Homeowner ZTR, Tractor and mower discussion thread

[avguy]

Ellibri.... I cut my 2+ acres with an Exmark 48TTHP. I also have a JD 2305 w/a 62C mower. If I could have only one piece of equipment hands down it would be the JD if for no other reason you can just do more with it. The FEL is like a wheel barrow you don't have to push around. I have way more toys for it than I should, but I use all of them. Look around & see if you can find a JD 2210 with low hours. It's just an older version of the 2305.

[Capemay Eagle]

Originally Posted by Ellibri

First off, thanks to all for this amazingly helpful site.
I have 1.5 acres, no major slopes, few trees.
I am looking at a John Deere x324 used, under 50 hours;
I am also looking at a Scag Tiger Cub, 19 hp Kawasaki, 450 hours.
Both 48" decks, both the same price...
There is a fire pit at the back of the property, I may need to haul wood/burn pile.
What is the better choice for the long haul? I am hoping to stay here for as long as possible.

Kinda comparing apples to oranges here. What do you prefer? I mean really you can only answer this. Both great machines and will last many years. Again two different machines, both commercial/Semi commercial machines. Condition and price would play a role. I myself would prefer the Tiger Cub. What years and money are we talking?

[hdtvluvr]

Ellibri

I'd get a ZTR for mowing (you'll smile every time you mow) and look for a used garden tractor later for pulling carts, etc.

I'm a homeowner with 3.5 acres of grass (property is 5 acres) to mow. I have a 2004 Dixie Chopper Classic 60 inch for mowing and a 1981 John Deere 111 for occasional mowing but is used mostly to pull a garden cart and my chipper. I'm not sure why you would need a small tractor with 1.5 acres. I haven't needed one for my property.

I have a lot of trees on one section of the property that I do mow and I have to pick up limbs and sometimes cut up fallen trees. My 111 and garden cart has handled moving this stuff fine.

A ZTR can pull a garden cart occasionally but I'd check to see what is the maximum recommended weight to pull.

[Capemay Eagle]

Originally Posted by Lawn Yawn

I would post your same question as a new thread rather than post it on the end of this thread.

I do pay attention to this thread, I did have a response for your post and got side tracked and never got back to it. Allot of the regulars have not been chiming in. Guys come and go. They get their machines and new interest arise and the off to a new site, also heading into summer, vacations and such. Busy, busy!

[Capemay Eagle]

Originally Posted by hdtvluvr

I'm a homeowner with 3.5 acres of grass (property is 5 acres) to mow. I have a 2004 Dixie Chopper Classic 60 inch

When did you get that? Recently?

[Capemay Eagle]

Originally Posted by Lawn Yawn

I've been lurking for a few weeks now. We purchased a property on 3 acres. It's approximately 1.3 acres smooth lawn and 1.7 acres less-than-smooth field grass/weeds (which I would like eventually to make smoother and less weedy). There are not many obstacles to contend with, and it is quite flat. I have done some internet research (including lurking around lawnsite), and I've visited and called a few dealers in town. I've narrowed my choices down to three ZTR mowers in my 5k price range.

1) Hustler FasTrak 48" Kawi FS 22hp. $5100 (2011 model, last one in stock, new)
2) Gravely ZT HD 52 Kawi FR 24hp. $4999 (might be able to get the dealer to come down from that price a bit)
3) Bad Boy ZT 50 w/ Kawi FR 24hp. $5299 (haven't yet attempted to bargain with this guy yet, dealer is further away)

I am a mower rookie. My current yard in inner city Portland is concrete. No grass at all. So I would appreciate some help. Here are a couple things I am concerned about:

1) Ease of Maintenance. I am not mechanically inclined. I have never changed oil . . . on anything at all, but I would like to learn how to do some simple maintenance (oil changes and whatnot) on my new investment. I do not, however, want to have to do anything complicated.
2) Durability. I would like this machine to last a long time. 5K for a lawn mower seems very expensive, and it is freaking me out a little bit! For this reason, the 4-year warranty on the Hustler seems most impressive, and conversely, the 2-year warranty on the Bad Boy is a little concerning. (Gravely has a nice 3-year warranty).

I had the Hustler salesman hold the FasTrak 48 for me, and I'm going to look at it tomorrow. But I would appreciate some direction from the mower experts. I am especially torn between the Gravely and the Hustler. So I would like some insight on how those two mowers compare.

I like all the mowers you have listed, I especially like the Hustler Fastrak, but I think you could do a little better on the price. The Hustler comes with the better FS engine and ZT3100 hydros and as you said a great warranty. The Gravely is very comparable, your getting a little bigger deck and a few more horsey's, but with the FR engine. The Gravely also has the same Hydro's. Honestly, for 1.3 acres, these are two great machines to do the job and with proper maintenance, they will last a decade, you cannot go wrong with either. It will ultimately come down to which one you prefer operating and what dealer you would prefer to deal with. I cannot speak for Gravely, but I have had to deal with Hustler and they are a stand up company. I am on my second Hustler and I love it.

[hdtvluvr]

Originally Posted by Capemay Eagle

When did you get that? Recently?

Got the DC new in 04 when I bought the property. Father in law gave me the 111 late 04 or 05 when he bought a new one. I'm currently at 249 hours on the DC and 29 hours on the 111 since re-powering it in 08. The 111 had the original engine.

[Capemay Eagle]

Originally Posted by hdtvluvr

Got the DC new in 04 when I bought the property. Father in law gave me the 111 late 04 or 05 when he bought a new one. I'm currently at 249 hours on the DC and 29 hours on the 111 since re-powering it in 08. The 111 had the original engine.

I never realized that you had a DC! I like the Dixie's. Not many around these parts, but I do see them on trailers from time to time. Let's see some pictures of the beast!

[hdtvluvr]

I've posted photos before in the other equipment picture thread. Here are the links: Equipment

Wish I had photos of the DC when it was new.

I also just purchased a 48 inch bobcat hydro walkbehind after continually reading about operators getting hurt/killed with ztr's on hills and around ponds - both of which I have. Now I use the bobcat for the hill and 1 pass around the pond.

It can be seen here: Bobcat

The DC was purchased new. All of the other was used.

[Lawn Yawn]

Originally Posted by Capemay Eagle

I like all the mowers you have listed, I especially like the Hustler Fastrak, but I think you could do a little better on the price. The Hustler comes with the better FS engine and ZT3100 hydros and as you said a great warranty. The Gravely is very comparable, your getting a little bigger deck and a few more horsey's, but with the FR engine. The Gravely also has the same Hydro's. Honestly, for 1.3 acres, these are two great machines to do the job and with proper maintenance, they will last a decade, you cannot go wrong with either. It will ultimately come down to which one you prefer operating and what dealer you would prefer to deal with. I cannot speak for Gravely, but I have had to deal with Hustler and they are a stand up company. I am on my second Hustler and I love it.

Capemay,
Thanks for the reply. I actually duplicated my post in a separate thread and got some responses a couple weeks ago. I decided on the Gravely HD 48. The price was right.

It's interesting that the Fastrak quotation seems high to you. $5100 was for what I was told was a 2011. But then got to the dealer, and it was an early 2010...hmmm. The 2010 is MUCH smaller than the 2011/2012. 8" wheels, smaller engine. They did have the current Fastback 48 in stock, but they wouldn't go lower than $5400. In fact, I checked three dealers, and $5350 was about as low as I could get any of them to go for the Fastback, and I offered cash. If I could have gotten closer to 5k, I probably would have jumped. But compared to the Gravely, I just couldn't see $500 in extra features or quality in the Hustler (beyond the extra year on the warranty, and the cool yellow color, which is nice).

Anyhoo, I'm pretty excited about my new Gravely. The dealer's bringing it to my new place on Monday morning (which has about 3 acres to mow, not 1.3).
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