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Started By
Message
Help me pick a zero turn mower
Posted on 4/6/23 at 7:32 am
Posted on 4/6/23 at 7:32 am
Morning OB. I recently moved to a new home sitting on a deep acre lot with just a few trees. I need help picking a zero turn mower. I have found these 2 I am trying to decide on.
Help me pick!
54 in. (137 cm) TimeCutter® MyRIDE® Zero Turn Mower
Hustler 54"
so many brands and models out there.
Help me pick!
54 in. (137 cm) TimeCutter® MyRIDE® Zero Turn Mower
Hustler 54"
so many brands and models out there.
This post was edited on 4/6/23 at 7:33 am
19
Posted on 4/6/23 at 7:43 am to LSURoss
Based on what I see on landscape service trailers around here:
Exmark
SCAG
John Deere
others
Exmark
SCAG
John Deere
others
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:44 am to LSURoss
Not sure of the price on the Hustler, but it does have a Kawasaki motor which is the best. The hustler deck looks beefier than the Toro, Hustler wins IMO.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 8:46 am to LSURoss
Buy a commercial model and you'll be fine.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 9:08 am to LSURoss
Fwiw I have had a hustler 54 this is my third summer using it. My previous hustler 54 lasted
12 years or so with no issues and the reason I got rid of it was deck was rusted pretbad and needed welding and the hyd pump was leaking and was gonna be 1200$ to replace.
I cut 3.5 acers at my house and use it to cut an occasional neighbor’s grass or the camp yard a couple of times a year.
If I would have bought a “commercial” unit with rebuildable hyd pump I still would have had a 12yr mower when my deck was rusting. Commercial machines are made for 8-10hr of run time a day most people put that much a month on a machine.
12 years or so with no issues and the reason I got rid of it was deck was rusted pretbad and needed welding and the hyd pump was leaking and was gonna be 1200$ to replace.
I cut 3.5 acers at my house and use it to cut an occasional neighbor’s grass or the camp yard a couple of times a year.
If I would have bought a “commercial” unit with rebuildable hyd pump I still would have had a 12yr mower when my deck was rusting. Commercial machines are made for 8-10hr of run time a day most people put that much a month on a machine.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 10:51 am to LSURoss
I just sold a Toro time cutter that I had for 10 years. It was a decent mower for 8 years but was really starting to have problems the last couple years.
A lot of people like the hustlers. I borrowed a family members Hustler Raptor while my Toro was in the shop. It was ok but I was not impressed. He has had to bring it back several times for warranty work. I do believe he is an outlier tho because most people swear by them.
At the price point of the two mowers provided I would grab a Bad Boy ZT Elite as it will have a heavier gauge deck and heavier serviceable hydros than either the hustler or Toro.
A lot of people like the hustlers. I borrowed a family members Hustler Raptor while my Toro was in the shop. It was ok but I was not impressed. He has had to bring it back several times for warranty work. I do believe he is an outlier tho because most people swear by them.
At the price point of the two mowers provided I would grab a Bad Boy ZT Elite as it will have a heavier gauge deck and heavier serviceable hydros than either the hustler or Toro.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 10:58 am to LSURoss
The ZT elites start around 5100.00 depending on motor and deck size and go all the way up to about 6k. You can get them with Kawasaki (most expensive), Kholer, or Briggs.
I think the ZT Avenger would be the next step down in price if the Elite is too high.
LINK
I think the ZT Avenger would be the next step down in price if the Elite is too high.
LINK
Posted on 4/6/23 at 11:02 am to LSURoss
Ive mowed with a TimeCutter before and bought a Hustler Raptor 48" last year. You'll have a smoother ride with the TimeCutter, but I've had no issues with the Hustler
Posted on 4/6/23 at 12:09 pm to LSURoss
quote:literally any mower will handle an acre just fine
sitting on a deep acre lot
Posted on 4/6/23 at 1:37 pm to LSURoss
out of those 2 I would go Hustler.
Like mentioned before, it has a much better deck.
I had a 42" hustler fastrak for many years that was a beast and now have a 48" exmark.
Like mentioned before, it has a much better deck.
I had a 42" hustler fastrak for many years that was a beast and now have a 48" exmark.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 2:25 pm to LSURoss
2 things I'd consider.
1 - Avoid big box stores. Even decent name brands at big box stores. When Home Depot orders lawn mowers from say Toro or whatever good name brand they sell, they try to get the price point down and they do that by using thinner gauge metal and cheaper components.
2 - I bought my mower from a local lawn mower shop. I told the guy I wanted a 48" or 52". He said that the blade spacing on the 48" was too big meaning there wasn't as much overlap between the blades as the 52". So on the 48" you're more likely to have leave some amount of grass un-mowed. This will vary based on the brand, but it was good information to have on the mowers I was considering.
1 - Avoid big box stores. Even decent name brands at big box stores. When Home Depot orders lawn mowers from say Toro or whatever good name brand they sell, they try to get the price point down and they do that by using thinner gauge metal and cheaper components.
2 - I bought my mower from a local lawn mower shop. I told the guy I wanted a 48" or 52". He said that the blade spacing on the 48" was too big meaning there wasn't as much overlap between the blades as the 52". So on the 48" you're more likely to have leave some amount of grass un-mowed. This will vary based on the brand, but it was good information to have on the mowers I was considering.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 2:30 pm to LSURoss
I decided on a Hustler brand mainly for the in store service plus it is made in the USA. Where I bought it from services what they sale unlike what you would buy at a big box store.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 3:08 pm to LSURoss
I can give you my 2 cents. I have a hustler 54" raptor super duty, bought 2014. Its been okay. Cuts great, but its been in the shop 5 times over 10 years. mainly transmission mount/link problems. Buy from one of the big dealers because you will get better service when something goes wrong.
My hustler's oil drain is in the worst spot and its a pain in the arse to change the oil...I hope they've modified since I bought 10 years ago.
Someone mentioned the Skag freedom/liberty and they are solid, you'll pay a bit more but they have a better warranty. This will be my next mower.
Do not buy from Home Depot, Lowes or anywhere else that doesn't provide service.
My hustler's oil drain is in the worst spot and its a pain in the arse to change the oil...I hope they've modified since I bought 10 years ago.
Someone mentioned the Skag freedom/liberty and they are solid, you'll pay a bit more but they have a better warranty. This will be my next mower.
Do not buy from Home Depot, Lowes or anywhere else that doesn't provide service.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 3:42 pm to LSURoss
Gravely ZT-HD. Thing is a tank. Let a buddy of mine use it a few days ago because his Toro and Exmark were both in the shop. He has a lawn business and called me wanting to buy it after he used it. Considered a residential mower but has Hydro-Gear ZT-3100 transaxles and you can get it with the Kawasaki. Has been flawless for me the 3 years I've owned it.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 11:18 pm to LSURoss
It is hard to beat the Bad Boy prices for what you are getting> Find a local dealer and give them your business:
Link to local dealer
Link to local dealer
Posted on 4/7/23 at 10:44 am to LSURoss
Another vote for Gravely ZTHD. Got mine in 2018, after breaking and fixing box store mowers most of my 52 years, its a pleasure to have a machine that just...works. I have an acre as well and I can do it in 30 minutes if I dont care about my back. I do, so it takes me 45. 
Paid 5200.00 in 2018. Worth every penny.
Paid 5200.00 in 2018. Worth every penny.
Posted on 4/10/23 at 11:43 am to LSURoss
I went with the Hustler. 
Main reason I went with it is because there wasn't a single ExMark dealer open this past Saturday. I am not taking off work to go get a lawnmower so the Hustler dealer got my business.
Main reason I went with it is because there wasn't a single ExMark dealer open this past Saturday. I am not taking off work to go get a lawnmower so the Hustler dealer got my business.
Posted on 4/10/23 at 1:01 pm to LSURoss
Hustler, I have a Fastrak 54" I bought about 10 years ago that I just replaced last year with another Fastrak 54" and relocated the old one to a second property I maintain several hours away.
Posted on 4/11/23 at 6:59 am to LSURoss
Check out the Spartans, made in Arkansas, built like a tank
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