Most dependable lawn mower

These work for me:

 

Hard to make a recommendation on brand without knowing what kind/size of machine you are looking for. A small garden tractor is going to get a different set of answers than a commercial ZT.

 

I agree. Garden tractor is completely different than ZT. 4 acres I would get ZT no question life is short I do not want to spend all of it mowing..

I have a Ferris as I want suspension 8 years no problems
Cousin runs landscaping company only uses Exmark trades in every 3 years

 

Since we're spending your money, you should get a compact or sub compact deere or Kubota with a pto finish mower. That will give you a lot more capabilities.

Or just Mow around the house with a push mower. and let the acres grow up into FIREWOOD.

 

What’s your budget Tim? Looking to just mow or use it for other chores?

 

I’ve really liked the four ExMark machines I’ve had my crew run at work, but had issues with the last ones blower/bagger system to switched to grasshopper. We got a 72” rear discharge diesel grasshopper for several K less than our usual ExMark…
All that to say, if not bagging, any of the bigger names, in a commercial style machine would do you well. Me personal mower is a little 44” commercial Dixon that is approaching 20 years old but works great. Changed a couple belts and a pulley is all.

 

MTD produces cub cadet and Troy built as their top lines. Red iron is toro, exmark, and boss snowplows. Exmark is a stand alone company but part of red iron. Ariens/gravely are the same machines just different names. Kubota producers their own units. JD has so many different lines it’s hard to say if it’s Deere or green MTD. Agco does produce Massey as well as some other brands. Husquvarna is junk and cut their line way back from just a few years ago.

 

In choosing a mower you should consider the terrain you are mowing. If you have a lot of hills to mow, would an Exmark or something like it work?

 

I've been watching reviews on YouTube and Bad Boy comes up a lot, but my buddy has a lawn care business and another guy we know had a BB. My buddy says he tried the BB and they're junk. Apparently they are way over rated.
Scag is their favorite brand.

Biggest problem i see with reviews is, the "best brand" is the brand that the reviewer sells...or just bought...

Until this year, i would have recommended a Troy Bilt garden tractor like mine. Knowing now that MTD discontinued all parts for TB GT's... i wouldn't ever recommend TB, MTD, or ANY brand from MTD. A friend of mine has a Husqvarna lawn tractor with a plastic transmission. He just told me tonight that the plastic tranny is about shot. He paid 1800$ for it.
JD a had a similar line of yard tractors with the same problem.

 

We run JD x350’s at the cemetery, they’re very good. You can get them with rear discharge which is handy for cemeteries.

 

Bad boy is Hustler's big box store line (although some models would still be plenty for a homeowner) Scag is WAY overkill for the average homeowner.
If you are going ZTR, at least get one with a good engine, serviceable drives, and a HD fabricated deck...that should last a very long time if taken care of.

 

A friend of mine just bought a Badboy, looks like a very well made mower, time will tell. It was $8700!

 

I have a Kubota zero turn that’s 16 years old, it’s been very dependable and I plan on running it another 16 years!

 

I'm ok with overkill

 

Me too...at least to a point...a $15k mower for 4 acres might be over the top though...unless its multipurpose...like a loader with a belly or 3PH mower or something.
BTW, I have no idea how SCAG is with servicing parts for older models...that is something that obviously needs to be investigated.

 

$7200 negotiable for a Scag Patriot 52"
26hp Vanguard B&S

 

The one my buddy used was to light in the front. Says it felt too unstable for my uneven ground

 

Scag Patriot has serviceable Hydro-Gear 3400 pumps.

 

I test mowed demo 4 brands before I bought
Skag most power worse ride mid cut
Toro best cut ok ride mid power
Ferris best ride mid cut

all about 7 k. Mow a few neighbors to pay for it if you have 2.