Tractor Advice Needed!

If the only thing you are going to do is cut grass, then I would go with the best at that job, Simplicity. Specifically, I would look at the Broadmoor 25/48 with the fabricated deck. With the bagger and Uncle Sam's share, you are looking in the neighborhood of $5500.00

You could also go with JD. Lots of people like green. Personally, I prefer the cut of orange, but to each their own. For you, I would start with the X310, it's well under your budget and gets good reviews. But if you are willing to spend what you stated, then you might want to look at the X324. The X324 has four wheel steering, 48" deck, and a slightly heavier gauge steel, along with a few more horses under the hood. With the bagger and taxes, it's about the same price as the Broadmoor.

I've been mowing with lawn/garden tractors since 1967. I still have them, I have the exact one I was mowing with back then.
I got married last year. My wife used to operate a mowing business. Right away she started harping on how much better her ZTR's are than my "old tractors". Finally I bought a Dixon 46" out of curiosity and to shut her up.
She was right. For just mowing, there is no comparison. My one hour job now takes 20 minutes and the cut quality is much better.
Compared another way, my old tractors are a DC-3 and the Dixon is a 777.

I know zip about ZTR's, but from comments that I've read, they don't seem to fair all that well on hills. They may have twin hydros but they are geared quite a bit higher than LT's/GT's and those hydros operate at a lot higher pressure when encountering slopes. High pressure equals high heat, which is what killed the D140.

Well if you've got some serious hills, a ztr may not be a good choice. I don't think they do poorly on a hill, I believe the hills are just harder on the transmissions. If you've got serious hills, a geared transmission is the best way to go. Sounds like you've got enough budgeted to end up with a good machine either way.

If you truly have some serious hills, then a geared tranny isn't a bad idea. I had a house once with a back yard that rivaled any ski slope in New England. At the time I had a 1999 Craftsman with a 14.5HP Kohler Command engine, and a geared tranny, I don't recall the exact model. That LT climbed that hill once a week for 5.5 years without issue. Yes, every once in a while it would hit a slick spot that would spin the tires, (a bit nerve racking the first few times) but I would slowly back up and then climb the hill once again like nothing happened.

Cub Cadet does have a ZTR that will handle hilly terrain better than the 'normal' ZTR.

Their RZT S models have 4 wheel steering.

They come in residential, commercial, and even an electric model.

Zero-Turn Rider Mowers: Find Powerful Riding Lawn Mowers

OldBuzzard said:

Cub Cadet does have a ZTR that will handle hilly terrain better than the 'normal' ZTR.

Their RZT S models have 4 wheel steering.

They come in residential, commercial, and even an electric model.

Zero-Turn Rider Mowers: Find Powerful Riding Lawn Mowers

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The RZT S sounds like what I need. Some sizes have a bagger also. Price seems decent also. Reviews are good.

Anyone have any experience with the Cub Cadet RZT S series?

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Wow, I love the comparison, The DC3 was/is a great aircraft, a real workhorse. A war proven, reliable aircraft. The 777 is still building a reputation. I wonder how many people reconized that the DC3 and 777 are aircraft....

The DC3 is like my Wheelhorse GT14, a classic that earned/and keeps earning a place in our hearts.

OldBuzzard said:

Since you say that you can get by without a bagger, I'm going to suggest that you give some consideration to the Husqvarna R 322T AWD mower.

It's articulated which gives you a lot of advantages of a ZTR and will handle hills like a billy goat.

HUSQVARNA R 322T AWD - Riders

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I agree with OldBuzzard...
The Husqvarna R322T AWD is the way to go if you have steep slopes.
There is no traction loss with AWD.
The articulating steering makes it very maneuverable around objects
Another advantage of the R322T is the front mount mowing deck.
With the front mount deck you cut the grass before you run over it with the front wheels of the rider.
Another advantage is that the deck flips up for easy servicing (clean out grass clipping, change or sharp blades)
Many mid-mount decks have an adapter that you can hook a garden hose to and supposedly clean out the clippings stuck underneath the deck.

Here is link to a very recent thread about how effective those deck wash attachments are..
http://www.mytractorforum.com/45-ba...4-how-effective-deck-washing- attachment.html

Here are my R322Ts
The deck can be flipped up in less than a minute, and after each mowing session, I use a 3" wide plastic putty knife to scrap away any stuck on grass clippings. The plastic putty knife does not scratch the paint on the bottom of the deck, but is tough enough to scrap away the damp stuck on grass clipping.
Some folks use a power washer, but I fear that water may get into the spindle bearings, so I don't spray water on my mower decks.