life of the mower by stressing it. Ok, thank you for the clarification. I wish the Ariens had a suspension seat, but I cant find one. Thanks. Be aware ZTRs even the ones in this price range are lawn mowers. Fabricated Deck 24-HP Kohler Pro, It is a hard one. It gives a nice cut, and with the maneuverable front mounted mowing deck, he is able to follow the bed lines nicely. 1. I suggest buying the size so that you dont keep more than a month of fuel around the house. I think I would prefer the new one. Read more here: How to Support TodaysMower.com, I will list below three different types of residential zero-turn mowers. A good size for lawn tractors and zero-turns. The Gravely ZT XL model seems to be a good sweet spot with the 2800 transaxles and well-built machine. Buy at Amazon. Ive been using my Dads Ikonx52 bc his grandson was cutting his yard but that stopped so he needs his back now so my turn to cough up for a ZTM. If you have a problem holding a gas can the SureCan is a great can. Toro Premium Fuel Treatment helps ensure clean, reliable engine performance and protection. One of my local dealers does have some 2018 Gravely ZT HD 48 & 52 models in stock, and Im tempted. By Paul Sikkema. Main Street Mower 6.22K subscribers Comments 300 That Toro model is a higher class than the ZT Elite it is a $5,999 model vs the ZT - Elite at $4,999. My first choice for slopes is the Ariens IKON XD 52. One last question: is fabricated deck better than stamped? Was more of a general question. And remember dry ground this time of year can be just as slippery as wet ground. Yes, most people dont see the advantage of the steering wheel so Toro is discontinuing it. (There are a lot of small assembly shops that do make components for most brands). I am used to walk behind operation / handling Also, like the Ariens Facebook page. The Toro engine is not as well-known as the Kawasaki FR but has better reliability. Only applies to Pro machines. If you could help me, I would be so very grateful. https://www.bradleymowers.com/products/bradley-52-stand-on-compact-mower-briggs-commercial-turf?taxon_id=5. Gravely also offers this mower with the heavier ZT2800 transmissions The Gravely ZT XL. The APEX is a heavy-duty mower and I strongly feel it can handle most any lawn. Because it has a Smart Speed control that lets you pull carts without damaging your transmissions. However, some on the forums have reported using them in light commercial use for years with no issues. If you dont want to go through the Home Depot your local Gravely dealer sells the same mower under the Gravely brand. Ive done extensive research, and my head is spinning. Turning downhill can cause the mower to lose traction and slide down the slope. You get a lot more mower with the Ariens IKON. They have less lift than regular blades so they dont cut as evenly. Go over your machine and make sure they assembled it correctly. John Deere Z530M (Local Dealer) I just want something that will give me the best cut on slopes. They are priced well especially compared to the Kubota and Hustler SD. Thanks, Hi Pam, They are both very high-quality machines. As an aside, I purchased my snow blower based on your recommendations (Ariens Platinum SHO with EFI). Its made for lawns like yours. Paul, I need to buy my first ZTR. Fab 22.5 HP V-Twin Gas Zero-Turn Riding Mower with Smart Speed, Agri-Fab 44 in. There are two companies that make good flip-up deck mowers. Its Ariens Decision not Home Depots. Hi Paul trying to decide between the Toro 75750 and the Ikon XD 52. Im in my 70s and I want this to be the last mower I buy. The Compacts (all brands) are only for small residential flat areas that have gates you have to deal with. I have around two acres to mow, with a lot of flower beds, a large flower/vegetable garden, two out buildings, two houses, two driveways, quite a few trees, fencing along a cow pasture, and a ditch along the highway. Lawn Care Distributors, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of outdoor power equipment, accessories, and parts. Is 3 acres pushing the capabilities of the batteries too far? ), since Im hoping to do a bunch of that myself. Ariens XD (Which is best between Kohler or Kawasaki) I like this cause I heard these are the best engines for lawnmowers so Im sure they are reliable. Looking for advice on a ZTR for 1.5 acres, mainly flat with about 20 deg inclines around a drainage ditch. Thanks for your advice to buy the Ultima ZT2 50. Remember DO NOT buy E15 fuel. Run the proper tire inflation or 2 lbs less in the rear and it will ride well. Its not the ZTR you are using the wrong equipment for the mowing you have to do. Earl, Depends on the slope. Hi Paul, Paul. Picture something you would use a brush hog for.. he was just able to do it a lot faster with a bobcat and an attachment. Its the same mower as the IKON XD with the stronger ZT 2800 transmissions. I am considering the Ariens Apex or a Bad boy MZ MAGNUM both based on price point and features. I would prefer to get the ikon xI but since it is $1000 more than the x, its out of my budget range. So inclined to think the Cub might be better overall for towing.