Budget Buying: Riding Mowers under $5,000

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A budget of $5,000 for a lawn mower is getting up there in the range of used compact tractors, so you have to get a little pickier in this range. Once you hit this budget, a lawn mower has to do more than cut grass, or else it needs to be nearly commercial quality, capable of being run for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours.

Dixon Ultra 61

The Dixon features a 61-inch deck with three blades, adjustable to 12 positions from the height of 1.5 inches to 5 inches. The 26-horsepower Kohler engine can get the machine up to 10 miles per hour in forward, and 5 miles per hour in reverse, through the use of a hydrostatic transmission. This gives the Dixon commercial-level productivity, capable of cutting nearly 5 acres per hour with an experienced user. This mower rings in at $4,899, right inside the budget.

Husqvarna MZ5424S

Built on a heavy-duty steel frame, with a commercial-quality hydraulic system, the Husqvarna can easily handle hours of mowing across large pieces of property. The 24-horsepower Kawasaki engine is tied into a hydrostatic transmission for easy speed control. At the grass level, you have a 54-inch cutting deck made of 12-guage steel that can be adjusted from 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches. The MSRP for the Husqy is $4,299.95, at the lower end of the budget, leaving a little left over for tools and attachments.

John Deere Z445

If you’re looking for a mower with a long warranty, the Z445 has a four-year, 300-hour warranty. With a heavy-duty welded steel frame, and a tough, 48-inch cutting deck, it can beat through heavy grass. Our favorite feature of the Z445 is the comfortable and well thought-out operator position with an adjustable 17-inch high-back seat with shock absorbers, color coded controls, and room to stretch out your legs during mowing. This Deere comes in around the middle of the budget range, at $4,799.

Swisher ZTR2766BS

If you want to cut a wide swath across your lawn, it doesn’t get much wider than this. The Swisher has a 66-inch cutting deck, mounted on a commercial-grade welded steel frame. An eight-gallon fuel tank provides for hours of cutting time. The Swisher is not full of frills and consumer comforts, but does have plenty of safety and usability features, like an integral rollover protection system, a heavy duty clutch and transmission, and a foot assisted deck lift. The Swisher has an MSRP of $4,879, near the top of the budget range.

Toro TimeCutter 5060

Toro Titan ZX4820

Toro Titan ZX4820

The Titan’s 4.5-inch deep deck, which has a 48-inch wide cutting path, is high enough to tackle overgrown lawns. The 18-inch tall seat features a 4-inch slide for adjustment, as well as five springs for extra cushioning. It also has a seatbelt and armrests standards for safety and comfort. Extra-large rear tires, smooth casters in the front, and a mix of anti-skid wheels and skid plates help to treat your lawn right while keeping the Toro moving. While the Titan does come in at the top of the budget, with an MSRP of $4,999, we think it is well worth it.

About AndrewT

Written by Andrew T for LawnEq - The specialists for Lawn Mower Parts and Small Engine Parts. We offer genuine premium OEM parts for Land Pride, Toro and many more dependable brands.