From reading on here and other sites, looking at what dealers in my area (within 30 minutes) stock and considering my budget I have narrowed down my choices as follows:

Toro Timecutter Z4235: 22 Hp Kawasaki Engine, Hydro Gear EZT Transmission, Stamped Deck, don’t know about frame, about $1000 less than the next two options below

Exmark Quest (42"): 20 Hp Briggs and Stratton ELS, Hydro Gear ZT2800, Welded Deck, 2x2 Steel Tube Frame

Hustler Mini Fastrak 42: 16 HP Honda Engine, Hydro Gear EZT, Welded Deck, Welded Frame (looks beefy, don’t know dimensions)

Out of these three, I know a lot of people on here will dismiss the Toro immediately, but my question is why, and I’ll break that question down into parts.

1) Engine: A lot of what I have read says Kawasaki is the best mower engines, Honda has a great reputation and Briggs can be hit and miss unless you go to the Vanguard series. If that’s the case, wouldn’t that be a leg up for the Toro and the Hustler?

2) Transmission: All three of these mowers are running a Hydro Gear transmission, and the ZT2800 is even on Exmark’s smaller commercial ZTR, so it has got to be quality. But Hydro Gear even lumps these two transmissions together as far as type, with the ZT2800 simply producing more torque (160 lb-ft vs. 115 lb-ft). But, 115 lb-ft is still on par with a small car engine, so I don’t see that being a problem on a 500-600 pound mower. Isn’t either one a quality transmission that should last a long time?

3) Deck: I understand why a heavier gauge steel deck that is welded together is stronger than a stamped one. But, if I am only using this on my yard, how strong of a deck do I really need? It’s not like I plan on running this for 8 hours a day in unfamiliar environments.

4) Frame: Does anyone know any specs on the Toro frame? The other two seem to be rather rigid, but I don’t know about the Toro. I’m hoping to get more than just conjecture like "yeah, it’s junk", and instead get some actual feedback from someone who has been around them (maybe even measured and compared?).

I know, a lengthy set of questions, but when spending thousands I like to do my due diligence to make an informed decision. Also, a final option in this would be a commercial walk behind like a 48" Exmark Metro. I have a few reasons I’d rather avoid that (I’d like taking kids on ZTR mower sometimes, when I’m out of town wife wouldn’t use walk behind and it’s a gear/belt drive not hydrostatic), but if it’s hands down the best option so be it.

What’s everyone’s thoughts and are there any other major considerations I should have?

Let's say that you cut your grass once per week on average and that you begin cutting April 1 and stop cutting December 1. That's 8 months or around 33 weeks. At 30 minutes use per week, you would be putting 16.5 hours on your ZTR per year.

Whether you choose a Kawi engine, Kohler Command Pro, Vanguard or Generac, all of them are designed to last 3000 hours minimum IF cared for meticulously. How important will your engine criteria be 181 years from now?

This is akin to buying a Dodge Ram pick-up with a Cummins diesel in it, to make a 20 minute commute to work. For the size of property you have, any big box store lawn tractor would easily handle the job and last you more than ten years. The engines in those are designed for around 1000 hours before rebuild. At 16.5 hours per year, that's 60 years of use.

I'm not trying to tell you how to spend your money. It's yours....spend it any way you wish. I'm simply trying to explain to you that you don't need a tri-axle dump truck to carry a load that a F-150 Ford pick up can haul. So......are you really certain that a ZTR is best for your property or would a decent lawn tractor work almost as well at perhaps half the cost?

And as Canguy so correctly pointed out, kids and lawn cutters don't mix. These are not toys, they are not carnival rides. They are dangerous tools that need the operator's full attention at all times. The internet is filled with horror stories of children being maimed and killed EVERY YEAR by lawn cutting equipment of all types.

Do not TRAIN your children to believe that lawn machines are there to give them pleasure. You children should be inside the house and under constant supervision while your lawn is being cut. We don't want to read about one of them getting hurt.

The stamped frame and deck on the Toro are plenty strong enough. Those little machines are surprisingly heavy and the frame is thicker than you may think. I had one a while ago that slid sideways off a ramp and fell pretty heavily on the deck and when we got it back on level ground it didn't even need adjusted.

Some people have found that the Toro cuts unevenly in long grass unless you raise the engine rpm a little. This may only apply to the smaller engines they used to fit, but it's worth remembering.

EZT transmissions are fine for domestic use as far as the hydro unit goes, but the axles are only three-quarter-inch on some machines, which looks disturbingly thin. However, unless you have a bumpy site or other heavy-duty uses planned, it shouldn't be a problem.

Now, the 64 dollar question - should you buy a ride-on at all? Probably not! You could cut your mowing time in half by using a 32 or 33-inch walk-behind like the Cub Cadet or Lawnflite remake of the old Bolens Wide Cut. These are handy machines that punch well above their weight. Don't even think about a 48 inch walk-behind.