The models I list here cut great, bag well and have great parts and service networks. 42-46 inch Fabricated Deck 1/2 to 1 1/2 Acres, 42-46 inch Heavy-Duty 10 ga Fabricated Decks, You can find a lot more information on the 42-46 inch ZTRs here: 2022 The Thirteen Best 42-46 Inch Zero Turn Mowers, 48-52 inch Stamped Deck Up to 2.5 Acres, 48-52 inch Fabricated Deck Up To 3 Acres. I firmly believe you get what you pay for. Blower has a steel blade. Lets see if we can sort them all out. IronForged Deck 26 HP Commercial V-Twin Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower $5999 Husqvarna MZ61 24-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 61-in Zero-Turn Lawn Mower $5499 Ariens Apex 23-HP V-twin Dual Hydrostatic 48-in Zero-Turn Lawn Mower $4799 Bad Boy MZ Magnum 54 in. 1. I hope you find a good dealer to work with and enjoy the mower you decide on. $10.78. I also have a tow behind cart I use for hauling dirt, rock and mulch. Watch this video: Paul hope all is well. With Toro putting the MX5000 on sale right now it does make it the better deal. Im thinking of selling my ExMark Quest 42 inch steering wheel. I also understand Briggs parts are much cheaper than the other manufacturers, should I ever need them. Join the discussionPaul, what is the blade speed on the Cub Cadet Ultima? The Toros height adjuster is easy to use. If you are going ANYWHERE near a ditch you need a 60 inch or larger ZTR and the angle should be less than 15 degrees. PLEASE ADVISE. 10 years ago they were one of the best ZTRs on the market but today almost everyone else has passed them up for cut quality, service, etc. This is how I make money to keep this website up and running. John Deere Z530M. Yes, the commercial operators insist on having them but they quickly realize their only advantage is getting into small residential properties. Appreciate all the help! Hi, Paul, I am considering the Ariens Apex or a Bad boy MZ MAGNUM both based on price point and features. The Ultima is getting all the advertising this year but the Troy-Bilt is basically the same mower for a little less money. Worldlawn 52 diamondback The Ariens company also makes the Gravely ZT XL. HI Greg, I use the specs page at toro.com. standard. The 48-inch deck will give you a better cut than the 54 inch and still get done quickly. The Z930M is the most popular John Deere mower for commercial operators. Would a front deck do big berms? Cub Cadet ZTS (steering wheel ZTR) 50 inch and larger can handle 20-degree slopes because the front steering wheels help to hold the mower on the slope. (see it here at the Home Depot) It will have the weight to give you great traction along the drainage ditch. The full suspension platform on the Radius would be really nice for mowing your rougher area. Hey Paul have you ever looked into Dixie Chopper or Bush Hog ZT products? Im not sure if Havener/Bradley would be buying decks and frames from Schiller/Bob Cat but Ill check next time I talk to them. The Ariens/Gravely, Bad Boy Elite, and Toro Titan are all priced around $5000. Have the dealer do the 1st annual tune-up? Some commercial operators keep their mowers maintained and run them thousands of hours, junk them and then buy new. Hi Shane, I like the Ariens IKON X a lot for a one-acre yard. Looking for a new zero turn 54 and under $3500 and under from Lowes. MTD went through and fixed all those small irritating issues last year and the 2020 Cub Cadet is a better choice today: 42 in. Ive been a regular reader of your sites for several years, and have found a lot of valuable information in them over the years. There are more parts to wear out on the Ferris and that bouncing can give you an uneven cut after a few years. (I live in central Ohio). I would guess the average engine life to be 500-750 hours maybe 1000 if you change the air filter and oil when required. Both show it online so should be able to at least order the model I want. This will be fairly detailed, since I read in another comment that details help you. Can a person get by with just buying the mulching blades as opposed to the entire mulching kit? Cutting Deck Do you recommend I go with a 42 inch or 50 inch deck zero turn? It is a nice machine. I believe the deck shell is the same one used as on the commercial mowers. (I grew up with International Harvester tractors so the Reb/Black paint scheme appeals to me too!). Thanks again in advance! Im not sure if he does anything different with the Scag. Finally, I am a little concerned that your local dealer cant get a CA compliant mower. Or even a free tune-up this fall. Think you figured that out. The only maintenance is sharpening or changing the blade once a year. What Im looking for: Reliability, ease of maintenance, attaching and detaching bagging and mulching kit, cut, easy to handle, one user, 42 deck, budget around $3k and willing to spend around $1k for accessories (mulch kit and bag) Being a small yards I doubt I would benefit much from features or comfort so thats not important. Bad Boy zero turn model Weight Towing capacity; Maverick: 1005 lbs: . Cast Iron Cleaner 8"x6" Square Cast Iron Scrubber, Premium Stainless Steel Scrubber with Hanging Ring, Ultra-hygienic Anti-Rust Chainmail Scrubber for Cast Iron Pans. Appreciate your passion and what you do for the common folks on here. The deck couldnt handle the bumpy ground. Any recommendations you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Hi Larry, There is nothing wrong with the Toro or ExMark except the sales didnt meet Toros expectations. The Toros and the ZT X use the ZT2200 transmissions. Exmark radius E series 48 679 cc Fuel Injected (EFI) V-Twin Engine Dual Hydro Gas ZeroTurn Riding Mower with Steering Wheel Control, https://service.webec.husqvarna.net/documents/HUSO/HUSO2020_NAen/HUSO2020_NAen__1141841-95.pdf, https://service.webec.husqvarna.net/documents/HUSO/HUSO2020_NAenNAesNAfrLApt/HUSO2020_NAenNAesNAfrLApt__1140537-38.pdf, Toro Timecutter HD 48 inch at the Home Depot, Toro TimeCutter MX5075 with MyRIDE Suspension, Toro TimeCutter MX5075 with MyRIDE Suspension System 50 in. The JD dealers seems good and I looked at the Z700 series. I prefer the Walker. Hi JD, You will be a lot happier with the cut of the Toro than the Simplicity. Hi Brian, Talk to your dealer and the two of you can decide if the ExMark or Toro is a better choice for you. In other words, it will last you years. If you feel there is an different product that would better fit my needs then Id love to hear from you! And the seat doesnt adjust as easily as the seat on the Deere, and well likely have different size operators rather frequently. The grasshopper has a hydraulic deck lift and a few others have electric. 4. Hi Joe, Im not a big fan of the 300 series Deere ZTRs. Learn more in our Kubota vs. Bad Boy zero-turn mower comparison. Good for your lawnmowers, snow blowers, weed wickers, leaf blowers and other small engine power equipment. I like the optional front flex forks for rough lawns. Titan IronForged Deck 24.5 HP Commercial V-Twin Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Riding Mower with MyRIDE, Cub Cadet Ultima ZT3 60 in. My local Husqvarna/Stihl/Toro dealer went with the Stihl because they have the best dealer support. Not sure I can wait that long, though. Since the Ariens Apex won the round out of the timecutter and ultima how does it stack up against the mz61. Paul, I've always owned John Deere ZT mowers, so I can't tell you of the Bad Boy mowers. I think theres always 100.00 off to new card members for their first purchase. Because that alone could be the difference maker for me. Seems as though your recommended ZTRs come from Big Box stores, which I prefer to purchase from a dealer. But I dont know if Id like the lighter Deere better than the heavier Cub, or if the heavier Cub would hold up and work better??? Z700 SERIES. A Walker mower has a lot less stress on the transmission than the mid-mount ZTRs. Thats well worth the extra money. Using Toro Fuel Treatment with every fill up provides protection for two and four cycle small engines. Fab Deck Zero-Turn Mower. I have a 1 acre lot of which 80% is mowable with a lot of trees and landscaping. They are a little higher priced than what you have listed in this article for Residential ZTs but I have heard good things about them. But the real market is Europe so not everyone is selling here yet. It has accessories for power deck lift and a mower jack for easy blade changes. Hi Paul, Plus youll get done faster! If you do not mind spending a considerable amount of money, the Bad Boy BZS60KT745 ZT Elite Zero Turn Lawn Mower is a near-perfect option in the market. But when you are comparing the Ariens models the new IKON XD compares closer to the Bad Boy Magnum. Hello and thank you for all of the information that you have enlightened all of us with in reference to ztr mowers. 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. Fab Deck Zero-Turn Mower with MyRide . The only mention I find from a few owners with this deck is vibration at low RPMs. Id guess were actually mowing 75% of the acre. Hi John, Sorry, I too busy with movingsnow.com and helping my daughter move into their new house. DO NOT use the Atomic blades on this deck for mulching (atomic blades have teeth/notches on the back of the blade). Fabricated Deck 24 HP Kohler Pro 7000 Series Engine with Roll Over ProtectionAvailable at, Cub Cadet Ultima ZTX4 60 in. I had a guy come in and clear the wooded area, as it was heavily overgrown. I will not be towing with it. Can ride or flip up foot stand and convert to walk-behind (NICE) Paul, we have a rough 1.2 acre yard with some trees, beds, stumps, etc. After diving deeply into the specs of both residential and commercial mowers, the Toro Titan Zero is my top pick. This 60-inch zero turn features a 26 HP Kohler 7000 series engine with a canister air cleaner. Thank you!! Been insightful for sure. I really appreciate your website, your keen insights, and all your help. My local Exmark dealer has hundreds of them out mowing lawns every day and the owners love the engine. Thanks! Hi JD, I have no problems with any of the engines. My 12-year-old Craftsman 42 lawn tractor just died and decided to replace it with a ZTR. Bush Hog has had zero-turns for many years and the current models are heavy-duty well-built units. Im in my 70s and I want this to be the last mower I buy. It is still a very popular mower with farmers who have long ditches and large areas to mow. Many repair shops carry a cheaper belt, although the same size, that is not designed for use on heat-generating engines. We've remodeled the look with new tanks, new cooler and rear covers, new pulley covers, and new floor mats with Reaper Tire . Heavy 7 gauge deck (apparently the same deck/frame as Bobcat). I did note that it was probably under-powered because the cutting deck would stop cutting while I was driving up the hill (and the motor seemed to struggle). Please stop back later this summer and tell us how you like your new mower! 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. (Clean and change the blades every 3-6 weeks), If you want to see everything involved with owning a robotic mower here is the operators manual for the 435 https://service.webec.husqvarna.net/documents/HUSO/HUSO2020_NAen/HUSO2020_NAen__1141841-95.pdf, Installation manual: https://service.webec.husqvarna.net/documents/HUSO/HUSO2020_NAenNAesNAfrLApt/HUSO2020_NAenNAesNAfrLApt__1140537-38.pdf. Thanks for the quick reply. Probably not but if your property is rough, has slopes greater than 10 degrees, you want to get done as quickly as possible or you have teenagers who are learning to use a zero-turn then it is worth moving up to the XT2. Mowers maintained and run them thousands of hours, junk them and then new! A big fan of the acre tractor just died and decided to replace it with a inch! Front flex forks for rough lawns deck ( apparently the same one used on. The entire mulching kit have the best dealer support 12-year-old Craftsman 42 lawn tractor died. 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