which mower?

[zim bob the landscaper]

i should be getting a ZTR finally... we have narraowed it down to 6 brands. Hustler, Exmark, Scag, toro, Gravely, and dixie chopper. i can get a used 2004 hustler super Z with 66" deck with a back-vac for $7300 also the guy will give us a warranty on it. but i dont know if i should go brand new or not. if i do im leaning more towards Toro, Gravely, and dixie chopper but im also thinking of scag now. i also need a bagger because i will be bagging my lawns in 2 months. so i dont know if i should get a triple bagger or a clam shell bagger. i dont know much about ZTRs so im asking u what would be best for me. my lawns go from 1.5 acres to 5 acres. most of my lawns have sprinkler systems with thick thick lush lawns. i do have hills so i need something good for that. also need power. so i also dont know what i should get for engine choice i want to get a liquid cooled so it will last longer. also the same guy is selling a wright stander for $2700 61" in awesome shape works great. but i want somthing with a big bagger not a side discharge bagger. im probably going to get one by next week. i want at least a 60" deck and if i have to ill get a 52".


thanks

[Meg-Mo]

Look at BAD BOY with a 35 hp diesel with an ACS MEG MO blades. With that you will have enough power and won't need the bagger.

[MTR999]

i should be getting a ZTR finally... we have narraowed it down to 6 brands. Hustler, Exmark, Scag, toro, Gravely, and dixie chopper. i can get a used 2004 hustler super Z with 66" deck with a back-vac for $7300 also the guy will give us a warranty on it. but i dont know if i should go brand new or not. if i do im leaning more towards Toro, Gravely, and dixie chopper but im also thinking of scag now. i also need a bagger because i will be bagging my lawns in 2 months. so i dont know if i should get a triple bagger or a clam shell bagger. i dont know much about ZTRs so im asking u what would be best for me. my lawns go from 1.5 acres to 5 acres. most of my lawns have sprinkler systems with thick thick lush lawns. i do have hills so i need something good for that. also need power. so i also dont know what i should get for engine choice i want to get a liquid cooled so it will last longer. also the same guy is selling a wright stander for $2700 61" in awesome shape works great. but i want somthing with a big bagger not a side discharge bagger. im probably going to get one by next week. i want at least a 60" deck and if i have to ill get a 52".


thanks

Any one of those will be fine, but I would stay away from DC, not much impressed with it. Just curious, you have almost 1500 posts but never own a Z??? ...so simple no Z no honey...

[zim bob the landscaper]

Any one of those will be fine, but I would stay away from DC, not much impressed with it. Just curious, you have almost 1500 posts but never own a Z??? ...so simple no Z no honey...

i have been using a 52" wb for my lawns but they are just to big for a walkbehind and its taking to long so i need to get a Z. also i have used s dixie chopper and realy liked it what didnt you like about it if you dont mind me asking?

[rodfather]

i should be getting a ZTR finally... we have narraowed it down to 6 brands.

LMAO...remind me never to invite you out to dinner. We'd never eat! :laugh:

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

All those mowers are great choices, you should demo some if you can. See which dealer is going to give you the best support to. Hello Rod !

[All_Toro_4ME]

As TNT mentioned, all the brands you named are top of the line. But to add one thing, Z's are not the best choice for steep hills. Not sure how steep your hills are. Just be careful.

[grassmedics]

i would say get the hustler, they are the fastest mowers with the longest warranties originally, and if the guy is gonna give you a warranty on it thats even better. if you dont have good hustler support then go with the mower with the best support in your area.

[zim bob the landscaper]

As TNT mentioned, all the brands you named are top of the line. But to add one thing, Z's are not the best choice for steep hills. Not sure how steep your hills are. Just be careful.

thanks, the hills we will use it on are not that bad. if they are to steep ill just use the w/b.

[Roger]

You say you have been using a 52" w/b, but "it takes too long." And, you suggest a Z would probably be 52" cutting width, maybe 60". My point is how much productivity do you expect to improve? Depending upon the properties, a Z may be no more productive than your w/b. Or, it may be slightly more productive. Do you have a sulky that you use with your w/b? Your w/b will be more easily turned than a Z, so you will have to gain productivity with speed. If the straight runs are short, you will not see much change.

Just for reference, I have a 36" w/b with sulky, and a 48" ZTR. In some places, my w/b is more productive than the ZTR, or about the same. Only where I can make substantial better ground speed with the ZTR do I gain productivity. And, the ZTR is 12" wider.

The reasons for my questions is that you may be preparing to spend large money on a ZTR, at little ROI. This is especially true if you are unable to use the ZTR on some places you now mow with the w/b, and will have to continue with the w/b.

I work solo, and am a small operator. After buying the ZTR during last season, and running it for about 400 hours, I have learned I am able to use it about half time. I can never pay for the machine and maintenance with the added productivity (perhaps 4-6 extra jobs per week). I made the purchase because of my age, intending to save some steps and perhaps extend my longevity in the business.

You may have other reasons to buy a ZTR. But, if working solo, and moving from a 52" w/b to a 52" ZTR may not be worth the money.

[MTR999]

i have been using a 52" wb for my lawns but they are just to big for a walkbehind and its taking to long so i need to get a Z. also i have used s dixie chopper and realy liked it what didnt you like about it if you dont mind me asking?

All of mowers you mentioned, DC has the lowest quality of cut. They are known for mowing median or turnpike grass, not residential. Hustler and Gravely also Ferris probably has the best cut, Toro and Scag are great also but they are too spendy, imo.

[gator10277]

Another thing to consider is the amount of time putting on and taking off the bagger if you intend on not bagging all the time. I have a 48" scag with the hurricane mulch kit and can mulch leaves into the lawn like they were never there.

[zim bob the landscaper]

You say you have been using a 52" w/b, but "it takes too long." And, you suggest a Z would probably be 52" cutting width, maybe 60". My point is how much productivity do you expect to improve? Depending upon the properties, a Z may be no more productive than your w/b. Or, it may be slightly more productive. Do you have a sulky that you use with your w/b? Your w/b will be more easily turned than a Z, so you will have to gain productivity with speed. If the straight runs are short, you will not see much change.

Just for reference, I have a 36" w/b with sulky, and a 48" ZTR. In some places, my w/b is more productive than the ZTR, or about the same. Only where I can make substantial better ground speed with the ZTR do I gain productivity. And, the ZTR is 12" wider.

The reasons for my questions is that you may be preparing to spend large money on a ZTR, at little ROI. This is especially true if you are unable to use the ZTR on some places you now mow with the w/b, and will have to continue with the w/b.

I work solo, and am a small operator. After buying the ZTR during last season, and running it for about 400 hours, I have learned I am able to use it about half time. I can never pay for the machine and maintenance with the added productivity (perhaps 4-6 extra jobs per week). I made the purchase because of my age, intending to save some steps and perhaps extend my longevity in the business.

You may have other reasons to buy a ZTR. But, if working solo, and moving from a 52" w/b to a 52" ZTR may not be worth the money.

i know what your getting at. but this is also replacing the craftsman which looks wicked unprofessional but i must say i worked on the deck and it stripes better than my w/b. and my tractor is so slow and i need somthing that needs to get my lawns done.

[cks dad]

I just purchased a Gravely 152z this year and i love it.I demoed all of the other brands you mentioned and i liked the gravely plus i get great support on that machine.My dealer will supply another machine if it is ever down so i can keep up with my account.so that was a big selling point for me good luck with your purchase

[zim bob the landscaper]

I just purchased a Gravely 152z this year and i love it.I demoed all of the other brands you mentioned and i liked the gravely plus i get great support on that machine.My dealer will supply another machine if it is ever down so i can keep up with my account.so that was a big selling point for me good luck with your purchase

thanks i will go with one dealer which is a friend of my dads sells walkers, gravelys, scag, and toro im gonna go with them three if i get brand new. but if i get a 160z or 152z can i get the triple bagger or just the double? also do i need a striping kit or not?

[hackitdown]

Get the ZTR!!! It will be way more productive, large lawns or small. Get the striping kit, some of the customers really like it. And get the bagging system, too...it will be a huge help for fall cleanups.

If you are from Fitchburg, it sounds like your dealer is Harvard Outdoor Power. They are pretty good there, but no loaners. And they have Stihl, which I really like.

[zim bob the landscaper]

Get the ZTR!!! It will be way more productive, large lawns or small. Get the striping kit, some of the customers really like it. And get the bagging system, too...it will be a huge help for fall cleanups.

If you are from Fitchburg, it sounds like your dealer is Harvard Outdoor Power. They are pretty good there, but no loaners. And they have Stihl, which I really like.

yup harvard outdoor is where i go my dad knows the owner and manager. good guys awesome service.