Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Zero Turn Mowers 25hp Diesel vs 37hp gas

Between my house and my dad’s, I cut around 9 acres. Mostly on hills. I am ready to step up to a commercial mower. I have Scag, Bad Boy, X-mark, John Deere, and Kubota dealers in my area so I would like to stick to one of these.

First question, are the 25hp diesels as powerful as the 35-37hp gas mowers? The diesels should have as much torque if not more than the gas engines.

Second question, which mower is best on hills, or which one has the best hydraulic system for steering.

I currently have a 54” residential Bad Boy and I am not impressed with the steering on hills. Do the commercial Bad Boy mowers have a better system? Bad Boy commercial mowers seems to be cheaper than the rest and look to be very well made but looks can be deceiving. Your thoughts.

BIL just bought a Bad Boy. As I understand it, they include the better hydro transmissions in them at a lower price point. If you go by components, it would seem those Bad Boy mowers are a good buy.

Don't know anything about the motors, but damn...37HP in a zero turn. I have 22HP but I"m not climbing any serious hills.

Find a Grasshopper dealer .

Thanks KFWA, I have heard that Bad Boy has stepped it up a lot since I bought mine, but then again my is not a commercial mower anyway.

I don't have a zero turn but have a John Deere 445 and 455. The 455 is the same HP as the 445 but it's diesel. The diesel cuts thick grass at a higher speed than the gas. The torque makes the difference in them. I'd find a dealer that would let you try both versions out if possible.

We had some Grasshopper dealers but I think those dealers quit carrying them. Haven't heard any reasons why.

I don't know what you want to spend but, this is what I did. I bought a used JD 1475 diesel 4wd w 72" four irons deck. The JD has a weight transfer system that allows it to climb the steepest hills. The mower can give a golf course cut at 14mph. Purchase price was $16,000.
John Deere 1575

If you have hills, look at what tires come on them. You'll need some grip.

I'd have a real hard time staying aboard my mower in my yard at 14mph.

The diesel mowers are much heavier built and will hold up to more rugged use. Yes they have plenty of power. I have 26HP Kubota diesel mower and a LazerZ ExMark gas mower both zero turn

The way I understand it the heavier mowers handle the hills better. I have 2 Gravely ZT's, the heavier one definitely handles my hills better.

9 Acres is a bunch. I would go as wide as possible.

Thanks for the responds so for. The hills that I live on are no problem to cut but you are constantly making a steering input, so it is hard on the steering system. I have already replaced one pump and the other will need it soon.

I hear ya - and it's hard to believe it can achieve a really good cut at that speed... Yowza...

Check out ventrac mowers when I make the leap it’s what I will be buying

that's my next move for my mowers - get rid of those lawn tires and put on some tires that have some bite

My 26 hp Kubota diesel never bogs down from any cutting I’ve done with it .

HP isn't what keeps the blades turning in heavy cutting, it's torque and diesel motor excell in the torque department

This is what I was thinking, but just wanted to verify it before spending the money.

I've got a JD x495 with the Yanmar 24hp diesel motor. Its great.

We have a Kubota with a gas engine (27 hp, I think) and it works well. We only cut about 3 1/2 acres but it is rough and we only cut it every few weeks. The mower works well. I wanted the diesel model but the dealer talked me out of it but I can't remember he reason. If I were in your shoes, I would get the diesel if the price is not prohibitive.