The best zero turn mower

Stanley black and Decker just bought out MTD too.

 

I purchased an Ariens IkonXD52. Not the heaviest duty of mowers, but plenty for my 1-1.25 acre yard. The HD commercial grade mowers are nice, but hard to justify if you're only mowing your own lawn.

 

Mmm. I kinda want a 40+ acre yard.

Where I live 10 acres lots were the standard, 40 years ago to bypass septic rules..

 

We were just in vt last weekend, I always think it’s funny the acres of lawn you folks keep up.

 

In general, all the big brands use/offer the same engines, hydraulics, deck thickness, etc. I'd buy what the pros are buying in your area. Get a commercial grade mower. Exmark is most popular around here. My '07 Toro 48/19 (couldn't pass up the deal) has been great mowing about 6.5 acres of rocks and ravines.

 

There is no magic in a ZTR....buy it for the components....not the mower itself.

Mine has a welded fabricated deck that is 1/8" thick, Parker pumps, Hydrogear motors, and a Kawasaki engine. It weighs 1200lbs dry so there is a lot of steel there.

 

^^. Thicker spindle size too

 

Like you guys I’ve mowed grass ALL my life. Owning a zero turn can make you LOOK for more grass to cut- less like work, a little more like fun. A good one is pricey though and I would never encourage someone to stress themselves financially to own one. BUT if you can you will see what I’m saying, you will drastically reduce your mowing time, you will cut down on the little simple crap that causes down time and you will probably never go back to a conventional type mower…. Another thumbs up vote for Ex-Mark here

 

I bought a Bad Boy ZT Elite 60" with the Kawasaki engine about a month ago. It's ready for the first oil change. It replaced a John Deere 445 lawn tractor. I mow around 4 acres in 2 hours flat (it took about 3 on the JD). I don't run flat out because of trees, buildings and wood yards or I could probably get it done more quickly. I wouldn't consider any entry level mowers unless your yard is the size of a postage stamp. Bear in mind, the box store Deeres, etc. have no resemblance to their commercial counterparts other than the color of the paint.

 

Years ago I had a Simplicity lawn tractor with a 48” deck . Mow about 3 acres and it did the job but the deck was a stamped deck and when it started going bad it went in a hurry . I decided I was gonna buy a zero turn and I researched them until I had a headache ! Bought a Exmart laser z with a 60” deck and was worried with lots of stuff to mow around it would be to big . Nope , I get the lawn cut in half the time if not less and it looks much better. It’s one of those purchases where you say I’d do it again.

 

Over the last few months, Toro had to stop selling their toro branded Chinese made v twins. This was due to anti dumping laws. Completely unrelated, Toro also bought the Spartan brand.

 

Nobody mentioned Walker.

 

We were discussing riders...

 

‘Cause they’re not the best