Zero turn mower recommendations.

[seaofred]

I am looking to buy a new zero turn mower. I mow about 4 acres, mostly straight and not around very many trees. Only reason I'm going with a zero turn, because they mow so much faster. Looking to spend less than $5000. What's the best out there?

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I'm about 4 billion miles from a dealer so you don't see much of them out here. I've seen a few tractors but nothing about the mowers.

Link?

http://m.kubota.com/Product/Index/235/model

[lewdog]

I'd ask about leasing options.

[kccrow]

Was reading this a bit, just because I'm a curious person... alot of thumbs up for Kubota's. http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cg...alk&th=1084900

Also, SCAG. The golf course next door to me uses SCAGs. I'd imagine they are in the $15k up range though. Might find one used.

[jd1020]

Spent around $3k on an entry level Toro a couple years ago on a 3 year same as cash deal. Outside of big box stores selling Husqvarna and shit, where I got my Toro is the only authorized dealer in a 20 mile radius of where I live. It does the job. I couldn't imagine spending the kind of cash you guys are talking about for a mower unless I was starting a mowing business.

[oldman]

John Deere has several in your price range. Just make sure you get a real Moline built JD.

http://www.deere.com/en_US/products/...ers/z525e.page

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Spent around $3k on an entry level Toro a couple years ago on a 3 year same as cash deal. Outside of big box stores selling Husqvarna and shit, where I got my Toro is the only authorized dealer in a 20 mile radius of where I live. It does the job. I couldn't imagine spending the kind of cash you guys are talking about for a mower unless I was starting a mowing business.

Big boxes up here don't sell Husqvarna. Must be different down there. Interestin'.

[ChiefsCountry]

I have a Dixon. My old man has a Walker. Love them both.

[Lonewolf Ed]

Originally Posted by seaofred

What do you think about the Kubota? They have a model for about $5500.

Great tractors, but maintenance on them is very expensive compared to say a Cub Cadet.

[Perineum Ripper]

Cub Cadet..have 3..one for my yard one for my grandma's yard then my dad has one..they work great..we change oil in them like the manual says and I change belts every year because I just want to..I also wash the deck off after every time I use it to keep grass from building in the shields..they all have a spot that I hook a hose up with an adapter and wash underneath the deck with the blades on

But if you do that with any brand I would say you would have good luck..so I say buy whatever you have close to you so you have easy access to a dealer for any work you need to have done

[ExtremeChief]

Originally Posted by mac459

Cub Cadet..have 3..one for my yard one for my grandma's yard then my dad has one..they work great..we change oil in them like the manual says and I change belts every year because I just want to..I also wash the deck off after every time I use it to keep grass from building in the shields..they all have a spot that I hook a hose up with an adapter and wash underneath the deck with the blades on

But if you do that with any brand I would say you would have good luck..so I say buy whatever you have close to you so you have easy access to a dealer for any work you need to have done

Agree. I have had my cub for 4 years now. Mow my 2 acres plus 6 rental homes. No problems at all.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

You can get in a decent John Deere for 6500. My personal mower is a bad boy. I'm not thrilled with how it handles side hills but it's been great for 2 mowing seasons. I have a friend who does custom mowing who swears by commercial grade grasshopper mowers.

I'd just personally avoid the mowers from the box stores. Some family members have them and they don't hold up as well...a John Deere from lowes isn't a John Deere.

A Deere you buy from a Deere dealer isn't a Deere anymore either, but you're your right, it is a far different product than you get at the box stores. I wouldn't own one of those for anything.

I'll second the grasshopper suggestion, but I think they are significantly outside of his price range. We had a billion or so year old one and it was pretty solid.

Originally Posted by seaofred

http://m.kubota.com/Product/Index/235/model

Looks like a pretty decent rig for the price, presuming the deck isn't tiny. Just from the link, it looks like you may have to buy the deck separately.

Originally Posted by mac459

Cub Cadet..have 3..one for my yard one for my grandma's yard then my dad has one..they work great..we change oil in them like the manual says and I change belts every year because I just want to..I also wash the deck off after every time I use it to keep grass from building in the shields..they all have a spot that I hook a hose up with an adapter and wash underneath the deck with the blades on

But if you do that with any brand I would say you would have good luck..so I say buy whatever you have close to you so you have easy access to a dealer for any work you need to have done

For Deere's anyway, don't have a dealer work on them. If you can't hire someone to do the maintenance on them, find some third party small engine guy. The Deere shop here charges $105/hour. Accordingly, they aren't anxious to do work on mowers, anything beyond an oil change probably exceeds the cost of the mower.

And FWIW, just changing oil and belts won't necessarily buy you a long life. My parents have a Woods mower, and it will chew through the acres like nobody's business, but it is pretty expensive to keep and parts are epic expensive.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I bought a zero turn Deere 3 years ago and hate it. The discharge chute clogs continually. You have to shut it down and take it apart constantly to unclog it. the neighbors have heard many a cuss words while I'm mowing.

[displacedinMN]

Big mow

[BlackHelicopters]

Ban establishment mowers.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

Big mow

This is the mower that I grew up on and probably have the most time on. Ours was a far older and junkier version, but you get the point. AFAIK it was the first ZTR on the market.