Which should I get ---> Hustler Sport vs SnapperPro S50XT ?

[shawnlc]

I'd like some of your professional opinions on the Hustler Sport vs the SnapperPro S50XT for a commercial startup? I'll be primarily focused on residential where the lots are small, typically less than 10,000 sqft lots.

The price difference out the door is roughly $1300 (SnapperPro S50XT more expensive). The SnapperPro has the commercial B&S engine where the Hustler has the residential Kawasaki engine. Both are 48" decks.

 

[djdicetn]

I'd like some of your professional opinions on the Hustler Sport vs the SnapperPro S50XT for a commercial startup? I'll be primarily focused on residential where the lots are small, typically less than 10,000 sqft lots.

The price difference out the door is roughly $1300 (SnapperPro S50XT more expensive). The SnapperPro has the commercial B&S engine where the Hustler has the residential Kawasaki engine.

shawnlc,

Well the SnapperPro has HydroGear ZT-3100(serviceable) trannies whereas the Hustler Sport has the sealed Hydrogear EZT trannies. The Hustler Sport appears to come with a ROPS and the SnapperPro doesn't. What size decks are the two you are looking at(I assume they have the same cutting width). They both have 11gauge decks, so I would think that the Commercial B & S engine and the ZT-3100 tranny upgrades make up the difference in the SnapperPro's price. In all fairness, you should always try to compare "similar models" across brands. In other words, you really need to be comparing the Hustler Fastrak series(prices and features) to the SnapperPro. You'll find that the Hustler Fastrak also has the ZT-3100 Hydrogear trannies. Of course, I'm a little partial to the brand I bought, but would recommend if you have a nearby Gravely dealer that you check out the ZT HD or ZT XL series and compare them to the others(I actually made an offer on a Hustler Fastrak Super Duty, but the Gravely I bought had it beat on price and features). Below is a link to the Gravely website if you want to take a look online and locate a dealer to look at them.

Zero Turn Mowers

P.S.
I'm not a "professional" lawn care business owner, just a homeowner but I gave you my opinion anyway for what it's worth:0)

 

[KennyV]

WELCOME to LMF...
What deck size are you looking at?
I'm curious why you are Not looking at the Hustler 'Commercial' line.
:smile:KennyV

 

[djdicetn]

WELCOME to LMF...
What deck size are you looking at?
I'm curious why you are Not looking at the Hustler 'Commercial' line.
:smile:KennyV

KennyV,
I thought the same thing, but didn't say it(I really wouldn't start a lawn care business.....no matter how small I thought customer yards were going to be....with a "Residential" ZTR instead of a "Commercial"). Worst thing that could happen is business grows quickly and strain of that causes ZTR to break down:0(
Could make for a short-lived "business" because paying customers probably don't care that you cannot afford an unexpected repair.....they want their yard mowed NOW!!! Might be best for user shawnlc to save up a couple $1k more and get something that would be durable enough if the business takes off.
P.S.
Is the "SnapperPro" and the "Snapper" different brands???? I first went to the "Snapper" website and could not find the mower user shawnlc was referring to. Then I googled "SnapperPro" and found it. At the bottom of the webpage it says "Briggs & Stratton Power Equipment Group"??? The "Snapper" brand isn't owned by B & S.....is it?
OK.....take that back....went back to the "Snapper" website and indeed it says the same thing at the bottom, so it "is" the same company and "is" owned by B & S(probably why that one he looked at had a B & S engine:0)

 

[KennyV]

This is the Perfect forum to think about what mower to get... the "General Mower Discussion" group will most likely have residential grade ZTR's that the OP is asking about...
However like djdicetn suggests, it likely will prove worth the little extra $ to step up to a commercial grade machine...
There are also quite a few homeowner's running commercial grade mowers that may have a reliability/durability experiance.
:smile:KennyV

 

[shawnlc]

WELCOME to LMF...
What deck size are you looking at?
I'm curious why you are Not looking at the Hustler 'Commercial' line.
:smile:KennyV

Looking at the 48" deck. The local Hustler dealer had quite a few of the Hustler Sport models. Didn't see any FastTracks.

 

[shawnlc]

Thank you djdicetn, that was pretty helpful.

shawnlc,

Well the SnapperPro has HydroGear ZT-3100(serviceable) trannies whereas the Hustler Sport has the sealed Hydrogear EZT trannies. The Hustler Sport appears to come with a ROPS and the SnapperPro doesn't. What size decks are the two you are looking at(I assume they have the same cutting width). They both have 11gauge decks, so I would think that the Commercial B & S engine and the ZT-3100 tranny upgrades make up the difference in the SnapperPro's price. In all fairness, you should always try to compare "similar models" across brands. In other words, you really need to be comparing the Hustler Fastrak series(prices and features) to the SnapperPro. You'll find that the Hustler Fastrak also has the ZT-3100 Hydrogear trannies. Of course, I'm a little partial to the brand I bought, but would recommend if you have a nearby Gravely dealer that you check out the ZT HD or ZT XL series and compare them to the others(I actually made an offer on a Hustler Fastrak Super Duty, but the Gravely I bought had it beat on price and features). Below is a link to the Gravely website if you want to take a look online and locate a dealer to look at them.

Zero Turn Mowers

P.S.
I'm not a "professional" lawn care business owner, just a homeowner but I gave you my opinion anyway for what it's worth:0)

 

[djdicetn]

This is the Perfect forum to think about what mower to get... the "General Mower Discussion" group will most likely have residential grade ZTR's that the OP is asking about...
However like djdicetn suggests, it likely will prove worth the little extra $ to step up to a commercial grade machine...
There are also quite a few homeowner's running commercial grade mowers that may have a reliability/durability experiance.
:smile:KennyV

KennyV,
It wasn't easy, but I convinced my Financial Advisor(aka the wife) that buying a "Commercial" Zero Turn mower was a "retirement investment". She was used to me spending $2k-$2.5K on a nice lawn tractor so when I told her I wanted to spend $6k-$7k she was not convinced the extra $ was worth it. The points I made to sell her on it was:
1)Using a Commercial-quality ZTR for a 1.5 acre lawn would result in a machine that would outlive us both.
2)Other than normal maintenance costs, it is highly unlikely that there would be any substantial repair costs during retirement.
3)No lawn tractors have a 3-Year Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Lifetime Deck Warranty like my Gravely.
4)When I pass away, my son can inherit the ZTR and mow our lawn for her if she outlives me.
5)When my son passes away, our grandson can inherit the ZTR.

Of course, #5 got approval for the expenditure:0)

 

[wjjones]

This is the Perfect forum to think about what mower to get... the "General Mower Discussion" group will most likely have residential grade ZTR's that the OP is asking about...
However like djdicetn suggests, it likely will prove worth the little extra $ to step up to a commercial grade machine...
There are also quite a few homeowner's running commercial grade mowers that may have a reliability/durability experiance.
:smile:KennyV

Yep..:thumbsup:

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I moved your thread to the Mower Buying & Pricing Forum. :smile: