Tips For Brush Hogging a Steep Hill

[avc8130]

I have one steep hill on my property that I need to brush hog. I haven't mowed it in the past as this is the first year on the property.

The hill is about a 25' climb across about 200'. The base is open and it necks down at the top to a part I don't think I can clear without high-centering.

My plan: back up in 4wd to as far as I feel comfortable and then mow forward down the hill. Whatever I don't feel comfortable mowing I will hit with the ninja star on the string trimmer.

Any tips/advice?
ac

 

[brin]

I also bush hog some steep hills..here is how I do it...go up and down in semi circles ...So start at the bottom of your hill and bush hog up to the top and turn left or right and bush hog to the bottom and follow this same method until the whole hill is mowed..that way you are never sideways on the hill - it has always worked for me without any pucker factor.

 

[TripleR]

I have mowed steep hills going up and down both. I keep the FEL on for ballast, but you can use weights. I recently mowed a VERY steep hill by backing up as you describe and the only thing keeping me in the seat was the seat belt.

"Steep" often means different things to different people and different tractors are more or less stable than others, so it is hard to make a blanket recommendation.

I have no doubt brin's method works well for him, but turning sideways on a hill pretty well always makes me nervous on a really steep incline.

I will mow stuff with our M8540 that I wouldn't touch with the L5030; think I could mow the ceiling with the BX2660.

 

[hawkeye08]

Yep, just as already said, up and down, turning at the top where it is flat and some of the steeper parts are backup only, with the loader low. I start out on the side of the hill that is not quite as steep to build my comfort factor, then work across to the steeper part, ending with the backup only part. I really need to fill in some of the coyote dens to make it smoother...

 

[avc8130]

I don't think I can get up to the flat at the top of the hill. The last 4' of rise is VERY steep. I think the tractor will high center on it. I am too cautious to turn across the hill on this steep part.

ac

 

[brin]

I don't think I can get up to the flat at the top of the hill. The last 4' of rise is VERY steep. I think the tractor will high center on it. I am too cautious to turn across the hill on this steep part.

ac

Then don't do the semi circle up and down I suggested...I have a flat part at the top that I turn on ..If you are unable to make it up that far then I suppose you have to back up...The trick is gonna be shifting from reverse to a low forward gear..if you have manual shift be careful not to let your foot off the clutch when you go back down or put the clutch in or you will free wheel and that is really dangerous...If you have the auto type transmission that may be different ..I do not nor have I ever had one so I don't know...Just be careful

 

[avc8130]

I have a Kubota GST. It is definitely going to be interesting to go from reverse with the mower up and disengaged to forward w/ mower down and engaged.

I am going to attempt tonight. I will try to take some pics.
ac

 

[dodge man]

25' in 200' is what is called a 4 to 1 slope. If you are pretty accurate on your slope guess, that can be mowed. The company I work for, when we design slopes, we figure a 4 to 1 can be mowed, but any steeper and it can't.

 

[Mechanos]

25' in 200' is what is called a 4 to 1 slope. If you are pretty accurate on your slope guess, that can be mowed. The company I work for, when we design slopes, we figure a 4 to 1 can be mowed, but any steeper and it can't.

Unless some sort of new math is involved.... that would be an 8:1 slope. That would be a 12.5% grade which is ~ 7 degrees. Seems like that would be easily mowable.

 

[TripleR]

I have a Kubota GST. It is definitely going to be interesting to go from reverse with the mower up and disengaged to forward w/ mower down and engaged.

I am going to attempt tonight. I will try to take some pics.
ac

Maybe I am misunderstanding something, are you not going to mow while backing up the hill?

I have mowed slopes like this with a non synchro gear model, synchro shuttle shift, hydraulic shuttle shift and HST. It can be done with all, but it is harder when you have to shift gears. Just keep it in 4WD and brakes on when you stop to change directions. You might want to practice on something not so steep. There is nothing wrong with waiting for another time or just not doing it.