Kubota F2690 vs Ventrac 4500 vs Zero Turn

[toom]

I need a new mower to mow 15 acres, currently using a zero turn. The zero is great for speed and does most of what I want but some of the areas get a little swampy and the zero make tracks or gets stuck on occasion and gets tricky on hills. The terrain is mostly flat but does have some hills and uneven terrain and the Ventrac looks nice but is very expensive and slower and attachments are high. F2690 with 4wd looks like it would be a good fit but dealers in the area do not stock one or seems willing to get one for demo. I am not sure about getting a 60" deck or a 72" the large deck would save a lot of time but I'm worried about scalping. The zero is 9 or 10k, F2690 about 17K, Ventrac with 60" finish deck 27K. I was hoping to get some ideas and suggestions comparing the three.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The newer Ventrac and Steiner with their foot operated controls are much easier than the hand operated ones. BUT, swinging that deck around out front is a VERY TIRING experience never the less. To go back and catch a missed area or get all the way around a tree, IS a major pain with the articulated machine.

I think I cut a lot of grass here, but I bet it's not 15 acres. My main cutting machine was down most of the season waiting on a hydraulic cartridge. So we were stuck with the Steiner with both a 60 and 72" deck. And boy, how we hated the grass cutting chore!

 

[jcummins]

72" deck on F3680 doesn't scalp. It mows for me better than a 60" on a ZD.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I don't know about a ventrac but I do know about Kubota Zs and Fs. I've owned a couple of Zs and three Fs. I currently own and use a F3080 4wd 72" rear discharge deck on a hillside and mow from 3 to 5 acres. I have a yard and not a lawn. I had some rental property with 20+units on 4 acres and used the F and Z and little Z there. The Zs were faster around the units but the F made up for any savings by better and more comfortable handling and faster on the open areas over septic lines and this opinion was agreed to by all of the different users. The Zs couldn't cut the need for stability/traction on my home hillside property. The F is King between the F and Z on all but small lots/land with lots of obstacles. On 15 mostly open acres there is no contest between the F and Z, it's F all the way. The F is also the most comfortable riding of the two and the Z needs constant correction of control sticks on any land that isn't pool table smooth where the F does not with the one handed control with the steering wheel.
My dealer messed up last year and took a F in on trade, he took it home where it has remained. He told me last week he is now a F believer with a big grin. He mows several rolling acres around his home and has a pond in his back corner.
There are several posts here on this forum written and added to discussing the choice and differences between the F and Z and most of them are by individuals that have owned both and ended up with the F as the keeper.
Barlows currently has a F2690 in stock, he didn't keep them in stock before becoming a believer himself.:laughing::cool2:

 

[zmountaineer]

I do not have experience with any of the kubotas but I do have a ventrac with a 72 inch deck (as well as many other attachments). I mow roughly 8 acres a week. The biggest section is around 3.5 acres and I do that in 1.5 hours and it is very hilly. The advantage of the ventrac is that with the dual wheels, slopes are no problem but also it has a light footprint so swampy conditions are not a problem at all (plus being all wheel drive). There are quite a few videos comparing the ventrac to zero turns in mowing in wet conditions where the zero gets stuck and the ventrac just keeps going. The downside like you said is the price.

 

[corl]

I have mowed with an F2100 for the last 29 years. I have steep areas. With about 2500 hrs on it I can't complain. It goes everywhere but will bog down in swampy areas. I use chains if I need to go mudding. Could never use a Z since I need 4wd just every day even in the dry. Machine climbs better than my BX series and mows efficiently.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'm another "F" fan. I'd be reluctant to go with a "flotation" (Ventrack type) machine for what sounds like a small portion of your large mowing requirements.
FWIW I'm (still) running a 30+? year old F-2000 that I bought used about 33 years ago.

 

[toom]

I see a lot of positive comments on the Kubota F mowers, people seem to be very happy with them. I might call Kubota and see if I can get the area rep to get me a demo. The Ventrac and Zero dealers take trades and provide loaners, if something would break under warranty. The Kubota is in another state the price is good but no trade and no good service from local dealers. I need this for a small par 3 golf course. I might post on the Ventrac forum to get insight from owners there. Thank you guys for your replies.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I see a lot of positive comments on the Kubota F mowers, people seem to be very happy with them. I might call Kubota and see if I can get the area rep to get me a demo. The Ventrac and Zero dealers take trades and provide loaners, if something would break under warranty. The Kubota is in another state the price is good but no trade and no good service from local dealers. I need this for a small par 3 golf course. I might post on the Ventrac forum to get insight from owners there. Thank you guys for your replies.

For some reason you haven't filled out the profile so we can know what state your in. Barlows takes trades on the phone and delivers to several surrounding states and even many distant states. Good luck with a Kubota dealer letting you demo a new machine on your property/off their lot.

 

[om21braz]

72" deck on F3680 doesn't scalp. It mows for me better than a 60" on a ZD.

Very interesting remark. Makes me want to look at a F series now.