Bang for buck lawn tractor or zero turn...

[fordracing19]

Inlaws have a Toro 50" zt with stamped deck from Home Depot and the cut is horrible with 3 different type of blades I have put on it. I think it is all in the deck. I have been looking at Scags and Bad Boys. I just want to make sure where I buy one they have good repair and parts support and not too far of a drive.

[Mysticcobrakilla]

Inlaws have a Toro 50" zt with stamped deck from Home Depot and the cut is horrible with 3 different type of blades I have put on it. I think it is all in the deck. I have been looking at Scags and Bad Boys. I just want to make sure where I buy one they have good repair and parts support and not too far of a drive.

If you end up with a Bad Boy, keep us/me updated on what you think about it.

[CyaNide]

As mentioned above, definitely get one that you can get parts. I have a non zer turn craftsman that is hard to find stocked parts. I will buy a zero turn John Deere one day and use the one I got for backup.

CN

[dcs13]

This is a pretty decent deal..

http://www.mowersdirect.com/Dixie-Chopper-2354BR-Lawn-Mower/p15670.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwsYW6BRCTzvu5y8DPhi0SJABnGLlHQpEj6jwGgB2PEWbL1bQTVQQIEzq4yju4_CaRixMGDRoCx1bw_wcB

[beefed88]

I have heard not to buy from the big box stores. It would be nice to support a local shop as well.

[krazy kris]

Stay away from toro my buddy has had 2 burn to the ground.

[kingjason]

I have a Gravely HD and it is a beast. I mow my acre in 30-45 minutes and I have some rough terrain. I run over shit, hit stumps, back down into crevices, push things around ect. Trailer hooks up just as easy also. My buddy has a Husqvarna with the stamped deck and there is a huge build quality difference. On the flip side he has used his for four or five years with no issues but his lawn is more manicured. I have owned mine four with no issues also so just depends. The way mine is built though I expect it to be around for a while. You can hop up and down on my deck and it wont budge. Step on his and the whole mower and deck leans.

[8mpg]

I bought a Gravely from the guys at Outdoor World.

http://www.0turn.com/

The zero turns that the home improvement stores sell are crap. Stamped decks, cheap components, and no support if there's problems. If you need warranty work, Home Depot won't work on it so and have to take it to a local mower shop, you'll get crappy service because you didn't buy it there.

I'd spend a few hundred more and get a nice one that will last a couple of decades.

I bought a Gravely from them as well. The owner is a great guy and knows what hes talking about. I got a proturn 460 which is overkill but it will last my lifetime as long as I treat it well. I highly recommend these guys as well. Gravely is a good product and has been around for 90 years or so.

[hotrodcobra]

I have a Scag commercial. We have many acres that it takes care of including my brother's place. Had it at least 5 years and if it will hold up to him it will hold up for anyone. Not even kidding.

I was also told by a John Deere dealer that the JD ones at home depot are not made by Deere, but by some Chinese company. He said they don't stock any parts, bearings, etc. for those. I don't know this for fact, but still would not buy a mower from any of the warehouse places.

[sdun]

My dad got too old to mow in the summer so I started mowing his 4 acres and my 1. I bought a Ferris and couldn't be more pleased. It is the only ztr that has full suspension, coilovers on all 4 corners. I borrowed a big John Deere (72) before the Ferris and its not even close. The Ferris is faster, better ride, and better cut. You don't need a 1000cc (37hp)mower for your lot but they make a pretty small ztr that would be the last mower you would ever buy.

[BradM]

I have a Scag commercial. We have many acres that it takes care of including my brother's place. Had it at least 5 years and if it will hold up to him it will hold up for anyone. Not even kidding.

I was also told by a John Deere dealer that the JD ones at home depot are not made by Deere, but by some Chinese company. He said they don't stock any parts, bearings, etc. for those. I don't know this for fact, but still would not buy a mower from any of the warehouse places.

That's not true, they are all on contract through local john deere dealers. They don't stock parts because the john deere shop wants the purchaser to go through them directly.

[mustang1200]

I just purchased (2 weeks ago) a Badboy MZ 42" with the larger Kohler engine. I've not done anything with other than drive it around as the house isn't quite done yet. I have 1.2ac and a ton of trees to mow around so that's why I chose the smaller deck and zero turn. Additionally I choose the Badboy because of the deck. They use 1/8" welded steel rather than a stamped deck.

[ceyko]

The zero turns that the home improvement stores sell are crap. Stamped decks, cheap components, and no support if there's problems. If you need warranty work, Home Depot won't work on it so and have to take it to a local mower shop, you'll get crappy service because you didn't buy it there.

I won't argue this and ALL the riding mowers at these stores are lesser than the ones sold at dealerships. My perspective is different though and it's just another approach...

When pricing my riding mower I think I paid 2K for it or so. One of those Husqvarna mowers, great reviews - works fine. I got a quote for a John Deere mower that was equal and it was double the cost.

Most people do not need the value that a higher end mower provides. Lawns are relatively easy ride and so on. Also, find yourself a good and reasonably priced repair dude and you're set. When I buy my lawn equipment, I do not even care about the warranties since they are not worth anything. My lawn will be 3' high by the time any warranty work is done - IF it gets done.

Now if you have 5+ acres, all the extra cash in the world, real steep grades, constantly mowing really tall grass, need a real bagger or other unique circumstance I could see it.

[mardyn]

I bought a Ferris and couldn't be more pleased. It is the only ztr that has full suspension, coilovers on all 4 corners.

The Huster Fast Trac zero turn that I have has been great, but the lack of any real suspension (other than a smallish spring under the seat) makes for a very rough ride on any terrain that's not flat.

The ZT mowers are cake when it comes to mowing around tight quarters and generally cut mowing time significantly.

Get a ZTR with some suspension and mow on.

mardyn

[8mpg]

The Huster Fast Trac zero turn that I have has been great, but the lack of any real suspension (other than a smallish spring under the seat) makes for a very rough ride on any terrain that's not flat.

The ZT mowers are cake when it comes to mowing around tight quarters and generally cut mowing time significantly.

Get a ZTR with some suspension and mow on.

mardyn

Ferris and the higher end BadBoy is about the only suspension mower you will get. My mower has a suspension seat which is really nice