In late 2019, Hustler introduced something that the lawn industry has never seen before. The Hustler Super 88 is the first batwing style stand on mower ever. It is also the largest deck we have seen on a stand on.
This mower has sparked a lot of interest in the industry. It has also brought up some debate on whether there is truly a need for this type of mower. Most would argue that if you need that large of a deck you should probably get a regular zero turn mower so you can sit.
It can be assumed that you will be mowing for extended periods of time since you have a huge 88″ deck. But maybe the industry is truly moving to stand on for everything? Is standing while mowing truly the new trend?
We tend to think this mower will answer these questions. If people are standing while using an 88″ deck in a huge field then a stand on is truly the new mower of the industry!
Have you come across the Hustler Super 88 Stand on Mower and wondering if it is worth buying? We were able to try this mower and provide our overall impression and review in this article.
Power
With the Hustler Super 88 model, there are two types of engines, the Vanguard BigBlock or Vanguard BigBlock EFI with Oil Guard engines. The latter offers a 500-hour oil change period on the engine instead of a 100-hour limit. This is the first time Hustler has featured the Vanguard engine with Oil Guard. This engine seems to really be making a name for itself.
The Super 88 has a huge fuel capacity of 13.9 gallons that allows you to mow all day with ease. The fuel consumption on this mower did seem a little high but that is to be excepted with such a large mower.
The drive system features Parker TG0405 and 21cc Hydro-Gear pumps. This mower also has the SmoothTrack steering mechanism. The steering function is precise and smooth and allows you to move around obstacles with zero-radius turns.
Features
- High-performance commercial Hydro-Gear® PK 21cc pumps/Parker TG0405 wheel motors
- 10 mph forward speed
- A fully fabricated 88 inch, 11-gauge steel commercial batwing deck
- standard 26″ tires give you more ground clearance to easily hop on curbs.
- 2-year limited commercial warranty (no hour limitations) and 5-year/500-hour limited warranty.
- Fuel tank Capacity: 13.9 gal
- Weight: 2,057 lbs (this thing is a beast!)
- Dimensions (L/W): (84″ / 91″) The width is 76″ with batwings folded up.
- Brakes: Hand lever control / external band
Cut quality
Hustler Super 88 has a cut quality of a 54-inch mower deck but the productivity of an 88-inch cut. It means the machine mows faster, which eliminates the need for more mowers. This will definitely improve your overall productivity.
You can do more in fewer hours, thus boosting efficiency. Since Super 88 is faster, it can cut on labor costs. We're a little disappointed that the mower only goes 10 mph but to maintain a high quality of cut the mower needs to bit a little slower.
This deck has heavy-duty cast iron spindles that will hand a lot of abuse. They also allow the mower to maintain a nice cut with such a huge deck.
Durability
The mower is designed to be high-quality and sturdy. It is a beast of a machine and even bigger in person. Hustler provides a 2-year warranty with no hour limit or a 5-year 500-hour limited warranty. This is a pretty good warranty compared to most in the industry.
After using this mower a couple of days we think it will definitely hold up over time. It is a beefy machine that will be able to hand a ton of abuse.
Comfort
The mower is a comfortable machine considering its stand-on design. It keeps your fatigue at bay, allowing you to mow for longer before you start feeling tired. Hustler allows you to mount various accessories, such as the light kit, which makes it possible for me to work on lawns even during late hours.
The platform overall is pretty nice. It isn't quite as good as the Ferris Z3X or Wright ZK but still decent with a lot of space for moving and standing in different positions.
Aesthetics
The Hustler Super 88 has the normal yellow and black colors that Hustler is known for. It looks spectacular on every lawn. The shades used to improve visibility. It is a good looking mower overall!
Build quality
Hustler Super 88 is a versatile mower with a wide cutting width for expansive lawns and massive acreages. It is also agile to match the performance of small mowers on uneven terrain and around tight obstacles. The heavy-duty frame adds to the longevity of this product. You should not worry about accidentally hitting a wall.
Safety
Hustler Super 88 has proper traction and stability to keep you safe for normal conditions. It has the standard safety features that most stand on mowers across the industry have, like PTO shut off if you get off.
It is a safe mower on most hills because of its wide footprint. This is to be expected on larger stand on mower or zero turns.
Our Rating
| Performance: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Durability: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Comfort: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (3.9 / 5) |
Price
The mower does not have a specific price. Product cost could differ depending on your location and the dealer from whom you are getting the Hustler Super 88. The company has many local dealers and global distribution. If you want the product, go to the company’s website and find the closest dealer on their dealer locator.
Wrapping it up
Hustler Super 88 is a mower worth purchasing for the right person. It is big, agile, versatile, high-quality, and user-friendly. It is great on large lawns and large acres of land.
What do you think?
Have you used this mower? What are your thoughts on a batwing stand on mower? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts!
Images are from Hustler mowers.
I purchased the Hustler 88 in early summer of 2020. The goals was to help lower labor cost by using a much larger deck cut, while being able to transport it easily. Not sure if I got a lemon, but the machine has spent more time in the dealer for warranty work then in the field helping us hit our margins. We finally got the machine back this late fall and have not been able to test it again.
So far very disappointed with the 2020 purchase. We will find out this spring, if the warranty repairs have done the job. So far a 2 start rating out of 5. Check back for a 2021 update.
Thanks for your comment Michael. Definitely keep us updated on your mower during the 2021 season. Best of luck to you!