Which Mower is Best?

[SFSYC]

I have been mowing lawns and landscaping for a number of years and want to upgrade my mowing equipment. I am looking to spend $3000-4000 on a riding mower and wonder if anyone has any recommendations?

What about the new "L" Series John Deere that Home Depot carries?

[Sammy]

reply

Go with the Sears brand. You can get repair parts thru Sears.
Home Depot doesnt carry any repair parts that I know of.

[FeartheDeere]

reply

I would advise you to get a commercial walk-behind instead for that kind of money.

[Phil Nilsson]

reply

Here are some <font color="red"><b>independent testimonials </b></font id="red">on mowers ...

<font color="red">Exmark ...</font id="red">

"Exmark is the best in the industry for serving their customers with the highest quality of customer service".

"Exmark customer support is much more than I expected".

"We have a Lazer Z, 44 inch Recycler Deck, 17 hp Kawasaki.
Probably the best mower I have ever owned. Major labor saving
machine."

"I bought a Lazer Z HP 52" with 23HP Kawasaki and love it."


"We have a half dozen of their walk behinds. Good units. Like them alot."

"Exmark attention to customer service is second to none."

"I figured the next mower would certainly be a Lazer"


"I ran a ZT 200 for 3 years. Very dependable."

"I think it's just one quality machine. Lazer."

"Exmark Lazer HP with a 23hp Kawi. Just about a perfect machine!"

"I just recently purchased the Exmark Lazer Z, 52", 23 HP kawi. So far I'm very happy with it."

"Bought an Exmark Z-Turn 52" this season and like it very much."

"The Exmark Hp's are truely a great machine."

"I would say go with the lazer HP from exmark."

"As the proud owner of a 2001 Lazer Z, you would be hard pressed to find a machine that can compare...in any price range."

"I also run Exmark mowers,they have been good and my dealer is 3miles away"




<font color="red">John Deere ...</font id="red">
"I have used the John Deere X85 and 75 mowers and wouldn't use anything else."

"I have a John Deere 425 with a 60 inch deck. They are bullet proof machines."

"I run John Deere 2001 commercial walk-behinds and their new Z-Trak F-680 with the 7 iron deck. I am extremely satisfied with John Deere Commercial strength."


<font color="red">Bobcat ...</font id="red">

"I have a ZT bobcat 52 inch with a 23hp kawi, and run double blades. Thus far has been trouble free."

"I own 9 bobcats from 36-61" and love every one of them. The larger units are hydro and are outstanding."

"I have been running bobcats since 1985, and have been very happy with the cut, reliability, and length of service I get out of them."

" Ransome Bobcat is a very nice machine."

"I have a Bobcat ZT200, 60" deck and 22hp Kohler. Most dependable mower of all the ZTR's I have owned."


<font color="red">Walker Mfg. ...</font id="red">

"I have a walker. So far I'm glad I did. As far as I'm concerned it has the best grass handling system on the market."

"I have a Walker. From what I have seen Walker has the best GHS
system."

"I own Walker mowers and love the job they give me."

"I have 26 EFI Walker with 800 hours on it now. Very strong motor. Very fuel efficient."



<font color="red">Dixie Chopper ...</font id="red">
"Have 2 Dixie Choppers, both loaded with hours, cutting in the Florida heat, and have never had a problem."

"I have two Choppers and I think it's more than safe to say that you won't have any overheating problems with them."

"My Dixie Chopper 25hp Kohler has run hard all summer with no overheating trouble."

"I have a 24 HP Honda on my Dixie Choppers and very happy with it."


<font color="red">Wrights ...</font id="red">
"I feel Wrights are great machines. I have owned a 36" Stander for over two years and it has almost 800 hours on it with little if any problems, just bought a 52" Stander about a month ago."

"I love my Wright Stander and my dealer has been great.

<font color="red">Hustler ... </font id="red">

"The Hustler Hog will cut anything it can push over. Even in wet conditions it just chews up grass big time."

"The Excel 272 was the very first dual-hydrostatic drive system ever made, and many of them are still in service today."

"Look into a hustler fastrak, you'll have a well built ztr which is great on slopes and speed, and offer ease of service."


<font color="red">Ferris ...</font id="red">
"I have used a Ferris walk behind 48" with no real trouble.

" We own Ferris riders and 3 wheelers. Great machine, built to last, like a tank."

"I was very impressed with thew Ferris walk-behind. Seemed very well built and engineered."

<font color="red">Great Dane...</font id="red">

"We got our first Great Dane surfer 36 inch and the guys seem to love it. The cuts are looking good to me. It seems to be real strong."

<font color="red">Lesco ...</font id="red">
" Just bought a new Lesco 48" 17 Kawasaki,hydro w/electric start and their sulky and I love it."

<font color="red">Scag ...</font id="red">
"Scag mowers are tanks that do wonderful jobs for us."

Have A Nice Day!!!!!![]

Phil Nilsson

[SouthernPrideLawnCare]

reply

Your asking a loaded Question each and everyone has diffrent like I own a 26EFI walker with a 42 and 52in deck and love it, others would say I'm nuts [8D]For what your looking at spending try and find a good used Z turn or a new Walkbehind and check out what other Lawn Services are useing, Just remember what we like might not be what you like try a few diffrent demos and see what works best for you and the areas you cut.

[imograss]

reply

you should definately heed the above advice, most of us have learned from trial and error. if the "murreymowers" were quality machines made for commercial dont you think you would see them on lco trailers? aint seen many round here, save yourself the heartbreak and get commercial grade equipment. it may be a little higher but will make you much more money.

[CCLS]

reply

I'm with Imograss,

Don't skimp on your equipment, it will come back to bite you in the butt. Some people have good luck with homeowner equipment, but from my experience it just doesn't cut it if you are using it for a professon. I think you would be better off with a commercial walk behind, but its really your personal preferance. You have to look at the design of the machine and determine what the manufacturer produced the machine for. Most mowers you buy at Sears, Home Depot, Walmart are made for once a week use, not 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Think how much it will cost you to buy a commercial mower to replace the homeowner mower when it breaks down.

[65hoss]

reply

$3000-$4000 on a rider? You either haven't priced them or your only wanting a garden tractor. Get the best you can afford, but don't overkill. When your really ready for a rider you will be spending $7000-$11000.

[SFSYC]

reply

65hoss,
I think it is unrealistic for someone starting out in a lawn business to spend $7000-$11000 on a machine that you'll only run 7 months out of the year. Sure, established companies can afford to spend that and that's great for them, but I can't do it at this point.

I know guys who mow 80+ accounts with $5000 mowers and they seem to do ok.

[odin]

reply

If you dont have the money for a ztr rider then put the 4000 on a commercial walkbehind.
Exmark ,scag ,ferris ,are good brand to look at. productivety will be light years ahaed of a tractor .

[65hoss]

reply

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by SFSYC</i>
<br />65hoss,
I think it is unrealistic for someone starting out in a lawn business to spend $7000-$11000 on a machine that you'll only run 7 months out of the year. Sure, established companies can afford to spend that and that's great for them, but I can't do it at this point.

I know guys who mow 80+ accounts with $5000 mowers and they seem to do ok.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I agree, that was what I was trying to say. When you are really ready for a rider. You are not at this point. As Odin says, invest in a good comm'l walkbehind. Get started, make some money, then look for the next purchase. By then, you will have a better understanding of your customers lawns so your needs will be apparent.

[little_k]

reply

exmark is toro<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Phil Nilsson</i>
<br />Here are some <font color="red"><b>independent testimonials </b></font id="red">on mowers ...

<font color="red">Exmark ...</font id="red">

"Exmark is the best in the industry for serving their customers with the highest quality of customer service".

"Exmark customer support is much more than I expected".

"We have a Lazer Z, 44 inch Recycler Deck, 17 hp Kawasaki.
Probably the best mower I have ever owned. Major labor saving
machine."

"I bought a Lazer Z HP 52" with 23HP Kawasaki and love it."


"We have a half dozen of their walk behinds. Good units. Like them alot."

"Exmark attention to customer service is second to none."

"I figured the next mower would certainly be a Lazer"


"I ran a ZT 200 for 3 years. Very dependable."

"I think it's just one quality machine. Lazer."

"Exmark Lazer HP with a 23hp Kawi. Just about a perfect machine!"

"I just recently purchased the Exmark Lazer Z, 52", 23 HP kawi. So far I'm very happy with it."

"Bought an Exmark Z-Turn 52" this season and like it very much."

"The Exmark Hp's are truely a great machine."

"I would say go with the lazer HP from exmark."

"As the proud owner of a 2001 Lazer Z, you would be hard pressed to find a machine that can compare...in any price range."

"I also run Exmark mowers,they have been good and my dealer is 3miles away"




<font color="red">John Deere ...</font id="red">
"I have used the John Deere X85 and 75 mowers and wouldn't use anything else."

"I have a John Deere 425 with a 60 inch deck. They are bullet proof machines."

"I run John Deere 2001 commercial walk-behinds and their new Z-Trak F-680 with the 7 iron deck. I am extremely satisfied with John Deere Commercial strength."


<font color="red">Bobcat ...</font id="red">

"I have a ZT bobcat 52 inch with a 23hp kawi, and run double blades. Thus far has been trouble free."

"I own 9 bobcats from 36-61" and love every one of them. The larger units are hydro and are outstanding."

"I have been running bobcats since 1985, and have been very happy with the cut, reliability, and length of service I get out of them."

" Ransome Bobcat is a very nice machine."

"I have a Bobcat ZT200, 60" deck and 22hp Kohler. Most dependable mower of all the ZTR's I have owned."


<font color="red">Walker Mfg. ...</font id="red">

"I have a walker. So far I'm glad I did. As far as I'm concerned it has the best grass handling system on the market."

"I have a Walker. From what I have seen Walker has the best GHS
system."

"I own Walker mowers and love the job they give me."

"I have 26 EFI Walker with 800 hours on it now. Very strong motor. Very fuel efficient."



<font color="red">Dixie Chopper ...</font id="red">
"Have 2 Dixie Choppers, both loaded with hours, cutting in the Florida heat, and have never had a problem."

"I have two Choppers and I think it's more than safe to say that you won't have any overheating problems with them."

"My Dixie Chopper 25hp Kohler has run hard all summer with no overheating trouble."

"I have a 24 HP Honda on my Dixie Choppers and very happy with it."


<font color="red">Wrights ...</font id="red">
"I feel Wrights are great machines. I have owned a 36" Stander for over two years and it has almost 800 hours on it with little if any problems, just bought a 52" Stander about a month ago."

"I love my Wright Stander and my dealer has been great.

<font color="red">Hustler ... </font id="red">

"The Hustler Hog will cut anything it can push over. Even in wet conditions it just chews up grass big time."

"The Excel 272 was the very first dual-hydrostatic drive system ever made, and many of them are still in service today."

"Look into a hustler fastrak, you'll have a well built ztr which is great on slopes and speed, and offer ease of service."


<font color="red">Ferris ...</font id="red">
"I have used a Ferris walk behind 48" with no real trouble.

" We own Ferris riders and 3 wheelers. Great machine, built to last, like a tank."

"I was very impressed with thew Ferris walk-behind. Seemed very well built and engineered."

<font color="red">Great Dane...</font id="red">

"We got our first Great Dane surfer 36 inch and the guys seem to love it. The cuts are looking good to me. It seems to be real strong."

<font color="red">Lesco ...</font id="red">
" Just bought a new Lesco 48" 17 Kawasaki,hydro w/electric start and their sulky and I love it."

<font color="red">Scag ...</font id="red">
"Scag mowers are tanks that do wonderful jobs for us."

Have A Nice Day!!!!!![]

Phil Nilsson
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">