Gravely mowers??

[squirrellydw]

Has anyone ever heard of "Gravely" mowers, particularly there ZERO turn mowers?

http://www.gravelyathome.com/gravelyathome/products/home+zt+mowers/default.asp

[97thruhiker]

Our county work center (Division of Forestry Fire Control Center) just purchased one.  I'm not stationed out of that office but if you need any specific information I could call down and get it from the guys who use it.  We have a Gravely standard lawn tractor for cutting our recreation areas on the forest that I'm the supervisor of.  Overall its been a decent lawnmower.  As with anything else like this you just need to keep up with the maintance.

[DrewKaree]

They're decent.  There are several brands out there better than those, but Gravely's are less expensive (at least in my area) due to a few differences here and there (the deck is usually the place to make sure you have the best materials and workmanship, and is usually the one place people don't notice if they've skimped or not).

Here are a few brands to check out

Exmark - EXCELLENT machines, top quality decks and patented roller system that lays down those nice stripes better than anything else I've used.  If I were to buy something, this is what I'd shoot for.  Somewhat pricey, but worth it, IMO

Toro's - better than average materials used for their machines, fairly easy to get parts for, I'm just not sure they're worth the money they charge for 'em, perhaps they charge that much BECAUSE it's easy to get parts for 'em.

Dixie Chopper - there isn't a FASTER mower made today.  Depending on your weight, these things go between 15-18 mph.  Parts ALWAYS seem to be an issue with these, which is why we got rid of them.  One bright spot is that the belts and drive setup is one of the best designs on the market, and VERY reliable (Toro and imitators are THE WORST design, IMO)

Skag - I haven't had ANY experience with these, but folks who have, swear by 'em.  They seem real similar to Tiger's, again, no experience.

Grasshopper - I don't know if there's an attachment you might want that they DON'T make for a Grasshopper.  Similar belt and drive setup to the Dixie Chopper.

John Deere - expensive (in my area) and nothing that jumps out at me, just a decent solid machine.  Not certain if I believe they're worth the price they charge, but if you're looking for a new one, their diesel mowers (to me) are smooth as silk and I wouldn't think twice about buying one of THOSE. 

HTH

[cw]

I have 2 gravely mowers that i have owned since they were new in 94.  Both have kawasaki engines on them and both have run great for over 10 years.   In my humble opinion skag would be the only mower that I know about that would be better.

The zero turn mowers are hydrostatic drives.. which are far and away better than there belt drive system but will run you another 1300 bucks.   Its more than worth it if your going to spend any real time behind one just dont let the hydropump go dry they are not cheap.



I am not a big fan of the exmark because of the way the height of the cut is adjusted on their walkbehind mowers. 

toros floating deck has been a problem for a few people that I know with them.

dixie choppers are fast but they dont give you the refined cut like other mowers can. dont get me wrong if you have loads of area to cover and it doesn't have to look perfect than its a great mower....

[squirrellydw]

As much as I would like to own an Exmark, I don't know if a $5000 mower is worth 3/4 of an acre.

[DrewKaree]

My Toro has a cupholder.  You can't put a price on bragging rights when your lawnmower has a cupholder. 

[squirrellydw]

what toro??

[DrewKaree]

I can cut your yard in about 15 minutes!              

http://www.toro.com/professional/lce/zmaster/z560/74262.html

[squirrellydw]

and how much is that??

[DrewKaree]

Several thousand more than a homeowner would reasonably expect to spend for something to cut three quarters of an acre

I'm a landscaper, so what I'm using would last you until you died.  You'll more than likely get slightly less use out of a homeowner's model, which is perfectly fine and reasonable.

[JackTucky]

I'm a landscaper,

Hey Landscapers plant stuff.  Not just cut the tops off of innocent grass.

Jacktucky

[DrewKaree]

I'm a landscaper,

Hey Landscapers plant stuff.  Not just cut the tops off of innocent grass.

Jacktucky

I plant stuff too.  Just the other day I was rooting yU0r m0mZ

That's for the aussie's, the rest of you prolly just think that's weird....danny's prolly wondering if he can legally call himself a "landscaper" too and have business cards and whatnot all made up