[Haggar]

After struggling to mow our front hill for the 3 years that we've live here, I'm researching a better mower.

The front of our property is a hill, around 20ft elevation drop, but pretty steep, maybe 30-35 degree downslope. About 150ft long across the face sideways.

Currently, I either use a basic push mower going sideways across the hills, or a lawn tractor going down. Its hard to walk due to the angle of the hill (easy to roll an ankle) and the push mower won't staight straight, the back end wants to fall down, the front wheels pulling it foward, so its at an angle as it goes.

If I mow with the rider, its basically hold the brakes as hard as I can, lean back like a rodeo rider, and try not to die. Hitting the bottom of the hill sometimes jars the seat forward, and I will need to add footpegs if I continue with this method.


So, lawn cutting gurus, whats the best type of mower for steep hills like this? I have about 2.5 acres, but half is not grass. I wouldn't mind a zero turn. We're going to see if my neighbors 53" exmark z will do the hill, but $14000 is beyond my price range

 

[Yetti]

My friend in Ann Arbor had a 4x4 Kubota with axle spreaders for doing steep hills. he had a couple city contracts because they were to steep even for the equipment they had.

 

[Haggar]

LOL, I feel like #10 in this pic going down the hill..

 

[Haggar]

My friend in Ann Arbor had a 4x4 Kubota with axle spreaders for doing steep hills. he had a couple city contracts because they were to steep even for the equipment they had.

Like a Kubota tractor or a piece of lawn equipment? I was working some of the hills today with our smaller Kubota, I would be scared to take it on that hill...

 

[Yetti]

the rig he had was a diesel pusher with a front mounted 72" deck. yeah it sounds scary but thats what he used.

 

[Yetti]

you could always opt for a quad with a swisher style mower?

 

[Yetti]

http://www.swisherinc.com/trail_mowers.asp

 

[Yetti]

http://www.swisherinc.com/mowing.asp

 

[Haggar]

the rig he had was a diesel pusher with a front mounted 72" deck. yeah it sounds scary but thats what he used.

I can have one of these for free. 28hp kubota diesel, 61" deck. I think its too big for most of the rest of my yard, that front deck is long....

you could always opt for a quad with a swisher style mower?

I traded my quad for the Deuce, didn't use it enough. This is the front of our property right of the street, want a nice finish cut.

 

[mudmafia]

yetti ='s post whore
I mean 4 in a row? come on!

 

[Yetti]

this one in the 62" deck could be a star on steep hills.

 

[Yetti]

yetti ='s post whore
I mean 4 in a row? come on!

your new here eh? oke:

 

[Yetti]

This is the front of our property right of the street, want a nice finish cut.

I have a nice walk 50" walk behind I can sell you? that way if it feels like its time to let go, you can.

 

[Skooter_Built]

I can have one of these for free. 28hp kubota diesel, 61" deck. I think its too big for most of the rest of my yard, that front deck is long....

I traded my quad for the Deuce, didn't use it enough. This is the front of our property right of the street, want a nice finish cut.

crap ill give ya 200 for that right now

 

[PavementPounder]

I found my rear engine Snapper with the "handlebar" steering to be awesome on the sidehills. No stupid sensor in the seat and no tip sensor, so I rode on the deck on the high side while steering the handlebars with one hand and holding onto the seatback with the other.

 

[creeping death]

 

[scottie]

A few Options:

1. Don't Mow it

2. Plant Ground cover and see #1

3. Build a few walls to level it off.

4. Buy a Samurai with a Mowing deck

5. Don't be a puss, drink more beer and lean into the hills

I've always found zero turn mowers horrible on hills.

 

[95geo]

I can have one of these for free. 28hp kubota diesel, 61" deck. I think its too big for most of the rest of my yard, that front deck is long....

My dad has one similar to that but with the big wheels in the rear and the little wheels in front of the deck. It has a 60" deck. I mow my old dirtbike jumps with it and a ditch out front that is pretty steep, might be close to 30 degrees but it's only 6' of hill. Turning sucks but the stability is fine... I'd take it on steeper hills without too much concern.

Give the exmark a shot, you can get similar machines for about 1/2 the cost if you dont need top of the line commercial quality.

 

[L4CX]

I can have one of these for free. 28hp kubota diesel, 61" deck. I think its too big for most of the rest of my yard, that front deck is long....

I've driven the one we have at camp. It does pretty well on the Hills. I'd take it if I was getting it for free. If you can get it for free how much would you want for it? :teehee:

We also had a mower at the Golf course I worked at that was Specifically for the Steep Tee off's. It was a reel Mower though, not a blade one. Can't remember the actual name of it, I think it was a toro though. I could get that thing pretty sideways and not really worry about it.

 

[14muddn]

http://www.wrightmfg.com/index.cfm?...productid=D3316FE9-1372-5743-E93BA66E134F8F03