Buying Advice Got the itch for a new mower

[ning]

Here’s a picture I took from the downhill side. In either case I never felt safe to drive the B7200 across it and the Grasshopper does. The F-series Kubota probably would handle it but it started crabbing down the hill so I decided that wasn’t a good option either. View attachment 586715

That's definitely closer to a 30, and these pictures explain why mowing across a hill matters so much to you. I've a section of hill which varies from about 5 to 35 degrees and it's a wild ride going down it on my lawn tractor (let's just say brakes merely lock up the back wheels and don't slow anything down); I wouldn't go anywhere near it cross-wise and usually leave it to my better half to use a trimmer for the worst of it anyways...

 

[4570Man]

That's definitely closer to a 30, and these pictures explain why mowing across a hill matters so much to you. I've a section of hill which varies from about 5 to 35 degrees and it's a wild ride going down it on my lawn tractor (let's just say brakes merely lock up the back wheels and don't slow anything down); I wouldn't go anywhere near it cross-wise and usually leave it to my better half to use a trimmer for the worst of it anyways...

I probably mow a dozen slopes like that with 4 others being as steep. Even if mowing up and down was practical I still prefer mowing crossways.

 

[JK22]

No way I’m driving my BX across that hill. I don’t have spacers. But far less than that grade and the pucker factor is high.

 

[4570Man]

This hill is 16 degrees. The picture really doesn’t do it just. Some of my helpers won’t drive the churches 455 JD across it. And it took 5 man hours to mow the church property using my Dixie chopper and the Church’s 455 JD both going at the same time. I don’t pay help to do that job anymore because I can do it in under 3 hours by myself with the grasshopper. The Grasshopper is one of the best investments I’ve made.

 

[dragoneggs]

No way I’m driving my BX across that hill. I don’t have spacers. But far less than that grade and the pucker factor is high.

Good point... I forgot to mention I have 2in spacers on the back and 1.25in spacers on the fronts on my BX.

 

[chim]

...........................Does anyone use the BX just to mow? Any issues with that big of a tractor constantly on your lawn?

Never used a BX to mow, but here's the progression of our lawn mowers. After using a Cub 154 LoBoy for a couple years, we bought the Ford in 1992 and still have it. Bought the B7500 in 2002 and sold it ten years later when we bought the L3200. These three posed for a family photo the day the L3200 was delivered. Shortly after getting the L3200 I built a cab for it. The one picture shows it in "Summer Mode" with a 6' RFM. It will soon be put up for sale.

While using up vacation days this past December, we found a really nice L4240 that wanted to come home with us. This will be the lawn mower that replaces the L3200. It will be pulling a 91" RFM.