When the mower is out of service, should the deck be at a specific height, like all the way up or all the way down? Lay on the ground on the non-discharge side of the mower. But it only has lightweight EZT transmissions so using it commercially I would not expect it to last more than 3-5 years. Paul, our 1 acre lot in PA has some trees, and is a bit bumpy in spots. I expect the batteries to last 5-7 years. The Maverick features a ton of improvements creating the best mower a home owner can hope for. There are over 400 different Zero-Turn Mowers available for your residential lawn. Always turn uphill. Read more here: How to Support TodaysMower.com. Do you think using the deck for a step is acceptable? Been using a 42 in cone drive dixon for 20 years with blower bagger. The Bad boy MZ MAGNUM is much lighter-duty mower than the Ariens/Gravely. The Cub Cadet 42 and 46-inch ZTRs have a stamped deck that does not cut as well as the Toros fab deck. In particular, I noticed the engine on the Deere was much louder than my lawn tractor. Id have them around my place but my wife says we have enough pets. So, well see if they last. It has a baffling system that cuts the grass clean by lifting them high. Behold! Hi Brian, Thats a tough choice. 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. It is easy to understand and I can see youve done your homework. The owner is the type that likes to jump into a market, disrupt it, and move on to something else if he cant make a fortune. Do not which one cannot be rebuilt or can for that matter. If you have a problem holding a gas can the SureCan is a great can. I think Im leaning towards the Gravley/Ariens product. I recommend the comfort seat and trailer hitch options. You also have the Ariens XL 60 and the Hustler SD 60 at around the ZT2 price. SKU. Thanks Paul for the quick response. Bush Hog has had zero-turns for many years and the current models are heavy-duty well-built units. The Walker Model R actually comes with the Kohler KT620 engine. The Kohler EFI and Exmark RED technology give you the power you need when you need it and will also reduce fuel consumption by 20% over other engines. Their XLT, Challenger and Charger mowers a built very well, have very strong decks and deck support. Costco wont carry those items. The quality control for many of those power sports engines is all over the map or non-existent. I really like the cut of the fabricated deck on the Toro MyRide. 3) Toro Titan MX. I own a JD LX280, which has been a great mower, but I have been looking at a ZTR for a couple years as an addition to the JD. No-Spill 1450 5-Gallon Poly Gas Can (CARB Compliant), Universal Suspension SEAT KIT for Lawn Mowers, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-42-in-22-5-HP-TimeCutter-Commercial-V-Twin-Gas-Dual-Hydrostatic-Zero-Turn-Riding-Mower-with-Smart-Speed-75742/310836498, 2020 50 (127 cm) TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower (75750), https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/zero-turn-mowers/z560/967929901/, 2020 The Thirteen Best 42-46 Inch Zero Turn Mowers, 42 in. I intend to keep my air filter well serviced. Have someone engage the deck and watch the belt, idler bracket, spring, and each pulley. Everything opens up for cleaning, inspection and belt replacement. They are fast but they can also mow 24-inch grass cleanly if needed. I have narrowed my choices down to the Ariens Ikon XL 52 (for its rugged build), the Toro Timecutter with Myride 50 (for the ride) and the Ryobi 100 ah 42 (for the quiet operation and the cost savings over time). Would this be enough to see a difference? Walk-Behind. Thanks Paul. Its been more helpful than you know! The new 2018 Boulevard would be $400 more than a 2019 Ariens IKON XL 52 (I cannot find one locally to test, but I havent given up yet). Best for 1/4 to 3/4 acre. Hi Paul, I have a 1 acre with about a 10 to 12 degree slope in the backyard. Thanks for your opinion on my choices. 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. Recap: willing 2 spend 6-7k. Thank you for being frank. I will not be towing with it. Yes, there are many good ZTRs when you get up in the 6K price range. The Ultima deck is a good deck but residential mowers, in general, dont like to mulch when cutting the grass at 2 3/4 inches or less. 6. The only real difference is the Toro has a slightly thicker deck, the automatic parking brake, and the smart speed control. Ease of Use and Practicality John Deere mowers are famous for their easy-going operations, with simple drive speed adjustments. A good size for snow blowers and push mowers. It is the most expensive of the mower I discuss. Hi Laurrelle, There are very few front deck mowers on the market. If you decide on the Gravely, wait until March 20-28. Its well worth the extra money. I mow about 3 acres. 25 cu. Hi Jim, Most homeowners usually buy Mid-April through June so thats when youll see any sales or price drops for the residential machines. Since then I have went to a local dealer that sells Toro and Cub Cadet. Hi T. Dan, Feel free to stop by anytime and tell us how the Jonsered is working out. I would like to get something better preferably a zero turn to handle the flower beds but I am open to any suggestion you might have. solid! 7. Looking for a new zero turn 54 and under $3500 and under from Lowes. I can buy a 2019 for 6K out the door ? I cut my lawn high at 4 inches so in the fall when I mulch leaves most of the clippings disappears into the grass. Yes, the commercial operators insist on having them but they quickly realize their only advantage is getting into small residential properties. Both show it online so should be able to at least order the model I want. The dealer will do the tuneup and make sure everything is working perfectly. The 48 48SC-BS24 is on sale for $4207 at sleequipment.com which seems to make it the best value of the 4 Bradley Stand on options. Hi Daron, Would you please point me to where you read or heard that Toro only has a tow limit of 85lbs? which is more solid and reliable unit? A friend says I should get a Kubota that will last the rest of my life. Not because of serviceability but most of the other brands mow a lot better. Im looking at the specs from a booklet recently supplied by the local Cub Cadet dealer, and for the ZT2 50, and it says that the power train is a Dual Hydro-Gear ZT-2800. Since our current mower is 46 inch deck we would like a slightly larger deck, I think we are leaning towards the 52 inch deck size. The only mention I find from a few owners with this deck is vibration at low RPMs. I attribute that to the uncovered engine and its close proximity to the operator, and perhaps to the fact that the engine enclosure basically directs the sound straight up right in back of the operator. If you could help me, I would be so very grateful. Id guess were actually mowing 75% of the acre. Toro TITAN 60 in. The Ultima is getting all the advertising this year but the Troy-Bilt is basically the same mower for a little less money. The deck is a lot stronger than the stamped deck and will handle banging against tree roots, etc. My Deere 212 lasted me 25 years and I would like to get the same from this machine. Do you need it for mowing 2.5-3 acres of lawn every week? Thank you. (Since the MX5050 is an old model it should be priced in the $2500 range) This includes the Vanguard and is only $200 more than the lowest price online for the base 48 ($3999). Our turn-tight craftsman mower has been OK, but I really think that a zero turn would improve our efficiency cutting this yard. I have an ExMark 42 inch. Not too worried about that because three of my neighbors have similar topography and mow with ZTRs. Hi Pete, The Toro is very easy to work on. One last question, my dealer also carries the ExMark line, in addition to the Toro and Ariens I mentioned above. I know you said, walking is a pain but there is the Toro TimeMaster 30 in. It seems to me that you appreciate the Ariens mowers as the better built and maybe longer lasting. The ZT 3100 is the entry-level commercial tranny. Its the best choice in your price range. Thanks Paul! The John Deere mulches, bags and side discharges the best of all the 42-inch ZTRs on the market. (Its been flawless) It also has a fabricated 42-inch deck. They are nice because once they are installed you dont need to mess with them for weeks at a time. 3. I think they would have to be ordered. He is very hard on the mower (over 150 trees to mow around) and its held up very well. It will last the life of the mower. I recommend buying through an Ariens dealer instead of the big box stores. Because of that brand recognition today the dealer can charge more (and make more profit.) Hi Rob, Lets start with the Toro. My first choice for you is a Country Clipper Boulevard zero-turn. Looking at either the Toro 42 in Time cutter with the Toro branded engine (75744) or the 50 in with the Kawasaki engine (75750) Then on the flip side on the Cub Cadet Im looking at the 46 in (ZT1 46) with the Cub Cadet branded engine or the 50 in (ZT1 50) with the Kawasaki engine. The Toro dealer tells me they sell more MyRide now than the standard version. I like the build quality of this mower, the cut quality, and I can easily recommend it for 2-3 acres. This will be fairly detailed, since I read in another comment that details help you. 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. If will last you years. He did a great job and cut down a lot of the smaller trees etc. house/pond/etc) the cost for them vs. DIY justifies a new machine for the garage. They just run the snot out of them and once the lease is up buy another new one. Thank you! Also, the price for their 1 time leaf collection last year easily justifies a better solution there. The ONLY difference between the ZT2100 and ZT2200 is the 2100 has 3/4 inch axles (900 lb capacity) and the 2200 has 1-inch axles (1000) capacity. Seems to be the biggest difference is the forged deck? Hi John, Sorry, I too busy with movingsnow.com and helping my daughter move into their new house. So the real difference and apples to apples price comparison is the ZT X to the ZT XL. Thank you so much Paul. Thanks so much for your guidance Paul, much appreciated! And yes the Ultima XT2 can pull it loaded around your property once in a while. If the grass has too much water in it they actually shred the grass not cut it and leave little grass balls all over your lawn. Seems like you get a overall better mower on the Cub than the Toro with the better transmission and extra features like the foot height adjustment, hour meter, headlights, etc. Ill be mowing my 1 acre, flat-to-mildly sloping residential lawn with minimal trees. In the questions and answers, Toro says that they recommend 85 lb pulling. Any advice would be well appreciated. Youll be able to mow your whole property in about four hours. Toro Titan MAX 60 in. Plus youll get done faster! Hi Kathy, I list ZTRs from the big box stores because many people today want to buy online (and I make a little commission off the sale) That said, You will get a better experience buying from a dealer. If you use them with side discharge the work most of the time but if your grass is wet, long or the stringy (like some Fescues) they wont cut the grass into little pieces and throw it out the discharge. Fabricated Deck 23 HP Kawasaki FR Series V-Twin Gas Engine Zero Turn Mower with Lap Bar ControlAvailable at, Cub Cadet Ultima ZT2 54 in. I suggest that you dont mulch until your lawn growth has settled down. Hi Laurrelle, The Walker is one of the best for hills. It built better than the commercial mowers we used 20 years ago. The Toro, Kohler 7000 and Briggs ELS are just as good. For the other two brands, you really should limit your towing to 200-250 lbs. Which models might you suggest? 10-year limited deck warranty. The Walker also rides great because you sit directly over the large drive tires. Believe it or not, I didnt have to replace the blade belt but about two years ago. Great website and I love how you respond to everyones questions cause I actually browsed all your comments to help with my search and narrowed down my choices. They are one of the hidden gems of the mowing industry. (and may be included). I have two in mind. I am leery of ordering one from an internet seller for after-sale service and support. Its smoother than the 7000 series and has a larger air cleaner. Great website and article! Thanks, The Cub Cadet is the hottest probably because he gets a little more profit so he pushes the sale a little harder Thank you very much, I appreciate your input. I do my best to not mow wet grass and usually remove no more than 1 inche in a mow. I wanted your opinion in general about the machine and specifically if it is strong enough to pull a leaf and lawn vacuum like the Cyclone Rake Z-10. Conclusion My neighbor let me try his Ferris IS600 to test the ride without actually mowing. Zero-Turn Stand On. I mow our residential, flat, 1 acre yard with ~10 trees and fence in Pittsburgh, PA. Thats well worth the extra money. Having a really hard time deciding between the two if I make the jump from a 42 to the 50/52. Just increase the engine rpm to mowing speed and the vibration disappears. I am strongly leaning toward a DR Leaf and Lawn vac for fall and spring clean up and am concerned with weight of that being pulled by the mower. If the last what could the cause be? Basically, its the ELS residential with a high flow commercial air filter. Bad Boy ZT Avenger Zero Turn Mower. Lawn/Garden Tractor. I dont have red squirrels eating out of my hand, but my hens and roosters do every day! Motor repair on commercial mowers can range anywhere from $1000-$4000 for 60-inch commercial zero-turn. Thinking about the Deere 345r but worried the bagger will just get plugged all the time. I suggest getting the Cyclone with the dual-wheel casters and the electric start engine. Ive never been a Cub Cadet fan, however, their new Ultimata series seems pretty legit after research. John Deere Commercial Z645 Zero Turn Mower 27HP 48 Inch Deck 398 H Serviced . Whats your take for a small zero turn for my under 1/2 acre yard? The next most important factor is a comfortable ride as my yard, although flat, can be a bit bumpy. I just noticed that the 48 Accel Deep deck is 10 gauge, that is nice. My local Country Clipper only has a new 2018 Boulevard and a used 2016 Boulevard with 38.5 hours on the meter. Fab 24.5 HP V-Twin Gas Zero-Turn Riding Mower with Smart Speed. I like 60-inch decks but the 52-inch deck is plenty big for your lawn. I also have balance challenges and some minor fine motor control issues (mild multiple sclerosis). It will last you years. Now, we are in a new home and are beginning to look for a mower to better meet our needs.