[turfcentral]

Pros, I have decided to start a Lawn Care business. Need some suggestions on the preferred brand of mower. I was thinking about purchase (1) 54" zero turn and (1) 48" walk behind. Question is what brand, Exmark, Deere, Kubota, Scag? Your feed back is appreciated, I am sure more questions will follow.
THX

 

[ProcsLC]

Not sure what YOU like, but I am a big fan of the Snapper Pro Series.... Best bang for your buck in my area and the dealer is a great guy.

 

[castlerockmo]

It all about the dealers in your area. But the one I perfer as far as a machine is husqvarna family of mower (husq,dixon,yazoo/kees) the new pz series is an awsome mower, has a great deck great componants,and awsome warrenty. And the price is even better. I guarntee it will compette or out proform any mower on the market. My second choice would be exmark.
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[KC lawn guy]

i like the Wright standers and Exmark

 

[LouisianaLawnboy]

One of the best dealers around here carries Gravely, so I got Gravely.

 

[bohiaa]

Dont interview a MACHINE, Interview the dealer.

nothing worse than having a 10,000 dollar machine that you have to drive 200 miles to get parts.

truth is all top end machines are about the same. This brand will have a bell here, where that brand will have a whistle there.

 

[LouisianaLawnboy]

Dont interview a MACHINE, Interview the dealer.

nothing worse than having a 10,000 dollar machine that you have to drive 200 miles to get parts.

truth is all top end machines are about the same. This brand will have a bell here, where that brand will have a whistle there.

Thats what I'm screamin. People get too caught up in the color of the paint and price, and totally forget about where they will have to get repairs and parts for the machine from.

 

[MileHigh]

I guess I'm different from you guys...

I buy a mower dependent on :
-Manufacture Reputation
-Quality of Cut
-Ease of Operation

I couldn't care less about the dealer...

IMO...(not saying it never happens) A new mower should not break with proper maintenance, and you should sell the mower if it's getting to beat up.

My point is -

If my operation is directly next door to a BOP dealer, and they had the absolute best customer service imaginable...Does that mean I go and buy one of there crappy mowers cause the Exmark dealer is 60 miles away????

:laugh:Yea Right...

I have all exmarks...dealer is far away..06 lazer, 06 Metro, 07 Viking and 07 TTHP...

I have purchased a Total of 1 broken part for the machines, and it was for the lazer I bought USED...And yes I had to drive 60 miles to get it. BIG DEAL...

Buy a great mower....worry about breakdowns when they happen...If they happen...Gotta be able to mow with other mowers if one is down for a day...Simple as that. No dealer is going to work any magic another one can't...they all want the same money.

 

[Sanderlin]

Ive ran Gravely for 8 years and wouldn't run anything else. My dealer is easy to work with and gets me back out cutting ASAP because I brought my mowers from them. Aot of people will drop off lawnmowers and it will take them 3 weeks to get to them. the longest it ever took them to fix on of my mowers was 3 days and thats because they had to order the parts.

 

[LouisianaLawnboy]

I guess I'm different from you guys...

I buy a mower dependent on :
-Manufacture Reputation
-Quality of Cut
-Ease of Operation

I couldn't care less about the dealer...

IMO...(not saying it never happens) A new mower should not break with proper maintenance, and you should sell the mower if it's getting to beat up.

My point is -

If my operation is directly next door to a BOP dealer, and they had the absolute best customer service imaginable...Does that mean I go and buy one of there crappy mowers cause the Exmark dealer is 60 miles away????

:laugh:Yea Right...

I have all exmarks...dealer is far away..06 lazer, 06 Metro, 07 Viking and 07 TTHP...

I have purchased a Total of 1 broken part for the machines, and it was for the lazer I bought USED...And yes I had to drive 60 miles to get it. BIG DEAL...

Buy a great mower....worry about breakdowns when they happen...If they happen...Gotta be able to mow with other mowers if one is down for a day...Simple as that. No dealer is going to work any magic another one can't...they all want the same money.

What I am saying is that all major mower manufacturers make an overall good mower. While each one will have it's strong and weak points, they are all pretty much good. It all boils down to personal preference, dealer support, and which one best fits your needs.

It just like asking who makes the best pick-up truck.

 

[STIHL GUY]

i love my bobcat.. make sure you have good dealer support nearby or buy a used mower for a good price

 

[ProcsLC]

Anyone else insulted that MTD didnt make the list?!!?

 

[LB1234]

No dealer is going to work any magic another one can't...they all want the same money.

I disagree...here was our scenario

After about two years into this business (about 8 yrs ago) we were having problems with a hydro on our 48 hydro. Took it to the dealer we bought it from (which we went to cause we couldn't beat his price anywhere else) and he replaces the hydro pump...took it back out and broke again. took it back and replaced pump at no cost...yep it broke again. Went to another dealer who yes replaced the pump...yep it went again. After three or four weeks of BS (lost labor due to having to run machine back and forth all over creation) we took it to another dealer and explained the situation. They fixed it right the first time. What I found out is the bearing in the original pump literally blew apart and metal shavings were in the system...the other two dealers weren't completely flushing the system and therefore after a week or two of running it the shavings would ruin the new pump.

Lesson learned...not all dealers are the same. that pump that was replaced is going on seven or eight years now and running strong (knock on wood:laugh

 

[hackitdown]

I use a dealer for service from time to time. When I started and had only 1 mower, the dealer's level of service was very important. Only one dealer in my area pledged 24hr turn-around for commercial equipment. If they can't fix it in 24 hrs, they have a loaner. What good is a warranty if the machine sits for 4 days waiting for parts or shop time? The grass needs to be cut, and the LCO needs to make revenue.

Obviously, if you have a backup mower, or can fix it yourself, who cares? But some of us started with no mechanical experience, and only 1 mower.

 

[smokes]

Exmark has a great cut,but you just can't beat a Ferris.A bit pricey though.Best of luck.

 

[dura to the max]

im on the band-wagon with the guys that say theyre all the same, i buy the mowers based on the dealer support for them... IMO scag is a great mower, top of the line, but i wont have one due to the dealer in the area. best dealer sells gravely and exmark, guess what i run? its the ford/chevy/dodge argument. remember, all of the hydro pumps are made one of 2 or 3 companies, as are the motors.

 

[dura to the max]

not what you were asking for, but i figured i'd give my opinion on this too... just starting out i wouldnt put a lot into the mowers immediately... get the 48" wb and go from there... no sense in starting off in the red...

 

[Cables Lawn Care]

I would call local dealers ask to demo. Most are happy to do this but some charge a rental fee. Wish I would have demo some before I bought mine. Good luck on your hunt.
_____________________
99 f250 with western plow
96 GMC 1/2 ton
20003 dixie chopper 60''
2007 JD 445 48''
1993 scag 52'' walk behind
2 echo weed eaters
1 echo stick edger
1 echo 650 blow pack
1 echo 755 blow pack
plus other odd and end power and hand tools.

 

[QuickCutsLawnService10]

EXMARK walk-behinds and Scag riders

 

[S&S Outdoor Services]

Poulan Mowers are the BEST mowers ever made. You need 1 21'' Poulan push mower and you will never need anything else no matter what size lawns you cut. :hammerhead:

Stick with the well known commercial brands and you won't really buy a bad mower. Find the dealer you like and try out some different mowers until you find what feels right. I personally like Toro.