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Zero turn mower buying advice
Posted on 5/16/17 at 1:57 am
Posted on 5/16/17 at 1:57 am
I just bought a five acre property in a suburb of Houston and I need a mower. No hills, but a ton of trees. About 2.5 acres is movable presently with the other 2.5 being woods.
The local dealer sells scag, kubota, and ferris. From all the research I've done, I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm going with the middle size (typically 52 or 54), likely Kawasaki engine, but can't figure out if I should get the scag tiger cat 2, ferris 700 or 2100, or the kubota 421.
The three models all seem comparable, but the tc2 and 2100 are about the same price ($8500). The 700 is about $6500. I think the kubota is probably out as it seems to not be as solidly built as the other two brands.
I'm sure these are overkill, but I don't want to be stuck with a machine that I am displeased with. Does anyone have an opinion on the three choices I threw out? I'm not very interested in other brands as the dealer doesn't offer anything else.
The local dealer sells scag, kubota, and ferris. From all the research I've done, I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm going with the middle size (typically 52 or 54), likely Kawasaki engine, but can't figure out if I should get the scag tiger cat 2, ferris 700 or 2100, or the kubota 421.
The three models all seem comparable, but the tc2 and 2100 are about the same price ($8500). The 700 is about $6500. I think the kubota is probably out as it seems to not be as solidly built as the other two brands.
I'm sure these are overkill, but I don't want to be stuck with a machine that I am displeased with. Does anyone have an opinion on the three choices I threw out? I'm not very interested in other brands as the dealer doesn't offer anything else.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 6:53 am to ManOnDaRun
I got a gravely pro turn 52 w/kawasaki for about half that price if you wanna drive to BR?
If not, Scag.

If not, Scag.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 7:07 am to ManOnDaRun
From what I was told, if ya have a bunch of trees with exposed roots, look for the welded decks and with that size land I'd get the biggest deck you can afford.
My dad's kubota is a beast.
My dad's kubota is a beast.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 7:14 am to ManOnDaRun
Can't go wrong with any of them. Go walk in there shop and see what brand you see the most of, talk to the service hands to see which ones are the easiest to work on, ask the pats man which one has the most expensive and hard to get parts. They all break, getting them fixed on the cheap and having affordable parts go a long way.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 7:26 am to CHEDBALLZ
quote:
Can't go wrong with any of them. Go walk in there shop and see what brand you see the most of, talk to the service hands to see which ones are the easiest to work on, ask the pats man which one has the most expensive and hard to get parts. They all break, getting them fixed on the cheap and having affordable parts go a long way.
This X 2. My only other advice would be, no matter how tempting it is to clean that other 2.5 acres so you can mow it as well, DON'T.
2.5 acres is plenty to cut on a weekly basis. I have 6.25 that I try to manage now and it sucks!
Posted on 5/16/17 at 7:56 am to ManOnDaRun
If you're dead set on one of those choices then get the Scag, personally i would go look at the Hustler or Dixie Chopper ( I use Choppers in my lawn service )and be sure you get at least a 50in cut,the 60in with a 25 to 27 HP would be perfect for the amount of property you will be cutting. Oh and the Kawasaki engines have been solid.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 8:04 am to ManOnDaRun
I would go Kubota just from past experience, and make damn sure you get the welded deck!
Posted on 5/16/17 at 8:06 am to ManOnDaRun
It's going to be personal preference between those mowers listed. I like kubota, but that's me. Also, have you considering just getting some sheep/goats and letting them deal with the yard? 

Posted on 5/16/17 at 8:11 am to ManOnDaRun
that Ferris is going to give you the best ride
Posted on 5/16/17 at 8:20 am to ManOnDaRun
I used a Grasshopper for many years.
Kabota has some good stuff too
Kabota has some good stuff too
Posted on 5/16/17 at 9:45 am to Boat Motor Bandit
Gravely and scag are awesome machines but more for commercial work. You are doing the same piece of property. I mean it's your money but you can get something between the Home Depot version and what you are looking at now if you wanted to save some cash. I bought a Dixon ztr52 4 years ago and love it. Again it's for my application. My yard is about 1.5 acres. It's commercial grade with a welded deck. Deck is lifetime warrantied and is hung by chains. Has a 25 hp Kohler which I have had no problems with. I only have about 60 hrs on it. All I've had to do is change the oil and battery. I paid 4800 for it. Bought it in Texas and got 0% for 4 years and no tax. Great deal.
Again, it's your purchase and get what you want. gravely and Scag, Dixie chopper, and John deer make great mowers. Just decide what you truly need and go from there.
Again, it's your purchase and get what you want. gravely and Scag, Dixie chopper, and John deer make great mowers. Just decide what you truly need and go from there.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 10:06 am to ManOnDaRun
I have the Ferris IS700Z with the 52" deck... the ride is great and it cuts at 10mph.
When I did the research on mine a couple of years ago the best bang for your buck was the Ferris. It is a little more expensive than the $5000 models but has a lot of the commercial grade components and specs of the $8500 models.
When I did the research on mine a couple of years ago the best bang for your buck was the Ferris. It is a little more expensive than the $5000 models but has a lot of the commercial grade components and specs of the $8500 models.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 10:11 am to ManOnDaRun
Find a Hustler dealer and look at the Raptor sd or sdx. Only difference is one comes with a Kohler and one a kawasaki. Its a tweener with residential and commercial. Price should be around 4k and usually offer 0% for 48 months.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 11:10 am to reggo75
Agreed. The Ferris looks like a great machine. My brother in law has one, and wishes he had gone one size up, which is the 2100. I don't know that I need these crazy expensive machines when i'm only going to be cutting 100 hours of so a year.
Posted on 5/16/17 at 11:12 am to ManOnDaRun
I have been using a 52 in / 27 kohler turf tiger for the last 7 or so years. 600 hours and zero problems. I hope to get it to 1000 hrs then strip off everything off that isn't painted orange ( total mech rebuild) and get another 12 to 15 years out of it. It almost seems indestructible. I'll probably go back with 35 kawasaki just because.
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