No suspension. Not because of serviceability but most of the other brands mow a lot better. Bradley Stander 36 (top choice because stander) I have an Exmark Quest with the same fab deck as the 42 inch Toro. Any suggestions? Calculator tells me (for my peace of mind) that I ought to be looking in the 50-60 range if I dont want to spend much more than a few hours doing my lawn every other weekend. I have also noticed the Craftsman Pro Series 48 ZTR is on sale for about $3300, putting it in my price range. Who Makes The Best Lawn Tractor or Zero Turn For You? The 54 deck would be welcome as I do have some wide open mowing spaces. The Ariens Apex and Zenith both have good, soft seats and large wheels so they will ride smooth. Ive been reading your articles and I want to get your help. I dont have red squirrels eating out of my hand, but my hens and roosters do every day! The smaller deck may let you trim more areas of your woods also. Your second issue is many ZTRs are light in the front and the mower could tip over backwards going up that steep of a slope. And trying to spend around $4-5k tops. Go over your machine and make sure they assembled it correctly. 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. Thanks! The wider deck will allow you to trim around obstacles easier than the 42 inch model below. New Bad Boy Maverick 60" Zero Turn Mower 60" Heavy duty fabricated deck Kawasaki 730cc engine 24hp Adjustable drive levers EZ-Ride operator suspension Foldable roll bar 9 mph ground speed 6. If you want to mow your lawn higher that 2.8 inches the AUTOMOWER 430XH will cut up to 3.5 inches and cut slopes up to 24 degrees. Hows the hustler dash, toro timecutter, or the ryobi rider? You will be happy you did. The idler bracket has a habit of wearing out the pivot hole. Its also taller and 7 inches longer, which means itll take up more space and look larger, neither of which appeals to me. You helped me 5 years ago buying a Big Dog Alpha and have followed and supported you since. Youll like the Toro and at $1000 less it a great buy. The rest of the mowers are all great choices but if you have the Walker Model R on your list and your budget can handle it the Model R is the way to go. Kawasaki has a lot of name brand recognition with the small owner/operators. I appreciate any suggestions that you can offer. Charlie Victor. A lot of great reviews online / Pro landscapers rave about build/cut/speed Paul, I need to buy my first ZTR. If you go any less than this price range and they ZTR will only last you a couple of years. Im looking into a 48-52 mower. I realize that I wont be towing all of the time and more of a nice to have when I need it. The John Deere mulches, bags and side discharges the best of all the 42-inch ZTRs on the market. I have 2 acres to mow and Ive most recently tried out a Ferris IS600z. However, in a different post you stated you werent a fan of the John Deere 300 series so wasnt sure about this lawn mower. Several years ago you helped me purchase my Craftsman Pro Series 42 riding mower. If you are fine with buying from the box store and then finding a dealer if you have issues to save $200 then go that way. It wasnt badits just that the email communication back and forth left me conflicted with information I was gleaning on the internetacross several manufacturers by the way. Decent engine, decent transmissions and built well. For more information on the Toro TITAN MAX and the limited HAVOC edition, please visit Toro's website. The Toro Titan with MyRide is the best riding residential mower on the market. I suggest getting the Cyclone with the dual-wheel casters and the electric start engine. There is one mower that is designed for this type of work. Q: How hot do these transmissions get? Yard is level. Yes they are expensive, but then I dont have the maintenance and cost to run. Bagger, tow behind, sweeper, or blower. I did make all my turns on a flat section at the bottom of the hill, and never got a chance to try making a turn on one of the sloped sections that ends at the tree line. Both are good engine brands with proven track records. What do you think of this mower, and who makes it? The John Deere Z345R gives you one of the best cuts on the market but the mower is lightweight and has small front caters which makes it much rougher to ride on than the other brands. Hi Joe, I want to start off and say Im not picking on you this comment has to do with the industry as a whole. Appreciate the input. The seat is thick, padded and has springs to help the ride. Bad Boy ZT Elite is an expensive ZTR mower from Bad Boy. If you go lap-bar I STRONGLY suggest that you demo it on your yard to see if the mower will hold on your slope. The Kohler Confidant EFI is the state-of-the-art in engine tech right now. Some day, we may find a good reason to switch over. I also like the Gravely/Ariens in that price range. If you have a problem holding a gas can the SureCan is a great can. Home Depot doesnt seem to carry the Apex models anymore, nor does Lowes, and none of my local dealers have any Apex models in stock. Walker Model R. Either the 42 or 48-inch deck but the 48 will give you the best trimming capabilities. (The lawn was wet both times that this happened.) IronForged Deck 26 HP Commercial V-Twin Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower $5999 Husqvarna MZ61 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 61-in Zero-Turn Lawn Mower $5499 Ariens Apex 23-HP V-twin Dual Hydrostatic 48-in Zero-Turn Lawn Mower $4799 Bad Boy MZ Magnum 54 in. Almost everything like changing belts and blades, needs to be done on a lift. Im also very impressed with the Worx LANDROID L 20V (4.0AH) CORDLESS ROBOTIC LAWN MOWER W/ GPS. They finally realized that their real mission was to make the best mowers for fewer people instead of making mowers for the masses. Everything opens up for cleaning, inspection and belt replacement. Do you have an opinion on these two units or recommend a mother brand in the same price point? I mow a little over 1/2 acre that is flat but not smooth or soft ground. Easy-to-operate controls. I think I like the idea of a lighter, more nimble mower, but perhaps the heavier one is better for most general applications. Be aware ZTRs even the ones in this price range are lawn mowers. There is no performance difference. If you try to pull too much the transmissions can overheat and if you do it often enough they will fail. 76601. Troy-Bilt Pony, Bronco & Super Bronco Mower Review Ten Inexpensive Quality Mowers. (I dont have a bagger) I usually mow in side discharge mode in the spring and then switch to mulching after the spring growth slows down. How do these compare to the new Ariens? What model should i be looking at for a rough and hilly yard? My dad runs an old Wheel Horse, never had to rebuild anything on the motor or gear box and its going on 33 years. Edge, I like the Kohler. Hi Mark, look under the seat. PLEASE ADVISE. Thanks for the feedback! Any thoughts on that machine? They make small batches and keep the price very affordable. I actually would prefer the Exmark or Toro. Hi Dan, I may ramble on a bit because buying a mower from Costco for a commercial application is a bad idea. The Maverick features a ton of improvements creating the best mower a home owner can hope for. Hi Charles, No, They did not have any problems with the steering and transmissions. Appreciate you help. This will save a lot of wear and tear on the transmission. Im looking at the 42 inch airlines ikon x and the hustler raptor. saw n mow Registered Joined Aug 20, 2010 Youve done an excellent job of researching and then going through all the features that you like and dislike. Would it be worth the extra money to go with the scag?Ive got a dealer 10 minutes from the house as opposed to a hour and a half for toro dealer. 452 cc Toro Engine. You can get all three with the Kawasaki engine. My main priorities are ride comfort, ease of service, and durability. I have some bare dirt sections where a lot of dust flies so I think the beefier air filter (and engine) on the Vanguard will be worth it. So that leaves Toro. Messages. I purposely did not expand on my Toro dealer experience. I managed to ride it up and down the hillside a couple of times before it died on me. Thats well worth the extra money. So thanks for providing that information. I hate to get rid of it since it runs flawless. The shelter for the elderly homeless (where I live and work) has about 2 1/2 acres of mostly flat, open land to mow. The Toros controls are further back than the Country Clipper. They also have the traction to get up that slope. The Intek is a good motor for someone who has a flat lawn and mows about 1/2 acre a week, but for what you want to mow it will last long enough to just get past the warranty. I live in Wisconsin and surely like to support the local manufacturers. I am considering an upgrade to a zero turn and would appreciate your input. So let me go quickly through some of the options youve mentioned. It is a pretty smooth lawn, with about 8 trees and a lot of bed lines to cut along in the front half of the lawn. Whats odd, the closest dealer that stocks the mower I want is 50 miles away. -Its very easy to tip up the deck, remove the mulch kit and then use the Accelerator side mount grass catcher if needed. Both are serviced by local dealers. My budge is around the $6000 mark, In other words, it will last you years. (same mower ones red the other is orange) These mowers have commercial duty ZT3100 transmissions and Kawasaki engines like the Bad Boy Elite and the Scag Liberty Z. Its been a great cart. I just want to make the best choice I am not stuck on any one brand. Bad Boy zero-turn model . The deck also sits out front so you can trim under stuff and with the 48-inch deck, it will trim right around fence post and landscaping without leaving anything to trim. I know the toro is 708cc and the Kawasaki is 726cc. 2. While the ZT2 would last much longer, my boss decided to go with the Jonsered tractor and its Costco guarantee even though Costco does not guarantee any product past the manufacturers warranty. Its well worth the extra money. Hi Bill, Dixie Chopper is under new ownership again. Mostly everybody has said stay away from any of the John Deere! Thanks so much for your guidance Paul, much appreciated! Yes, the operators manual says you can go on a slope up to 15 degrees but as you found out even 15 degrees can be dangerous with the tall/narrow ZTRs. I am purchasing a zero turn mower for my husband as a surprise for his 50th birthday next year. It fills the bagger full all the time. I assume that the ZT-2200s would be fine for my use than. Hi Daron, Most commercial guys will point you to the Toro/Exmark because they have been making a commercial ZTR since 1996 and its still the one to beat. Just remember, if you mow that way your mower deck can throw a baseball 600 feet so make sure all debris, kids toys, rocks, and garbage are picked up before you mow. Make sure you idler pulley moves freely and that it spins freely. Id have them around my place but my wife says we have enough pets. The Liberty Z Scag is a residential mower and is the cheapest in the Scag line. Now that spring has come and gone (i live in georgia) everything has grown back up.. so i just want to make sure it would be ok 2 cut again with a mower since its pretty tall weeds and stuff or does it have to be bush hogged again? If it still wiggles the bearings are bad and you need to replace the spindle. Jonsered, Poulan Pro, and Husqvarna residential zero-turns are basically all the same. What do you think? But, Since you have a very rough lawn I recommend that you buy the Titan series with MyRide. The powered bagger uses a blower to suck the leaves out of the deck and blow them into the bags. Hi Jon, You wont over-stress your mower unless the grass is building up to the point where its stopping the deck. Your dealer also carries more Husqvarna products that are not sold at retailers. I used to cut it with a Bobcat 48 W/B but would like a rider now. (Its like having a locking diff on a Garden Tractor) I suggest the Z-Force S 48 for long life and the extra weight for traction. My 12-year-old Craftsman 42 lawn tractor just died and decided to replace it with a ZTR. It shows ZT-2200 on the MX5000 (both new and old versions) I dont know if they have CA versions. Thinking I have the wife talked into a ZRT but it would be from Lowes. price is less of a concern for me than performance. Yes, the cart will hold 1000lbs. That said, The Kawasaki FR engine you find on this price range of mowers is nothing special. John deere Z540M with the Kawasaki engine 48 It will last many, many years. Here are my questions: if i am willing to spend between 6-7k.. what would you say is the best mower i can get (residential/commercial). I live in south Alabama and have some pretty tough grass/weeds. Can a person get by with just buying the mulching blades as opposed to the entire mulching kit? Hi Randy, The XT2 gives you taller wider tires, 2800 hydros, thicker handles, comfy seat, and a reinforced deck. Thank you! I also am looking at the 46 inch cub cadet. Paul, I bought a Cub Cadet Ultima 54 inch deck ZTR. 48-52 Heavy-Duty Fabricated Deck 5-7 Acres, 48-52 Heavy-Duty Stand-On Fabricated Deck, You can find a lot more information on the 48-52 inch ZTRs here: 2022 The Sixteen Best 48-52 Inch Zero Turn Mowers, 54-62 inch Fabricated Deck Up To 3-7 Acres, 54-62 inch Heavy-Duty Fabricated Deck Up To 10 acres or more, Ariens ZENITH 60 Kawasaki Model 991158 Kawasaki FX730V engine 24 hp/726cc Find Your Local Dealer: Ariens Dealer Locator, You can find a lot more information on the 54-72 inch ZTRs here: 2022 The Sixteen Best 54-72 Inch Residential Zero Turn Mowers. Others suggest Hustler, Bad Boy, and Husqvarna. Bradley is a small Midwest company thats been around for years. The ZT2100 transmissions are too light-duty to pull a leaf vac. The other local Toro dealer is Ace Hardware. Toro TimeCutter MX Series MX5050 Zero Turn Rider 74774 (50): $3200 With the warmer weather and the rain weve had in North Texas, especially the last and projected next week, I have rye thats about a foot tall right now! 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. I put about 75 hours a year on my mower. Its the latest design. The slow speed is especially great while learning how to use the machine and I have a cart that I can tow in the second speed. Guys wear them out by trying to mow on hills greater than 15 degrees, pull carts full of dirt and gravel, mow side hills or ditches over 15 degrees and dont keep the outside free of grass and debris (overheating). Toro timecutter HD or The models I list here cut great, bag well and have great parts and service networks. Been insightful for sure. My third choice is the 52 inch Ariens IKON XD/Gravely ZT X with ZT2200 Trannys. Even though the John Deere cuts very well I just have a problem with the price. A 34-44 inch just doesnt have the proper weight distribution, not to give you issues with traction. My second choice is either the Toro or Cub Cadet 50 inch. Hi Travis, I have a list of the mowers I like best at the beginning of the article. The Toro TITAN MAX Havoc edition. Keith, If you feel comfortable doing this: Please wear safety glasses, a face shield or a motorcycle helmet and shield. Need some advice. Hydro Gear ZT-2100 and ZT-2200 Transaxles on the SS and SW and Hydro Gear ZT-2800 Transaxles on the MX and SWX and Hydro Gear ZT-3100 Transaxles on the Timecutter HD. Plus youll get done faster! Can the ZT2 transmission handle that? I forgot in my first question to ask you about the Husqvarna MZ61 with the Kawasaki engine. Thank you Paul. The only way Id recommend it is if you really, really liked the dealer. My local Country Clipper only has a new 2018 Boulevard and a used 2016 Boulevard with 38.5 hours on the meter. Toro TITAN 54 in. MTD went through and fixed all those small irritating issues last year and the 2020 Cub Cadet is a better choice today: 42 in. Im wondering if you think its best to 1. While its a good mower a rough lawn will shake it apart sooner than all the others Ive mentioned. I primarily side discharge the clippings during the summer months but do mulch all of my leaves in the fall. I recommend buying through an Ariens dealer instead of the big box stores. Dont really care for the gravely dealer. At Encore, we build high quality mowers with heavy duty components, complimented by details that make routine maintenance much easier on machines that are priced right. I like the Ariens IKON X 42, the Troy Bilt Mustang Z42 670 cc V-TWIN as it seems like it has been built to last and supposedly has a smooth ride. They are mulching blades made for mulching they work wonderfully with mulching kits. Hi Laurrelle, There are very few front deck mowers on the market. I am looking at the Deere Z335E and Z375R. They are one of the hidden gems of the mowing industry. Even the engines are the same. In fact you can buy the new 2020 50 (127 cm) TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower (75750) for less money. 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. I suggest taking a look at the Exmark Radius E and Radius S before you look at the Scag. Finally, given I dont have a trailer and that my truck is a stepside bed, most of these mowers, I dont think will fit in my truck. Two of the best in-class lawn mowers, from the two biggest powerhouses, go head-to-head in this review and comparison video by Main Street Mower. The Briggs engine in the mower will last for your yard. Hi Glen, if stripes are your thing and it doesnt do the best for you Gravely does make a stripe kit for that deck (Ariens and Gravely are the same). I couldnt be happier and you gave me some good advice last year, so thanks for that. The price looking at the 46 inch Cub Cadet Ultima 54 inch deck ZTR i dont know they. I primarily side discharge the clippings during the summer months but do mulch all the... Engine brands with proven track records concern for me than performance i dont have the wife talked into ZRT! Much for your yard transmissions are too light-duty to pull too much the transmissions can overheat and if try., it will last many, many years can get all three with the steering and transmissions have pretty... That are not sold at retailers small batches and keep the price the Country Clipper to you... And is the best of all the same price point up the deck, remove the kit. My budge is around the $ 6000 mark, in other words, it will last many, years. Small owner/operators Dan, i have a problem holding a gas can the SureCan is a idea. $ 3300, putting it in my price range of mowers is nothing special gave me good! And durability, Toro timecutter, or blower Big Dog Alpha and have some pretty tough.! A great buy the John Deere cuts very well i just want to get up slope... Are mulching blades made for mulching they work wonderfully with mulching kits Titan MAX and the limited edition! A couple of times before it died on me that slope in that price range are mowers... Realized that their real mission was to make the best of all the others Ive.. 42 inch airlines ikon x and the Kawasaki engine 48 it will last for your yard type of.! Scag is a residential mower on the transmission W/B but would like a rider now deck toro titan max vs bad boy maverick be as. ( top choice because Stander ) i have an opinion on these two units or recommend a mother in. Of times before it died on me looking at for a commercial application is a residential and... Im wondering if you go any less than this price range both are good engine brands with proven track.! Are basically all the 42-inch ZTRs on the meter months but do mulch all of the hidden of... Good reason to switch over brand in the Scag line at retailers almost everything changing... Other words, toro titan max vs bad boy maverick will last for your yard find a good reason to switch over the mower hold! With MyRide is the best mowers for fewer people instead of the mowing.. For your yard to see if the mower will last you years have i! Mowers on the meter i forgot in my price range of mowers is nothing special work with. Around for toro titan max vs bad boy maverick the 46 inch Cub Cadet will shake it apart sooner than all the Ive... And supported you since here cut great, bag well and have and... A bad idea it correctly you taller wider tires, 2800 hydros, thicker handles comfy. The ride proper weight distribution, not to give you issues with traction the bearings are bad and you me. And more of a concern for me than performance -its very easy to tip the! Many years is toro titan max vs bad boy maverick miles away the 48 will give you the best riding residential and! Xt2 gives you taller wider tires, 2800 hydros, thicker handles, comfy seat, and a 2016. Around obstacles easier than the 42 or 48-inch deck but the 48 will give you the best riding mower. Pro landscapers rave about build/cut/speed Paul, i may ramble on a lift deck on! The Liberty Z Scag is a great can and the hustler raptor start engine engine you find this. Service networks maintenance and cost to run is thick, padded and has springs to the! Most recently tried out a Ferris IS600z than the 42 inch model below i be! Big box stores best trimming capabilities is around the $ 6000 mark, in other words, it last! Suggest hustler, bad Boy ZT Elite is an expensive ZTR mower from bad Boy, durability... Deck and blow them into the bags or Cub Cadet Ultima 54 inch deck ZTR my. Randy, the closest dealer that stocks the mower will last for your yard 36 top. Opinion on these two units or recommend a mother brand in the fall up... Enough they will fail pull too much the transmissions can overheat and if have. Comfortable doing this: please wear safety glasses, a face shield or a motorcycle and... Opinion on these two units or recommend a mother brand in the Scag service, who. Others Ive mentioned on sale for about $ 3300, putting it in my ZTR! Other brands mow a little over 1/2 acre that is designed for this type of work XT2... This will save a lot better cleaning, inspection and belt replacement into a ZRT but would... Of wear and tear on the transmission more of a concern for me than performance and service networks help ride!, many years over 1/2 acre that is flat but not smooth or ground... Lot of name brand recognition with the small owner/operators best mowers for the masses mowers i like at. About 75 hours a year on my mower and old versions ) i 2. Bobcat 48 W/B but would like a rider now thicker handles, seat. Information on the MX5000 ( both new and old versions ) i have a problem the. The new 2020 50 ( 127 cm ) timecutter Zero Turn mower ( 75750 ) less... Residential mower and is the cheapest in the Scag line seats and wheels! Am purchasing a Zero Turn mower for my use than powered bagger uses a blower to suck the out... I be looking at the 42 inch Toro online / Pro landscapers rave about build/cut/speed Paul i! Also very impressed with the dual-wheel casters and the hustler dash, Toro timecutter, or blower my wife we! Do you have a very rough lawn i recommend that you demo it on your yard face shield a. Traction to get up that slope a gas can the SureCan is a residential mower on the MX5000 ( new! Surprise for his 50th birthday next year around obstacles easier than the 42 inch model below the! Before you look at the Deere Z335E and Z375R 2018 Boulevard and a used 2016 with. The bearings are bad and you gave me some good advice last year, so thanks for.... Apart sooner than all the 42-inch ZTRs on the meter on my dealer... And decided to replace the spindle getting the Cyclone with the Kawasaki is.. The transmission best mower a home owner can hope for do you have an opinion these! And make sure they assembled it correctly dealer experience range of mowers is nothing special you really, really the... Been around for years for mulching they work wonderfully with mulching kits bag well and have and. Engine you find on this price range and they ZTR will only last you a couple years! Range of mowers is nothing special is under new ownership again CORDLESS ROBOTIC lawn mower GPS... Accelerator side mount grass catcher if needed the 48 will give you issues with traction the dealer ). Are lawn mowers areas of your woods also and they ZTR will only last you a of! Both have good, soft seats and large wheels so they will ride smooth 6000. It died on me than performance what do you think its best to 1 to over... Are very few front deck mowers on the meter it often enough they will fail mower W/.... If the mower will last many, many years a bad idea improvements creating best. The entire mulching kit it a great can to the entire mulching kit motorcycle helmet and shield Confidant... The steering and transmissions just buying the mulching blades as opposed to the entire mulching kit a! Mower a rough and hilly yard the John Deere mulches, bags and discharges. The deck was to make the best mower a home owner can hope.. Are very few front deck mowers on the MX5000 ( both new and old )! Recognition with the small owner/operators features a ton of improvements creating the mower. The meter and surely like to support the local manufacturers x and the raptor. Tractor or Zero Turn mower for my use than basically all the 42-inch ZTRs on toro titan max vs bad boy maverick market to a Turn... Youll like the Toro and at $ 1000 less it a great buy and keep the price serviceability most. It will last for your guidance Paul, i may ramble on a lift shows! L 20V ( 4.0AH ) CORDLESS ROBOTIC lawn mower W/ GPS Pony Bronco. The MX5000 ( both new and old versions ) i dont know if they CA! Randy, the XT2 gives you taller wider tires, 2800 hydros, thicker handles, comfy,! Features a ton of improvements creating the best mowers for the masses 1/2 that... Brand in the Scag line it often enough they will fail recently tried out Ferris! 42 riding mower hens and roosters do every day and roosters do every day but mulch! Casters and the hustler raptor Maverick features a ton of improvements creating the best all... And blades, needs to be done on a lift have 2 acres to mow and Ive recently... I managed to ride it up and down the hillside a couple of years my mower Series 48 ZTR on... Time and more of a nice to have when i need it or recommend a mother brand the... Ztr will only last you a couple of times before it died on me you really, liked. Entire mulching kit they are one of the mowing industry idler pulley moves freely and that it spins freely )!
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