Side Hilling Blues

chilibit · Dec 30, 2005

I need to mow a couple of acres around the house and perhaps a mile or so of steep side hills along property lines or lake. I bush hog with an L5030 and knock down about 30 acres in the Fall. The 5030 has the 853 loader. The places I need the mower for, I have not been willing to go side hill with the tractor. Some areas I am very uncomfortable even using the Kubota RTV.

Around the house a ZTR sounds like the ticket. But I am seriously concerned that it would not like the slopes. I am thinking about a walk behind SCAG, with the logic being that if it goes, I will wave goodbye and pull it out with something. The outer edges here are 3 or 4 miles in length but I would only use the mower where I cannot use the tractor. This past year I did a lot of backing the bush hog in. With loaded tires, and 4WD I could do most of it, but it is slow going.

Is there a better solution than the walk behind? Any thoughts appreicated.

Vince

ronjhall · Dec 30, 2005

Here is a post that should get you started on your search for something that will do your hills. Click Here

chilibit · Dec 30, 2005

Yep, the Slope Mowers will do it. But they might be overkill at 30k dollars. Translation---too much for me. Unless I missed something. The 4200 VXD looks second best. Don't know that price. Looks a little like the Kubota 4WD F model front mower.

Vince

6or7dazeaweek · Jan 4, 2006

Chilibit:

I've got a Walker zero turn and it does NOT like slopes at all. I'm very uncomfortable when I get into that type of situation. I've also got a walk behind Billy Goat brush hog type of mower that they claim will clear two thirds of an acre per hour. It's a beast and has 3 speeds fwd & one reverse. Like you said, if it goes down the hill, you wave bye bye & use something to pull it out. That way you're at least safe and not riding down on top of a ZTR. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Good luck!
Jon

chilibit · Jan 4, 2006

The story is the same everywhere. ZTRs and hills is a questionable mix. And in the Kubota line, it appears that the BX2230 with a belly deck is the favorite unless you want to spring for the F series front mower which is 7k more. I am going to give the bx a test to see how it works. I wish someone made a kit for double rear wheels on the L5030. I have my rears full wide, but it is not enough. But double rears probably eat turf when they turn.

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it.

Bob_Skurka · Jan 4, 2006

I've got a Ventrac 3000 and it does "figure 8's" and "u-turns" on slopes that would have flipped over my Cub Cadet lawn tractor if I tried to cut across the slope. I regularly mow where I won't take the New Holland TC24 or the Kubota B2910. Its an odd looking little tractor but it feels like it is glued to the hillside. In the summer we mow about 4 acres a week with ours.

BTW I paid $9000 for it with a front mower deck and a 48" hydraulic bucket.

1962 · Jan 5, 2006

yep, i agree with bob. my buddy has a ventrac 4200 VXD with duallys on front and back. this thing goes all over the steep slopes,just like a mountain goat. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif now i want one.....

chilibit · Jan 5, 2006

Bob and 1962,

Someone else (ronjhall) provided a link that mentioned Ventrac and I did not pursue it with enough vigor. I have requested the literature. The web site does not seem to say just what a VXD model difference is. Maybe there is a degree of freedom in the horizontal plane and also in the ability of the rear to "twist" relative to the front. This might really help to keep all four wheels planted. Maybe, since I am only interested in mowing with it (famous last words), the 3000 is most suitable. Would you say that the hill side stability is the result of a low COG, articulated 4wd and weight on all four, or the dual wheels ? I am guessing the articulated 4WD. The width is similiar to the BX2230. Did you have a dealer in your area that had one to look at?

Vince

1962 · Jan 5, 2006

vince,
here's my 2 cents worth......they (ventrac) used to be called steiner. i dont know all the details, but its still in the steiner family. my buddy got his at a local dealer about 10 miles from where he lives. a few years back i used to run the steiner 430 with a power broom attachment, and i remember how much i liked that machine. the only thing i dont like about his machine is it's name. seems like it it should be called something more masculine for all it can do.
when he told me he bought a ventrac, i thought it was some kind of leaf vacuum or something. the difference between the 3000 and 4200 is size and power. both would be incredible hill huggers and in my opinion are one of the best slope machines available. he got a slope meter for his that mounts above the instrument panal..which is great for safety.. it have a adjustable weight transfer set up for increased stability..my friends is a turbo diesel, and i think the diesel engine was made by B&S. besides the front mower he has a few other attachments for it as well. i like the leaf blower attachment myself. it looks like a bent 12" round piece of heating duct. blows all the leaves on his lawn back into the woods in very short time. very powerful. excellant machine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif