Anyone have experience with the Kubota Z400 series? Talking to dealer that carries and sells a lot of Toro & Kubota, and sales guy, after hearing my needs (about 7 acres pasture every 2 weeks and 3 acres lawn every week, all flat), recommended the Kubota. I was surprised because it’s less expensive than the comparable Toro (Titan HD 2500).
So, looking for feedback if anyone has either. Thanks!
Check online reviews by using model #xxxx reviews, also Tractor.com I believe is good site I’ve used before I bought.
@Marla 100 , thanks. I have. I was hoping to target more of the pasture-mowing crowd as opposed to the lawn-only homeowner crowd that populates most of the generic online reviews. I’ll check tractor.com. Thanks for that site suggestion.
We have a Toro zero turn. I can’t remember which model it is. It got tons of good reviews on Home Depot’s site which is where we purchased it. It’s been a great mower with the exception that the mower bed will pop out of it’s frame clips over uneven ground and is a bitch to reset. Not being able to recall the model number I know is unhelpful, but I mentioned this because if you are going to be doing pasture mowing and if the terrain is rugged or uneven, you’re going to want a heavier duty zero turn mower that can handle that. And it’s been our experience with the Toro that while it’s great on our lawn which is pretty flat, it’s not suited to the ruggedness of pasture mowing with all it’s attendant bouncing and bumping along.
Home Center ZTRs are not the same machines as those with the same name from tractor/landscaping dealers. The latter are built much heavier and are more suitable for heavier work. While I don’t have personal experience with either of the two machines mentioned in the OP (I own a SCAG ZTR), I do have experience with Kubota for not quite 20 years now and the product is top notch. Commercial Toro is likely great, too. I suspect that there is something heavier on the Kubota unit that is making the dealer suggest it over the Toro for your specific application. Did you ask them for details of their recommendation?
We bought a Gravely, regardless I recommend a nice commercial one vs one of the box stores. We have a Kubota tractor which we just love.
Good luck!
Shop around. And shop at equipment sellers, not Big Box stores. The latter will sell you “consumer grade” machines that are cheap but won’t do over time for what your cutting. An entry level or maybe one step up commercial grade machine will likely do a much better job and last a lot longer. It will, however, also take some maintenance so plan on that, too. 
I’ve got just about the same paddock and lawn acreage as you. We have a lot of hilly terrain and lots of rock. Right now I’m using a Farm King finishing deck behind a JD 4310 tractor. I’d love to replace it with a ZTM but what I feel is the minimum standard will go for about $6000, more or less. That’s a big bite of the apple!!! So for this year I’ve repaired my finishing deck (again) and will use it for the rest of the season. Then look at something in the fall for next year.
G.
The trainer I used to ride with had a commercial grade Ferris Zero Turn and that thing was a beast. I priced the model she had and I think it retailed for $8k but she did her lawn, pastures, cross country course and around two ponds.
We had a Gravely…I didn’t like the sensitive steering and it would side slip on hills and not a lot of guts in deep grass. Poor thing burned up in our barn fire and was replaced with a HD Hustler…I LOVE this one. Lots of power…no side slip and does paddocks as well as lawn. And it’s true…a “dealer” sells a better machine than the “store” models.
I would love a zero turn because I have a lot of lawn that is not perfectly smooth (three hours worth on my Walmart little red Murray, maybe acre and a quarter?), and will have more mowing once I turn the hay field into pasture… But ye gods the price! Like G said, I don’t have $8k for a new one or even $4k for a decent used one. For now, I fix the Murray that I got used and my Dad caught on fire once, and is now muffler-less but has been a great little rider for the $80 and a new battery I paid for last year to get 'er home.
But definitely go through a commercial dealer. Make nicey-nice with them. You might be surprised at the expensive stuff that gets traded/turned in and needs minimal repair that you might pick up cheap. I got a bushhog (that I have yet to use) last year for my tractor for the cost of a new gear box. I keep saying I should use it on a big swatch of my “lawn,” and then just hop on the Murray because I’m generally alone and too nervous to try hooking it up by myself.
Thanks for your feedback, everyone. I definitely will go through a farm equipment dealer. That’s where I’ve always bought my mowers. No big box stores for me. The mowers are not the same quality at all.
Whenever I do end up buying, I definitely will be going commercial grade. A residential mower couldn’t take the beating of mowing the pastures. While my property is flat and we have mostly sandy soil—no rocks or hills like @Guilherme—it’s bumpy just because the horses leave their lovely galloping hoofprints in it all the time…lol.
I’ve pretty much decided that I want a Kawasaki motor, no matter what brand I get. I visited my local John Deere dealership, where I’ve bought previous mowers, and talked to the salesman. He knows my property and recommended their z920 or 930. I was pretty smitten with the new Michelin Tweels now offered on the JD commercial line instead of pneumatic tires. But I’m not sure if I’m $900 smitten. The adjutable suspension seat was very comfortable, which I think is going to be a pretty important feature for anything I consider. That’s one disadvantage of the Kubota 400 series. The suspension seat isn’t offered on them. I’m also going to look at Ferris and Dixie Chopper since there is a distributor nearby.
The price point on these machines does seem to be in line with the numbers you all have quoted. The Kubota, surprisingly (to me at least), is the least expensive at $6999 for the 60". The Toro Titan is running about $8K. The JD was a little over $10K (gulp). I suppose the Dixie Choppers and Ferris will fall in line as well.
Buy one with a service department you like and trust. I bought a Bad Boy because 1. the price was half of a comparable JD and it is built like a tank, and 2. the service department is good and the guy that helps me around the farm has the exact same mower for his landscaping business, so he knows how to fix it. I am very happy with it, it handles the horse pastures well, is comfortable and will mow through whatever I stick in front of it., it has been good on my hills. I better like it because I’ve spent 15 hours on it just this week. I just wish I bought it years before.
We just bought the Gravely and I compare the steering to a TB. You’re right! It’s really sensitive. I also noticed a side slip while going up a hill on a slope - something I try not to do anyway. Still trying to figure out its limitations. Thanks for posting the info.
If you want comfortable ride along with power take a look at the Ferris with 6’ deck and CAT diesel (just don’t let it run out of fuel! PIA to get started again) The Ferris has independent suspension, so much more comfortable than most who do not have any suspension. We actually have 2 zero turns, the Ferris ($14,000 I think more than 10 yrs ago) and a Gravely 5’ deck. Gravely has NO suspension! Beats you to death. We have used both to do our general mowing and to mow our fields. SOOO much quicker than the tractor. We have one totally flat 10 acre field and one slightly rolling 10 acre field along with all the regular grass we have to mow. They get used hard here and are holding up well.
Yup…EXACTLY like a TB!! I pulled a lot of 180’s while swatting flies!! I liken my Hustler to a good reining/working trail horse…I can open gates…side pass and close gates without getting off the mower!!
FWIW…our NEW, 54" HD Hustler was $4,000 from a dealer.
I bought a so-called Commercial Grade Toro zero from the local equipment dealer when I bought my farm. Worst purchase ever. It rarely goes 6 months without something breaking, and neither Toro nor Kohler (motor) nor the selling dealer have made good on a single problem. Do yourself a favor, don’t buy a Toro!
Which model of the Bad Boy do you have? I did a little reading on them last night. I was impressed with the 1/4" thick deck. Thanks…
I bought a 60 inch Maverick with Kawasaki engine. I didnt get the seat with extra suspension but it already has built in suspension and I find it comfortable as is. I have been happy with it especially for the price (6300 brand new).
We also have a Ferris zero turn. It is amazing.
Thanks for giving me feedback about other mowers, too. The more info, the better.
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