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

 

[Rob-D]

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.

It's a full six for me Giz!

 

[Gizmo2]

It's a full six for me Giz!

HOLY CRAP! Would like to have seen one of them. I bet the thought of them is funny now but wasn't at the time.
As much as I hate the uncontrolled rides I am not giving up my ZTR any time soon.

 

[Rob-D]

Besides it's the only lawn mower that can spin donuts in my gravel driveway! Although I may have to give that up now that I'm loading my tires.

 

[bobsjd]

Hi

I have some very practical experience with ZTR's on slopes/hills. I had one of the light weight models ie the one's for less than $4000. No control, and about useless on my slope in the yard going up, down or sideways. Up is about the only way to control it.

I like the speed so I set about talking to commercial mowers that had been doing it for 15 or more years.

Long story short - I now have a Kubota zd 326 commercial with a 60" deck. It basically goes where I want it to with no issues. I mow ditches with 22 degree slopes sideways - no slip. I assume if it was wet I would slip. This thing goes anywhere. Clears grass like crazy - mowed through 18" stuff no issue.

Anyway I choose the Kubota over the Deere only because of physical size. Both seemed really good.

I recently posted issues with my new 3720 on my same slopes. After adding the ZD326 to my equipment I now can mow everything I want to when I want too as each machine has its place. The ZD for yard and slopes, the 3720 for everything else so I stay nice and clean and cool.

You need to go try one of these larger machines, I had the opportunity to try one at a dealer that ditch slopes steeper than mine - he so go right ahead you are not going to tip it, I also could go down and slow up fine at the bottom.

Bob

 

[Rob-D]

Bob,

The two things that make a ztr good on slopes are center of gravity and weight on the rear wheels.
My machine will go down slopes but with my light body I loose traction on the uphill tire.
After loading the rear tires things seem much better but I've only mowed with it once. I did do a 20+ degree slope ok.

Rob

 

[ddivinia]

I have the optional weight bracket on my JD ztrack 757. I have not put any weights on it. With the bagger full on much of a hill - i will pull the front wheels off the ground.

I need to put that back on my project list.

D.

 

[jcmseven]

Where I live we have extensive hills. One thing that turned me a bit off to the ZTR concept was, in fact, their performance on very steep hills. ZTR's are generally wide in back and have a tremendously rear-favoring weight distribution. Thusly, they perform well on hills that are reasonable. Unfortunately, when the hillside is wet or very steep they can seem like they are doing well then suddenly let go. I have had this happen two or three times in my ZTR mowing career and it is frightening. My experience with the type mowing I do is that a very efficient tractor, like an X series JD for example, will mow at a comparable pace to a ZTR unless the plot is obstacle laden. I have been able to reproduce these results time and again over the years on hilly properties I mow. True, the ZTR is faster but not that much faster. As a result, many of the professional mowers here use X series or equivalent tractors for mowing or they invest in a front cut. Unfortunately, front cut JD's are extremely expensive and have a pitiful resale value due to competition from ZTR's over the years. JD still makes them, and there must be a reason for that. I would say using both a ZTR and a front cut (never owned but used the latter) the front cut is a Cadillac to operate. Super smooth riding and cuts great. Maybe our OP could find one of those.

John M

 

[Rob-D]

John,
I've learned to 'read' the ground when I'm on the ztr. If I had it to do again I think I problably would have gone with a 500 or 700 but this is what I have. I go very slowly on the few hills here (most of my land is pretty level) since my ZTR got away from me when I first got it. Now the tires are loaded and I'll go out and test it more today.
If I don't feel safe it will go but the last time I mowed it did seem much better but the ground has been extremely dry here this spring so it's hard to tell. The reason I like the ZTR is the many obstacles I have and for this it can't be beat.
Rob

 

[Mightypoo0]

I have a 445 JD and it does a good job on hills as long as you try to keep the front end pointed up hill, and I try to keep the head of the engine on the up hill side and be prepaired to dive down the hill if it starts to slip to much. I have consider loading the tires. Maybe that would be a good thread loaded the or no? Z mower take a little different techique than a conventional lawn mower and I wouldn't go back for nothing but I would trade up.

 

[jcmseven]

The new 900 series JD's are supposed to be better on hillsides with the more responsive levers and better dispersion of hydraulic flow. I have not used one, but I hear they are great on even pretty steep hills. They might turn out to be the better ZTR choice for those needing to operate a ZTR on hills.

John M