Zero-turn mowers are now turning into a large lawn owner’s essential machine in keeping a well-trimmed and lusciously green yard. But they aren’t just limited to mowing your lawn or helping you with your landscaping and gardening tasks, they can offer a variety of other tasks to simplify your work around your turf.
Can you tow with a zero-turn mower?
Many larger zero-turn mowers have a built-in hitch where you can attach equipment that you can tow. Most tow hitches are added on larger ZTRs since they have a stronger engine that can carry or hold the extra weight. However, any zero-turn mower can tow, as long as it falls within its weight capacity.
How much weight can a mower tow?
As a rule of thumb, a z-turn mower can smoothly tow a piece of equipment that is ideally no more than 50% (60% at most) of its weight. However, when considering the weight of the extensions you’re going to tow, you also have to include the rider’s weight in its capacity to carry and move weight efficiently. But depending on your mower, the weight it can carry may be more or less than its required load capacity.
For example, a 50-inch Toro Timecutter weighs 621 pounds, if the mower has a 60% load capacity then it can carry about 370 pounds. Given that you weigh about 200 pounds, then the maximum weight your zero-turn mower can tow is 170.
Though this is a general rule, it doesn’t apply to all zero-turn mowers. The towing capacity of your mower is always indicated in the ZTR manual. However, if you’ve bought a secondhand mower, always know that residential mowers can tow only up to half of their weight. A commercial mower can tow up to twice its weight, given that it’s designed to pull heavy loads beyond its weight.
Zero-turn towing capacity
The towing capacity of a zero-turn mower differs depending on the brand, model, and the overall weight of your specific ZTR (including the rider’s weight). That being said, below you will find summarized tables showing the towing capacity of the most popular brands alongside their models.
Cub Cadet zero-turn towing capacity
Cub Cadet zero-turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
ZT1-42 | 500 lbs | 250 – 300 lbs |
ZT1-42E | 500 lbs | 250 – 300 lbs |
ZT1-46 | 570 lbs | 285 – 342 lbs |
ZT1-50 | 585 lbs | 292 – 351 lbs |
ZT1-54 | 600 lbs | 300 – 360 lbs |
ZT2-50 | 600 lbs | 300 – 360 lbs |
ZT2-54 | 615 lbs | 307 – 369 lbs |
ZT2-60 | 752 lbs | 376 – 451 lbs |
ZTX4-48 | 850 lbs | 425 – 510 lbs |
ZTX4-54 | 925 lbs | 462 – 555 lbs |
ZTX4-60 | 1092 lbs | 546 – 655 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Cub cadet towing capacity further depending on your weight.
John Deere zero turn towing capacity
John Deere zero turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Z335E | 491 lbs | 245 – 294 lbs |
Z345R | 500 lbs | 250 – 300 lbs |
Z345M | 496 lbs | 248 – 297 lbs |
Z355E | 570 lbs | 285 – 342 lbs |
Z355R | 575 lbs | 287 – 345 lbs |
Z365R | 575 lbs | 287 – 345 lbs |
Z375R | 590 lbs | 295 – 354 lbs |
Z515E | 776 lbs | 388 – 465 lbs |
Z530M | 780 lbs | 390 – 468 lbs |
Z530R | 834 lbs | 417 – 500 lbs |
Z545R | 832 lbs | 416 – 499 lbs |
Z720E | 965 lbs | 482 – 579 lbs |
Z735E | 990 lbs | 495 – 594 lbs |
Z730M | 965 lbs | 482 – 579 lbs |
Z735M | 965 lbs | 482 – 579 lbs |
Z740R | 1040 lbs | 520 – 624 lbs |
Z915E | 1178 lbs | 589 – 706 lbs |
Z920M | 1220 lbs | 610 – 732 lbs |
Z930M | 1275 lbs | 637 – 765 lbs |
Z945M | 1275 lbs | 637 – 765 lbs |
Z950M | 1275 lbs | 637 – 765 lbs |
Z960M | 1252 lbs | 626 – 751 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the John Deere towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Husqvarna zero turn towing capacity
Husqvarna zero turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Z142 | 474 lbs | 237 – 284 lbs |
Z146 | 474 lbs | 237 – 284 lbs |
Z242 | 551 lbs | 275 – 330 lbs |
Z246 | 504 lbs | 252 – 302 lbs |
Z248F | 581 lbs | 290 – 348 lbs |
Z254 | 542 lbs | 271 – 325 lbs |
Z254F | 595 lbs | 297 – 357 lbs |
Z448 | 725 lbs | 362 – 435 lbs |
Z454 | 745 lbs | 372 – 447 lbs |
Z454XS | 961 lbs | 480 – 576 lbs |
Z460 | 823 lbs | 411 – 493 lbs |
Z460XS | 973 lbs | 486 – 583 lbs |
Z548 | 1100 lbs | 550 – 660 lbs |
Z554L | 1215 lbs | 607 – 729 lbs |
Z554X | 1250 lbs | 625 – 750 lbs |
Z560L | 1250 lbs | 625 – 750 lbs |
Z560X | 1309 lbs | 654 – 785 lbs |
Z572X | 1359 lbs | 679 – 815 lbs |
MZ48 | 595 lbs | 297 – 357 lbs |
MZ54 | 770 lbs | 385 – 462 lbs |
MZ61 | 770 lbs | 385 – 462 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Husqvarna towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Bad Boy zero turn towing capacity
Bad Boy zero-turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Maverick | 1005 lbs | 502 – 603 lbs |
ZT Elite | 839 lbs | 419 – 503 lbs |
ZT Avenger | 746 lbs | 373 – 447 lbs |
MZ Magnum | 687 lbs | 343 – 412 lbs |
MZ Rumbler | 632 lbs | 316 – 379 lbs |
Renegade Diesel | 1862 lbs | 931 – 1117 lbs |
Renegade Gas | 1628 lbs | 814 – 976 lbs |
Rogue | 1538 lbs | 769 – 922 lbs |
Rebel | 1382 lbs | 691 – 829 lbs |
Revolt Stand-on | 1040 lbs | 520 – 624 lbs |
Maverick HD | 1073 lbs | 536 – 643 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Bad Boy towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Toro zero turn towing capacity
Toro zero-turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
TimeCutter 75734 | 675 lbs | 337 – 405 lbs |
TimeCutter 75740 | 645 lbs | 322 – 387 lbs |
TimeCutter 75750 | 738 lbs | 369 – 442 lbs |
TimeCutter 75756 | 836 lbs | 418 – 501 lbs |
TimeCutter SS5000 | 588 lbs | 294 – 352 lbs |
Titan 75316 | 819 lbs | 409 – 491 lbs |
Titan Max 76601 | 876 lbs | 438 – 525 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Toro towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Kubota zero turn towing capacity
Kubota zero turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Z231KW-42 | 621 lbs | 310 – 372 lbs |
Z231BR-48 | 737 lbs | 368 – 442 lbs |
Z251BR-54 | 749 lbs | 374 – 449 lbs |
Z251KH-54 | 771 lbs | 385 – 462 lbs |
Z411KW-48 | 874 lbs | 437 – 524 lbs |
Z421KW-54 | 884 lbs | 442 – 530 lbs |
Z421KWT-60 | 930 lb | 465 – 558 lbs |
Z412KW-48 | 904 lbs | 452 – 542 lbs |
Z422KW-54 | 918 lbs | 459 – 550 lbs |
Z422KWT-60 | 954 lbs | 477 – 572 lbs |
Z724XKW-48 | 1207 lbs | 603 – 724 lbs |
Z724XKW-54 | 1223 lbs | 611 -733 lbs |
Z726XKW-60 | 1276 lbs | 638 -765 lbs |
Z723KH-48 | 1212 lbs | 611 -733 lbs |
Z724KH-54 | 1225 lbs | 612 -735 lbs |
Z725KH-60 | 1256 lbs | 628 -753 lbs |
ZD1511RL-60R | 1984 lbs | 992 -1190 lbs |
ZD1511LF-72 | 2006 lbs | 1003 -1203 lbs |
ZD1511LF-72R | 2028 lbs | 1014 -1216 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Kubota towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Ariens zero-turn towing capacity
Ariens zero-turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Zenith 60 Kawasaki | 900 lbs | 450 – 540 lbs |
Apex 48 Kohler | 825 lbs | 412 – 495 lbs |
Apex 60 Kawasaki | 870 lbs | 435 – 552 lbs |
Apex 52 Kawasaki | 850 lbs | 425 – 510 lbs |
Ikon-XD 42 Kawasaki | 661 lbs | 330 – 396 lbs |
Ikon-XD 42 Kohler | 661 lbs | 330 – 396 lbs |
Ikon-XD 52 Kawasaki | 681 lbs | 340 – 408 lbs |
Ikon-XD 52 Kohler | 681 lbs | 340 – 408 lbs |
Ikon-XD 60 Kawasaki | 697 lbs | 348 – 418 lbs |
Edge 42 Briggs | 510 lbs | 255 – 306 lbs |
Edge 42 Kohler | 497 lbs | 248 – 298 lbs |
Edge 34 Briggs | 447 lbs | 223 -268 lbs |
Edge 34 Kohler | 464 lbs | 232 -278 lb |
Edge 52 Kawasaki | 560 lbs | 280 -336 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Ariens towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Troy-Bilt zero turn towing capacity
Troy-Bilt zero-turn model | Weight | Towing capacity |
---|---|---|
Mustang Z42 | 580 lbs | 290 – 348 lbs |
Mustang Z46 | 623 lbs | 311 – 373 lbs |
Mustang Z54 | 658 lbs | 329 – 394 lbs |
Mustang Z54 XP | 683 lbs | 341 – 409 lbs |
- Note that I have excluded the rider’s weight. You will have to reduce the Troy-Bilt towing capacity further depending on your weight.
Why can’t a zero-turn mower tow heavier weight?
A z-turn mower is not equipped to carry a load over 60% of its weight mostly since it will put a heavier strain on the engine. Your engine powers your mower to trim your lawn at a certain speed and the more powerful the engine, the more tasks it can handle which includes towing gardening accessories. However, with a smaller engine design to make your mower run, it doesn’t have enough capacity to tow extremely heavy accessories.
Craftsman and Dixie’s zero-turns are designed to also carry heavier weight. They can tow about 700-1000 pounds and up to 2000 pounds respectively.
What can a z-turn mower tow?
As long as your mower has a hitch, it can pull various accessories to improve your efficiency in working around your garden or lawn. Your z-turn can mow various gardening accessories such as:
- pull-behind sprayers
- fertilizer, or seed spreaders
- lawn carts or utility trailers
- aerator
- lawn sweeper
- lawn roller
How to install a hitch kit to your zero-turn mower?
Towing is essential for gardeners in hauling seedlings, fertilizers, and other materials that a large garden needs for up-keep where a ZTR can fulfill the function of a tractor and tow them across your property. However, most medium- to small-sized zero-turn mowers do not have an installed tow hitch but you can easily buy a hitch and install it on your mower.
Materials Required:
- Tow hitch kit (view on Amazon)
- Drill (view on Amazon)
- Measuring tape
Instructions
- Bring your mower to secure space on a hard and even surface like your garage or your driveway.
- Once you’re in a safer area, turn your engine off.
- Measure the rear support of your mower and mark the spot where you’re going to drill at the exact center of the bumper.
NOTE: Although almost all ZTRs have rear metal support, some are made with a rear fender or cover, do not install your tow hitch on any non-metal material on your mower.
- Drill holes on the metal support to fit the bolts or screws for your hitch.
- Position your hitch and add the bolts. After which, secure your hitch with the bolt nut.
Types of tow hitches
There are three common types of tow hitches used on zero-turn mowers: a simple hitch, a towing ball, and a hitch pin. Though there are other types, these three, by far, offer security and the best support for whatever accessory you’re going to tow.
Simple Hitch
A simple hitch or a hitch plate is a small metal plate shaped like a wide L-bracket. The plate comes with a large hole in the middle where you can attach your chain or hook to secure your accessory on your mower.
Towing Ball
The towing ball is literally a small ball where you can loop your chain around or attach your hook. The towing ball is usually attached to a hitch plate (view on Amazon).
Hitch Pin
The hitch pin is a large pinhead that you secure on your mower. Some of these pins are magnetized to add an extra hold of your hook, loop, or chain to prevent it from getting undone as you pull your equipment across your lawn.
Zero-turn mowers are versatile machines that drastically improve your efficiency around your lawn. From quick clean mowing to towing massive gardening equipment around your large property, your machine easily becomes your all-around help.