Thanks, I guess I should rephrase my question. I am wondering if anyone has experience with a commercial mower with a mulch kit. And how well it has preformed. Because just like the Toro Super Recycler is better then the Toro Recycler some are better then others. Or am I wrong and they are all basically the same and it will just be opinions?
What you are asking will be opinion based only, and most of the replies that you get will be based solely on the experiences that the member has with the machines that he/she uses. Most on here have a particular brand that they go with and won't have experiences with other brands. You should demo every brand that you are interested in and form your own opinions. I don't mulch, but I can tell you that all of the brands you mentioned leave a great cut. They come with high lift blades and typically chop the clippings up smaller than a residential mower. They also disperse the clippings much better than a residential mower.
All offer mulching kits. You should set a budget and demo every model you can find within that budget. Dealer support should also be considered. If you are depending on these machines for your business you want a dealer that will get you back going as soon as possible in case there are any mechanical failures. I have used all of the brands that you mentioned except gravely and grass hopper. There are no local dealers for them in my area. Imo all of them offer high quality commercial mowers.
Each brand offers some particular features that make them different from the others, but the main components for all of them will be very similar. Example, all offer a similar drive train.
I don't know your budget, but I can give you some opinions on particular models that I have experience operating.
Hustler super z: one of my favorite mowers. It's expensive ($12k plus), but it mows faster than any other mower I have ever been on. Flex forks are offered to help improve the ride.
Hustler xone: another very well made mower. It is a step down in power train options from the super z, but is also a heavy duty commercial mower. $8k to $9k Price range.
John Deere 900 series: very pricey $10k to $12k range. Don't offer as large an engine as some other brands (27 hp, some brands offer 32 to 36 hp engines) but enough power. The 7 iron deck is the only commercial deck that is stamped instead of fabricated, and leaves a high quality cut. A Mulch On Demand deck is offered as well, but hasn't gotten great reviews on this site.
Scag cheetah: $9k to $11k range. Scag mowers have a great reputation for cutting wet grass. The cheetah has a high range switch on their hydros that will allow the mower to reach speeds up to 16 mph. It won't mow that fast. That's just a transport range. Very good mower. The turf tiger is their top model but they are very pricey as well.
Toro: the z master series is basically the same mower as the exmark lazer z series. This mowers are also very pricey, but high quality mowers that are very popular with lawn care businesses. Their top end models will also run in the $12k range.
Snapper pro: the s200xt will give you the most bang for your buck ($8,500 range). It is the top of snapper pro's line. The Icd deck leaves a great cut. Snapper pro and ferris are very similar (the only difference is the independant suspension offered on the ferris). Both are owned by briggs & Stratton. I own a 48" s150xt and mow my 4.2 acre lawn with it. It's a great mower.
