What equipment to mow a slope with?

[sendero]

I have a pond with a 250' long dam. The front side of the dam is pretty steep,the back side a little less so.

There is no way I can use my Kioti DK35 on this. But I'm wondering what the right equipment would be. Right now I'm using a modified push mower (added 12" wheels " and it does the job but is it a grueling bit of work.

I've considered one of those DR field brush mowers, a low-center-of-gravity rider like a cub cadet or whatnot.

Like most things, I don't really want to spend thousands so I'm looking for ideas.

 

[blueriver]

How about a sickle mower??

 

[KennyV]

BlueRiver is right a sickle mower!

 

[jimmer2880]

How about some pictures? If it's just a couple feet of pitch, then the sickle bar may be your best bet. But, if it's more than just a couple feet, I know something that may be able to help.

We once watched someone with a Steiner 4x4, articulating mower. It had dual wheels on all 4 corners. That thing was mowing stuff side-ways that I wouldn't even consider to mow straight up & down. On the Steiner, the mower is mounted on the front, which makes it very easy to see and to mow around stuff.

 

[Egon]

Sheep or Goats!

Convert the slope to no maintenance with shrubs, flowers, grass and trees.

 

[SpringHollow]

My tractor - rated for crosswise on a 45 degree slope

PowerTrac - there is a forum here on them.

But then you said you did not want to spend thousands.

Ken

 

[JoeL4330]

I have the DR with both mowing "heads" and would not recommend it for slopes...it wants to keep veering off downhill if you work across. Nor would it work well (IMHO) up and down because there is no engine braking and the brake is not designed for this ...and, anyway, up and down is a lot of wasted effort on something long and relatively low like a dam.

 

[ToadHill]

It might be worth your time to look at roundup for the slope and then plant a low growing ground cover like vetch or clover. You won;t have to mow it at all then.

 

[Zephrant]

I'll second the negative on the DR- I hate it on slopes. I actually went back to using a hand-held string trimmer- nearly as fast and a lot easier on me.

Hmm... maybe I should sell the DR. I don't think I used it once last year.

 

[MossRoad]

It might be worth your time to look at roundup for the slope and then plant a low growing ground cover like vetch or clover. You won;t have to mow it at all then.

That sounds like the best advice and overall least costly solution. Just watch out for erosion until the new cover is established.

 

[budlite]

A third NO on the DR. I have one and trying to mow the slope on the pond side, its gotten wet a couple of times! I think it would not tend to do so if it was a two-wheel drive, it just wants to go downhill, especially if the ground is a little wet. It'll wear you out trying to keep it straight too. A sickle bar mower with a hydraulic lift is what I want, but not been able to afford one yet.

 

[andybull]

I own a Steiner 430 with dual wheels with a 60" mower deck (it came with the house), that is a goat. It is too slow for flat areas so I'm looking for a ZTR with a 72" deck for the flatter areas.

 

[sweettractors]

Here is the mower with the 9 ft reach and handy for many other mowing projects as well. International #1300 with 9 ft cutter bar. Standard catagory 1 three point hitch. Priced at $1750 + modest shipping. Ken Sweet

 

[john4153]

Is there a sickle mower that simply rides the terrain and doesn't need a rear hydraulic remote?

John

 

[KennyV]

Is there a sickle mower that simply rides the terrain and doesn't need a rear hydraulic remote?

John

Both the 3pt mount and the trailer type will ride the terrain, the cylinder only raises the bar to clear obstacles... the tip and heal down pressure is set via a spring load, that lets the bar follow the ground. KennyV

 

[john4153]

Thanks. I guess the LTD (local tractor dealer) is conflicted. Now, when Spring returns, I will have something else to consider.

John

 

[rekees4300]

I use a weed trimmer on the steep inside of my dam. Just have to be careful not to lose balance and fall in the pond.

 

[sweettractors]

Is there a sickle mower that simply rides the terrain and doesn't need a rear hydraulic remote?

John

We sell about 150 sickle mowers a year that do just that. The only thing a cylinder is good for, is when a operator has health or back problems and can't lift 40 or so pounds to transport position. Ken Sweet

 

[sandman2234]

Posted wrong, deleted.

 

[scoutcub]

I use a Zero Turn Tractor (ZTT) to mow my front lawn and mound septic system which are both very steep. So steep when I first started mowing I would only cut up/down, finally got comfortable enough to mow side slope, even though I was hanging on one fender or another. Now I'm pretty used to it and the tractor does great. The extra-wide stance and low CG are perfect for a slope. And, the turning radius is great for getting around all my trees on the septic mounds.
Good luck!