Mowing Steep yard! Mmm or finish mower?

[Rock Crawler]

Same here. I bought a Kubota BX25D thinking I would mow with it, but my garden tractor with wheel weights and chains will mow faster, better finish and way more stability than the sub compact. I'm sure that plenty of folks mow and are happy with a sub, but if we mowed side by side I would out mow them in every comparable metric. I sold the BX and gave up on that concept. I went and bought a bigger tractor that was much more useful.

 

[Diggin It]

Mine mows OK and will handle the hills that tried to burn up the LT hydros, but it isn't very fast. One other issue I didn't anticipate is the rougher ride. I feel every bump, divet and mole run. Then there is the weight. 2,000 pounds plus is far more likely to leave ruts in soft ground than 700 pounds is.

I'll use this on the hills and some other areas, but the more level spots will still see the LTs mowing them.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

I use a zero turn with lugged tires. I mow a 20 to 25% grade this way. If all you want is to mow a tractor is excessive.

 

[4570Man]

I use a zero turn with lugged tires. I mow a 20 to 25% grade this way. If all you want is to mow a tractor is excessive.

I mow double that or more on my ZTR. A commercial ZTR with bar tires and an experienced operator is a pretty capable slope mower. Get a light duty ZTR with turf tires and an inexperienced operator and it’s easy to see why they have a bad rap. This hill is pushing the limits of what I’ll do with a hazard at the bottom. If the bottom transitioned into level area I’d go steeper.

 

[John_Mc]

4570Man - do you know the % grade of that slope (or degrees of grade if that is easier)?

BTW - if anyone is interested, there are a couple of good smartphone apps to measure % grade, Degrees, or roof pitch (rise:run). I used both the Clinometer and the Theodolite apps when I was doing solar installations. Clinometer is available on Apple's App store and on Google Play. I know Theodolite is in the App Store, but not sure if it's out for Android OS at this time.

 

[4570Man]

4570Man - do you know the % grade of that slope (or degrees of grade if that is easier)?

BTW - if anyone is interested, there are a couple of good smartphone apps to measure % grade, Degrees, or roof pitch (rise:run). I used both the Clinometer and the Theodolite apps when I was doing solar installations. Clinometer is available on Apple's App store and on Google Play. I know Theodolite is in the App Store, but not sure if it's out for Android OS at this time.

I’d guess it’s 20-30 degrees. I might be able to get an actual measurement in a couple days.

 

[stevem5215]

Cutting on a hill ? Steiner is the way to go. Without a doubt the most stable machine made and designed to cut hillsides. Unlike all others.

Steve

 

[Handloader109]

A 4 wheel drive hst with mmm is perfect. Two wheel drive anything is crap. Even with chains

 

[joecoin]

Cutting on a hill ? Steiner is the way to go. Without a doubt the most stable machine made and designed to cut hillsides. Unlike all others.

Steve

Yep. Steiner or Ventrac.

Or a BCS or Grillo two wheel tractor with a mower.

 

[dnw64]

I hear goats will mow anything that grows, grade not a factor - if it will grow there, they will find it.