ZTRs on hills & slopes

[bxowner]

Can anyone comment on whether a zero-turn mower (i.e. Z425) can go up/across slopes and hills? They're so low to the ground and relatively wide that I have to believe they can do it better than a lawn or garden tractor.

Wondering about real-world experiences...

 

[magicheater]

I have found that anything over 15 degrees is tough. They can go down, and they can go up, but once you try to maneuver while on the slope you are a victim of gravity. I have a Hustler with a grass catcher and have to be careful in certain areas that I mow. Can't beat the speed but slopes, iffy. my .02

 

[2fast2]

They'll go straight up a hill (not too steep) no problem, with control, but coming down a hill isn't good. I have an area where I have to go partway down a hill then turn to continue mowing. Often I can't, at least not without skidding the inside tire trying to get it to turn. Better on the lawn to go all the way down and turn around, go back up and then turn. I can drive along the side of the slope as long as I don't try too hard to then go up, because it'll skid that inside (high) tire then, too.
Mine is an EverRide Warrior. Great, super heavy duty machine and my first zero radius mower, but the negatives are that I eat much more dust, the ride is rougher, and they're harder to control than a sit on top lawn tractor. But they are fast, super maneuverable with turns, etc. and that's the one I use at my place.
Hope that makes sense. Try one out before you buy. They take a little while to get the hang of, controlling and steering, but try to see whether it'll work for your property.

 

[om21braz]

Main thing to keep in mind is that when you lose traction, you also lose the ability to steer - especially when damp/dewy. The ztr will come sliding down and you're just along for the ride. The larger/wider machines will hold more slope than I feel comfortable being on as long as it is dry.

 

[beenthere]

..........They're so low to the ground and relatively wide that I have to believe they can do it better than a lawn or garden tractor.

Wondering about real-world experiences...

My limited experience with ZTR (and just thinking about the way it works) is it cannot be better than a 2 wheel drive, front wheel steer lawn tractor on a slope (if the lawn tractor has individual rear wheel brakes or positraction, OR all-wheel-steer AWS).

Turning on a slope with the ZTR is a bit like trying to walk or run with one leg.

With regular lawn tractor, keeping the rear wheels driving while the front ones steer gives better control while turning or maintaining a straight line on a slope. Also, body weight can usually be shifted to the uphill side on this rig, as only one hand is needed to steer.

My AWS lawn tractors stick to a slope so much better than my older lawn tractors, that I think it is the best option for slopes. Not sure why, but there is a big difference. I can turn on a slope to go uphill, and could not do that with straight steer or the ZTR.

 

[ctlguy]

I personally know of two individuals mowing with a zero turn on a ditch bank and found themselves in the water with the machine on top of them (I know you just said slopes). Granted both of these folks where limited in their knowledge and ability to operate machinery so the pucker factor may have had more to do with their accidents, both came out ok but could have been worse.

 

[Gizmo2]

Steep hills I mow up the hill, back down and drive up. ZTR's are a bit tricking when first learning. No traction = no brakes or steering but boy what a ride. Some of the rides I have been on require about three beers to recover.

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

The funny thing is about lawn mowers and hills is that the owners manual of every mower out there says don't mow anything over 15%. Which we all know is just a way of getting themselves out of a lawsuit.

I have a 19hp 48" Scag Tiger Cub, which I love. Going up hills is not a problem. If they are (really, probably more than 35% grade) steep going down them is like the first hill on a roller coster. I can pull like crazy on both sticks tires going backwards and everything and it doesn't react until I get to the bottom.

Now, I mow for a guy using his Toro Z-Master. One of the ones where it flexs in the middle so you can easly get at the underside of the deck. The only problem with this is it's a hour and a half full of 8 second rides if you know what I mean. But that mower can go down that same hill and stop half way down if I want it to. The thing that weird about that ride is the back tire comes off the ground and you are acually riding on the front two casters and the drive wheels.

I wouldn't trade my Scag for anything but if you are talking about really steep hills I would look at Toro.

 

[SpringHollow]

Power Tracs are a very nice solution if you need to mow slopes with a model even rated for 45 degrees.

Ken

 

[Rob-D]

I personally know of two individuals mowing with a zero turn on a ditch bank and found themselves in the water with the machine on top of them (I know you just said slopes). Granted both of these folks where limited in their knowledge and ability to operate machinery so the pucker factor may have had more to do with their accidents, both came out ok but could have been worse.

When I first got my zturn I was going down a hill sideways and the uphill wheel lifted. If this happens the other wheel drives you forward....fast! I wound up in the pond!
It took me a few minutes to figure out what was happening so it wouldn't happen again but now I know how to use it safely... I hope. Anyway, zturns aren't for hilly property! I just loaded the rear tires 'cause I weigh 150 lbs in a hard rain.
Rob