When not in use, should the deck be kept at a specific height (all the way up or down)? Any ideas? With 10 acres and horse pasture, go with the Apex. Its smoother than the 7000 series and has a larger air cleaner. The decks are 10-gauge fabricated iron made with an exemption of two models 75740 & 75742 both 42-inches in size using stamped decks instead. I was hoping for Ariens (good bang for buck), but they only offer the 2200 transaxles through their X and XDunits and can only get the 3100 axles on the Apex units which are pretty close to the same price as gravely ZT HD. 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. Everything opens up for cleaning, inspection and belt replacement. In the end, I do not think you will be disappointed with either. Hi, Paul, Its not on my Top 5 list but it probably should be. I live in the Pacific NW, have an acre of level-to-slight hill to mow. Hi Ryan, My first concern is service and parts availability. Hi I was wondering what you thought about the new Riding ego zero turn 360 mower battery one Im looking at getting that maybe at the end of the year or next year Right now its a low too expensive for my taste. Personally, Since the mowers are both good machines and both have a good reputation Id talk to the dealers and buy from the dealer that you like the most. I visited the nearest Jonsered dealer today, and he said that Husqvarna has bought up several brand names and hasnt figured out how to deploy them in the marketplace. It has larger rear wheels than the Toro or Cub Cadet and that gives it better traction. Im not sure on that. Paul, I purchased a 2018 Gravely ZTHD52 last spring. trans) 1. I like my Husqvarna tractor, and the Z254F is on lots of recommended lists, but the user reviews concern me. Hi Paul, Quick question for you. factory warranty !!!! However, Im not sure how comfortable I am going to feel on that hillside. The Titan 48 inch with MyRide is easily the best riding and best cutting residential mower. Been using a 42 in cone drive dixon for 20 years with blower bagger. The orange AUTOMOWER Model 535 AWD 967 85 34-66 is their commercial version. You can get all three with the Kawasaki engine. Hydro Gear ZT-2100 and ZT-2200 Transaxles on the SS and SW and Hydro Gear ZT-2800 Transaxles on the MX and SWX and Hydro Gear ZT-3100 Transaxles on the Timecutter HD. I bought the 42 inch because of a few tight landscaping spots but after having it for a few years I wish Id bought the 50 inch. So yes they are going to have a demo day in April and will take a look. For instance, the low-grade smaller deck mowers in question will have relative engines that generate 22 horsepower, and the high-grade with wider decks, 24 horsepower delivering a velocity of 7 8mph. I will check out the Z355R. While Toro uses an IronForged deck, Cub Cadets deck is made with 11-gauge steel. Bradley is a small Midwest company thats been around for years. The Cub utilizes a similar tire setup, with the only difference being the 20 x 8-inch rear tires. I did check out your videos last week, very informative! Check it out here: https://homedepot.sjv.io/4V5DL Yes, the biggest difference is the fabricated deck. The Jonsered tractor is actually a 2014ish Craftsman Yard Tractor. Thanks for your advice to buy the Ultima ZT2 50. Mow the lawn with the deck raised up a notch or two higher and you should get more life. The engines generate about 22 to 24 horsepower also depending on the grade of the model. Thank you for your input! I would never pay more for a Kawasaki FR than I would for a Kohler 7000. The B&S Vanguard engine option is about $450 more than the B&S Commercial Turf. The only Country Clipper dealer within 100 miles is 17 miles from my home, and he has 2 Boulevards in stock: a new 2018 and a used 2016 with only 38.5 hours on the meter. Hi Paul, want your view on a commercial quality/HD zero like the Scagg Tiger II 60ish deck, grasshopper, JD etc. Paul And with 2 larger diameter tires, it may have a higher center of gravity that I may not care for. I feel like I cant afford to buy the wrong mower, especially at these prices. Gravely also offers this mower with the heavier ZT2800 transmissions The Gravely ZT XL. I really feel you are paying extra for the green paint compared to the Toro or even the Cub Cadet. Lowes in particular has a habit of just taking the mower out of the crate and NOT doing any of the adjustments for example moving the seat on the Ariens mowers. Ariens Edge 42. Bradley Stander 36 (top choice because stander) I would check the belt you are using as a replacement. They compare favorably to the high-end Kohler Command and Briggs Vanguard. Ive spent a bunch of time reading your site over the last week as Im looking to purchase a new mower. In reality, they both weigh the same. If you let your lawn get over 10 inches you may have to go back over areas to get a clean cut. Do you recommend I go with a 42 inch or 50 inch deck zero turn? By the way, is that cub cadet engine in a ZT1 it must be a previous year because this years model has the Kohler 7000 series (also a good engine) Personally if I have a choice Ill pick the Kaw first and then the Toro engine. The two best are Stihl and Husqvarna for the U.S. market. I own a summer camp with 3 large sport fields. Torn on 3 brands. I like both of them a lot. Seems as though your recommended ZTRs come from Big Box stores, which I prefer to purchase from a dealer. Bradley Stander 48. 2. Great information! Hey, I'm John, and I'm a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience. There are a ton of accessories available for tractor mowers easily converting them from mower to workhorse. You didnt say how much you are mowing but for example, 10 acres 25 times a year is only 60-75 hours a year. So, Jonsered, Poulan Pro, and Husqvarna tractors are basically all the same they are just painted different colors. The APEX is one of those mowers that it a solid step up from the MZ61. 4. What is your preference between the Kohler 7000 and the Kawasaki FR engines? The Exmarks are geared towards commercial use. I have about 5 acres with a few bumps but not too bad I will cut about once a week. I enjoy mowing the yard and do so often. Doesnt the Toro have limits on towing to 85 lbs? I just noticed that the 48 Accel Deep deck is 10 gauge, that is nice. My Deere dealer, on the other hand, is a large ag dealer and every time I go visit it feels like since I dont own a million dollars of farm equipment they arent that interested in developing the trust I expect. He suggested to try and find something that was like a residential/commercial type hybrid. Asides from that issue, I totally commend having headlights on your zero-turn and purchasing a Cub Cadet for that good reason. The slow speed is especially great while learning how to use the machine and I have a cart that I can tow in the second speed. The Deere has the best cut in the industry but on your lawn, I doubt if you would see a difference between the Deere deck and the Cub Cadet. They made a few improvements and painted them white. Both mowers have a padded high-back seat, and these can be adjusted to ensure maximum comfort. The Costco units. It will do just fine and last you a long time. The only real difference is the Toro has a slightly thicker deck, the automatic parking brake, and the smart speed control. You have to go up to the Toro Timecutter HD, Cub Cadet ZT2, and Ariens IKON XL to get the larger 2800 trans. Im leaning towards a 42 inch deck for either mower I choose. Thanks for the quick reply. Q: What are your thoughts about transmissions with and without charge pumps? The Model R is a culmination of over 40 years of commercial experience. Great website and I love how you respond to everyones questions cause I actually browsed all your comments to help with my search and narrowed down my choices. (Because of the way the Walker steers it does not need the heavy-duty transmissions) The decks are manufactured to incorporate aerodynamic force for a much more intentional distribution of clippings; to avoid clumping, stragglers, trailing, and improve the overall cutting quality of the deck. For the other two brands, you really should limit your towing to 200-250 lbs. RYOBI. The yard is not what Id call perfectly evenprobably typical for the countrybut the man who mows says its not bad. I want to try a ZTR mainly because I feel like Im wrestling the steering wheel constantly and I have to back up and pull forward too much at the corners of the yard. If I buy the Boulevard, Ill try to make that up to you somehow. Please help! But much of the remaining hillside (15 degree slope) ends at a tree line, so mowing straight up and down requires that I make turns on the hill. Why? Thank You in advance! If you use them with side discharge the work most of the time but if your grass is wet, long or the stringy (like some Fescues) they wont cut the grass into little pieces and throw it out the discharge. My budge is around the $6000 mark, Picture something you would use a brush hog for.. he was just able to do it a lot faster with a bobcat and an attachment. With the SmartSpeed you can easily pull 350 lbs without hurting the tranny. 5. My main concern is will the EZT hydros and B&S engine be OK? The Ariens IKON X is last years model. I bought an MTD from HD 14 years ago and I mow about 1 1/2 acre. Hi Ryan, I have no preference between the Kawasaki FR or the Kohler 7000. Do not which one cannot be rebuilt or can for that matter. I will definitely take advantage of the discounts. Id go visit each dealer and buy from the one you trust the most. Again, I suggest mowing at 4 inches and then mow in the late afternoon. 3. It gives you a much better experience if you ever have an issue with your mowers engine. Hi Paul, Thank you again! Its the same mower as the IKON XD with the stronger ZT 2800 transmissions. Their lawn care contractor mows with zero turns, but they mostly back down the hill, and drive back up.). You get a lot more mower with the Ariens IKON. I need a ZTR that can perform well on slopes. I suggest that you dont mulch until your lawn growth has settled down. Hi Travis, The armrests are worth every penny! So many choices! This is possible because of lever control mechanics. I mow about 3 acres. Its been good but Id like to upgrade. Im also showing that Lowes is not going to carry most models in stock. (same mower ones red the other is orange) The larger 20 inch rear tires really make a difference for traction on slopes. This feature aces in saving time and increases the general effectiveness of mowing. Ill look then up. If you try to pull too much the transmissions can overheat and if you do it often enough they will fail. The 3100 trannys are nice but the mower is Kubotas entry model. You may not be able to see it with the seat attached to the mounting plate.