Zero turn mowers on hills

[HiddenHollow]

Hello everyone, Looking for some info on operating a zero turn mower on slopes. We are looking at getting a zero turn mower for our property and I was wondering how they do on a hill. We have some slopes that can't be mowed up and down the hill because there is a creek at the bottom. I have sat on a few and they seem a little top heavy. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[xtn]

There are going to be some people that say any slope is too much. Then there are going to be some that say don't worry about it because they have no problem mowing the drainage ditch out by the road.

Here's the thing: The front wheels caster. They don't have any positive steering - or in most cases braking - control whatsoever. So mowing sideways across a slope will cause the mower to turn in the direction of the slope. Imagine pushing a shopping cart across a slope. It will attempt to turn downhill. That's the effect I'm talking about.

Now if the slope is mild, that downhill steering tendency is easily countered by slightly altering your control inputs. It's no big deal and you quickly learn to just correct for it keep on mowing. But when the slope gets steeper, it becomes a chore at best.

Now let's consider a more dangerous scenario. Steep enough that you actually slide. The amount of slope needed to slide is of course variable. What kind of tires do you have? Is the grass wet with dew? Are you using abrupt control inputs? Anyway if you start sliding out of control most zero-turn mowers don't have much in the way of ability to regain control except to just wait until you've reached a spot with less slope. And the last place you want that stopping point to be is in your creek.

I'm not going to tell you what to use for your mowing duties. Just wanted to paint a picture of what the zero turn mowers are - and are not - capable of.

xtn

 

[dex3361]

Here in WV almost everything is a slope to some degree or another. There are some places that are flat but not many. I tried ZTR mower and it didn't turn out well. I have read the best results on slopes with a ZTR is to get a wide stance(width) on the rear wheels. This allows a better resistance to the front pulling down hill.
The unit used was a Bad Boy that is probably their biggest residential mower at 60" and a 28HP motor.
I could fly on the flat areas with a fantastic cut but the sloped areas had to be cut up and down or I could keep the front on track. I have a few places that the front would pull it all the way around and start down hill and I have a drop off before the creek.
This is why I didn't keep the ZTR and got a BX 1500 Kubota with 4WD. The BX is not near as fast as the ZTR but is safer much safer.
Some of the pro grade ZTRs may work for you and I would look there and talk to those that use them in an area like yours. Like I said before it will be the unit with a wide wheel spacing in the rear that may work for you.

 

[HiddenHollow]

Thanks for the input. I will keep it in mind.

 

[Mpking]

There are going to be some people that say any slope is too much. Then there are going to be some that say don't worry about it because they have no problem mowing the drainage ditch out by the road.

Here's the thing: The front wheels caster. They don't have any positive steering - or in most cases braking - control whatsoever. So mowing sideways across a slope will cause the mower to turn in the direction of the slope. Imagine pushing a shopping cart across a slope. It will attempt to turn downhill. That's the effect I'm talking about.

Now if the slope is mild, that downhill steering tendency is easily countered by slightly altering your control inputs. It's no big deal and you quickly learn to just correct for it keep on mowing. But when the slope gets steeper, it becomes a chore at best.

Now let's consider a more dangerous scenario. Steep enough that you actually slide. The amount of slope needed to slide is of course variable. What kind of tires do you have? Is the grass wet with dew? Are you using abrupt control inputs? Anyway if you start sliding out of control most zero-turn mowers don't have much in the way of ability to regain control except to just wait until you've reached a spot with less slope. And the last place you want that stopping point to be is in your creek.

I'm not going to tell you what to use for your mowing duties. Just wanted to paint a picture of what the zero turn mowers are - and are not - capable of.

xtn

Good points. I'll add that the rear wheels will tend to peel out and send the machine sliding down hill if you turn from going sideways to uphill. Once you break traction, its hard to get it back if the hill is steep enough.

Like dex3361 said, a wider stance will definitely help with feeling more stable. That's one of the things that caught my attention about my Hustler Fastrak - It feels very wide and stable.

 

[franklinute]

I own a Hustler SuperZ zero turn. This mower can go very fast. We have a pond at our house and steep hill going to it. We stay away from the slope when it is the least bit wet. These mowers have so much power that it is hard to tell when you are spinning then you start slipping like you are on ice.
A friend that mows a lot of lake lots told me to back down the slope and mow going up. It works but very scary backing down as close to water as you dare but it does climb the hill without spinning. I have tried mowing sidehill but once it starts spinning you are headed downhill with very little control.

 

[Ken45101]

Of course it depends on how steep the hill is. It is a major issue with a zero turn mower. I have a couple of slopes in the yard here that I have to mow by backing down and then mowing going uphill, back down the next strip... Even going forward downhill they don't have good control, but then I do have to admit that even a CUT has to be used in 4WD on that hill. A couple of times the CUT was in 2WD and slid down the hill.

Ken

 

[Runner]

What I can't figure out is how the highway mowing crews get away with using ZTR's? I watch a crew mowing the local roadside with slopes I wouldn't even tackle with a tractor using Dixie Choppers and they don't seem to have any problems. The only unusual feature I notice on these mowers is that they have bar tires.

How do they do it? Do they load the tires? Is there something about Dixie Choppers that makes them work better on hills?

I would love to have one for my place, but I have 20 degree slopes everywhere and am scared to even try one....

 

[lockhaven]

i have a Dixie Chopper 60" cut. They are tricky on side slopes because of the front wheels being casters. Mine has knobby atv tires on the back and holds fairly well. If I were to be mowing mostly sloped ground I would get a mower built for it. Sorry I do not know the brand name but I have seen them at the Clinton County Fair. They appear to be zero turn but have only one front tire that is more like a ball so it grips with its side or anywhere around it. They must have some sort of leveling system to keep the seat and engine somewhat horizontal.

 

[Dargo]

I hear this all the time and my answer is always the same; a mid mount ZTR is not very good on slopes. However a front mount ZTR will easily mow hills that most 4wd (or front wheel assist if you want to be PC) can't mow. After having a mowing service, I kept two front mount Grasshopper mowers from the business. Please note; for a high quality mower like these and a front mount mower, you will NOT be buying an inexpensive 'residential' (read; replace every few years) mower. About the only mowers that will mow on steeper slopes than front mount Grasshoppers would be the Powertrac type mowers. On a scale of 1 to 10 on hill stability, I'd give front mount Grasshoppers a good solid 8+. I'd rate Dixie Choppers (great mowers BTW) about a 7 on that scale. I'd give your standard inexpensive entry line ZTR from a box store about a 2 on tha scale. There is a huge difference.

 

[9973720wb19]

i would not take a chance using a Zmower on a hill that lands you in a stream. depending on the slope and conditions, it can loose traction and there is nothing you can do at that point. i have a JD 997 and once that back end gets going you're not in control...ask me how I know.

i have hills and tree lined drive. i invested in a "walk-behind" 54" deck for all my hills and tree trimming. i can practically mow sideways with this thing by counter steering the drive wheels...and if i loose traction...i'm not "on" it!

 

[HiddenHollow]

Thanks to everyone for their input. My concern is that I will get the thing home and not be able to mow the hills. I really want a Ferris Procut S but they are way out of my price range and hard to find used.

 

[Dargo]

i would not take a chance using a Zmower on a hill that lands you in a stream. depending on the slope and conditions, it can loose traction and there is nothing you can do at that point. i have a JD 997 and once that back end gets going you're not in control...ask me how I know.

i have hills and tree lined drive. i invested in a "walk-behind" 54" deck for all my hills and tree trimming. i can practically mow sideways with this thing by counter steering the drive wheels...and if i loose traction...i'm not "on" it!

That's the difference between a mid mount and a front mount ZTR. There is a huge difference on hills. Honestly, there is no comparison on hills. On reasonably flat land without inside corners to mow, a lake to mow out over or pine trees/shrubs to mow under, there isn't any difference. If there are any of the items I mentioned, that's where a front mount shines. Oh, I forgot, the front mount mowers ride even better than the Ferris mowers I owned with suspension. It's just a completely different design; more expensive as well.

 

[Scooby074]

What about a Stander? The pros swear by them for slopes.

Wright : Stander

 

[Towles]

I share the concerns of the members of this forum, so I built this:
4WDZTRShortclip.m4v - YouTube


This is the prototype and costs more than ztr mowers do, but soon it will take skid steer attachments, including mowers.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Regards,

Towles

 

[flyingpostman]

This is what I bought to tackle my hilly property:

Not cheap, and not quite zero turn but it sticks to hills like glue and feels safe doing so (plus the ROPS is there as a last resort). Unfortunately you can't get Kubota GF1800's anymore in the US, but they still sell them in Canada. I also paid extra to get OEM axle extensions on the front which give me an extra 7" width to increase stability on hills. Because of the front mower you can nose down a deep slope and reverse back up again (in 4WD). I've had it nosed down a 35 degree ditch, only the seatbelt holding me in the seat, and it backs up the hill with the mower running like a champ. I've put my GF1800 in places that ZTRs would get hopelessly and dangerously stuck and the front mower can go places lawn tractors can't. ZTR's may have stolen the limelight for fast cutting and maneuverability but front mounts still have their place. I've gone from 3 hours cutting time using an old Kubota diesel lawn tractor down to 2. All the while it barely sips diesel.

 

[Ken45101]

Yes, I have come to realize that those front mounts do a lot better on hills than zero turns. As I recall, however, they are signigicantly more expensive than the Kubota ZT mowers, which are already at the top of the cost list.

I have one hill here where the ZT can only cut by backing down it. Other spots I have to use the old B2710 tractor. I've accidently gotten the ZT stuck against the fence a couple of times. I had to get the RTV-900 with it's winch to pull the ZT free.

Ken

 

[flyingpostman]

Yes, I have come to realize that those front mounts do a lot better on hills than zero turns. As I recall, however, they are signigicantly more expensive than the Kubota ZT mowers, which are already at the top of the cost list.

I have one hill here where the ZT can only cut by backing down it. Other spots I have to use the old B2710 tractor. I've accidently gotten the ZT stuck against the fence a couple of times. I had to get the RTV-900 with it's winch to pull the ZT free.

Ken

Yes, they are expensive but what sealed the deal for me is that I can mount a snowblower on the front and also tow stuff around the yard where ZTs are pretty much single purpose. Also, the GF should last me 20+ years, my old Kubota lawn tractor I inherited when I bought this place was 15 years old, mechanically it was fine but the rust got to it. Trust, me I wanted a ZT, but I have the hilliest property in the neighbourhood, plus 600 feet of ditch to cut.

 

[Scooby074]

GF's are cool!! Expensive , but cool.

As you said, they are multipurpose machines. Also commercial grade, which also means not cheap.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My Woods front mount was made by Grasshopper from what I can see and have been told. It does handle hills pretty well though I really should have the ropes and a seat belt when I want to go straight down hill.

My only issue on hills is the Carlisle tires loading up with mud and spinning. I have been thinking of going with either a lug tire or a set of dual narrow tires to increase my ground contact but stay within the 60" deck width. A friend just put some serious ATV lug tires on his Dixie Chopper. So far so good he says. I want to see if the increased tire lug causes any pump issues.

I don't know about using a compact 4x4 to mow slopes. I used to have a Massey that would basically make my hair stand up if I attempted to mow on much of a slope.

I have one area to mow on a pasture that is pretty much akin to a soup bowl slope wise. I was out there just today mowing not only going sideways with the Woods front mount but also pulling my Swisher behind me.

The only issue with the caster wheels I have is they take a beating on my front mount. Coming up on 400 hours and I need to replace them a second time. The run flat tires wore through on the first set. I replaced them with an aftermarket set I jury rigged to match up but the axles have worn out.