Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Best zero turn mower under $3K

Ferris builds a hell for stout mower. Folks picked one up a couple years back and love it. I love it when I go to visit.

Not sure what they cost but would guess it's likely north of 3k?

Yeah,...I know $3K won't buy the Rolls Royce. But that's where the budget is.

Besides,...I'm at the age where I don't buy green bananas.

I don't need a 20 year lawnmower.

My buddy who is a power equipment dealer talked me into buying a SCAG that one of his commercial customers traded in for a newer model. If I remember right, it had about 750 hours on it when traded in. I was kinda skeptical about paying (coincidentally) $3000 for it, but he assured me that it would be the last mower I would ever buy. Ever. He cleaned it up and installed new belts, new tires, a new seat, fuel filter and other miscellaneous maintenance items. That was 3 years ago and I am thinking he is right.. I know one thing, the heavy steel all welded deck will never rust through like my stamped TORO deck did.

Ferries is part of Briggs and Stratton so if you aren't a fan of their engine you are out of luck with them.

I bought an Exmark with 700 hours from a former coworker. For $3000. Any issues with it have been self induced. This is my 9th year on it.

A former college classmate is an engineer at Hustler. He has nothing but good things to say about them. He previously was at another small ZTR manufacturer and while working there he told me to never buy one.

Research. They are component machines. Compare components to price, and make your decision.

Look at the kubota ZG series. You can find them in your budget. If you wanted to spend just a little more you could get into the diesel.

Thats because it's built by MTD.

If you consider a used unit take one of those small telescoping magnets and swish it around in the hydraulic reservoir and if you seen a bunch of metal on the end of the magnet pass on it.

And thats who builds most of these in this price range, including many components....

I should say 'many' rather than 'most'.

Not true. You can get them with a Kawasaki engine.

Pretty happy with my Hustler. Did a lot of research pretty solid machine for the price.

Which one did you get?

Sears (MTD) with the smaller deck and Honda engine. I traded with a friend that needed my '95 Jeep - for the ZTR and a golf cart. He had used it for 2 years on 3 acres and I've mowed 1 acre with it for 4 years. No problems....knock on wood. I think I changed 2 belts.

The deck is what usually caused problems after you hit a lot of stuff . Try and get a welded deck .

I buy and sell used mowers to make extra Money.....Hold of for a couple of months and pick up a used commercial unit with no more than 500 to 1000 Hours....You should be able to pick one up for around 3000 bucks or less....Most commercial mowers are designed for 2000 Hours or more....I picked up my son a used John Deere for 2900 last year with 1000 Hours and it runs like New the mower cost 10.000 New 2012 model....Try to find one with a Kawasaki engine..

My bad they must have worked out a deal with Kawasaki. They are still a part of Briggs and Stratton.

This^^^

Buy a used commercial unit from ex-mark, scag, hustler, gravely, dixie chopper etc. I learned the hard way that sub-$3000 zero turns are cheaply made junk. I bought a Husqvarna from Lowe's a few years ago and made it two laps around my yard before I hit a stick and the whole deck seemed like it was exploding. I took it back to lowes and they kept it two months before I was able to get it back, supposedly fixed. This time I made it a half lap around my yard before all the belts came off and the deck started dragging the ground. I took it back again and told them I wanted my money back, the assistant manager told me I'd had it too long and couldn't return it. I said you're taking it back one way or another. I backed it off my trailer, drove it through the double doors and parked it in front of the return desk then took a bunch of pictures of it sitting there with my phone before leaving. I told him as I left it was his problem now and I didn't care what he did with it. The next morning at 7 am I got a call from some Lowes corporate woman saying they were refunding my money to my credit card. It had 1.4 hours on the meter when I took it back and that's because I left the key on for about 1.0 hrs while I was trying to put it back together.

I bought a new Husqvarna commercial zero turn a few years ago, and bought the one with the 52 inch deck instead of the 60 inch deck. I have a lot of obstacles to mow around, and the 52 inch deck works the best. We have a JD sub-compact tractor with a 63 inch deck, and it is a pain in the butt to mow with in tight places. There's really not that much difference in a 52 or 54 inch deck, when compared to a 60 inch one, when you're talking about mowing time.

After looking at a lot of them, I bought a Troybilt for $2800 before taxes at the farm store. A 54" with a Briggs and Stratton motor. I am pretty sure that it is an MTD but it had a longer frame for my long legs. It also had heavier wheels and spindles on the front along with a roller in the middle of the deck and wheels on each side. All of the other mowers that I looked at did not have all of these things. I looked at some commercial mowers but until I got to around $9000 they did not have the leg room. I am tall with a bad back and this was important to me. It might not be to you. I Bought this in the early spring and even though I expanded my mowing area, it cut my time in half and is easier on the body than a conventional riding mower. No problems so far mowing a couple of acres in a year that was wet enough that I have mowed more than usual. miles