Zero turn mowers, What's crap what's good?

pholmann · Apr 30, 2016

It's come time to replace my old zero turn mower. I'm looking at reviews online at different models trying to figure out what I need to stay away from. I'm looking toward a commercial zero turn since I mow about 3-4 acres once a week. I'm looking at the bad boy commercial zero turn for the size and power versus cost. I can get a brand new mower for 6k and get 0% financing. Anyone had any dealings with them? I would love to have a gravely or kubota but I really don't want to spend 10k on a mower. I also don't want to buy a used commercial grade mower with a billion hours on it. Input wanted.

onepieceatatime · Apr 30, 2016

Re:

My buddy has the commercial bad boy and really likes it. Only problem he's had with it in the one year he's owned it is he put a NAPA oil filter on it instead of whatever bad boy uses and it caused an oil leak somewhere else somehow. I also know he wishes he got the air ride seat and I wish he got the spoiler so I could make fun of him for it.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

pholmann · Apr 30, 2016

Is there another comparable commercial mower in the same price range I need to look at as an option? I see lots of good reviews online for the bad boys.

Jwhit55 · Apr 30, 2016

My grand father bought a bad boy a few years back and I'm pretty sure he hates it. I know he's had a lot of problems out of it and what they are I'm not sure? I think Broadway outdoor power equipment in eagleton has 0% for 48 months on their scag and big dog. We have a big dog Diablo and love it. I went there a few weeks back and looked at the scag tiger cat and think it was $6800 but don't quote me.

pholmann · Apr 30, 2016

Good info. Thanks Jamie.

kmcminn · Apr 30, 2016

I have had great luck with my Gravely. But I don't mow much grass...

sappmann · Apr 30, 2016

Bush Hog zero turn got mine in 06 and still has all the belts on it

machen4x4 · Apr 30, 2016

I HAVE OWNED A KABOTA FOR 9 YEARS, NEVER ANY PROBLEMS. STILL RUNS STRONG.

j-mox · Apr 30, 2016

Probably 75% of the lawn services in my area run Hustler mowers. Now there is a local dealer for them, but there is also John Deere, Bad Boy and Grasshopper? in the area too. Hustler seems to be the choice of most guys.

I bought a 60" Hustler residential mower last year and love it. I mow around 4 acres a week. Sometimes twice a week if its growing fast in the summer.

Toddy · Apr 30, 2016

HUSTLER!!! I work at X10. That is all they use. And you know every :JRich:

around works as a laborer here. Those guys could care less about anything and the mowers take everything they throw at them.

My dad was the lawn mower man in the garage for years. He has a super Z.

I have the raptor SD. Good mower for what I mow. I'd look at the X one for what your mowing. Or just go Tony Bolton and get the Super Z and not have to worry about another mower for prob 20 years. :****:

I got mine at Terry's tool in Ga. Meet me at Chatanooga with it and no tax.

Jep72m · Apr 30, 2016

Re:

Another one for Hustler 60" here. My Dad actually lives down the street from Terrys Tool in Cumming Ga if that where your talking about. We bought ours in Oakwood GA from Howard Brothers. They were $400 cheaper than Terrys.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

02Jimmy · Apr 30, 2016

Stay away from Cub Cadet!! I bought the commercial RECON and it is equal to a light residential use mower. In 3 years I have replaced everything but the Kohler. JUNK. FOR SALE....

giles45shop · Apr 30, 2016

You may want to look at a Scag's Freedom Z. It's made for exactly your type of usage, basically someone with a few acres to mow vs. full commercial use. I've had a 52" Freedom Z for about 8 years now and haven't had any issues with it, mowing ~ 4 acres. It was ~$5000 new. The thing is, when you are only mowing a few acres a week with a good zero it goes very quickly. I only have ~ 180 hours on mine right now. A commercial one is made to be used 1000-1500 hours a year, so it will last indefinitely in a low use application, but as you found out you pay big $ for that durability that you really don't need in a residential situation. The good thing about Scag's is that they are a well-established company, so you can count on long term support for parts & stuff.

I think they now even have a model with a few less features than the Freedom Z as well. The only drawback's that I see with the Z is that you sit a little lower, so if you are mowing an area where you have some dirt & weeds you tend to get a little dirtier, but the plus is that you can get under low hanging trees and stuff easier. I actually took the top roll bar off mine since I'm mowing completely flat ground. My previous mower was one of the early Scag 3 wheel mowers with a 61" deck out front and you sat over the rear wheel. It worked great fro getting under stuff and you stayed clean, but the Z is a WAY faster mower. I can mow the place in less time with the Z, even though it has a deck that's 9" narrower.

money_pit_yj · Apr 30, 2016

Anything commercial. Hustler, Gravely, Bad Boy. I have a residential Hravely and love it. Bad Boys are taking over this area. The commercial models have welded decks and frames with most manufacturers. Get one with dual pumps and you will not til your little hearts content. I've got a few buddies selling their JD and getting Bad Boys with Kawasaki motors. Scags are the stuff! But HIGH!!!

Bronco72 · Apr 30, 2016

Any thing with a fabricated deck and it dont say cub cadet on it. I have a mid mount grasshopper and i love it. Dad has two exmarks and thay catch hell everytime thay get started thay are tough as ****. There all pertty decant as long as you get a commercial mower. Stay away from the subdivision models with the cheap ass stamped decks

bbone · Apr 30, 2016

I've owned several over the years (walker, Exmark, bunton). I am a big fan of the commercial deck for whatever brand you get. I think it also matters who is nearby and what brand they service. That being said, look at what commercial guys use in your area and go with what they use. Besides that I also like the mulch kits and the striping kits. Just my preference.

TURNEROFFROAD · Apr 30, 2016

Bobcat mowers are doggone good ones

kushKrawlin · Apr 30, 2016

Exmark!!! Nothing else compares you cannot get the homeowner bran nothing else compares you cannot get the homeowner model and expect it to last like the commercial series. All three of my mowers are beast... As long as you might miss them they will run for a looong time

pholmann · Apr 30, 2016

I've found a couple of used exmark mowers around here that were individual owned and not used commercially. I really wanted to go new and exmark was a little higher than I wanted to go. I may look at the used ones and see just how well they've been maintained. One was a 72 inch cut. That's a hell of a deck.