F Series vs. ZD

[MMC]

Looks pretty cool to me
Toss a plow on it!
That’s about 8K
New ZD-1211 is 20K.
Still cheaper than a F, and now you'll cut 2-3X faster than an F, and plow snow in about 1/10th the time.

Ferris will have a diesel also. But...if you have a good Kubota dealer and it's cheaper, I'd go with the Kubota ZTR. But, as Haydude states, get the best seat and platform you can buy with the unit (it will be cheaper with the sale). You will thank yourself later.

Best of Luck

 

[Brown Dog]

… Kubota financing is hard to beat on new units. I’m leaning towards the zd1211 72” now …

After 20yrs I quit mowing with JD tractor & 84/110” RFM.
I had a ZD1211 72.
Good machine but bogged on my hills & was even worse when grass got thick.
It was ok on flat ground & weekly grass heights.

I have a ZD1511 72 & LOVE IT. Fluid filled tires makes traction great.

It is a one trick pony only Mowing grass but as hay dude & RJC mentioned it does it WELL !!!

No one machine does several chores well.
Buy you a bigger tractor to add a front snow blower.

Go with a Diesel 72 side discharge for mowing grass & they will NOT disappoint.
Plus saving you so much valuable time.

I had a new F3710 72 front deck & thought it being 4wd would be a good mower for my steep banks along with my ZD1511.

I HATED the front deck beating your brains out AND the LIVE front axle spinning SO BAD turning around at the end of every pass.
I Fluid filled all 4 & it DID NOT HELP

I LOST thousands at only 10hrs trading it for a ZD1611 72. Best move I ever made

The F series live front axle will not stay strait mowing horizontal swipes on my steep banks.

The F rear steer was a nightmare for me steering the rear end downhill making mower get sideways : again on steep bank mowing horizontally.

I know everyone’s application & likes are completely different.

Don’t rush into anything.

As haydude mentioned you learn to be precise with zero levers & it will master any mowing condition you can throw at it.

The extra $$ for a 1211 1511 1611 is definitely worth it imho Especially with the TRANSMISSION & not silly pump driven wheels.

 

[tradosaurus]

Here are some more aerials of the property. There are some obstacles. But not a ton.

View attachment 2260685

I mow about that amount with a 60", 24hp, Toro ZMaster 2000. Lot more obstacles and ground can be fairly rough. The MyRide system makes mowing tolerable.

 

[CigTopGun38]

After 20yrs I quit mowing with JD tractor & 84/110” RFM.
I had a ZD1211 72.
Good machine but bogged on my hills & was even worse when grass got thick.
It was ok on flat ground & weekly grass heights.

I have a ZD1511 72 & LOVE IT. Fluid filled tires makes traction great.

It is a one trick pony only Mowing grass but as hay dude & RJC mentioned it does it WELL !!!

No one machine does several chores well.
Buy you a bigger tractor to add a front snow blower.

Go with a Diesel 72 side discharge for mowing grass & they will NOT disappoint.
Plus saving you so much valuable time.

I had a new F3710 72 front deck & thought it being 4wd would be a good mower for my steep banks along with my ZD1511.

I HATED the front deck beating your brains out AND the LIVE front axle spinning SO BAD turning around at the end of every pass.
I Fluid filled all 4 & it DID NOT HELP

I LOST thousands at only 10hrs trading it for a ZD1611 72. Best move I ever made

The F series live front axle will not stay strait mowing horizontal swipes on my steep banks.

The F rear steer was a nightmare for me steering the rear end downhill making mower get sideways : again on steep bank mowing horizontally.

I know everyone’s application & likes are completely different.

Don’t rush into anything.

As haydude mentioned you learn to be precise with zero levers & it will master any mowing condition you can throw at it.

The extra $$ for a 1211 1511 1611 is definitely worth it imho Especially with the TRANSMISSION & not silly pump driven wheels.

How much does the zd1211 with 72” bog down? Is it adequately powered? I mow weekly.

How is emission system on the zd1611? Is it fixed?

5-6k for more power and the same size mower deck is a tough pill to swallow.

 

[CigTopGun38]

Yes I bought (2) 1211-72’s with 0 for 60 months. Incredibly tough to resist.
One more suggestion- IF your lawn is extremely bumpy, add an air ride seat.
The 1211 rides great “stock”, but if you can finance-in an air ride seat, it doesn’t add up to much.
If it’s not bumpy, then just go with 1211 as is.

Is the are ride seat a factory option from Kubota. I don’t see it on the website when I configure a mower?

 

[Hay Dude]

Is the are ride seat a factory option from Kubota. I don’t see it on the website when I configure a mower?

I think its a dealer-installed option

 

[CigTopGun38]

Wow ! Let's see her naked !

 

[Hay Dude]

How much does the zd1211 with 72” bog down? Is it adequately powered? I mow weekly.

It’s more than powerful enough. I mowed thick field grass 2-3’ tall with mine.
Where you run into bogging down/slowing down is when you combine hills with thick grass.

How is emission system on the zd1611? Is it fixed?

5-6k for more power and the same size mower deck is a tough pill to swallow.

I don’t think you need it because you don’t have hills. Even if you skipped cutting for a couple weeks, you’d be fine.
I was sweating it out about power. I used to have a ZD-331-72 with 31 horsepower. I traded it on a ZD-1211-72 in March and never looked back.

 

[CigTopGun38]

It’s more than powerful enough. I mowed thick field grass 2-3’ tall with mine.
Where you run into bogging down/slowing down is when you combine hills with thick grass.


I don’t think you need it because you don’t have hills. Even if you skipped cutting for a couple weeks, you’d be fine.
I was sweating it out about power. I used to have a ZD-331-72 with 31 horsepower. I traded it on a ZD-1211-72 in March and never looked back.

You guys recommend side discharge or rear discharge?

Rear discharge is probably better for horsepower. Grass evacuates faster.

Side discharge keeps grass off the machine. But it will be throwing it into gardens and pool.

 

[Hay Dude]

You guys recommend side discharge or rear discharge?

Side. Side outsells rear probably 100 to 1. Doesn’t mean it’s better. It just means side works better for almost everyone.

Rear discharge is probably better for horsepower. Grass evacuates faster.

Maybe, but your clippings will be fanned out all over your nicely cut grass.

Side discharge keeps grass off the machine. But it will be throwing it into gardens and pool.

Point the deck the other way, or get a “flap” kit that closes the chute temporarily from the seat, while you drive by pool & beds.

 

[RjCorazza]

You guys recommend side discharge or rear discharge?

Rear discharge is probably better for horsepower. Grass evacuates faster.

Side discharge keeps grass off the machine. But it will be throwing it into gardens and pool.

Here we go!
Rear discharge is less taxing on HP, but I have never had good finish results with any rear discharge mower. They always seem to clump and/or windrow in my tall fescue.
A discharge chute is handy on side discharge decks, and both of my ZD's have one. They also help in mulching leaves in the fall.

 

[Brown Dog]

How much does the zd1211 with 72” bog down? Is it adequately powered? I mow weekly.

How is emission system on the zd1611? Is it fixed?

5-6k for more power and the same size mower deck is a tough pill to swallow.

My ZD1211 72 (sold) Bogged pretty bad in thick grass but again I have steep hills & banks here I mow.

It was absolutely fine on flat ground mowing weekly growth.

I don’t like a mower, tractor or truck that bogs lol
The extra $$ for more power is absolutely worth it to me.

The ZD1511 emissions is Fine as long as they have the newer calibration in them & the newer ZD1611 is Fine too.

No problems on either one here mowing 20+ acres a week on my farm.

Way better mower than JD Scag or Ferris imho.

I just wished they offered a 84” deck.

You don’t want a RD deck especially if your grass is thick and / or tall : it’ll windRow TERRIBLY.

They cut exactly the same but clippings dispersal is knocked down by the wide tires & the radiator will suck dry clippings up & run hot every 2hrs.

Don’t buy one imo

 

[CigTopGun38]

Side. Side outsells rear probably 100 to 1. Doesn’t mean it’s better. It just means side works better for almost everyone.

Maybe, but your clippings will be fanned out all over your nicely cut grass.

Point the deck the other way, or get a “flap” kit that closes the chute temporarily from the seat, while you drive by pool & beds.

What’s the difference if grass is fanned out over the grass or is left in rows by a side discharge?

I would think the rows look worse? I’m definately not bagging.

 

[CigTopGun38]

Here we go!
Rear discharge is less taxing on HP, but I have never had good finish results with any rear discharge mower. They always seem to clump and/or windrow in my tall fescue.
A discharge chute is handy on side discharge decks, and both of my ZD's have one. They also help in mulching leaves in the fall.

Do rear discharge cover the machine. Possibility of over heating?

 

[Hay Dude]

What’s the difference if grass is fanned out over the grass or is left in rows by a side discharge?

I would think the rows look worse? I’m definately not bagging.

The side discharge doesn’t just slobber them out in a thick windrow, it blows them out 3-5’ out the side. That way at least 50%+ of the lawn looks clean.

Rear discharge is 95% covered. Hey it don’t matter to me which you chose, but side is a lot more common for a reason.

Get mulching blades if side discharge really bothers you.

 

[Brown Dog]

The side discharge doesn’t just slobber them out in a thick windrow, it blows them out 3-5’ out the side ...

Or 10-12’ IF you removed the side chute like me

I tried everything possible to make my old RD deck work before selling it.

 

[Brown Dog]

What’s the difference if grass is fanned out over the grass or is left in rows by a side discharge?

I would think the rows look worse? I’m definately not bagging

SD slings heavy clippings out evenly over cut grass.

RD leaves 2r3 thick rows of clippings which will turn brown being very noticeable / ugly & lasting until the next cutting.

IF you cut precisely on time BEFORE the grass gets tall / thick with RD : the windrows aren’t near as bad.

I’m mowing 20+ acres of my farm Not a subdivision lot so I’m not real particular at all but the brown windrows looked TERRIBLE because I can’t mow every 4-7 days.

 

[dodge man]

I’d think you’d want to repower that boat. It probably barely does 30 mph with a tailwind. Very nice boat!

My son when he was younger mowed for a couple different mowing services and they used gas powered zero turns. Exmarks seemed popular. I’m not sure why gas powered, maybe weight but most likely cost.

 

[Carl_NH]

I would have preferred the Ferris with the Yanmar diesel but in 2010 it was $12K vs 7K for the Kawasaki machine. Given that most homeowners put less 50 hours a year on a machine is a life span of 20 years on the Kawasaki (1000 hours). I have 430 hr in 14 years cutting 2 ac each week - so far no real repairs other than maintenance.

As others have said, find a low hour Kubota diesel if you can save 5-6K.

 

[Hay Dude]

The OP has a 4WD truck and a lot of driveway + a lot of flat grass.

A plow on his truck and a 72” diesel zero turn will return him to the comforts of his home or playing on the boat a lot faster than a kubota F with a 72” mower or 60” snowplow going 2-4MPH.

I bet my combo is the same price and 3 times faster on the mowing and 10 times faster on the plowing than an F with a snow plow. Plus the F would be horrible for comfort compared to a new Dmax with a new snow plow.

Plus he can plow neighbors driveways and pick up an extra $500 in about 2 hours