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Post by badbrad on Jul 27, 2020 12:43:58 GMT -6
I want to get into zero turns but they are so freaking expensive. Even used ones are. So what is a good bang for the buck zero turn? I have about an acre to cut with lots of turning required.
What should I be looking for? features? brands? size motor? Size of cut. Etc. I'm cheap so I want something decent but don't want to spend 4-5 grand either. I don't know what my budget should really be as i don't want junk.
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Post by badgerfowl on Jul 27, 2020 12:47:42 GMT -6
You’ll probably have to go shitty brand new to stay under that. All the good ones seem to be in that $4-5 G range.
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Post by badbrad on Jul 27, 2020 12:53:08 GMT -6
You’ll probably have to go shitty brand new to stay under that. All the good ones seem to be in that $4-5 G range. What are shitty brands? What are brands to look for? I would consider used to get into my price point.
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Post by badbrad on Jul 27, 2020 12:54:50 GMT -6
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Post by badgerfowl on Jul 27, 2020 13:01:26 GMT -6
Don’t think you can go wrong with a Deere.
I think the good ones I’m thinking of are more commercial brand. Ferris, Gravely, Skag, Altoz. Prices on those are in that $5,000+ range I believe.
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Post by biglakebass on Jul 27, 2020 13:06:49 GMT -6
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Post by Catscratch on Jul 27, 2020 13:40:04 GMT -6
I shopped pretty hard and drove each of the following at dealerships; Hustler, Scag, Ferris (has suspension), Country Clipper (tilt deck for cleaning), Kubota, and John Deere.
I ended up with a Hustler because I found a good deal, there is a dealership less than an hour away, and they are made in KS.
I wish the Scag dealer was closer, great maintenance program.
Eliminated Deere and Kubota after driving them. Not sure why but I was turned off.
Country Clipper has a good idea with the tilting deck but it goes against my principle of less is more. I figured too many moving parts for upkeep.
I liked the Ferris but it was cost prohibitive and I decided I can buy a suspension seat for what I saved by getting the Hustler.
These things aren't great on steep slopes. Aggressive tires would be recommended if it's hilly. I like to drive up and down a hill, not sideways.
Important!!! I have a 60in deck. Love it!!!! Having the deck stick out farther than the tires is great for going around trees or under fence. Makes edging easier without worry of hitting objects with the back tires as you swing around.
My mow time went from 3hrs of hell, to 1hr of pleasure (at most its a 3 beer job now). I'm actually extending my yard and trails as time goes on because mowing is so easy now.
I did consider making one on my own. The frame can be simple and straight, the engine just runs a hydraulic pump, and the drives are nothing more than hydraulic motors that can be purchased ready to bolt in. If you are cheap enough you could probably find one that has shelled it's engine for cheap...
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Post by chummer16 on Jul 27, 2020 17:35:39 GMT -6
I ran the commercial gravely for my business. It was pretty nice but not the bells and whistles like the Torros I ran. My parents just bought the home version of the gravely and love it. I think they paid around $2500 for it. They are mowing about 4 acres of lawn. I think it is 54”
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Post by biglakebass on Jul 27, 2020 22:39:29 GMT -6
This looks fun
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Post by Catscratch on Jul 28, 2020 6:36:25 GMT -6
That's a heck of a machine!
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jflonll
Full Member
Posts: 185
Likes: 158
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Post by jflonll on Jul 28, 2020 20:15:16 GMT -6
I bought a used Ferris 6 Years and finally burned out the belt last week. I mow the lawn in 20 minutes and my 5 miles of trails in about 2 hrs cutting my mowing time in half than using the tractor and brush hog. I did put new blades on this spring. The only problem is my trails are so dam wet this year. The last 2 years I have not taken the tracks off of the gator.
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Post by Foggy on Jul 28, 2020 20:26:32 GMT -6
I hope SD dont see this thread. . Actually I am somewhat surprised on how much mower you can get for the money these days. They used to be far more expensive.....IIRC.
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Post by sd51555 on Jul 28, 2020 20:59:19 GMT -6
I hope SD dont see this thread. . Actually I am somewhat surprised on how much mower you can get for the money these days. They used to be far more expensive.....IIRC. I just got that damn blind and all that extra seed out of my machine shed. It's open again. Not giving that area up for any kind of fancy time masheen.
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Post by Foggy on Jul 28, 2020 21:31:20 GMT -6
I hope SD dont see this thread. . Actually I am somewhat surprised on how much mower you can get for the money these days. They used to be far more expensive.....IIRC. I just got that damn blind and all that extra seed out of my machine shed. It's open again. Not giving that area up for any kind of fancy time masheen. Tell me you didn't just call that cubby-hole you got a "machine shed". Grin. .....you do have an imagination. lol.
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Post by sd51555 on Jul 28, 2020 22:32:01 GMT -6
I just got that damn blind and all that extra seed out of my machine shed. It's open again. Not giving that area up for any kind of fancy time masheen. Tell me you didn't just call that cubby-hole you got a "machine shed". Grin. .....you do have an imagination. lol. Machine shed, butcher shop, cold storage, walk-in cooler, freezer, closet, garage, grainery. It does it all.
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