crazy idea? mowing with a compact track loader?

[ratter]

Picked up an angle finder at Sears yesterday. Haven't had a chance yet, but it will confirm/disconfirm my fears about the steeper parts at least. It also has a magnet on the bottom, so I can stick it to the top of the tractor dash. 10 bucks. Handy!

I have no particular desire to mow side-to-side. Convenient and quicker though it may be, I've got no problem with going up-down-up-down. But yeah, that would just emphasize the need for something with a decent sized deck. I would definitely feel more comfortable with a walk-behind/stand-on machine, but those tend to be finish mowers, don't they? I'm not sure I'd cut it often enough with a walk-behind for a finish mower to work. There's some rough stuff out there at the moment. Parts of that hill are weeds over 7 ft. high.

I discussed it with the local kubota/bobcat dealer. At the very least, he's a source for me to get some machines out here to demo.

 

[slowrev]

Ratter,
A walk behind mower will work ya pretty hard on those slopes.

A friend that works for the Army Corps of Engineers told me they tried a riding mower that leaned over over to mow the faces of earthen dams with. He said it was pretty strange and worked somewhat, but the factory reps could not keep it going. Of course this has been a few years ago too, those things might work now, I can't remember what they are called, but they lean into the slope. I think I saw a webpage for one once....
Anyone else heard of those beasts ?

Ben

 

[aesanders]

The hill in question looks like they were farm fields at one time. Do you know the history behind the fields. Were they farmed at one time?

I've seen some pretty nifty walk behind sickle mowers that would do the hill fairly well. Something like the old Gravely's with dual wheels and a large sickle cutter. Will go right thru those 7' weeds. 52 acres would be a lot though for a walk behind, but you could at least cut some good paths and keep them groomed.

A sickle bar would probably be best for that type of mowing anyway wehter it be a tractor mounted sickle or walk behind.

I've even seen some Amish not far from where I live that farm some slopes with horse drawn equipment that no tractor could handle at all.

 

[Panache]

What about a 4FD Bovine 1800? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JohnSr]

I use a B2910 w/ rotary cutter for fields and a GR2100 for steep slopes and tight spots. When researching a mower for steep slopes it came down to a Hustler ATZ (I think thats what it was) and the GR2100. I went w/ the Kubota because it was cheaper and I could use it in the winter for snow removal.

The GR2100 cannot back up a steep hill very well (at least mine cant!) but it can climb some insane slopes. I even have some areas where I need to traverse a steep slope sideways and it has never been a problem; although I try to avoid that at all costs on a machine w/ no ROPS and seatbelt.

Maybe your dealer will let you demo one.

Good luck and be safe,

John in Md

 

[slowrev]

Bovine , not a bad idea. Or fence it off and put goats in the steep area. Make money by "mowing" instead of the area being a mowing money pit.

Ben

 

[ratter]

Furry mower friends are a possibility, albeit a remote one. Not sure we're ready for that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

John, the GR2100 - I will look into that one, thanks.

 

[Panache]

How common are cattle in your area? Would it pay to fence and let someone else run cattle on your property, maybe not full-time but part-time to keep most of the grass down and just bushhog as needed?