My all terrain Toro!

w201028 · Apr 8, 2012

So check this out:
Ive got 8 acres of land with a stream running right down the middle, and last year in PA we had some serious flooding. Places I used to be able to mow safely are now steeply inclined with 3-5 foot drop offs into the creek bed. I dumped my Toro Timecutter into the water when the tires mudded up and slid down the hill. Luckily I was able to jump off in time to avoid a rollover, but that was enough to scare me into modification.
This will help explain how I got to the point I am: I am an avid offroad guy, and an avid VW enthusiest.
Ive used turf saving tires in commercial landscaping, but most jobs dont have creeks in the middle. Im sure you guys know that when a zero starts sliding theres no stopping it. So Im looking at my 84 Honda ATC, and the answer came to me; Big Red has 8" rims. My Toro has 8" rims. Big Red never slides or gets stuck...
So I spoon on some new 22X11X8 tires onto the Timecutter. But until I put it all together I didnt consider the clearence... stupid me. The knobbies bite on the frame and deck linkage. So I measure the lug offset...4X100. Standard VW size.
So Ebay finds me some 1 1/4" wheel spacers, plus a universal 1/4" spacer to move the rubber out, and luckily the wheels were offset to begin with, so I fliped around the wheels and bolted it all together!
Now I can turn on the side of hills, come to a full stop going downhill and reverse back up it! The little Toro even wheelies up hills if I ask it! This wasnt a cheap modification, but it works wonders, and best of all Im not going to get killed trying to keep the weeds down.
Let me know what you think; I think it looks mean as ****!

PapaPerk · Apr 8, 2012

Looks great!

Big Reds are cool!

Bird · Apr 9, 2012

That's the same model Toro I have. But I don't have much slopes to contend with. And I bought mine because it will fit through a 3' gate and I don't think your new tires would make it.:laughing: But otherwise, yep, sure looks nice.

Mace Canute · Apr 9, 2012

You might have a bit of trouble with the rear axles/bearings because of the extra distance the tires are offset compared to the originals, but I doubt it and I think the safety factor outweighs that concern by a wide margin. :thumbsup:

J_J · Apr 9, 2012

I did something similar about the mid 90's. Dixie Chopper , wet grass, turning down hill, slid about 30 ft to a 4 ft drop off , no control, full reverse.

I knew I had to open the levers in front of me to get out, so at the bottom of the drop off, I open the levers and dove about 4 ft fwd, just missing an air conditioner .

The mower landed on top of me still running. Shut the engine off and extracted my self from under the mower, and just laid there for a while.

Finally went to a doctor and checked me out and determined that a muscle had separated in my leg . Hurt for a while.

I never did a turn down hill on wet grass again.

One of my Dixie Chopper's now these tires.

dieselscout80 · Apr 10, 2012

First I've never used a zero turn.

I heard the stories that they are terrible on hills and because of that I had basically removed zero turns from the list of options for replacing my current riding mower.

What I'm getting from what you guys are saying is that the lack of traction due to there tires is the real issue.

If it's just a traction issue then maybe a zero turn will do they do mow fast.

I have some steep areas that require mowing going side ways and if it goes to slipping it will slide into my pond and land in about 6 - 8 feet of water.

Gary Fowler · Apr 10, 2012

I had the same problem but went with a slightly different style. My wife uses a golf cart to commute between our house and neighbor's and has to cross a small pond overflow drainage area . I had ordered some tractor bar lug type (R1)tires from BuggiesUnlimited to assist her in getting back and forth in the mud and also in the snow since the golf course type slicks were pretty useless.
After having the same issues with my zero turn as everyone else when mowing on slopes, I started looking for some agressive tread tires and found somet at Tractor Supply but were a couple inches wider. I couldnt find anyone who could get them on my existing rims so I returned them. Then I got to looking at the wifes golf cart tires which appeared much smaller than the mower tires, but after I checked the size, low and behold the rims and tires fit perfectly with a little wider tread which still cleared the frame. The tires came mounted on 4 hole rims for $50 each and I had bought 4 for the golf cart. NOW the wife is short the 2 from the front but we both have good drivers on the rear. I can power my mower thru mud and ruts and hold it on slope even climb slopes on wet grass that I couldnt go up before.
THe only backside is that if you spin around fast and tight, it will dig a hole in the yard, but by taking it slow turning, there is no problem and I havent had to hitch up the tow strap to pull me out of the pond since I installed them

w201028 · Apr 10, 2012

Dieselscout:
I wouldnt say the tires are the only issue with turning on hills, infact a tractor with a locking diff would probably be better. But the bigger tractors like to roll on sideways hills. I like a zero because of the low CG, Ive never seen one roll, only slide.
Ive used all different types in commercial maintainence, including walkbehinds with sulkies to a big 1000lb Kubota. Ive had near death experiences on all of them.
My Lesco sulkie lost traction on a downhill right next to a busy road and almost sucked me into traffic. I saw a coworker discover a sink hole on a 60+ inch zero and become burried up to his knees. IF the hole had been deeper he probably would have been crushed by the seat/engine.
My advice would be to find a friend with experience to come ride your hills with the type of mower you would like to buy, and see if they think it is safe/possible. Some of the creek hills I have are only 20 degrees, and some of the hills which are a safer distance from the water are nearly 30. Way out of manufacturer specs, but still can be done with the right rubber and some experience.

w201028 · Apr 10, 2012

Mace Canute said:
You might have a bit of trouble with the rear axles/bearings because of the extra distance the tires are offset compared to the originals, but I doubt it and I think the safety factor outweighs that concern by a wide margin. :thumbsup:

That thought was not lost on me, but bearings are cheap and the hydro pumps dont cry at all when running it, so Im convinced its as reliable as factory. The low running pressure of those tires act like suspension as well, so I think in the long run it may be better for the transaxles to take up alot of the bumps and hits they would otherwise take with higher pressure tires.