kubota zd vs zg

[parkowner]

I am interested in a kubota ztr mower, I have a L3130 that i have a pull behind 72'' finish mower but could benefit from a 60'' ztr.
I have priced a 31 hp zd for around 12,500 but saw that the zg has been redesigned. I would like to get some opions on both of the mower if anyone out there owns one. The mower will be used at a 22 acre mobile home and rv park. Thanks for any help

 

[Dargo]

Your new gas engines will be very capable, run very smooth, and likely last you quite a while. The downside, in my opinion, is that it seems to take a little more than twice as much gasoline as diesel to do the same job and the diesel seems to have better torque in heavy thick grass. Some could, justifiably, argue that the additional cost for the diesel isn't worth the extra expense. I think that depends on a lot of variables.

In my situation I want to keep my mower for a few thousand hours. I haven't done the math to see if it paid itself off in fuel savings, but I did still get great resale last week out of a Kubota diesel powered mower that had just over 1600 hours on it. If that same mower were gas powered I likely would have had to sell it for quite a bit less. So, in my mind, I came out ahead. I saved a considerable amount of fuel expense, I had plenty of power when I needed it, my mower still ran like new when I sold it, and it still brought a premium price when I sold it. Again, this is just my observation and my opinion. Good luck with your new purchase either way you go!

 

[WH401]

Over at Lawnsite.com, a guy wrote up a nice post about how he compared a zg327 to a zd331, as far as mulching and even fuel consumption. Here's a link to the post.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=233804&highlight=kubota

If it were me I would probably go with the 331 as I feel the same about keeping a mower for a while and to me diesel is the way to go. But the new ZG's do look like they'll put a up a pretty good fight on any piece of turf.

 

[Dargo]

I read his post and the only thing I have to question if the fuel usage. I mowed the same identical 10 acres with a 61" deck powered by a 27 hp 3 cyl. Kubota engine and with a 28 hp 3 cyl Kubota diesel. With the same 8 gallon tank on each mower and the same 61" deck on each mower I ran out before I finished each time with the gas powered mower. I could mow the exact same area with the 28 hp diesel almost twice on the same 8 gallons of fuel. Most other lawn care operators around me have also noted about a 2:1 ratio of fuel used in the same hp gasoline powered units vs. diesel units.

 

[om21braz]

ZD21 w/ 60" pro deck here. I have cut some very thick bermuda and wished I had a little more hp, but overall it does very well. As for fuel use, it burns just slightly over 1/2 gal. @ wide open throttle - pto engaged. Mows all day on 8 gal. capacity with plenty to spare. That being said it would be hard for me to go back to gas.

 

[Rory_Rhodes]

Parkowner - So far the posts have been dead on, diesel consumption is much better then gas. I looked at both two months ago, went with the ZD326. I paid $10,700 new, including tax. I too have a L3130 and pull a 6" Befco finish. The 60" ZD does the same amount of acreage, 10 acres in about two thirds the time. The L3130 now will mostly pull the Befco, the ZD for all general cutting.

One downside, my wife now feels she should be the one driving the ZD. Claims since she rides q horses, she is a naturally better ZD driver.

 

[IC Smoke]

Ive got a ZD28 and woudlnt go any other way, I've got the 60" PRO deck and it sees its share of abuse... buy the diesel!! you'll be happy with it!!

 

[parkowner]

I think you all made up my mind, thanks to everyione who took the time to post, just hope the 0% comes back around!

 

[Ob1kubota]

I am interested in a kubota ztr mower, I have a L3130 that i have a pull behind 72'' finish mower but could benefit from a 60'' ztr.
I have priced a 31 hp zd for around 12,500 but saw that the zg has been redesigned. I would like to get some opions on both of the mower if anyone out there owns one. The mower will be used at a 22 acre mobile home and rv park. Thanks for any help

Go diesel I have both a ZD21 and ZD326P. Gas will take more fill ups and the trade off in cost for fuels are at the whim of the market speculators.

 

[ChexC]

Go with the diesel! Buy a unit that is in dealer inventory...otherwise there
could be a price increase. Plenty in inventory to chose from..congratualtions!
A wise choice..