Buying Advice Need a zero turn that doesn't exist?

[MinnesotaEric]

Go with a stand-up model. Demo one they do pretty good on grades and because you're standing, you'll always lean into the uphill keeping the machine even more stable.

Wright and Toro and Ferris make standup zero-turns I've tried. Cub-cadet does as well and is having a big sale this month.

 

[radios1]

you are supposed to mow hills up and down, mowing alongside the hill shouldn't be done, and it's dangerous because the tractor wants to tip over. so mow up and down the hill!..

 

[K5lwq]

One of the best mowers I ever used on hills is a Walker mower. The drive wheels are directly under the seat with a big caster in back and deck on front. If the hill gets to steep, the high side wheel will loose traction and the low side will gain causing the mower to turn uphill. Then you simply back down the hill.

If it is really steep, then mow up and then back the mower down. It is almost impossible to flip unless you are really good at it. :laughing:

Here is a link to their website. Models

 

[ericm979]

The land I've been clearing brush off of and mowing is on the side of a mountain. The steepest part I've mowed with a 5' rotary cutter is at least a 20% slope. I've driven the tractor up steeper slopes with a chipper on the back. There's one that requires low range, and I usually back up it with the loader low for safety.

As long as you can go up and down the steep bits and turn on less steep parts, you can handle pretty steep hills.

I got slightly smaller diameter tires on my 3725 and 2" spacers on the rear, but those just make it more stable on side hills.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I've never mowed up a hill to steep to walk up, don't know what grade degrees that is.
I mow straight down slowly only if it's dry, go around then next pass down.

 

[radios1]

this will safely do a 30 deg. slope. Ventrac Slope Mowing Ventrac Slope Mowing zero turns are only good for a 10 deg. slope. need to do a 112% slope?. this will do that. Brielmaier motor mower - Going uphill

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have mowed hills so steep that even in 4 WD with the brakes locked it will still slide down. I had to circle around and only mow down hill though. Best way was to just let the engine do a little braking so you could still steer and just ride it out just like a sleigh ride.

 

[Fuddy1952]

This got me interested in what slope I was mowing. So with a four ft. level I put a tape measure on end straight down to ground, other end level on ground above. I mowed left side of fence two days ago before rain.
So it was 18.5", divide by 48" is 0.3854166667, times 100= 38.5 degree slope. Am I correct?
Cut with Cub zero turn mower. Straight down each time.View attachment 659932

 

[stevem5215]

Zero Turn Mower with Dual Wheels? - Cub Cadet Pro Z9 - YouTube

That Cub Cadet is impressive in design. The cost is not cheap at $17,000 real bucks. I did notice the part number on the video as shown was a filter asm. that is replaceable easily. They use Parker wheel motors on that design. Looks pretty nice underneath that thing. And while the cost isn't for the faint of heart. The engineering in it is very good IMO. Here's a link to the wheel motor/pumps used from Parker.

Steve

Cub Cadet PRO Z 7 KW 76-L (53RIHKTV) (216) Parts Diagrams

 

[Fuddy1952]

this will safely do a 30 deg. slope. Ventrac Slope Mowing Ventrac Slope Mowing zero turns are only good for a 10 deg. slope. need to do a 112% slope?. this will do that. Brielmaier motor mower - Going uphill

"zero turns are only good for a 10 deg. slope"
?????