Buying Advice Need a zero turn that doesn't exist?

[BGRRanch]

So I have a bit of a situation, and I've googled around, including on here and not come up with a good answer.

I have about 5 acres of Texas hill country that i need to keep grass/bush down on. Its not a lawn, but it is mostly clear. I"m having a dude with a bobcat try to get any remaining debris and most of the sticks/some of the rocks out. But no matter what it will be somewhat rough. If its not mowed the weeds can get up to 4-5', if it is regularly mowed its general native grasses and not that thick. I bought a midsize tractor (longtrac 490 of indeterminate age) and a 5' brush hog and thought that should take care of it.

Except its on a hill. A big scary hill (about 2 acres is just a slope down to the rest). Ive driven my truck up and down it with a trailer, so its not a cliff, but it is TERRIFYING on the big tipsy tractor. I tried once, got a good number of passes done....only being able to remotely steer at the very top and very bottom. Then on a downward run my right tires went into a ditch, my left tire left the ground, I got it out and haven't gone near it with it since.

I hired a guy to bring his old zero turn out, and it actually did manage to mow most of it (pending some areas that needed a bit more bobcat clearing), and it zipped around the hill at all angles with no effort. So my initial thought was to get one and be done with it. Looking specifically at the Cub Cadet SX54 or ZT2 60"...both around $4k. The SX seems better for hills which seems to beat out the slightly more commercial and larger ZT2.

HOWEVER im reading that zero turns arent made for that. Rough terrain will shred them and i can almost guarantee it will hit some sticks and rocks. The guy i hired had to do some repairs to his deck when he was done.

$4k is about the limits of my budget as i was expecting the expensive tractor to handle it.

Is there a low center of gravity brush mower of some type that can handle hills? Will a zero turn get beat up a bit but just need some maintenance and keep chugging? Would the ZT2 handle rough stuff better? How much drop off on hill control would it be?

Is there an option im not thinking of? The hill seems to be severely limiting my options short of some insanely expensive specialty machinery.

Thanks

 

[dieselscout80]

Altoz TRX Series | The World's First Tracked Zero Turn Mower

 

[NickTaylor]

Goats work pretty well on hills.

 

[jeff9366]

Zero Turn Mower with Dual Wheels? - Cub Cadet Pro Z9 - YouTube

 

[dodge man]

My tractor will go up hills I wouldn’t dream of going up with my truck. It sounds like you should mow it with a tractor and brush hog. I’m not really sure what you bought but there are some things you can do to increase stability, such as fluid in the tires and setting the wheels out wider.

 

[jeff9366]

Tractors are inherently unstable operating on sloped ground. However, stability can be imporoved.

1) Tractor rear wheel/tire spread, sometimes adjustable, is a critical factor increasing compact tractor stability working sloped or uneven ground. A 6" to 10" wider rear wheel/tire spread substantially decreases tractor rollover potential.

2) Filling rear tires 50% to 75% with liquid lowers the overall center-of-gravity for the tractor.

How is your current tractor set up?

What is a Longtrac 490?

 

[rademamj1]

I would sell your tractor, and purchase a good used high end commercial zero turn. Like a Gravely Proturn or Scag or Hustler. The commercial ZTR can handle the rougher field your throwing at it. And you could always walk the field removing rocks, and flagging any rocks you can't move, and generally improve the field each year for your zero turn mowing. The Texas hot summer will keep the vegetation down until you need to resume mowing again in midSeptember. I think only 6 mowings a year are needed to keep your field looking good.

The second option is like Dodgeman recommended, modifying your tractor to handle slopes with safety, and learn to mow slopes like an expert. This approach is inherently more risky due to stability of tractors on steep slopes. Please Keep yourself strapped in tightly in case it does roll on its side.

 

[big bubba]

Ferris commercial w/suspension is a good choice. may consider bar tires instead of turf. once you become a skilled operator, bar tires should not tear up lawn
also consider foam fill ft tires, maybe load rears 1/2 w/fluid. would not foam fill rears, very expensive & prob too heavy for hydraulics
you're going to spend more than 4k unless you want consumer grade crap on the parking lot @ Lowes...wouldn't last long in my application good luck

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Need a zero turn that doesn't exist?

The mower DOES exist, it sounds like what DOESN'T exist, is your wallet fat enough to buy it!!!

4k doesn't buy much these days!!!

SR

 

[Takman]

These are awesome for slopes but not cheap. Ventrac Compact Tractors & Attachments