New to mowing hills... what are safest mowing patterns?

[9973720wb19]

i don't like mowing with my loader on - I remove the loader and make sure you have front weights. loaded tires help as well

 

[cqaigy2]

Doesn't help, but my brush hog is on the front so makes it easier to see what's coming. Plus being articulated in the center and low, it is very stable on hills.

Looks like some good suggestions. On your first pict, i can see mowing by that tree would be interesting. Be on the look out for a hole or abrupt drop, i've brought regular tractors up off the top hill wheel, because of those. Slow and easy after you've sussed out your route, your slopes aren't ones i'd take a leap off the tractor for, and less likely to end up on the down hill path of your tractor.
Nothing like the one Agvg shows, that slope you might want to take your chances on and leap off, before the tractor picked up too much speed, tumbling down the hill.

 

[dieselcrawler]

With the modern tractors, seat belts and ROPS that come from the factory, advice to 'jump off the tractor' is advice that should not be given to a novice. You're more likely to get injured during your attempt to exit than staying securly belted in place. Wear your seat belt, every where, every time.

 

[JD15302155870]

I am not new to the land, but to driving a modern tractor on these slopes, yes. I don’t know how to calculate, but basically, our land that’s mowable is one long swale (we call it the bowl). The outer, upper edges of the bowl can get pretty steep, but a lot of it will be quite tame. I am NOT seeking mow ALL of it, just as much as can be safely done in this tractor.

I have found that my tractor will hold a steeper slope than my butt will

 

[JD15302155870]

With the modern tractors, seat belts and ROPS that come from the factory, advice to 'jump off the tractor' is advice that should not be given to a novice. You're more likely to get injured during your attempt to exit than staying securly belted in place. Wear your seat belt, every where, every time.

I know aman who was bush hogging and got in a yellow jacket nest. He jumped off the tractor to run and the bush hog cut his ankle off

 

[Fuddy1952]

The Cubs I've had slide down the hill like a toboggan, but it's very safe.
My suggestion would be WITH PTO OFF simply drive your tractor around your place a little with bush hog attached just to get the feel of it. If the least bit queasy don't do it.
On one place of my property along the woods line at top of a steep pasture I'll make a few long passes with a Cub. It then levels out...then steep downhill...then level again to a creek drop off. Along creek it drops down about 6-8 feet, so again I make passes with Cub. The pasture is undercut by creek, but Cub so much lighter.
Then I bush hog tractor downhill, go parallel to creek but I'm now 10+feet away, go uphill side that's not too steep, over and down steep side.
In picture it's off behind red barn to the left.

 

[MountainMomma]

View attachment 604116


Bruce

Well, just eyeballing your picture, probably 35-40% at the steepest. The sides of our swale get steeper as you work out from the center, if that makes sense.

 

[MountainMomma]

With the modern tractors, seat belts and ROPS that come from the factory, advice to 'jump off the tractor' is advice that should not be given to a novice. You're more likely to get injured during your attempt to exit than staying securly belted in place. Wear your seat belt, every where, every time.

So, I’m buying a CAB tractor. I don’t think I’ll be able to jump at all ever. :confused3:

 

[MountainMomma]

I know aman who was bush hogging and got in a yellow jacket nest. He jumped off the tractor to run and the bush hog cut his ankle off

AND this (bee nests) was the #1 reason that I tipped over into buying a cab tractor. :thumbsup:

 

[MountainMomma]

The Cubs I've had slide down the hill like a toboggan, but it's very safe.
My suggestion would be WITH PTO OFF simply drive your tractor around your place a little with bush hog attached just to get the feel of it. If the least bit queasy don't do it.
On one place of my property along the woods line at top of a steep pasture I'll make a few long passes with a Cub. It then levels out...then steep downhill...then level again to a creek drop off. Along creek it drops down about 6-8 feet, so again I make passes with Cub. The pasture is undercut by creek, but Cub so much lighter.
Then I bush hog tractor downhill, go parallel to creek but I'm now 10+feet away, go uphill side that's not too steep, over and down steep side.
In picture it's off behind red barn to the left.View attachment 604252View attachment 604253View attachment 604254

I like the advice to drive around and get a feel for it. Thanks~

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you have not mowed the property before just be aware of possible pot holes. They can turn you over if your rear wheel hit on the low side if you are side hill mowing. The areas that I mow I know well. I mow side hill when I can and up and down when necessary. There is no manic formula just experience. Go slow and keep your bucket and mower down. You've loaded the rears and widened them. Those are two of the most important things to increase stability on hills.

 

[Fuddy1952]

If you have not mowed the property before just be aware of possible pot holes. They can turn you over if your rear wheel hit on the low side if you are side hill mowing. The areas that I mow I know well. I mow side hill when I can and up and down when necessary. There is no manic formula just experience. Go slow and keep your bucket and mower down. You've loaded the rears and widened them. Those are two of the most important things to increase stability on hills.

X2 on the pot holes. Best to walk it or take a mower, etc. first. I found about six pot holes that would easily flip a tractor. Hard to tell by looking, found with the mower though! Those I filled in with rocks and dirt.
A couple large ones no use since rain washes them out.

 

[jcbGM]

Please be careful. I have the exact opposite. I have a ridgetop. A bowl is easier IMHO. If you begin to feel a bit uneasy sidesloping, you can turn the nose of the tractor downhill and ride it out.

I feel safer without the loader. The hinge points are high and transmit bucket loads through the hinge. Sideslope until you feel uncomfortable. At that point switch to up and down. Back up the slope and drive down. It’s far less efficient, but is the safest. You could leave your loader on if backing up and driving down. Worse case scenario, the loader bucket becomes and anchor that you can plant in front of yourself if you start sliding downhill.

Wait until after noon to mow the steepest areas. You’ll want the grass as dry as possible. You’ll notice R4s sliding before the tractor will roll. My next tractor will have R1s as I’ve had too many instances of trying to climb to the top of my ridge with the diff locked and R4s struggling to find traction. Or the mower dragging the rear end down the hill as I sidesloped. This was in a horse pasture. Not rough, uneven ground.

 

[MountainMomma]

Please be careful. I have the exact opposite. I have a ridgetop. A bowl is easier IMHO. If you begin to feel a bit uneasy sidesloping, you can turn the nose of the tractor downhill and ride it out.

I feel safer without the loader. The hinge points are high and transmit bucket loads through the hinge. Sideslope until you feel uncomfortable. At that point switch to up and down. Back up the slope and drive down. It’s far less efficient, but is the safest. You could leave your loader on if backing up and driving down. Worse case scenario, the loader bucket becomes and anchor that you can plant in front of yourself if you start sliding downhill.

Wait until after noon to mow the steepest areas. You’ll want the grass as dry as possible. You’ll notice R4s sliding before the tractor will roll. My next tractor will have R1s as I’ve had too many instances of trying to climb to the top of my ridge with the diff locked and R4s struggling to find traction. Or the mower dragging the rear end down the hill as I sidesloped. This was in a horse pasture. Not rough, uneven ground.

Yup; I want to be careful!

All this was helpful, thanks!

 

[redman135]

I know it is late, but a point that has been overlooked. BEFORE the grass runs away on you, walk the paddock and MARK rocks and stumps that would be hidden in the grass and mark and fill in holes that the wheels may fall into. When I say mark I mean permanantly, ie steel post(warratah), and paint white or drop a pvc pipe over the steel post for visibility.
On post 28 look at the 2 areas marked @70% grade, they are 35 degrees slope and not worth the effort to brush hog. If you don't like long grass then fence separately and graze.