Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Zero turn on hills?

Anyone use a zero turn on a grade? My yard is steep and I want a zero turn but I cant get a straight answer on how they handle on steep inclines. Looking at the 3k husquvarna or hustler zero turns, any info on them would be good too.

I would demo one to make sure. They get hard to handle on a hill sometimes.

I would ask to demo one as well. I find its easier to go up and down a hill instead of side to side thwyey also make weights for the front of some nowers for bagging systems.

Mine hangs up some on grades. Especially when a little wet, it still gets the job done, but it won't always go the way I want it to go on grades. Have to make a circle most of the time and it cuts the yard up a little bit.
Husquvara makes good mowers

I have a hustler fast track (love it) and it does pretty good. I do feel like I have to lean forward when going up hill but i really dont. Certainly wouldn't floor it up a hill. Get one with a roll bar.

I'm looking at the Hustler raptor. Has kaw engine and looks like its built well.

No dout on the roll bar. I wouldn't mow steep grades if mine didn't have a roll bar.

As to the other part of that statement, I keep mine wide open all the time
My yard is big

I have a 48" Hustler with the Kawasaki engine. It's a tough, fast machine. And thanks to the guvment they all come with roll bars, no matter the brand.

Describe your "steep" yard. Can you mow it sideways or do you have to go up and down? Reason I ask is I can go about anywhere in a straight line on DRY grass with mine. Turning or stopping on wet grass is something that has to be done very gradually

A dealer from John Deere said he has never seen one roll over from a steep incline. He said they will slide down the hill but not roll over because of the wide width and being low to the ground.

I'm not worried about rolling, I'm more worried about sliding. I have to ride on the fender of my regular mower to keep from turning over and to keep traction. I'd say its probably a 35-40 degree bank.

I live on incline hardwood bottom and have the Toro time cutter. great mower and named correctly. i have to take the hill straight on with no problem. when i get to the bottom the turf tires spin and will tear up a little turf.

Go up and down - not side to side - and you should be fine. The zero turn will want to turn down the hill of you are mowing sideways, and since there's not much grip on the front you may end up getting frustrated.

Might be good to see if the dealer has a used one you could try before you buy.

ive spent lots of hours on a zero and they will climb just about any grade. the problems come when you try to go sideways. The front tires want to go down hill and you end up tearing up the grass with your rear tires fighting it. I love them and they are the way to go. Coming down a steep grade can be tricky too. Having no brakes and being heavy, naturally they want to go fast down a hill and trying to go slowly can also tear the grass. Other than that once you go zero you will never want to go back to conventional riding mower.

X2 and if your mowing sideways on a hill NEVER point your front tires down hill or you going to the bottom. Just keep your front tires pointed up if you turn on a hill and your fine. I have a toro zmaster and a JD ztrac I'd go with the zmaster any day. And I would spend the little extra and get a commercial mower. Toro ex mark or if you want one mow your grave with a kubota diesel. Just my 2 cents.

I have a fairly steep ditch out by the road that I have to cut sideways and my snapper will slide but after you get used to it, not so bad. Kinda freaked me out at first though.

Going up is fine going down can get kinda squirrelly

^^^ agree totally. Commercial is the only way to go. The small things that normally fail on a non-commercial unit last much longer if not forever on a commercial grade mower. I had a Z-master and loved it. The only reason I sold it was because it was to big for my latest needs. I sold it 5yrs ago and it is still running to this day. I would recommend them to anyone.

I have problems with a bobcat zero turn sliding on the hill in front of my house. Its pretty steep, maybe a a 30 degree incline.

Look for the cub cadets with four way steer. The promote those and those only for someone with steep hill sides. Go to their website, im sure they have asomething showing the advantages of four way steering. Demo one before buying I don't care what brand you get.

I have a Hustler Sport 48" and its been great so far.

As far as the hills, I have had the same experience others have already stated about sliding when going sideways. Back down the hill and go up and down without turning on the steep grade if you can.