Lawn mower

How much lawn are you mowing??? $7k seems insanely high for a residential piece of equipment, I guess I have other priorities...

Look at this

I've been in the business for 25 years or so, the last 10 part time just for boat parts and gas!   I've run Scag and Hustler equipment, both are great, Scag would get the edge on durability. I've got a John Deere at the office and I do really like the stamped 7iron deck, but there's a few things I'm not fond of with the layout of the controls.   If you can step up to full hydro (pumps with motors) it's a more durable system and gives you much more precise control. I've had the best luck with Kawasaki motors and Honda is a close second, I don't care for Kohlers or any of the budget 'commercial grade' B&S motors.

My father likes his Grass Hopper Zero Turn to cut about 15 acres. You also can do other things with those goats. Not so Baaaaaaaaaaddddddd.

Donald

It looks like anything above the Freedom Z, if you have nice grass around the house I wouldn't get more than a 52in deck. The bigger decks are great for production, but they're just hard to manage in tight places and you either have to mow very high or have very flat ground to keep them from scalping. If you don't mind standing the V ride would probably be a little cheaper and just as fast.

I have about and acre and my 52in Huslter takes about an hour to get it done, I do go a little slow because I mulch everything and it tends to windrow if I move to fast. At 20hp I'm a bit underpowered for mulching, but I got quite a deal on it, an my dealer treats me like his commercial customers, when there's a problem I don't wait in line.

Almost forgot, landpride is another one here in Kansas that makes good zero turn mowers. They used to have hustler make their mowers but I think they bought Woods and now they make their own.

we cut 45 lawns a week with exmark 52 " lazer z mowers. you could buy a yr or two old machine with an ultra vac system (new are 12 k or so ) for about 7 thousand you should if cared for properly and washed make it last 12 yrs at least . I have back up mowers that have in excess of 1800 hrs. and still have the kawasaki motors intact.

My John Deere has a Kawasaki motor, not one bit of trouble with it. (and I believe they really under rate the hp) I would only get a zero turn if you have a lot of obstacles to mow around. If one pump on one side of those handle bars goes out, you're talking about $1,200-$1,500. There's a lot more parts in zero turns versus a regular garden tractor.

my idea of mowing, is hiring a landscaper....im tearing up cause i havnt mowed a lawn in 15 years

Joel, they are handy, I've got 52in hydro walkbehind and I'd bet it can out manouver a push mower. What you really want behind it though is a Pro Slide, you have to learn to 'dance' on and of of the vehlky, with the Pro Slide you can stay on the whole time.

Does an acre and a half really justify a $7K mower?   I would think $2.5K would buy all the mower you need. Your money, but damn that buys alot of boat stuff. Hell, that'll buy you a couple of running project boats.

The mower buys you time for the boat and projects. You can also use the mower to buy you the boat, but you can't cut the grass with the boat.

You guys from up north are forgetting that grass grows almost year round here and maybe more in FL. I mow weekly from April through Sept. and only get a break from cutting from Thanksgiving to about Valentines Day. With the short days I have to work weekends that time of the year and there aren't many when I cant find something to do in someone's yard.   

I don't know what you guy's are thinking but I personally would buy the wife the best damn mower that she deserves

Not practical for you guy's, but the one on the left hasn't missed a beat since 1959.The one on the right is a late '40's model and is retired from mowing,but still has plowing duties.So I guess the the key is quality engines.

My favorite when I cut residential comercial was my 48" Honda Hydro Walk behind. I don't think they were very popular but they were a great mower with an oversized hydro pump on each wheel. With individual forward and reverse made a tight cut and left little trim work. I was always told the belt drive Toro's and such had a 150 lbs limit (velky). The Honda didn't have a given weight limit. Plenty of power and no trouble even pulling the car trailer around the yard with it. If not careful it would pull you right thru a wooden fence as it out weighed the other brands too.

That mower fueled the old boat and bought toys and upgrades for 10+ yrs. A friend offered it back to me this year for $800.