Well for your Father I would suggest one of the ZTT. Be alot easier to drive instead of having to learn the Handle bar system on the RZT. Because you can Drive the ZTT just like a normal Lawn tractor if need be Meaning you don't have to turn the Wheel all the way to use the Zero turn option You can still make a a normal right or left turn with the ZTT as well. Which makes it nice for pulling a Cart or other drawn equipment if need be.

My favorite and recommended ZTR would be a Walker. It only takes about 5 minutes to learn, you do not have to drive with your arms extended in front of you. It only takes the little finger and index finger of the left hand to steer. The right hand controls the forward speed.

They are commercial, and high quality. It would in all likely hood be the last mower you would ever need to buy. Many last into the 1000's of hours. Some times one of the local dealers close to you will have a good deal on a low hour model.

Here is their web site. Before you dismiss any model or make out of hand. Make sure the dealer will bring it out to your place and let you mow with an operating one. It is my understanding that all the Walker Dealers will do this. They want you to be happy and satisfied with your long term purchase, plus they will be there for service and parts.
They mow very fast and economically. I don't mean ground speed. I mean economy of movement and less going over the same place twice or more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Company Web site.

Just had another thought. My son lives in St Cloud Mn and just bought a 4 acres place, needed a riding mower. He ended up with a JD 755 I believe. It is one of the older front deck rear steer JD that were made before ZTRs became fashionable. He paid around $800 for it and it is a nice machine and seems to do a good job on his property. You might look for one of them or something similar. Our city uses a bigger version of the 755 and they really cut grass.

A JD755 for $800? I don't think so. The 755 is a CUT and in good condition would go for at least 10X that amount. :)

Cheers

JDFANATIC

JDFANATIC you know, I don't know how I ever got through the day with out you around to jump in and correct me or any one else about a misstatement about any and all JD products. You must be an X Pert.
If you notice I said above (I believe), which meant that I was not certain. But now because of your guidence I have seen the error of my ways and find that indeed, the model is a JD F725. Please pardon me for having the human capability to not remember things accurately all the time.

Well, the walker is out because the nearest dealer to me is 100 miles away. I've been doing some reasearch and buyer the reviews on the RZT50 were'nt so great. I remember trying to buy parts for my troybilt and it being a real pain because of MTD having bought so many mower companies. I'm thinking of just steering away from the MTD brands. May go check out Toro next. Still debating between a ride on and a tractor. My buddy wants me to buy a cub cadet sc2400 because I'm always moaning that I could use a bucket around the property. But I don't have 13k to buy a tractor...LOL...I also saw something called a JOhnny Bucket for regular riding mowers, that peaked my interest.

Scag Freedom Z?

Sperduton, don't know where you are located, but if there is a Hustler dealer near you then check them out (ZTR). I have about the same amount to mow and the old Craftsman bit the dust, so did a lot of online research for both quality and price. You mentioned the Cub Cadet ZTR and it is one of the ones that I considered. The 22 hp Kawasaki engine is the best feature about it on the 50 inch (I think) cut. The weaker points is the stamped steel deck (not good for rocks) and the frame where the front wheels attach. If you had a smooth lawn with no rocks then it would be fine, I think.

The reasons I went with the Hustler Fastrak 54 inch cut ZTR:
1 - 21 hp Kawasaki engine
2 - 54 inch cut (3 overlappig blades so no gaps)
3 - strong welded deck
4 - strong frame
5 - no separate hand brake (patented - when you spread the
operating handles, the brake is auto set)
6 - 2 switchable 5 gal. fuel tanks with visual level
7 - adjustable seat with armrests
8 - low profile for mowing under trees
9 - hitch on rear for towing (use mine for towing spreader
and 25 gal. sprayer)

I paid $5000 for mine from a local dealer and thought it was for me. My wife has taken it over as it is so easy to operate. The cutting high is set with your foot and from then on your feet can rest. Only hand movements are slight. Hope you take a demo of a ZTR and I think you will be sold and think your father would even enjoy it as you don't have to work nearly as much as with a regular riding mower.

My neighbor liked mine so good that he bought the 42 inch cut Hustler ZTR to replace his Craftsman.

Of course, a lot depends on what dealer is near you. Which ever one you choose, good luck sir.

Shot
Here is the one I have and love it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hustler FasTrak 54

5 years ago, I bought a new JD L110 with a 17.5 hp Kohler engine and a 42" mulching deck for about $1750 from a JD Dealer to cut my 1.5 acre up hill bumpy lawn with a septic field up top. I got it because Consumer Reports had said that it was the best all-around for the dollar. It worked great with a beautiful cut until the septic field and a contractors fertilizing made the grass so tough, the engine bogged down as if it was gonna stall, especially over the septic field, and really bad if I missed a week due to rain. By the way I threw away the $200 double bag grass catcher because I got tired of getting off the tractor and dumping them every 7.5 minutes. I went to a Kubota dealer to find out what a real tractor was and how I couldnÂt afford one, but some farmer had traded in his JD G110 w/ a 25 hp Kohler engine and a 54" mowing deck I bought it used, with no warranty for $2000, and at first was happier the way it had no problems with the thickness of the lawn. It also carried my over 300 lb. body uphill and cut much faster in that it turned my 1 hour and fifteen minute weekly task into about 50 minutes. The blue smoke the used G110 was blowing when I test drove it was to mean later that I had to put about 3 to 4 hundred dollars into it for repair, and apparently, I was lucky, because it could have been much worse! It seemed the farmer, believe it or not, didn't change the oil much. But the main problem was that with the 54" deck it had did not cut the grass as nice as the smaller 42" deck with the rounded mulching platform. It made "Wind Rows" that did not seem to go away even after going back over it again, because my grass grew so fast or something. A salesman told me I may have to cut it twice a week (NO WAY). So, bottom line, it was taking longer to get the grass cut with a 54" deck than with the earlier 42" deck; almost twice as long and it STILL didnÂt look as nice as before! I added a mulching kit to it, installed by the dealer, even after their warning that I may get clumping. I did get clumping, and my wife never lets me hear the end of itÂ..The tension spring on the belt/pulley system broke 2 weeks ago and I went to the dealerÂs parts dept. and bought another one for $6 because their Spring back-log for repairs was over 2 weeks wait. I spent about 3 hours getting it on the deck. This new spring worked for two mowings and broke. Now, with rain, I have monster grass and no way to mow it. My wife almost bought a $2000 Cub Cadet at a box store out of desperation yesterday just to get the grass cut. So now, 5 years into this monster lawn, and two JDÂs later, we are looking at our 3rd one, an X300 or X304, to solve my weekly woes on this lumpy lawn. Oh yeah, by the way, when it was graded, the man did not do a very smooth job and my back and I wish my tractor had shock absorbers, but we can not afford the Kubota, or a real John Deere. I will probably trade in the G110 for a X304 next weekend, and peeve that I am trading down from a 25 hp Kohler w/ 54" deck to a 22 hp Kohler w/ a 48" deck, albeit in the new "stronger" X Series, but my wife wonÂt mind, because there will be no more "Wind Rows" and clumping (HOPEFULLY!). She doesnÂt have to do itÂ.she naps on the couch while I mow! I guess sheÂll nap a little longer, because I will be out there a little longer now. I hope the clumping and rows go away then, and I really hope to have less annoying repairs. I imagine, though, that they all use the same spring. Wish me luck if you have no good advice I can use.

Joe_a_deere, sounds like you have been through the wringer, my friend. Yeah, the Kubota mowers are nice, but are priced too high for me too. I have a 43 hp Kubota tractor and love it. In addition to the regular farm implements, I have a 6 foot rotary mower for the fields and woods. Would like to get a 6 ft finishing mower, but can't afford it right now.

If your budget will stand $3000 then you might check out the Cub Cadet RZT 50 inch cut with the 22 hp Kawasaki engine. My niece and her husband just bought one and love it as they have a nice smooth mowing area like you. The Kawasaki engine is hard to beat. It is, of course, a zero turn mower and can really cut down on mowing as compared to a riding mower. It might even get your wife up off the sofa... it did mine. Now I just get stuck with the trimming...
They are sold at Home Depot.
Good luck, sir.

Shot

We bought five acres in West Virginia two years back and was using our Scott tractor for the first couple of months but the acreage was too much for it. Then we bought a craftmatic tractor and even though it did much better all my time was spent mowing. So my husband took the matter into his own hands and bought me a Fast-trak Super Duty 48/54/60. Now I am the first to admit I don't take well to change and was not sure about this Fast-Trak if fact made him keep the craftmatic tractor just in case. Well he was right this machine is fantastic and cuts my mowing time and gasoline use in half. We have some flat land about an acre but the rest is slopes, trees and the rock
area. Slopes are no problem, it cuts around the trees and setting the mowing on high eliminates the rocks. I have been mowing the neighbors yard because it is so comfortable and easy to use. I am sixty plus and highly recommend the Fast-Trak.