RaydaKub
Veteran Member
Taking off the backhoe will probably make you feel more secure. Most people mow with the FEL on, just keep it low.
The FEL makes a dandy emergency brake if you lose traction down the hill. But the FEL does NOT help with stability on a side hill for any reason. The FEL adds weight to the front axle, and transfers almost the same amount off the back wheels to the front. The front rocks and so it is tippy.
I have a hillside to mow, about 20 degrees. As an experiment, I parked my BX there fully decked for loader work. The rear tires are loaded, I had another 45 lbs in wheel weights and a 275 lb bar on the 3ph, FEL about 6 inches off the ground. I stood there and pushed on the roll bar and was able to lift the rear wheel off the ground with one hand. I went back to the garage and pulled the wheel weights, dropped the weight bar, and the FEL and went back to the same spot. I pushed on the roll bar again and could not lift the wheel. Convinced me right there I'd never mow that hill with the FEL on.