So I know zero turn is faster and the riding can haul so what are some other pros and cons? I do not live an a hilly area or have lots of obstacles. What are some good reliable zero turns?

I have a riding mower but leaning towards a zero turn. I am not sure what I would use to haul in its place when I need to but thinking of a UTV for that and fun.

We live on a few acres with 100+ trees, relatively flat and my zero turn cut mowing time in half. It turns on a dime and a very comfortable ride compared my old Craftsman I use at the deer lease. Lots of good brands but we went with a Big Dog for the price & local shop for maintenance if needed. So far just a spring tune up and blade sharpening every year. Wife & kiddos love to mow as well as they think it’s a go-cart like toy.

https://www.bigdogmowerco.com/products/alpha-mp

When you say "haul" you mean like pull a little trailer? You can do that with a zero turn also. My FIL has a Hustler it has a place to mount a ball on the back, but he actually drilled a hole in the front and put a ball on there and moves the 5x8 trailer he tows the mower on with it. No problems.

Ill likely be replacing my craftsman rider in a year or so with a zero turn. My deck is about to carp out on the rider and I will like the faster and better turning.

I had a Hustler before i moved. It was a great machine for home use. 1.5 acre used to take me a little over an hour and a half with the old regular rider. Got it down to about 45-50 minutes with the zero turn.

Yes a little trailer for top soil, mulch, etc. Good to know, sounds like a zero turn will be next.

how big is the lot you need to cut?

My dad has a John Deere, from their store, not one of the ones from Lowes, and it was a big improvement over his old riding mower. The ride alone is worth it, but speeding up the mowing process was also nice.

I've had both and regularly mow 1 1/2 acres. The zero turn is night and day difference. Mowing time was cut substantially and maneuverability is way better. I'll never own another rider.

little over an acre, have another side thats another 1.5 but I usually only cut that once a year by someone else with a shredder.

Here's my rig...

I can't believe I waited so many years to get a zero turn. Also, I have a hitch on my Skagg and have pulled a chemical sprayer to spray for sand burs. I'm sure it would pull a small trailer.

A few weeks ago I heard my neighbor out mowing the yard as I was getting ready to start. Whenever I got into my front yard he was already done with the front yard and moving to the backyard. Now we live on two and a half acres. I was finished mowing ran to the store got some beers came back and he was still mowing.

Hills are the enemy to the zero turn. I have a bar ditch in front of my house that is a part of my yard, if the front wheels get pointed down hill it's going to the bottom. That is the only negative I've found.

You need to figure out your price point then shop accordingly. The biggest difference is serviceable transmissions or not, do you need that level of quality or not? Only you can answer that. Your trannies (I'm not talking about 2Beez here) will likely not last if you pull things so the serviceable would be better.

Brands to look at...Skagg, Cub, Ariens, Hustler, BadBoy, Toro etc there are a lot and you just have to compare them and their parts. Biggest thing is pick the motor you want and start seeing who uses that engine. I specifically wanted the Kawasaki because in my opinion it's MUCH better than the Briggs and Koehler. That limited what I could've gotten.

Maneuvering. Hands down. Unless you live on the side of a hill near BigPig.

If your not going to service the servicable pumps i would just buy the non serviceable ones.

FIL's has been going for over 5 years now on original non servicable hydro pumps. He mows 3 one acre +/- properties with it and moves the trailer with it every time he mows.

That’s because you don’t know how to drive.



I only slide into to ditch due to wet grass and mud.

Your mud is slicker’n owl snot. That’s why I said that.

I have a J.D..……
It ain't, the so called "best", I know...………….But, it ain't 6k either....
But, it's way better, than any riding mower...…….
And it's been trouble free, for six years...…….

Barrow ditch. Look it up on the pecan thread.

borrow or bar ditch. Yes, I looked it up: Bar Ditch?

I have a John Deere X300 riding mower. It will spins just about like a zero turn. I can spin around a small tree no problem.

The professional lawn companies around here have no problems with the hills. My neighbors back yard is at approx. 30 degree slope into the lake. The pro's as I call them don't even slow down.

What ever you buy, get them to let you do a test mow with one. I wish I would have upgraded to a better seat than just the standard one. The new adjustable seats are expensive, but sure help out on the ride. Also look at FERRIS mowers, they have a spring suspension that really makes them smooth riding.

John Deere z455 with the heavy deck