re: Zero Turn Recs for Hills/Slopes

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Worst advice posted on this site today.

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I gave a reasonable example on why it was overkill for less than an acre. Would you like to provide an example to the contrary? Why the additional cost is worth it?

In my case, price of mower in 2011, $2856.70. Not counting consumables like blades, I had to replace one spindle, that may or may not have failed on a commercial deck. That brings my cost to $3006.70 for 268 hrs over 10 years, or $11.21 an hour, cost to operate. My deck is still in great shape, shows no signs of impending failure. I'd imagine that the pumps will fail before the deck.

The commercial variant was about $1k more and I thought long and hard about it. Until my landscaper friend told me it was overkill for residential lawns. At this point, I do not regret the purchase and would probably do it again.

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Example: I inherited a Craftsman ZTR

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Craftsman aren't known for quality.

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While the whole mower is a POS

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You could have gotten a commercial deck on the craftsman (doubt they offer it) and it'd still be a turd.


Here's what 10 years of wear looks like on mine. No dings or dents. I would imagine it'd look comparable to a commercial deck, if I would have spent $1,000 more. Just some missing paint.

Residential zero turns typically do not do well on hill because of the narrow wheels.

I have a commercial gravely, and there’s not much it can’t do on hills.

See if you can find a demo, or a low hour commercial at a dealer that a lawn service has traded for the new year. Anything under 100hrs is a green light.

Leaning hard toward the Z-Force S 48 (because I can drink a beer and still mow), the problem is I can't find one. The closest dealer to me that has one is 150 miles away. According to a few places I called Cub Cadet seems back ordered until August.

johnnyrocket

Always appreciate you sharing your experience in these threads. Good stuff sir.

So I'm considering consigning my Bad Boy MZ Magnum because it seems to struggle at dealing with my backyard grass which is quite thick. I mow it weekly and it still has issues with trying to stall out in some spots and the deck doesn't seem to clear the grass very well. I have to jack it up and clean it out after every mow as it cakes up after just one cut. It handles my front lawn, the actual bermuda, just fine, and we do have a decently sloped area on one side of the house. I'm just wondering if an actual lawn tractor would do a better job on the rear grass, but am concerned if it will handle the slope okay without being a tip hazard. It seems from what I'm reading that they are actually more stable because of the weight distribution and the front tires. My Bad Boy has a 24hp Kawasaki engine, btw.

I was looking at the new Cub Cadet ZTR 2 Enduro GX54 D and also found a 2016 model Husler Flip-Up that is still new, 25hp Kohler engine, and reduced to $2,999. Any thoughts between these two or should I be looking elsewhere? Trying to keep it at $4,000 or less while being able to handle thick rear grass and still being able to manage the slopes is the goal here.

I'm eyeing the new Bad Boy Maverick. Seems like a solid mower and best price. Anyone have one, and what you think about it?

Check their rear wheel width.

I've had both, currently have the 60" Hustler and cut 3.5 acres w/ a house pad elevated 48". The hustler has a wider wheel base that makes it more stable on the slope.
Note: 2010 Gravely and 2016 Hustler.

The cub cadet steering wheel zero turn for hills FTW. I had a steep hill in my back yard in Ga. Had John Deere come over with a Zero turn and a tractor for me to test drive. The salesman would not even unload the zero turn for the hill. Says it will turn down hill and run away. I bought a cub cadet and have never regretted that decision!!!