Buying Advice Tractor vs zero turn

[two_bit_score]

I've been mowing 5ish acres and some trails with a brush hog behind my jd4310....and a push mower around the house. We did some thinning and there's more to mow now but the brushhog can't maneuver what's needed. I'm told I can't buy a mid mount for a 2004 tractor anymore unless it's used and I can't find a used one. Everybody say go for a zero turn but I'm concerned about getting stuck on ruts, bumps, some hills and some not terribly smooth terrain. How stable are these zeroturn mowers anyway? Just how "flat" does the ground have to be to avoid getting stuck, sliding or even more fun...rolling?

Pick any Zero Turn mower and go to the online reference for the Owner's Manual/Operating Manuel for that mower and you will get an education on the slope that they warn you to avoid.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Just how "flat" does the ground have to be to avoid getting stuck, sliding or even more fun...rolling?

Doesn't have to be flat at all, IF you are on a front deck Grasshopper!

SR

 

[BoylermanCT]

You can go up and down pretty steep hills. Going across hills not so much. Change the wheels from turf to AT101's and you will never get stuck. Well almost never! Best upgrade I made to my machine was the AT101 tires.

 

[4570Man]

You can go up and down pretty steep hills. Going across hills not so much. Change the wheels from turf to AT101's and you will never get stuck. Well almost never! Best upgrade I made to my machine was the AT101 tires.

A big ZT with AT101s will side hill a slope that will flip a small tractor. A light ZT not so much.

 

[JoelT]

Doesn't have to be flat at all, IF you are on a front deck Grasshopper!

SR

I hadn't noticed that difference before. Seems that you can poke the mower into some tight spots better maybe but how's it help the handling?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I hadn't noticed that difference before. Seems that you can poke the mower into some tight spots better maybe but how's it help the handling?

It hinges at the back of the deck, so you get a much better ride and with the deck out front, it puts a lot more weight on those drive wheels.

SR

 

[4570Man]

It hinges at the back of the deck, so you get a much better ride and with the deck out front, it puts a lot more weight on those drive wheels.

SR

You’re wrong about the weight distribution. My Grasshopper mid mount carries almost all of the weight on the drive wheels plus it poses less chance of getting stuck over a ditch with the drive wheels hung up in the middle. The front decks have quite a bit of weight over the rear non driving wheels. If the deck is sitting on the gauge wheels it’s even worse. A front deck will outperform a mid mount on a side hill because the deck counter balances it for sliding down as bad.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

A front deck GH has an adjustment for how much weight the deck puts of the drive wheels, mine side hills better than any zero turn I've ever used.

SR

 

[dragoneggs]

It hinges at the back of the deck, so you get a much better ride and with the deck out front, it puts a lot more weight on those drive wheels.

SR

I have some wicked slopes that I try to mow with my Z turn. Certain areas I avoid when wet... other areas I avoid all together. I have one short but steep grade that I have to go up to get to a patch above a retaining wall. I have to lean as far forward as I can to keep the front wheels on the ground. Not for the faint of heart or sphincter.

I have been looking for a good hunk of steel to stumble on, that I could attach to the front edge. I am convince that 50lbs forward and low would be a huge improvement on my little Z.

 

[4570Man]

You could foam the front tires. I think mine added 30 pounds each after I did that.