Mowing Steep yard! Mmm or finish mower?

[ovrszd]

I thought this thread would take off like a Prairie fire...... Seems there are a LOT of opinions here on TBN when it comes to the proper mowing equipment.

 

[searcyfarms]

I will add this, momentum is your friend, do not and I repeat do not stop on the way up to gaze at the wild flowers and then take off again!!! do it when the dew is off too ;-) nothing worse than spinning out going up and then sliding going down

 

[4570Man]

Usually I don’t like MMMs but they are a better tool for a dedicated mowing machine.

 

[ovrszd]

Usually I don’t like MMMs but they are a better tool for a dedicated mowing machine.

Way more compact.

 

[John_Mc]

This maybe a dumb question, but what purpose do the chains serve?

My biggest problem on slopes was lack of traction. A lot depends on the terrain, the condition of the soil underneath, and of course how dry the grass is. With the chains (v-bar, ladder style) I can drive straight up and down steeper slopes. I also find I can handle side slopes better (while ladder style chains are not known for their lateral traction, they do help, and help significantly if you have the v-bars or some other kind of studs on them). A side hill that had little "pucker factor" can get scary if you start sliding sideways, then catch the tires on some irregularity. (Since I'm not at all into the "manicured lawn" look, my property has a lot of "irregularities").

 

[John_Mc]

I will add this, momentum is your friend, do not and I repeat do not stop on the way up to gaze at the wild flowers and then take off again!!! do it when the dew is off too ;-) nothing worse than spinning out going up and then sliding going down

This is exactly why I have the chains on my Garden Tractor. I can stop to move some debris, or let a frog or snake move out of the way, then start up again without problem, even on dewy grass. Without them, I could only drive up my steepest hills in perfect conditions, and even then If I stopped, the only way I was starting again was going down.

 

[crazyal]

Do you have other needs for this tractor? I'm not trying to talk you out of getting one, everybody should own at least one tractor. But there are some much cheaper options that will work as well. For example Hasqvarna sells a 4wd front mount mower with rear steering made exactly for steep hills. But it's just a mower so no loader or rear pto. Also with it's lower center of gravity it'll be stabler but not be as useful if you want to pull a cart or something else on rough ground.

 

[alextassos1]

Do you have other needs for this tractor? I'm not trying to talk you out of getting one, everybody should own at least one tractor. But there are some much cheaper options that will work as well. For example Hasqvarna sells a 4wd front mount mower with rear steering made exactly for steep hills. But it's just a mower so no loader or rear pto. Also with it's lower center of gravity it'll be stabler but not be as useful if you want to pull a cart or something else on rough ground.

Yes I have about 1/4 mile of pretty steep driveway to clear of snow in the winter also. Plus growing up on a Dairy Farm I’ve always just wanted my own Tractor. We bought this house with 5 acres and I can think of a million uses for one. I’ve been drooling over grapples for months now to clean up all the debris but it has to be my mowing machine also to justify the cost to my wife lol. I would probably plant a small garden and get a brush hog for it.

 

[nyone]

I have a buddy that mows a section of his front lawn with a ride on mower. Its so steep it hard to walk down. He groved the lawn tractor tires and added about 150lbs on behind the seat. Its way to steep to side hill mow. This is prob why he rolled the tractor a few weeks ago. Just a bent hood, he was up and mowing again in 5min.

I wouldnt go buying a new tractor to do this. You may really not get any more traction than a lawnmower with chains and weights.

 

[John_Mc]

I have a buddy that mows a section of his front lawn with a ride on mower. Its so steep it hard to walk down. He groved the lawn tractor tires and added about 150lbs on behind the seat. Its way to steep to side hill mow. This is prob why he rolled the tractor a few weeks ago. Just a bent hood, he was up and mowing again in 5min.

I wouldnt go buying a new tractor to do this. You may really not get any more traction than a lawnmower with chains and weights.

I forgot about weights. In addition to the v-bar ladder style chains, I have 55# wheel weights on each of my rear wheels.