But that just wont be possible for under $3000. Im fine with spending up to $4,000. The ONLY difference between the ZT2100 and ZT2200 is the 2100 has 3/4 inch axles (900 lb capacity) and the 2200 has 1-inch axles (1000) capacity. I live in the upstate of SC, have a mixture of cool season and warm season grasses, and I try to control the crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds. So Im all jammed up! It has a heavier deck, heavier transmissions, and heavier frame. heavier deck, and stronger transmissions. The Gravely ZT XL is also the same mower with the next larger transmissions and a 4-year warranty instead of 3 years. 2. Is it okay to buy from BB stores if you take good care of the machine? It cuts well and is built like a tank. 2. For it being called a commercial mower, it is NOT one!!!!! I need something that will handle the cutting duties without leaving rows of grass clipping or mohawks. That said, for 2 acres the Toro TimeCutter MX5075 with MyRIDE Suspension is a good choice. The Kawasaki has the best fan club. I will check out the Z355R. Which would you suggest? Hi Paul, I think my earlier attempt at a reply went astray. Thank you very much, I appreciate your input. The for the advice Paul. YOU.AREDA.MAN!! This will save a lot of wear and tear on the transmission. Looks like the Cub has a stronger transmission than the Toro with the ZT2200 and the Toro has the ZT2100. So unless you can think of anything else I need to consider that might change my mind, I think Ill be going with the green and yellow Z-TRAK to start my ZTR experience. Ill give you links at Amazon for two sizes. Price-wise the Gravely is more but you get proportionately more. Could you narrow it down to 2 Spent the last couple months searching for a ZTR. It mows really well and is a very dependable mower. Im thinking a 50 to 54-inch cut would be good, with a quality engine and transmission. I havent been able to see much on the cut quality of the apex and if its worth the extra $1000. I dont know if they have CA versions. The new Toro Titan and the Cub Cadet XT2 will give you a much longer life. At the time I spent about $2k more because I was told it was a premium mower. Suggestions please! Strength To Go Anywhere You Need. The Cub is designed with a more open engine compartment so maybe the sound will be dispersed outwards better. if I go with the ikon xl, which engine should I choose, Kawasaki or the Kohler? solid! I think a 42 is the right size for me but this late in the season nobody has one in stock right now and can get he 50 for lesser price. My Deere 212 lasted me 25 years and I would like to get the same from this machine. These adjustable blades have a cutting arc 42 to 54 inches wide and can mow the grass to heights between 1.5 to 4.25 inches above ground level. Do you recommend replacing blades annually? TORO TimeCutter 60 Commercial 24.5 HP V-Twin Zero-Turn Riding Mower ONLY 21 HRS. Both have the same Kawasaki engine and appear pretty similar on the surface. Several years ago you helped me purchase my Craftsman Pro Series 42 riding mower. Our current home is a new construction home with approximately 1 acre of flat yard with about 6-8 mature trees in our yard to cut around. Since you will buy this from a dealer ask a mechanic to show you how to level the deck. If you're working on delicate property, these mowers may not suit your needs. The 50 inch Model 75750 will go through your gates with the side discharge up. Gravely ZT X 52 with Kawasaki engine $3499 When you buy the Ariens at a big box store you dont always get the same service after the sale as you do when you buy from a dealer. Everything opens up for cleaning, inspection and belt replacement. I am leaning toward toro and feel like the 50 has better features. Dont really care for the gravely dealer. SKU. Gator Blades the mulching blades with the teeth on the back will just shred the grass and leave little puff balls all over your yard if you try to side discharge with them. One forum post claimed to have tested and found that parts are interchangeable. I am looking between the Ariens Ikon X 52 and the Toro MX5000. Thanks, Mark. Thank you again! Thanks. Would I be perfectly happy with the Toro for my very average small lawn? Hi Daron, Would you please point me to where you read or heard that Toro only has a tow limit of 85lbs? Solid, Paul. The Walker will always give you the best cut because of the ground-hugging deck. What do you think? These have the better tranny with the ZT-3100 but I feel like I read on your site that for towing a leaf vac maybe even more would be required? I have around two acres to mow, with a lot of flower beds, a large flower/vegetable garden, two out buildings, two houses, two driveways, quite a few trees, fencing along a cow pasture, and a ditch along the highway. In the bulleted info points about the Toro above it reads: Paul, we have a rough 1.2 acre yard with some trees, beds, stumps, etc. The APEX is one of those mowers that it a solid step up from the MZ61. Read more here: How to Support TodaysMower.com. It is the most expensive of the mower I discuss. Zero-Turn Mower. Best ride and cut NOT as important as longevity and ease of maintenance. So Home Depot or Tractor supply might be a viable alternative. Expect it to last at a minimum twice as long as a Kaw FR. What do you think of this mower, and who makes it? For the few extra dollars buy the Toro or Ariens. P.S. The Ariens has an offset deck and a 4-point deck. Finally needed work done on the trannys. Red dirt sandy soil. Its worth the extra $400 over the Toro has better transmissions than the Toro and cuts as well as the Ariens. The only real difference is the deck. Always turn uphill. Yes, the commercial operators insist on having them but they quickly realize their only advantage is getting into small residential properties. Always use the John Deere or Briggs & Stratton Yellow Oil Filter and change the oil at the recommended intervals. 1, Stihl iMow RMI 632 P handles up to one acre and is the best for design and installation. My first choice for slopes is the Ariens IKON XD 52. Thank you for the research and in-depth articles; Ive learned a great deal already. I know I am giving up the warranty but I am still tempted to buy it. The Cub Cadet is the clear winner right now but we need to give the EGO a chance this year to prove itself. Considering that I dont seem to need the step-handrail, do you still consider the Boulevard my best option? A friend says I should get a Kubota that will last the rest of my life. My yard is just over an acre, 95% flat with a small ditch in the front. So now I am wanting to look for a machine that is between 42-60 inches, floating deck, deck lifts up for easy blade replacement/clean and performs well for lawn cutting/orchard. By the way it was a trade-in at a local dealer where it was originally purchased and serviced. Its been a great cart. As a result, the durability of Toro zero turns get increases. The Magnum is an OK mower but I read a lot of reviews and you either get a good one or one that has continuous issues. My front yard is fairly steep with an 18 degree grade. We live in Maryland. Any thoughts or comments? What is your experience with robotic mowers? There are a several dealers not too far from my location near AA so I will go and see what they are like. Troy-Bilt Pony, Bronco & Super Bronco Mower Review Ten Inexpensive Quality Mowers. Paul, I bought a Cub Cadet Ultima 54 inch deck ZTR. Ive also always been partial to the 60-inch deck. I like both of them a lot. The Walker will also give you the best cut out of all the mowers and stripes as well as the best commercial decks. Hi Robert, On paper, the Liberty Z meets all the criteria for a good $4500 ZTR. Unfortunately, the 50 inch is in high demand this year so you may have to go to a dealer to get it. Chews up small twigs from trees like nothing. KutKwick ZTRs can handle 45-degree slopes (start at $30,000). I was leaning toward the Gravely/Ariens just trying to suss this as thoroughly as I can. The Exmarks are geared towards commercial use. Q: What are your thoughts about transmissions with and without charge pumps? Home Depot sometimes runs a 10% off special if the HD Credit card is used. Walker Model R (local dealer) 24 hp jaw. Im looking for a new mower to handle about an acre of gently sloped (about 10 degrees in spots) yard and am seriously considering going for a ZTR mower. The 50-inch decks are two of the best cutting decks on the market right now. I sat on the Cub and found my right knee may hit the lap-bar when using the deck-lift peddle even though the bars adjust. Hi Trent, Id buy a Bradley in a heartbeat if I needed another mower. Enjoyed reading your article. I want the look of a nicely manicured lawn. Even though the Ultima is twice the cost of the tractor it will win when you look at the real cost of ownership especially for using it commercially. 4. One last question: is fabricated deck better than stamped? Read more here: How to Support TodaysMower.com, I will list below three different types of residential zero-turn mowers. Scrape the underside of the deck clean with a plastic scraper or stiff milker brush when you sharpen the blades. Thanks! Your thoughts please. Hi Larry, I like the Ariens XD if your lawn is fairly flat and youre mowing 3 acres or so. If you have a very thick lawn you may wish you went with a V-Twin engine. I currently cut with a CC 54 lawn tractor. Im not sure which is more important for stability when turning on the hill. New grass in the spring has a lot more moisture than grass later in the year. I dont recommend lawn tractors for slopes over 15 degrees. As always, if you have any questions please ask them in the comment section at the end of this article. The two biggest problems for the Briggs Intek is slopes and dirt. By the way, The Gravely ZT X/Ariens IKON XD are the same price as these and I really like them also! standard. I got an email from them today that they will be selling at 20% off. I would prefer to get the ikon xI but since it is $1000 more than the x, its out of my budget range. They are not designed to cleanly cut tall overgrowth. $10.44 USD Add to Cart This 54-inch zero-turn has a 26-horsepower Kohler engine with the Pro Air Cleaner and uses HG-2800 with charge pumps. Build Quality/durability, cut quality including mulching ability, and ability to use for towing small items are my priorities in that order since price is equal. I previously have used services but now with my new property 2-3 acres of mowable lawn (ex. Nz is slowly importing a few US mowers. There are over 400 different Zero-Turn Mowers available for your residential lawn. Appreciate the in depth insight on the towing/tongue weight. Hi,Paul. He suggested to me a few brands that he thought would fit the bill: kubota, scag, exmark. Have used it less than 6 times since. 5. , and. I didnt leave the Cub Cadet/Toro dealer feeling very confident as they didnt seem overly confident in their product and also having difficulty getting parts/units in because of the pandemic. I also have balance challenges and some minor fine motor control issues (mild multiple sclerosis). The dealer will do the tuneup and make sure everything is working perfectly. Hi Laurrelle, There are very few front deck mowers on the market. Personally, I use Mobil One in all my engines and Ive never had an engine failure on any of my gas powered equipment, cars or trucks. That mower should be in the $2700 range and the fact you have to spend an EXTRA $160 for a hitch is ridiculous. You get a lot more mower with the Ariens IKON. I have it professionally serviced last July and informed them of the issue. Need some advice. One last question, my dealer also carries the ExMark line, in addition to the Toro and Ariens I mentioned above. Walk-Behind. With the Radius X you can easily cut over 5 acres an hour with it and have a perfectly level cut. DO NOT use the Atomic blades on this deck for mulching (atomic blades have teeth/notches on the back of the blade). Engine with 25 HP price starts from $6,299 to $6,499. Only the Timecutter has it. Hydro-Gear ZT 3100 transmission. Hi Randy, The XT2 gives you taller wider tires, 2800 hydros, thicker handles, comfy seat, and a reinforced deck. The start sequence is enabled by a pressure switch from weight in the seat. I like some of the stuff on the zt1, like the larger tires, the lights, my kids really like the looks of it, (they say it reminds them of bumblebee from the transformers movies), but Ive been reading about owners having problems with deck vibrations, so Im leery about getting it. All three mowers ride well, cut well and will last. Its built like a tank, rides well and cuts very well. Of those 400 there are actually quite a few good zero-turn mowers on the market right now. Cub Cadets commercial stuff is awesome but its going to take a while yet before it catches on with the commercial guys. The Toro fab deck cuts better and the Toro will also pull more but overall the Cub Cadet is one of my top choices for a 42-inch ZTR. I like the optional front flex forks for rough lawns. The 375 gives me the R package, a 54 deck, and the 25 HP ELS engine. It will last the life of the mower. My local Exmark dealer has hundreds of them out mowing lawns every day and the owners love the engine. Have a wonderful day! Hi Paul, great website and very informative. Thats very helpful. The Compacts (all brands) are only for small residential flat areas that have gates you have to deal with. However, the ride didnt seem much better than my Husqvarna tractor (my neighbor doesnt have the upgraded seat), and the price is out of my range. The Walker also rides great because you sit directly over the large drive tires. Using Toro Fuel Treatment with every fill up provides protection for two and four cycle small engines. 2. The biggest feature is Smart Speed. Its a three-speed lever that so you can slow the mower down when pulling heavy loads. Not sure if there is a limit on the amount or not. But in comparison to other 54" zero turn mowers on the market, this is a steal of a deal. If you have any questions on what brand to buy get back to me with a list of your local dealers, please. The Radius X is also rock solid on slopes. You are right that the dealer can often make the difference, and the one I got mine from is awesome! The grasshopper has a hydraulic deck lift and a few others have electric. The Z335 48 is the only ZTR I know of with 13 front / 20 rear tires under $3000, so it has me smitten. I really like your reviews and expertise. Paul a number of years ago I purchased a Craftsman 42 inch mower (T2200) that you recommended. The MX5050 is an old model. If you dont have the experience get a 36-44 inch walk-behind and use that until you get the experience. Now I just need to decide if Im willing to swallow that $1300 price difference for the Walker over the Clipper! After I posted that I looked a little closer. What are your thoughts about those in comparison to the other. Thats a hard question to answer. Im not sure what Sears is up to so Im not recommending their mowers until I know where the company is headed. It has a very low center of gravity and I believe you can adjust the weight of the deck to give it even more traction if needed. For mulching ( Atomic blades on this deck for mulching ( Atomic blades on this for! 400 there are actually quite a few good Zero-Turn mowers on the market the company is headed me a... But that just wont be possible for under $ 3000 RMI 632 P up... It catches on with the Radius X you can easily cut over acres... The ZT2100 60-inch deck in the year reinforced deck, please and use that until you a! 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