Suggestions and do I need 4wd?

[RoyKing]

Don't worry anything you mention will get the job done buy something that makes it more fun to use it

 

[ruffdog]

We have a Deere x744 diesel all wheel steer, the neighbor has a x750 gas, dad has a x749 diesel, AWS and 4x4, and we all mow 5 acres+ with them. They are a stable platform and are easy to use....ask my wife.

 

[crazyal]

Here's my advice, you can decide if it's helpful. I had several cheap riding mowers, the last being a Wheel Horse from Lowes (lower end model). It wasn't hydro but it was variable speed (reeves drive like a snow machine). On some of my steeper hills it would get good traction and lift the front tires off the ground. Going down some of the not so steep hills one tire would break free. Because it was an open diff and the brake was before the diff one wheel would spin in reverse while the other would just turn normally. The end result was almost no braking. More than once I was getting ready to jump off and let it go into the woods.

After a couple years of me being stubborn (not wanting to spend premium money on something I don't like doing) I broke down and bought an X500 Deere. I think the X500 is now the X570. It has a manual diff lock and it's a lot heavier. Never once has the front felt light or like it would flip. With the diff lock I can easily go up the steepest of hills on my property (one is too steep to walk up). I think you would be fine with one of the X500 models with the manual diff lock. Which one is up to you. Mine is the basic one but you can get power steering, hydraulic lift mowing deck, and fuel injection. But you will want the heavier hydro unit model. A good rule of thumb the dealer told me was look at how the rear wheel mount. If they have bolts (like lug nuts) then it's heavy duty.

4wd should help but I wouldn't give up the locking diff. If you don't mind spending the extra money then I wouldn't talk you out of it. The dealer I bought my used X500 offered to let me use it for a week to make sure it was the right choice. I'm not sure if they would with a new machine or not but it did give me confidence.

 

[kthompson]

One thing you discounted right off I totally agree with you, not a place for a zero turn mower at ALL. I am on basically flat ground with some sloping in my mother in laws yard and when it is wet forget climbing with and steering. Not familiar right off with some of these mowers but have a "B" Kubota and think any mower only will have lower center of gravity.

 

[Deere Dude]

I have a X740 diesel. It is a small heavy maneuverable GT but 2 WD, I have rears filled and 100# of cast iron extra on each wheel. I ran with chains all year for many years just for the traction on hills. I took them off since I got flatter land now and no snow.

Mowing sideways in steep ditches it never came close to tipping though it gives me the willies sometimes. Once I got off to test it and tried tipping it up manually to see how light it was on the top end. Couldn't budge it. 4WD would be my choice especially for coming down long wet steep hills. Going up the diesel weight keeps the front end planted nice. If not I would add suitcase weights for that. But still the front will bob up a tad when hitting a rock or a bump going up hill.

 

[ruffdog]

If you have hills, the HD tires and 4x2 should be fine.

X7 Signature Series Tractors | Lawn Tractors | John Deere US

 

[XSKIER]

I've always thought that the Simplicity Prestige 4wd would make a nice hill side mower. On my hills, I would have to engage the diff-lock on my old 425 (rimguard in ATV tires) on the ride down. If not one wheel would skid backward, the other forward, when trying to hold the speed back with the travel pedal. The tractor would skid out of control. Now with the 'R in 4wd I can just fly up down sideways whatever ways in total confidence.

 

[Agvg]

Maybe a two-wheel machine made for steep terrain?

 

[dstig1]

I went through this very issue earlier this year. I don't have a ton of lawn, but it is all difficult with lots of side slopes and tight areas. Total lawn is maybe an acre, if that. I have a friend with an X320 JD (something like that) and he tried mowing it once. It did not go well. He was spinning wheels at various places, and some sections he wouldn't even try. So I knew I would at least need an X500 as they have the diff lock. I went to a couple dealers thinking they would push me into 4wd, and one was doing that but the other 2 both thought an X500 would work for me. I tried one out at the dealer on a severe slope ditch which was not too different from my place, and it seemed solid. I also tried to tip it over sideways when parked on the side hill, and it was rock solid. So I bought one, they delivered and I started to mow. Took me all of 5 minutes to get it stuck, and I had to pull it out with the Kubota. Not what I was expecting. I was in a spot where I had to back up up hill with nowhere else to go, and it would not get traction, even with the diff lock. It was probably the worst spot in the yard. I was able to do the rest of the lawn OK after pulling it out, but I kept thinking about it and went back to the dealer. Here I got a surprise. He said Deere had a 30 day no questions return. Really?!?! Why didn't anyone mention this before? Hmmmm. He was actually pretty apologetic about having to to up to an X738 as they are ungodly expensive, and a bunch more than even the X500. So we swapped. It works. No problems getting stuck and it still has the diff lock in case things get real ugly. I've even started mowing areas that are steep enough i would not have even tried them before. On side slopes, my pucker factor gives out well before the tractor would tip. I didn't like coughing up how much that cost, but I need it to do the job and not get stuck or cause me issues in the long run.

So ask about the 30-day thing so you know where you stand ahead of time.

The one big difference between the X738 and the SCUTs is that the 4wd is supposed to be a special setup to not gouge lawns in turns, and it seems OK for that, whereas a SCUT is going to be full on 4wd, no give at all. It is supposed to back off on driving the inside front wheel or something in a turn. It will still tear up grass a bit turning on steep slopes, especially if it is at all damp. FYI

 

[spitter]

I have a 2 wheel drive simplicity legacy and I cut grass on parts of my property that is very steep. Hard to walk. Never had any issue with it at all. Have wheel weights . The only time I wish I had 4 wd is when I plow snow . I built a 30"x 48" carry all and put bags of salt in it for counter balance and use tire chains and it gets the job done. If you want the best hill machine buy a Ventrac or a Steiner.:drink: