Looking for mowing advise with a JD 3720 & steep ditches

[GreenTime]

I have a recently purchased JD 3720, cab, R4 tires, with front 59" snowblower. I bought it mainly for snow removal. Next summer I would like to buy a mower and use it to mow a rural farmstead that includes some steep ditches. The ditches need to be mowed lengthwise and not up and down (trees at the bottom prevent turning around). I mowed the ditches this summer with my JD 430 L&G tractor but could barely stay on the seat and ran out of traction.

1. If I buy a 72" mid mount deck, how much of the front quick hitch must be removed to install the deck and is it a lot of work to remove the front hitch?

2. If I buy either the mid mount or a 3 point finish mower, will the JD 3720 seem "top heavy" on the road ditches?

3. Anyone use a zero turn on steep road ditches? If so, should I look for any special features on a zero turn or any specific brand and model.

Any advise from real world experience would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[bnold]

3. Believe the only zero turn worth a darn on ditches are the steering wheel cub cadets in the pro Z 500, 700, or 900 series. Front wheels are actually steering wheels and not casters along for the ride.

 

[4570Man]

Looking for mowing advise with a JD 3720 & steep ditches

If you successfully mowed it without flipping a riding mower most commercial ZTRs with good tires will handle it.

 

[Deere Dude]

I have a recently purchased JD 3720, cab, R4 tires, with front 59" snowblower. I bought it mainly for snow removal. Next summer I would like to buy a mower and use it to mow a rural farmstead that includes some steep ditches. The ditches need to be mowed lengthwise and not up and down (trees at the bottom prevent turning around). I mowed the ditches this summer with my JD 430 L&G tractor but could barely stay on the seat and ran out of traction.

1. If I buy a 72" mid mount deck, how much of the front quick hitch must be removed to install the deck and is it a lot of work to remove the front hitch?

2. If I buy either the mid mount or a 3 point finish mower, will the JD 3720 seem "top heavy" on the road ditches?

3. Anyone use a zero turn on steep road ditches? If so, should I look for any special features on a zero turn or any specific brand and model.

Any advise from real world experience would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Don't know if your tires are loaded or wheels widened. That would help with advice given.
I have an X740 with fluid loaded tires and 100# cast iron weights on each rear wheel. I have a steep ditch that I mow sideways and and have a difficult time staying on the seat. I parked it on the ditch one time, got off and tried lifting the uphill side but couldn't do it. If I planted my 265# on the seat that may make the COG tippier though.

I also have a 3720 without cab but with 4" wheel extensions on R4 tires and loaded all around with a 84" rear finish mower. On the same ditch I will get suck sideways into the ditch but never tipped it over. Maybe because or the weight in the rear and light front end?

I would not try it with a cabbed unit without fluid in the tires and extended wheels.

Can't advise on midmount. If a weighted 430 can't take the hill a zero turn surely will not.

 

[bigtiller]

Did you stay on the seat with the 430 or did you plant one big cheek on the up-hill fender?

 

[sunnyside360]

I have a 2007 3720 cab tractor with 72" mid mount mower and 59 snow blower. Tractor has liquid ballast in rear R4 tires and 2 inch spacers on each rear wheel for 4 inch total additional width mainly for stability when mowing steep side hills.

I also have a new zero turn Kubota ZD1511 with 72 inch deck for mowing. It works on steep side hills also but my previous zero turn did not work well on the same hills.

Very little front 3 pt hardware needs to be changed when going back and forth between 72 mmm and 59 snow blower. I only remove the two front lift arms and top link for the 59 blower when mounting the 72 mmm and no tools are needed to do that. The drive shafts also need to be changed -- no tools needed.

 

[Brown Dog]

Fluid Fill ALL 4 Tires & Widen them out Frt & Back & you’ll be fine.

True the fluid robs hp on steep hills BUT the Traction & Stability are Priceless

 

[cobracnvt]

I have turf tires on my 3320, but I have heard that the R4 tires have limited side to side traction. You may have issues with the R4 tires sliding sideways down the hill. Just something to consider...

 

[beenthere]

R4 tires on my 4300 have not presented a slid-slip problem on the side hill that I mow.. and that slope is too steep to go up and down without some slippage. just sayin...

Liquid ballast in rears..open station, ..

 

[PCABE5]

I mowed the ditches this summer with my JD 430 L&G tractor but could barely stay on the seat and ran out of traction.

1. If I buy a 72" mid mount deck, how much of the front quick hitch must be removed to install the deck and is it a lot of work to remove the front hitch?

2. If I buy either the mid mount or a 3 point finish mower, will the JD 3720 seem "top heavy" on the road ditches?

If you can barely stay on a 430 I would suggest that you keep your 3720 cab out of the ditch.

1. MMM doesn't have much clearance when raised and probably not a good choice.

2. RFM probably the best choice but the weight can pull you in.

I also have a 3720 without cab but with 4" wheel extensions on R4 tires and loaded all around with a 84" rear finish mower. On the same ditch I will get suck sideways into the ditch but never tipped it over.

My 84" RFM will pull mine sideways as well on side slopes. Lateral grooving on the rear R4's help a lot for me.