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Bad boy definitely the best bang for your buck. 7 gauge deck on even its residential lineup and they sell directly to dealerships and not through a wholesaler. That is why you get a better price for the same amount of equipment on another mowers.
Coming from a JD X330 lawn tractor to an Ariens Ikon Onyx 52. I wish I'd had this mower years ago!! Absolute beast of a machine and the cut is a thing of beauty
I have a 2023 John Deere Z545R with the 60" deck and haven't been disappointed! My only complaint is how the spindles will hold water. It's not a problem for me, though. Previous mower was a John Deere z355e and a Gravely ZT52HD. I mow 5 acres, and the 545R is doing it all alone right now. Occasionally, I will use the finish mower behind my John Deere compact tractor to help as my wife likes to hog the mower.
True. I forgot to mention that. All the other brands had welded decks. Plus the JD deck holds water and dirt around the spindles causing corrosion faster
@@Mechanical_Mind I have a '21 Z720E and it seems plenty thick for a "stamped" deck to me. Being stamped, I find the curves of the deck are better.. resulting in less grass build up on the bottom side of the deck. I was surprised to see how expensive these have gotten in the last few years. I bought mine in 2021 with the 54 deck and 23hp kawasaki for approx 6k.. Now that configuration is around $8500 from what I've seen.
A disadvantage of a stamped deck is the thickness of the steel. A simple solution is to not smash into things. An advantage is the curves are computer designed and flow air and clippings more efficiently than a welded deck. My personal opinion is that a stamped deck is perfectly fine for a residential user who maintains and treats their equipment well
It's not about stamped or welded, it's about material thickness. John Deere commercial stamped decks are thicker steel than some other welded decks. I'm not a fan of JD but I am a metal worker. JD has the tooling and equipment to produce large industrial equipment. Smaller companies can't afford to invest in the necessary equipment to produce lawn mowers only. 7 gauge material is stronger than 10 gauge regardless if it's stamped or welded
I bought a Z530M last year when they were doing 0% financing. I’ve used it 5 times so far and I’m very impressed. It’s leaps and bounds better than the previous Z5 series. The seat is absolutely amazing, and it cuts really well too. Was concerned about the stamped deck but it seems to be thick enough and heavy duty. I never use water on the top part of the deck and it’s always kept in a dry place, so hopefully that slows any rust issues.
I was considering a Bad Boy, but it seems they have a lot of complaints of belt issues and Bad Boy not honoring warranty issues and passing the buck with dealers. Not sure whats best.
I’ve been Mowing lawns residential and commercial for the last 30 years and now I have cub cadet 60 inch and it’s the best I’ve ever . had, I’ve had every zero turn mower you have on your list, but the Cub is the best ,
Number one thing to consider is parts availability. My orange one was very good till i needed ideler pulleys 21 days and 75 bucks each. Green one is 40 years old dealer said just a minute went into parts room came out with new pulleys 45 bucks each. The rest of the storry our new one is green i wanted to order a hitch for it dealer says i will have to order it . We are in Saskatchewan he says part is i US will phone when it is in. 2 days later come and pick it up. See why my new one is green.
Don’t sleep on a Bobcat. They are making great mowers. I bought the ZT 2000 which is the cheapest at around 5,300. It has 10 gauge deck with 7 gauge spindle supports. 2800 hydros which can be serviced. Had mine for two years with absolutely no problems what so ever. I did a lot of research on zero turn mowers and I’m so glad I chose Bobcat. If you’re in the market for a zero turn,give Bobcat a look. You will be pleasantly surprised!
I was surprised to learn that we had a bobcat dealer within 45 minutes of my home so I reached out to them to get a quote and to make an appointment One. I like the fact that Bobcat has such a long and strong name in the commercial equipment market that deals with a lot of major hydraulics, so that must count for something when they designed and built their zero turns. Only problem is I have not heard back from them yet and it has been almost a week. They were closed when I discovered them so I left them a message through their website and also emailed them.
This is the best review I've ever seen for ZTs but these prices you mention are way variable between the dealers would be nice to see if u can dial into pricing info a bit more
Thanks. Yes, different dealerships will offer sales and deals so it would be very difficult to dial in pricing that would be relevant to people across the country. The pricing I listed was what was currently listed on the manufacturer's websites.
One of the best comparison videos I’ve seen. No drama or unnecessary theatrics or squealing sounds or dumb voices.. Just gets right to the info we came for. Nicely done.. You’ve helped me narrow down my selection, and I have been researching for at least two months. The Arian models in this price range, and even a little lower, surprised me to see the tire size and hydros that they come with a which put them higher on my list right off the bat plus I heard that area had Martin oh, that other company that made those really nice heavy duty zero turns called hornets or something like that? Another surprise to me was the zero turns from Dewalt. The 200 and 300 series or two and 3’s come packed with features, many of which are mostly found on commercial machines, including upgraded heavy duty, hydros for a very good price point. A little concerned with those being that they are owned by MTD, but they are clearly not rebranded cub cadets after looking at the specs and researching them, I have a lead on a used 2023 John Deere Z 45R with only 35 hours for six grand at a dealer.. I’m probably gonna go with that one after watching this video and your detailed review but the Dewalt and or the Aryan could potentially still steal my business after I demoed them. Do you have any opinions or input on the Dewalt ZT2’s or ZT3’s? What is your favorite model in this price range..? Thanks again-
Have used all except the John Deer found the Bobcat to be superior has the serviceable transmissions extremely well built deck, nice Kawasaki engine blade speeds industries highest just seems to really lay down a better cut and is much more durable than the others. not sure maybe the John Deere is nice but I haven’t driven it
Just bought a Ferris 600z love it so far. A little bit over the 7k limit but it's like driving a Cadillac compared to my old Gravely 44z. I will say that the Gravely lasted me 20 years, motor finally gave out.
Scag corrected their website in regards to the deck and transaxle combinations. 36" and 42" have zt2800's, 48" and 52" have tz450's, and the 61" has the zt3100
I have a green Bobcat fast cat mower that has nearly 600 hours on it and other than flat tires, blade sharpening, filter changes and oil changes it has been great to me. Doosan bought out Bobcat turf afew years ago and changed the colors from green to white but it looks similar to the one I have. The handle on mine looks just like the one in the video and still works just fine and hasn’t broken yet.
The most important point for long term reliability is a transmission that has the provision to change the oil and a filter. It suchs to buy a transmission out of warranty, and to not be able to easily chance the gear oil. Transmissions!!
Good comprehensive review. I looked at almost all of these. Ended up buying a Toro Titan. I've been really impressed with it. Might just be Buyers Stockholm Syndrome but I think it cuts and stripes better than some other brands used in the neighborhood. Unsure if there is any science to that. Neighbors have a bobcat and a john deere. There is a service that uses a Scag. I think my stripes are more vibrant, which I like. I was hesitant of the John Deere but wish I would have looked into one a little more. I was turned off by the stamped deck and some less commercial build features. In reality I'm sure its 100% fine for normal residential use. Very pleased with the Toro so far. The more aggressive tires seam to tear up the yard less but still hold hills.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of those mowers for residential use. I went with John Deere there's a dealer only 10 minutes away. I've personally have never had any problems with a stamped deck. I just use my leaf blower to clean the deck off when I'm finished mowing, there are holes drilled around the spindle housing to maybe help with water pooling if its exposed to a bunch of water for some reason.
Fabricated decks are more durable and required for commercial use. Residential mowers will last a long time if kept in a garage, carport, or shed and kept clean and maintained. They don't get heavy hours and a stamped deck is fine and gives a nicer cut. I like heavy duty, but it isn't always the best choice for an application like a 1 acre residential yard, for instance.
I always enjoy your videos. I am kind of John Deere biased as I was raised on a farm and John Deere was my favorite brand of tractor and stayed with them for mowers as we always had a good local dealer close to home. I know the high end Toro mowers are good as I use one of those for mowing athletic fields at my area school system. I like the "My Ride" option on that one. Bad boy looks like a good option but no dealers around here. Bobcat makes good stuff but the mower does not appeal to me. I would like to hear your opinion on a John Deere Z740R. I don't think I ever heard you mention that model. That's what I have now (54" deck) and really like it. Thanks.
The 700 series are really nice mowers. The higher end stuff is were John Deere really starts taking the lead. Especially in the agricultural equipment. I know I've been critical of John Deere on entry-level residential equipment like the 100 series lawn tractors. That's not were JD makes their name or money. I enjoy doing the videos and hopefully as I get more experience doing videos, it will become faster and easier to cover more topics. Thanks for watching!
Question about the BadBoys. Does the seat move forward. I’m a 5’2” female. I’m concerned i wont be able to reach the foot pedal necessary to lift the deck height. Thx.
My Bad Boy burned down the other day, literally. I parked it after mowing about 2 acres and shut it down. When I got off, I saw the engine was on fire. By the time I got it put out, it was a total loss. I will never have a Kohler motor.
@@Mechanical_Mind I think it developed an oil leak and it dripped on the muffler/exhaust and got hot enough to ignite. It acted like an oil fire (other than the plastic parts) and it required a fire extinguisher to put it out. I would post pics, but this is UA-cam.
appreciate the in depth review. I have one question I was watching your older video on the bobcat zt2000, and I was wondering if you would recommend that over these ZTR's. I think I've narrowed my search down to either a liberty Z or the ZT-2000
Honestly, I think both the Liberty Z and ZT2000 are great choices. Those would be my own top two choices. I'd see how the dealership's location and customer service is to help narrow down the choice. The new Toro Titan HDs is another good option
@@Mechanical_Mind Appreciate the reply. I'll have to look into the Titans tonight. The ZT-2000 wasn't even on my radar, but I found an end of year close out on one for 4700. The scag hasn't had such offers yet and is roughly 1k more.
I like the both the Bobcat zt2000 and the Toro Titan. The deciding factor for me would be the dealership location and the way the dealership handles things and treats its customers. That makes a huge difference.
I’ve looked at all these today and confused on what like and you haven’t helped me decide. Lol. But I’ll ask you this because I’m cutting roughly three acres, with some steep incline and I’d like it to pull my leaf sweeper (which gets heavy at times) so I’m concerned about transmission. So, you give me your opinion please.
@@Mechanical_Mind Thanks. You did briefly mention the model. The wider rear wheels, larger front wheels, easy front plate removal and suspension seat all make it much more appealing than the entry level model. I am definitely a fan of the Z242. I’m wondering if you think it is a decent value for the price.
I just bought a 14 acre property with about 10 acres of grass to cut. What would you recommend buying? I want something that is durable and dependable that will last for a long time.
@@leadnsteel1428 Can I cut approx 10 acres of clear flat land with a 60" deck zero turn or do i need a bush hog? Is a SCAG worth paying the extra money over the Bad Boy if a zero turn will get the job done?
@@user-gc1oh5sp9t regular zero turn is fine. Also you could get a walk behind or a stand on mower it depends on what you want to spend. I have an older SCAG 48 walker and it's a beast. It cuts anything just need to keep the blades sharp. I just got a Badboy 48 inch raider walk behind and it's a beast so far but for 10 acres a sit down mower that has 52 inch cut and an adjustable height would be good. Toro and Gravely are also good ones too just talk your landscape dealer.
I have no dog in this fight, but Im looking at purchasing my first. Why is there hate on Bad Boy? That is a dealer I have near me. Is it a Ford and Chevy thing or more to it? I want to buy a one and done and heard to get the transmission that is serviceable. I will mow about an acre twice a week. Thanks for any advice.
Shopping local dealers, my first choice was Gravely but they didn't offer a 54" deck, a deal killer for me. So my next choice was the Bad Boy ZT Elite, didn't have one in stock and was going to charge an extra 250.00 for delivery so I walked away. Not a fan of the Husqvarna but the dealership was close by so I went in just to see what model was comparable and the cost. Well half the showroom floor was covered with a mower I never heard of, it was Spartan. After thinking about it and a little research I purchased the Spartan RZ 54, for the price and build quality it was enough to sell me.
What sold you on the Spartan exactly? (If you care to share).. I’m in a very similar boat, but have not seen a Spartan. Due to availability and price, I was also planning to go look at Husqvarna after initially not really wanting to (although I like their ride on garden tractors.) Well, when looking up the website for the Husqvarna dealer, I saw that he also sells the Arien brand and remembered I have heard some pretty interesting and positive things about them so after researching that brand and finding out what you get for the price I ended up making an appointment to look at those. So although I have not ruled out the bobcat and Toro completely, it is looking more and more like it will come down to that lightly used John Deere Z545R or a Z2 or 3 series DeWalt or one of the mid-level Arian models.
@@Darek-i6b My advice would be to find a Spartan dealer and see for yourself. The lower models share the same heavy duty frames and deck as their commercial models.
@Mechanical_Mind I'm getting ready to purchase a new Z-Turn. But I want to know what you would advise me to get. Hustler, Scag, or Cub Cadet? I have approximately 3 acres of land to mow.
I have 2.5 mowable acres. Some of it is bumpy/slightly uneven. What is best to use a zero turn or lawn tractor? I currently have a Husqvarna 48 in that is 9 years-old.
Hey Fred, the Husqvarnas are still good mowers. I'd go with a zero turn. I like the new Toro Timecutter Max and Toro Titans, also like Gravleys. Scag is the top of the line but comes at a price.
nice video too bad you dont have the #1 tied ridng mower with Toro CUB CADET !!! "Both the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 and the Cub Cadet ZT1 mower are popular residential zero-turn mowers. The Cub Cadet is a quality mower and has been touted as extremely comfortable and easy to use. Back in 2023, I would have suggested the Cub Cadet is the superior mower, .Jan 16, 2024
This would be my first mower. I dont care if it's a tracter mower or zero turn styles. I just want something durable and at a good price range or either a good used durable lawnmower i should be looking for. I dont have 8 thousand to spend on a 2 grass acre land.
I will neve have a tractor again. Zero turn is so much faster and efficient. It cut my time in half. I never found a tractor that would last 20 years, either.
I’m not sure on the gravely but I do know that bobcat is offering 0% financing or a $500 cash rebate on the zt2000 right now. I did some pretty extensive research and the bobcat is a very solid mower. Seems that as long as you have a serviceable hydro and a fabricated deck, as long as you maintain it well just about any mower in this price range should do fine. I’m personally going to buy a bobcat zt2000 tomorrow from my local dealer. Also don’t be scared to negotiate the price of the mower, some dealers price them a bit high and should definitely be able to bring the price down
I don’t see a need for having a non stamped deck, you can’t get a round deck that is stamped. With a deck that has square corners grass will build up especially when it’s wet
I've been mowing commercially for 20 years. I've never used anything but SCAG. I've looked at every other mower and just laugh. Some of the BS i see makes me laugh. Something nobody ever thinks of is a black seat. You can fry an egg on a black seat in middle of summer. Now you're going to sit on that? You can go into anyone of my neighborhoods i mow in and tell exactly which ones i take care of. I promise you there isn't a better mower than a SCAG. Yes they have flaws but nothing cuts like a SCAG.
About two or more levels higher than the mowers in this video with a price to match. Dixie Choppers are commercial grade units. The mowers in this video are not even the highest level residential units and cost much less than a Dixie Chopper. Unless something has recently changed, Dixie Chopper and Grasshopper dont offer residential mowers. Many of the other brands like Scag, Toro, John Deere, etc, all offer commercial and residential mowers.
You asked for comments. Here it is. The John Deere Z530R will beat the dog snot out of ANY residential mower in this price range. Scag WILL NOT be considered by me for any price because of its deck height change system. John Deere stamped deck is far less likely to rust than any of the others. JD is way faster, way more comfortable with it's comfort glide suspension, and cuts cleaner than any mower under 7k. I would not consider the John Deere Z545 at all. EFI is unproven as of yet. There is a reason that John Deere outsells every competitor combined in the residential arena. Because they are just plain better. Commercial is a different question. But in residential the JD will out cut, out handle anything and be noticeably more comfortable. Hail to the King baby. Also no brand has as many dealers if you need service which is a HUGE deal. Having a dealer nearby doesn't matter, until it does.
First id love to try out the Bobcat and cut a few yards on the bobcat Idk, it is maybe the best , But idk without trying it out , BUT i think the Best is the Ariens/ Gravely , But i think the best Every day mower to go cut lawns with, and all around BEST mower for this price range ( That CAN BE USED AS A COMMERCIAL MOWER ) IS THE Gravely. For the Price and KAWI engine you just cant go wrong there , ( If the same mower was a Scag it would cost $12,000 and thats a No brainer , the Gravely is the one to go use Every day and go cut your yards But if Your well off with money, buy the Cadillac of mowers and get the Ariens, , The new bobcat got my attention, But the Scag, IMHO They are Priced to high, ( Nd they have WAY to many differant versions with engines and JUST BULLSHISH) i dont see why they don't make it ALOT MORE SIMPLE like Ariens and Gravely and just go 100% with the tried and tested Best engine with the Kawi , good work buddy !!! Im going to have to watch this again about 10 times , but ty !!!
I loved my Gravely 44z. Lasted 20 years. Finally got to the point where repairs were cost prohibitive. Bought a Ferris though, it rides so nice compared to the old Gravely.
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I just bought the bad boy Maverick.
Thanks for helping me out.
How do you like it so far? I saw one at Tractor Supply, and it looks good .
Hell, yeah, I just bought a maverick as well, which will be delivered the day after tomorrow. I can't wait
I got a Raider 36 and it's dope. It's got a sulky and it cuts nice.
I bought my Maverick at the beginning of the year. I have 27.5 hours on it ,I love it so far.
Bad boy definitely the best bang for your buck. 7 gauge deck on even its residential lineup and they sell directly to dealerships and not through a wholesaler. That is why you get a better price for the same amount of equipment on another mowers.
Coming from a JD X330 lawn tractor to an Ariens Ikon Onyx 52. I wish I'd had this mower years ago!! Absolute beast of a machine and the cut is a thing of beauty
Went with the Gravely HD52 it is a beast cut my mowing time almost in half from a Husqvarna garden tractor 54
I was just telling a customer that a 36" deck zero turn will run circles around a 48" deck lawn tractor.
I have a 2023 John Deere Z545R with the 60" deck and haven't been disappointed! My only complaint is how the spindles will hold water. It's not a problem for me, though. Previous mower was a John Deere z355e and a Gravely ZT52HD. I mow 5 acres, and the 545R is doing it all alone right now. Occasionally, I will use the finish mower behind my John Deere compact tractor to help as my wife likes to hog the mower.
Excellent video 👏 👏
I own two Ariens 52' and 60' I'm very happy, they get the job, no complaints.
Have a good one 👍
Thanks! I like the Areins mowers
JD has a stamped deck, biggest flaw.
True. I forgot to mention that. All the other brands had welded decks. Plus the JD deck holds water and dirt around the spindles causing corrosion faster
@@Mechanical_Mind I have a '21 Z720E and it seems plenty thick for a "stamped" deck to me. Being stamped, I find the curves of the deck are better.. resulting in less grass build up on the bottom side of the deck. I was surprised to see how expensive these have gotten in the last few years. I bought mine in 2021 with the 54 deck and 23hp kawasaki for approx 6k.. Now that configuration is around $8500 from what I've seen.
A disadvantage of a stamped deck is the thickness of the steel. A simple solution is to not smash into things.
An advantage is the curves are computer designed and flow air and clippings more efficiently than a welded deck. My personal opinion is that a stamped deck is perfectly fine for a residential user who maintains and treats their equipment well
It's not about stamped or welded, it's about material thickness. John Deere commercial stamped decks are thicker steel than some other welded decks. I'm not a fan of JD but I am a metal worker. JD has the tooling and equipment to produce large industrial equipment. Smaller companies can't afford to invest in the necessary equipment to produce lawn mowers only. 7 gauge material is stronger than 10 gauge regardless if it's stamped or welded
@@williamcreech2672 ive never seen a 7ga stampted deck! They could be out there but ive never seen one personally!
I bought a scag liberty z last year for $5900. Has the 61" deck, sr engine, and 3100 hydros. Puts down a nice cut. So far, so good
How many acres do you have? I'm considering this exact model.
@@JoeLewis14 I cut about 3 acres a week
What is ...puts down?
I bought a Z530M last year when they were doing 0% financing. I’ve used it 5 times so far and I’m very impressed. It’s leaps and bounds better than the previous Z5 series. The seat is absolutely amazing, and it cuts really well too. Was concerned about the stamped deck but it seems to be thick enough and heavy duty. I never use water on the top part of the deck and it’s always kept in a dry place, so hopefully that slows any rust issues.
I was considering a Bad Boy, but it seems they have a lot of complaints of belt issues and Bad Boy not honoring warranty issues and passing the buck with dealers. Not sure whats best.
I’ve been Mowing lawns residential and commercial for the last 30 years and now I have cub cadet 60 inch and it’s the best I’ve ever . had, I’ve had every zero turn mower you have on your list, but the Cub is the best ,
What model do u have
Number one thing to consider is parts availability. My orange one was very good till i needed ideler pulleys 21 days and 75 bucks each. Green one is 40 years old dealer said just a minute went into parts room came out with new pulleys 45 bucks each. The rest of the storry our new one is green i wanted to order a hitch for it dealer says i will have to order it . We are in Saskatchewan he says part is i US will phone when it is in. 2 days later come and pick it up. See why my new one is green.
Don’t sleep on a Bobcat. They are making great mowers. I bought the ZT 2000 which is the cheapest at around 5,300. It has 10 gauge deck with 7 gauge spindle supports. 2800 hydros which can be serviced. Had mine for two years with absolutely no problems what so ever. I did a lot of research on zero turn mowers and I’m so glad I chose Bobcat. If you’re in the market for a zero turn,give Bobcat a look. You will be pleasantly surprised!
I was surprised to learn that we had a bobcat dealer within 45 minutes of my home so I reached out to them to get a quote and to make an appointment One. I like the fact that Bobcat has such a long and strong name in the commercial equipment market that deals with a lot of major hydraulics, so that must count for something when they designed and built their zero turns.
Only problem is I have not heard back from them yet and it has been almost a week. They were closed when I discovered them so I left them a message through their website and also emailed them.
This is the best review I've ever seen for ZTs but these prices you mention are way variable between the dealers would be nice to see if u can dial into pricing info a bit more
Thanks. Yes, different dealerships will offer sales and deals so it would be very difficult to dial in pricing that would be relevant to people across the country. The pricing I listed was what was currently listed on the manufacturer's websites.
Great video - I like all the through depth of the reviews. Much appreciated from 🇨🇦
One of the best comparison videos I’ve seen. No drama or unnecessary theatrics or squealing sounds or dumb voices.. Just gets right to the info we came for. Nicely done..
You’ve helped me narrow down my selection, and I have been researching for at least two months. The Arian models in this price range, and even a little lower, surprised me to see the tire size and hydros that they come with a which put them higher on my list right off the bat plus I heard that area had Martin oh, that other company that made those really nice heavy duty zero turns called hornets or something like that?
Another surprise to me was the zero turns from Dewalt. The 200 and 300 series or two and 3’s come packed with features, many of which are mostly found on commercial machines, including upgraded heavy duty, hydros for a very good price point. A little concerned with those being that they are owned by MTD, but they are clearly not rebranded cub cadets after looking at the specs and researching them, I have a lead on a used 2023 John Deere Z 45R with only 35 hours for six grand at a dealer..
I’m probably gonna go with that one after watching this video and your detailed review but the Dewalt and or the Aryan could potentially still steal my business after I demoed them. Do you have any opinions or input on the Dewalt ZT2’s or ZT3’s?
What is your favorite model in this price range..?
Thanks again-
Great video so much information much appreciated since I'm shopping
Have used all except the John Deer found the Bobcat to be superior has the serviceable transmissions extremely well built deck, nice Kawasaki engine blade speeds industries highest just seems to really lay down a better cut and is much more durable than the others. not sure maybe the John Deere is nice but I haven’t driven it
Just bought a Ferris 600z love it so far. A little bit over the 7k limit but it's like driving a Cadillac compared to my old Gravely 44z. I will say that the Gravely lasted me 20 years, motor finally gave out.
Scag corrected their website in regards to the deck and transaxle combinations. 36" and 42" have zt2800's, 48" and 52" have tz450's, and the 61" has the zt3100
I have a green Bobcat fast cat mower that has nearly 600 hours on it and other than flat tires, blade sharpening, filter changes and oil changes it has been great to me. Doosan bought out Bobcat turf afew years ago and changed the colors from green to white but it looks similar to the one I have. The handle on mine looks just like the one in the video and still works just fine and hasn’t broken yet.
Next do the best commercial zero turn $7k-$10k please !!!! I just subscribed.
Do you have video on zero turns under 5k?
The most important point for long term reliability is a transmission that has the provision to change the oil and a filter. It suchs to buy a transmission out of warranty, and to not be able to easily chance the gear oil. Transmissions!!
Good comprehensive review. I looked at almost all of these. Ended up buying a Toro Titan. I've been really impressed with it. Might just be Buyers Stockholm Syndrome but I think it cuts and stripes better than some other brands used in the neighborhood. Unsure if there is any science to that. Neighbors have a bobcat and a john deere. There is a service that uses a Scag. I think my stripes are more vibrant, which I like. I was hesitant of the John Deere but wish I would have looked into one a little more. I was turned off by the stamped deck and some less commercial build features. In reality I'm sure its 100% fine for normal residential use. Very pleased with the Toro so far. The more aggressive tires seam to tear up the yard less but still hold hills.
Nice job . I always appreciate the prices being shown .
I don't think you can go wrong with any of those mowers for residential use. I went with John Deere there's a dealer only 10 minutes away. I've personally have never had any problems with a stamped deck. I just use my leaf blower to clean the deck off when I'm finished mowing, there are holes drilled around the spindle housing to maybe help with water pooling if its exposed to a bunch of water for some reason.
Looking forward to your Bad Boy Maverick review. Would be great if you compare to the ZT Elite.
Nope nice try
Exceptional video. Thanks! Seems like gravely is the way to go
I just got the Gravely HD 48 today it’s a beast
So which one are we going with?
Amazing video, !!! Very good info
How helpful this is, thanks for it!
I hope the ones i like have also got lots of grease fittings wherever no sealed. 👍
Fabricated decks are more durable and required for commercial use. Residential mowers will last a long time if kept in a garage, carport, or shed and kept clean and maintained. They don't get heavy hours and a stamped deck is fine and gives a nicer cut. I like heavy duty, but it isn't always the best choice for an application like a 1 acre residential yard, for instance.
I always enjoy your videos. I am kind of John Deere biased as I was raised on a farm and John Deere was my favorite brand of tractor and stayed with them for mowers as we always had a good local dealer close to home. I know the high end Toro mowers are good as I use one of those for mowing athletic fields at my area school system. I like the "My Ride" option on that one. Bad boy looks like a good option but no dealers around here. Bobcat makes good stuff but the mower does not appeal to me. I would like to hear your opinion on a John Deere Z740R. I don't think I ever heard you mention that model. That's what I have now (54" deck) and really like it. Thanks.
The 700 series are really nice mowers. The higher end stuff is were John Deere really starts taking the lead. Especially in the agricultural equipment. I know I've been critical of John Deere on entry-level residential equipment like the 100 series lawn tractors. That's not were JD makes their name or money.
I enjoy doing the videos and hopefully as I get more experience doing videos, it will become faster and easier to cover more topics. Thanks for watching!
Question about the BadBoys. Does the seat move forward. I’m a 5’2” female. I’m concerned i wont be able to reach the foot pedal necessary to lift the deck height. Thx.
I bought a bad boy maverick 3200 60 " love it
My Bad Boy burned down the other day, literally. I parked it after mowing about 2 acres and shut it down. When I got off, I saw the engine was on fire. By the time I got it put out, it was a total loss. I will never have a Kohler motor.
What caused it to catch on fire?
@@Mechanical_Mind I think it developed an oil leak and it dripped on the muffler/exhaust and got hot enough to ignite. It acted like an oil fire (other than the plastic parts) and it required a fire extinguisher to put it out. I would post pics, but this is UA-cam.
appreciate the in depth review. I have one question I was watching your older video on the bobcat zt2000, and I was wondering if you would recommend that over these ZTR's. I think I've narrowed my search down to either a liberty Z or the ZT-2000
Honestly, I think both the Liberty Z and ZT2000 are great choices. Those would be my own top two choices. I'd see how the dealership's location and customer service is to help narrow down the choice.
The new Toro Titan HDs is another good option
@@Mechanical_Mind Appreciate the reply. I'll have to look into the Titans tonight. The ZT-2000 wasn't even on my radar, but I found an end of year close out on one for 4700. The scag hasn't had such offers yet and is roughly 1k more.
I just bought my liberty z 52 and scag engine from Apopka mower
I love Toro. You said they were known for there "high blade tip speed" What do you mean by that?
Would you go with bobcat 2000 series, an exmark radius e series with Chinese motor, or toro titan
I like the both the Bobcat zt2000 and the Toro Titan. The deciding factor for me would be the dealership location and the way the dealership handles things and treats its customers. That makes a huge difference.
@@Mechanical_Mindit’s now between exmark radius, bobcat zt3000, and John Deere z530r
I try to avoid Brigs engines they have never held up for me.
I’ve looked at all these today and confused on what like and you haven’t helped me decide. Lol. But I’ll ask you this because I’m cutting roughly three acres, with some steep incline and I’d like it to pull my leaf sweeper (which gets heavy at times) so I’m concerned about transmission. So, you give me your opinion please.
Fantastic videos will you be covering snapper zero turns at any point ?
How about including the Kubota Z242 with Kawasaki engine and suspension seat in the next review?
Will do. I need to visit a Kubota dealer next week anyway. Thanks for watching!
Here is a video I did 5 months ago showing the Kubota Z232
ua-cam.com/video/W87Wvn7Q4bM/v-deo.html
@@Mechanical_Mind Thanks. You did briefly mention the model. The wider rear wheels, larger front wheels, easy front plate removal and suspension seat all make it much more appealing than the entry level model. I am definitely a fan of the Z242. I’m wondering if you think it is a decent value for the price.
I just bought a 14 acre property with about 10 acres of grass to cut. What would you recommend buying? I want something that is durable and dependable that will last for a long time.
If you want a good price get Badboy. Scag and Hustler would be my other choices.
@@leadnsteel1428 Can I cut approx 10 acres of clear flat land with a 60" deck zero turn or do i need a bush hog? Is a SCAG worth paying the extra money over the Bad Boy if a zero turn will get the job done?
@@user-gc1oh5sp9t regular zero turn is fine. Also you could get a walk behind or a stand on mower it depends on what you want to spend.
I have an older SCAG 48 walker and it's a beast. It cuts anything just need to keep the blades sharp.
I just got a Badboy 48 inch raider walk behind and it's a beast so far but for 10 acres a sit down mower that has 52 inch cut and an adjustable height would be good.
Toro and Gravely are also good ones too just talk your landscape dealer.
Livestock
Ariens ikon 52 inch I just bought one.
I have no dog in this fight, but Im looking at purchasing my first. Why is there hate on Bad Boy? That is a dealer I have near me. Is it a Ford and Chevy thing or more to it? I want to buy a one and done and heard to get the transmission that is serviceable. I will mow about an acre twice a week. Thanks for any advice.
Shopping local dealers, my first choice was Gravely but they didn't offer a 54" deck, a deal killer for me. So my next choice was the Bad Boy ZT Elite, didn't have one in stock and was going to charge an extra 250.00 for delivery so I walked away. Not a fan of the Husqvarna but the dealership was close by so I went in just to see what model was comparable and the cost. Well half the showroom floor was covered with a mower I never heard of, it was Spartan. After thinking about it and a little research I purchased the Spartan RZ 54, for the price and build quality it was enough to sell me.
What sold you on the Spartan exactly? (If you care to share)..
I’m in a very similar boat, but have not seen a Spartan. Due to availability and price, I was also planning to go look at Husqvarna after initially not really wanting to (although I like their ride on garden tractors.)
Well, when looking up the website for the Husqvarna dealer, I saw that he also sells the Arien brand and remembered I have heard some pretty interesting and positive things about them so after researching that brand and finding out what you get for the price I ended up making an appointment to look at those.
So although I have not ruled out the bobcat and Toro completely, it is looking more and more like it will come down to that lightly used John Deere Z545R or a Z2 or 3 series DeWalt or one of the mid-level Arian models.
@@Darek-i6b My advice would be to find a Spartan dealer and see for yourself. The lower models share the same heavy duty frames and deck as their commercial models.
My favorite was the toro titan max and the John Deere 60”
@Mechanical_Mind
I'm getting ready to purchase a new Z-Turn. But I want to know what you would advise me to get.
Hustler, Scag, or Cub Cadet?
I have approximately 3 acres of land to mow.
Scag
@Mechanical_Mind
Thank you!
I have 2.5 mowable acres. Some of it is bumpy/slightly uneven. What is best to use a zero turn or lawn tractor? I currently have a Husqvarna 48 in that is 9 years-old.
Hey Fred, the Husqvarnas are still good mowers. I'd go with a zero turn. I like the new Toro Timecutter Max and Toro Titans, also like Gravleys. Scag is the top of the line but comes at a price.
Thanks. I was contemplating the Toro or the Bad Boy.
nice video too bad you dont have the #1 tied ridng mower with Toro CUB CADET !!! "Both the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 and the Cub Cadet ZT1 mower are popular residential zero-turn mowers. The Cub Cadet is a quality mower and has been touted as extremely comfortable and easy to use. Back in 2023, I would have suggested the Cub Cadet is the superior mower, .Jan 16, 2024
$4500 What the best mower you would recommend
Ariens Ikon 52 on order.
No question that the gravely is the one to own. I have one and I'll never look back.
What kind of gravy do you have?
@@jaykj150 gravely pro walk.
This would be my first mower. I dont care if it's a tracter mower or zero turn styles. I just want something durable and at a good price range or either a good used durable lawnmower i should be looking for. I dont have 8 thousand to spend on a 2 grass acre land.
Ariens are decent. John Deere tractors as well.
I will neve have a tractor again. Zero turn is so much faster and efficient. It cut my time in half. I never found a tractor that would last 20 years, either.
How about encore zero turn? Thanks NM
Can’t quite decide between the Gravely
ZT X vs the Bobcat ZT2000. Does one stand out from the other?
I’m not sure on the gravely but I do know that bobcat is offering 0% financing or a $500 cash rebate on the zt2000 right now. I did some pretty extensive research and the bobcat is a very solid mower. Seems that as long as you have a serviceable hydro and a fabricated deck, as long as you maintain it well just about any mower in this price range should do fine. I’m personally going to buy a bobcat zt2000 tomorrow from my local dealer. Also don’t be scared to negotiate the price of the mower, some dealers price them a bit high and should definitely be able to bring the price down
I got the Bobcat ZT and love it,great mower!
Grasshopper is good brand I have atoro 50 inch time cutter for the price be hard to beat it 23 hp kawasaki
I don’t see a need for having a non stamped deck, you can’t get a round deck that is stamped. With a deck that has square corners grass will build up especially when it’s wet
The deck belt on that liberty was hung up on the brake rod. I hope y'all didn't shred that belt.
Having chapters in your video would be great so we could skip thru.
Kawis are nice but I want a zero turn with a Yamaha engine in it. Probably not in this price range. 😐
I think wright is the best design
Would help if you included some battery-powered models.
Toro timecutter. Will I be disappointed with the brigs or am I going to want the kawasaki?
I’m not disappointed with the Kawasaki after 1 year.
You left out Ferris, best riding mower on the market.. JS..
Ferris, Stihl, Hustler, Husqvarna and more will be covered in part 2. If I covered all brands in one video it would be 6 hours long
@@Mechanical_Mind saving the best for last 🤪
I've been mowing commercially for 20 years. I've never used anything but SCAG. I've looked at every other mower and just laugh. Some of the BS i see makes me laugh. Something nobody ever thinks of is a black seat. You can fry an egg on a black seat in middle of summer. Now you're going to sit on that? You can go into anyone of my neighborhoods i mow in and tell exactly which ones i take care of. I promise you there isn't a better mower than a SCAG. Yes they have flaws but nothing cuts like a SCAG.
Most people here are going to keep their mower in a building until cutting time. The seat getting hot may not be an issue for them
Cub cadet?
Where does Dixie chopper fall in this group?!?!
About two or more levels higher than the mowers in this video with a price to match. Dixie Choppers are commercial grade units. The mowers in this video are not even the highest level residential units and cost much less than a Dixie Chopper.
Unless something has recently changed, Dixie Chopper and Grasshopper dont offer residential mowers. Many of the other brands like Scag, Toro, John Deere, etc, all offer commercial and residential mowers.
How does a Stihl mower compare to these?
STIHL are Ferris mowers in orange and white paint. So they will be excellent quality just like Ferris.
Scagg
Scagg is top tier no doubt
Where is the Gravely?
@22:05
I wondered also.
Bobcat is not seen were I live
Stay away from the China built brand name engines, stick with the big 3 engines, K,B/S or Ko
Too many options for each brand!
You asked for comments. Here it is. The John Deere Z530R will beat the dog snot out of ANY residential mower in this price range. Scag WILL NOT be considered by me for any price because of its deck height change system. John Deere stamped deck is far less likely to rust than any of the others. JD is way faster, way more comfortable with it's comfort glide suspension, and cuts cleaner than any mower under 7k. I would not consider the John Deere Z545 at all. EFI is unproven as of yet. There is a reason that John Deere outsells every competitor combined in the residential arena. Because they are just plain better. Commercial is a different question. But in residential the JD will out cut, out handle anything and be noticeably more comfortable. Hail to the King baby. Also no brand has as many dealers if you need service which is a HUGE deal. Having a dealer nearby doesn't matter, until it does.
I bought a JD Z530M in 2021 having a dealership within 10 miles played huge in my decision I have had no issues in 150 hours of use
JD has gone woke...not getting a dime from me
First id love to try out the Bobcat and cut a few yards on the bobcat Idk, it is maybe the best , But idk without trying it out , BUT i think the Best is the Ariens/ Gravely , But i think the best Every day mower to go cut lawns with, and all around BEST mower for this price range ( That CAN BE USED AS A COMMERCIAL MOWER ) IS THE Gravely. For the Price and KAWI engine you just cant go wrong there , ( If the same mower was a Scag it would cost $12,000 and thats a No brainer , the Gravely is the one to go use Every day and go cut your yards But if Your well off with money, buy the Cadillac of mowers and get the Ariens, , The new bobcat got my attention, But the Scag, IMHO They are Priced to high, ( Nd they have WAY to many differant versions with engines and JUST BULLSHISH) i dont see why they don't make it ALOT MORE SIMPLE like Ariens and Gravely and just go 100% with the tried and tested Best engine with the Kawi , good work buddy !!! Im going to have to watch this again about 10 times , but ty !!!
I loved my Gravely 44z. Lasted 20 years. Finally got to the point where repairs were cost prohibitive. Bought a Ferris though, it rides so nice compared to the old Gravely.
I disagree on bobcat, everyone one looked at last year had rust showing on the frame welds, never saw rust on any bad boy...,
I just got a Badboy Raider 36 with sulky and it's badass. Good price and and I cut large properties with it.