The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[MMC]

We have had a couple guys get banged up real good around here rolling over on hills.

We call it getting “tumble dried” (like a person being tumble dried in a clothes drier) when you roll sideways on a hill.

Yeah, the object is to never let the tractor and load get sliding sideways with any speed. When the downhill tire hits the slightest obstruction, the machine will rotate over and start rolling with the result you describe. Quick differential braking and throttle jabbing can keep you at an angle that is a trade-off between straight down and slightly across the bank.

Understand you are only in a configuration to control a slide at that point and you will be picking up speed as the nose of the machine turns downhill. A certain amount of situational awareness concerning the weight pushing you from behind is also called for (and how it is changing the direction of the tractor).

And you will pick up speed...pick your landing strip well. And before anyone jumps all over this as unsafe...I agree it certainly can be. I absolutely do not recommend going this far. But, life is sometimes about risk and controlling outcomes... I actually am very careful when approaching and planning for these situations...

A safer way to do some of these things is simply to back up steep inclines. That has another set of problems when you don't make it.

 

[Hay Dude]

a 15’ wide mower on the hitch can aid a bit with stability. When in question, I usually cut in reverse.

 

[LouNY]

A little more mowing action on Friday. Steep roadside bank. Great supplemental income while waiting for hay to dry. I’ll do $40K in field mowing this year. My goal is to double that in the next 2 years and have a tractor dedicated to just mowing so the challenger I currently use is devoted solely to hay.

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I’m really happy with the Challenger. Been a great tractor. Would like to buy another similar loader tractor to cut down on using it for so many tasks. I’d prefer to cut down on the hours it is used and spread the hours out over 2 loader tractors.

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Plus it's real handy to have backup for when something goes down for a couple of days.

 

[ning]

That would be nice. The owner is a great guy. has a backhoe and pulled me out once when my son got a little too close to some soft ground….

If it's enough of a hassle, could you swap in a removable bollard?
Figure you're already stopping and dealing with the chain.

random web example Global Industrial Removable Bollard W/Flush Mount Sleeve, 4"D x 36"H

 

[Hay Dude]

Plus it's real handy to have backup for when something goes down for a couple of days.

Yep
And the small Challenger is up around 5500 hours. Not exactly a new tractor..

 

[EddieWalker]

I understand the need for 4 wheel drive. I'm only pulling a 12 foot batwing, and my land is pretty flat, but there are a few places where 4 wheel drive wasn't enough, and I had to lock my rear axles to get up over the high spot!!!

What has me wondering is the Highway Mowers. They seem to have two versions of tractors. Brand New Deere's with cabs and 4 wheel drive, and older, open station tractors that are 2 wheel drive. The older 2 wheel drive tractors are Masseys, Kubota's, Case and New Holland tractors. It's odd that I've never seen an old 2 wheel drive Deere out there.

I've seen both going sideways on Over Ramps that I wouldn't want to drive straight up!!! I'm guessing they have loaded tires and probably weights on them, but I've never seen them close up to know for sure. It's just something to see while driving past them at 75mph.

 

[Drstrangeglove]

Your point is well taken, but only in select areas of the country. Two wheel drive used tractors are available with high horsepower at (relatively) attractive prices.

The problem comes when trying to have good directional control and provide enough tractive power when dragging a heavy boat anchor behind us... And yes, I can use differential brakes to steer on hillsides - I'm old.

For perspective, my Bushhog 2815, tricked out, weighs about six thousand pounds. It's a given you need a heavy tractor in front of it in Kentucky.

Ninety percent of the time you can do fine with a two wheel drive. It's that ten percent that get you in trouble on even slight hillsides with surface moisture (or even very dry - read, slick) on your grass. You begin to put yourself and your machinery in some peril. Even if you are smart and quit while you're ahead in these situations, you're going to spend a good part of a productive day getting a stuck machine back out.

Not to mention the damage to one's ego. Yeah, of course I've done it...with 4WD...

I'm certainly not against two wheel drives. We got along with them for many decades. But admit it, don't you love these newer 4WD drives?

I have a 2810. Mine will pile up the grass behind the main cutter and be clean under the wing. I got it to mow ditches. Yesterday was the first field I mowed. My 8 foot one will spread the cuttings much better.
Does yours do the same?

 

[MMC]

I have a 2810. Mine will pile up the grass behind the main cutter and be clean under the wing. I got it to mow ditches. Yesterday was the first field I mowed. My 8 foot one will spread the cuttings much better.
Does yours do the same?

The 2815 (with the additional wing) is no finish mower, but I haven't noticed a lot of really uneven distribution of grass. Mine is set up with blade ring steel guards underneath and protective chains all around. Which should even add to disruption of airflow. Any chance you might be allowing PTO speed to get too low to spread the cuttings? Hard not to back off the throttle when in a ditch though...

I run hard against the engine RPM to PTO recommended 540 speed. I don't use "Econo" PTO at all frankly.

If I remember correctly two of my gearboxes turn in one direction and the third gearbox in the opposite direction. Have no idea if that could affect your situation though...

You have a unit that a dealer may not sell that many of, so they may not be of great help. I've just gone straight to the mothership in Selma and talked to their engineers before. Seemed knowledgeable and were reasonably helpful.

Your machine should be a strong unit - I have been satisfied with my older 2615 as well as my 2815. We don't baby equipment - we use it.

Good Luck

 

[Lastkidpicked]

I seem to be “the guy” that does all the steep/dangerous ground in my area, so yes, definitely want 4WD and a cab.
I’m going out in comfort and safety!

One of the guys out here has this on his signs:

"We mow the deep and the steep!"

 

[Hay Dude]

One of the guys out here has this on his signs:

"We mow the deep and the steep!"

Mine could be “We mow steep, but our prices aren’t”