Lawn mower for a really steep yard?

[unknownroad]

So I recently moved to the flatlands to the mountains, and my big-box-store Cub Cadet zero-turn is literally sliding down my lawn even when it's dry, which is not ideal since there's a creek at the bottom of the property I've only got about an acre of lawn, but sections of it are nearly 45 degrees from horizontal; the universal "limit" quoted by manufacturers seems to be 15 degrees, which I assume is for liability reasons. Is there anything in the "prosumer"/light commercial range (meaning it doesn't cost as much as a new car) that is working for people with a similar property?
(The previous owners paid a service to do it)

Cheers,

 

[ace10]

Get lucky and find a good Ventrac on the used market?

The physics of mowing a steep slope are what they are. Flipping a ZTR is a seriously dangerous proposition. And likely the reason the previous owners farmed out the work.

Walker discharge models are rated to a decent slope, but I don't think they're up to 45 deg. And they're also very spendy.

 

[engineer2]

No recs, but splash lubricated engines have a short life when used at steep angles. I would assume bigger motors like V-twins have a proper pressurized lubrication system.

 

[CB350F]

Hello...I have had the same problem for forty years...maybe two and a half acres. I would chain up the 'ole cub cadet. Three years ago I bought the Kubota gr2020 all wheel drive. I have never looked back. Like mowing all steep hills you have to devise a system where the mowing is done top to bottom or bottom to top. I always joke saying I could take the mower deck off and take it deer hunting...it will climb. Hope that helps...


CB

 

[67CarGuy]

Have you considered goats? I mean that only partially in jest - I've seen them used on some pretty steep slopes, but of course then you need to fence them in, protect all the things you don't want them to eat, etc. Or try and find someone local who rents them out...

If you're truly a glutton for punishment, you could always do some terracing, and make a series of flatter areas. Or seed the whole thing with wildflowers, etc., and let it go "as nature intended".

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Bolens tubeframe like 1050. I could tow my Cummins Dodge with the posi fully locked

 

[Nthill93]

Find a decent scag walk behind mower with a 48” deck. Use it for the steep parts and the zero turn for the rest

 

[HalfTonTom]

 

[rockinacummins]

Pay someone to do it if you can. I had the same issue at my last home, bought the biggest Husqvarna tractor-type rider I could find/afford and added as much weight down low as I could. Center of gravity was fine so I was never worried of flipping over, but it still slid down hill with the “turf-tires.” It also wore out the drive belt even though I never mowed going up the steep slope.

I considered putting some more aggressive tires on it, more like farm tractor tires. But in my mind, if you put more aggressive tires on one and it can’t slip, it’s more likely to turn over.

 

[larry_g]

Altoz TRX Series | The World's First Tracked Zero Turn Mower

The Altoz TRX has big features and even bigger benefits. Get the most from your tracked, all terrain zero turn mower. Explore the lineup!

altoz.com

Have you seen the above?

lg
no neat isg line

 

[4xdog]

45°? A 1 in 1 rise? That is one helluva grade to have on a mowed section in a big yard. I can remember houses that had lawns almost that steep in my hilly southeastern Ohio hometown, and some of those homeowners worked a normal rotary mower up and down the hilly part using a rope tied to the handle while they stood at the top letting it out or reeling it in. That probably wasn’t all that safe even in the late 1960s. Is there some sort of ground cover you could plant to let it sorta go wild?

 

[unknownroad]

Have you considered goats? I mean that only partially in jest - I've seen them used on some pretty steep slopes, but of course then you need to fence them in, protect all the things you don't want them to eat, etc. Or try and find someone local who rents them out...

If you're truly a glutton for punishment, you could always do some terracing, and make a series of flatter areas. Or seed the whole thing with wildflowers, etc., and let it go "as nature intended".

I have considered goats, but fencing everything in with a nice-looking wood fence (I'm in a neighborhood, which technically doesn't permit goats) would be murderously expensive and sucky to maintain. Terracing is way more complex than I want to get into- right now my drainage is just fine and the last thing I want is to mess it up. And I let my last property grow wild, and the bugs were unbearable. Unfortunately I've kinda narrowed it down to dealing with the lawn the conventional way.

45°? A 1 in 1 rise? That is one helluva grade to have on a mowed section in a big yard. I can remember houses that had lawns almost that steep in my hilly southeastern Ohio hometown, and some of those homeowners worked a normal rotary mower up and down the hilly part using a rope tied to the handle while they stood at the top letting it out or reeling it in. That probably wasn’t all that safe even in the late 1960s. Is there some sort of ground cover you could plant to let it sorta go wild?

Yeah, not all of it is that steep, but it's a large enough section that I need to find a way to deal with it efficiently. I've seen my neighbor using the rope method with a gas-powered push mower, but their steep section is only about 8-10 feet high (and I'm a 45-year-old woman with a desk job, I don't have the strength for that).

I did see some interesting remote-controlled mowers on the Husqvarna site, but I really don't want to be blowing several grand on proprietary batteries every couple of years. Likewise the $2k/year to have it done for me just isn't sustainable.

Thanks for the suggestions so far tho- I'm trying to get as much real-world info as possible before subjecting myself to the power equipment dealership experience!

 

[mikegt4]

Get lucky and find a good Ventrac on the used market?

The physics of mowing a steep slope are what they are. Flipping a ZTR is a seriously dangerous proposition. And likely the reason the previous owners farmed out the work.

Walker discharge models are rated to a decent slope, but I don't think they're up to 45 deg. And they're also very spendy.

My Walker can handle a pretty good slope, I have a few around my property but not 45*. Even if the machine is stable (as opposed to rolling over) the tire grip is the limiting factor. Any sort of rough ground or dampness makes traction even worse. Yes, I have slid sideways down a slope on my Walker more than once.

A Ventrac would be a good choice especially with dual tires all around but a lot of money for just 1 acre.

4520 Tractor

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With a 45* slope I don't I would want to mow it with a "sit on" mower, rather a walk behind that I could let go of if it started to go downhill on it's own. I have an old Gravely 522 walk behind that will cut on a good slope. They also could be equipped with dual tires on each side.

 

[honcho]

AS-Motor - the number 1 for lawn mowers and high grass mowers

Discover the products of AS-Motor: from hand-guided mulching lawn mowers to the AS-Motor Allmäher and ride-on mowers for high grass and steep slopes!

www.as-motor.us

German made, pricey

 

[CoogarXR]

How much area? If it's less than an acre, zone it off and get a robomower. They don't care about slope. And you can find a used one for about the cost of a decent push mower.

Put the robomower out when you start mowing, it will do the hill, you do the rest.

 

[Under_Pressure]

RC Mowers is not far from where I live and makes mowers to deal with the slope problem. Drove by all the time and never could tell what they did until I looked them up online. Definitely more commercial/municipal oriented, tend to be more rough cut vs finish mowers, and definitely way more expensive than what you have in mind, but interesting nonetheless.

 

[Iridium rand]

I absolutely recommend using a push mower for the steepest areas, you’re putting yourself in danger using anything heavy if it’s steep enough and even if not there’s no getting around sliding and ripping up the lawn unfortunately. Even worse than that is getting stuck, especially in a really bad spot which steep areas tend to be and there’s no way to get another vehicle over to help pull the mower out.

I used to landscape professionally, over the years that’s among the most important things you learn is to not take a riding mower anywhere you feel uncomfortable, the first time you get stuck and spend an hour trying to get the damn thing moving you start getting really careful about it

 

[Bubba Fett]

If the ground is too steep to safely mow, then kill the grass and replace it with a groundcover plants. A local plant nursery might have some solutions. I'd go with plant that naturally grows in your area, as they will be easier to maintain, and not require complex fertilizing/watering, etc.

There is no point in risking your safety every weekend, and this will probably be a lot prettier anyway. Grass is overrated, IMO.

 

[brianh]

I second Bubba Fett, I live on a steep yard with lots of rock the flat area around the house has a small lawn the rest has flowers and plants with walkways.

 

[ludakris04]

grow clover?

 

[ItsNemo]

That is just crazy...the back of our property is very steep and I just mow to the edge and then the rest is some sort of long wild grass that doesn't need cutting.

 

[kelpaso1]

grow clover?

I was going to say this. Seed with clover twice a year and in a year or two all you will have is clover that doesn't need to be mowed. I also like clover as it looks good and you have all these nice white flowers in your lawn in the spring. Ya it does look like a weed but to each his own.

 

[Shiftless]

Cover the slope with rocks.

 

[redmondjp]

I just did a web search, and boy oh boy have these become much harder to find: a flymo hover mower. They had two-cycle models that were touted as perfect for mowing steep slopes such as around stormwater ponds. I've always wanted one for my collection ever since I first saw the TV ads for them as a kid back in the 1970s.

 

[minke]

Safer than mowing, you could get permission for a controlled burn. (Half tongue in cheek.)

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Here you go

2012 Harper 162 ATM powered by Cummins 4BT Turbo Diesel Engine -...

** Full cab, heat and AC, Radio, Air Ride Seat ** 12ft Mowing Width ** Ramsey Winch ** Hydrostatic Transmission with High/Low ** 34 Degree Slope Attack ** 99HP Cummins 4-Cyl Turbo Diesel Excellent...

monterey.craigslist.org

 

[Fuelboat]

Kill of the grass there now and install some fake grass

 

[johnny_boy02]

We have one of these at work. It was $25k and its always broke.

80XFlail — TracMow | Remote Control Slope Mowers

www.tracmow.com

 

[scooby074]

There is a couple areas in my lawn that are close to 45* that I mow. I mow them with either my BX25 Kubota or my ZD326 zero turn. The ZD is quite a bit more but puckering than the BX. The BX straight up and down handles it quite well in 4 wheel drive. The ZD requires a lot more finesse and only going straight up or the rear will slide out. I wouldnt recommend a ZD if there was danger at the bottom.

One nice thing if you get a BX is that its a multipurpose machine.

The Steiners are supposed to be very good on slopes as well but they are pretty expensive.

 

[scooby074]

I just did a web search, and boy oh boy have these become much harder to find: a flymo hover mower. They had two-cycle models that were touted as perfect for mowing steep slopes such as around stormwater ponds. I've always wanted one for my collection ever since I first saw the TV ads for them as a kid back in the 1970s.

Toro still makes them! https://www.toro.com/en/golf/specialty-equipment/hoverpro-series

 

[ybnormal]

If the ground is too steep to safely mow, then kill the grass and replace it with a groundcover plants. A local plant nursery might have some solutions. I'd go with plant that naturally grows in your area, as they will be easier to maintain, and not require complex fertilizing/watering, etc.

There is no point in risking your safety every weekend, and this will probably be a lot prettier anyway. Grass is overrated, IMO.

I second Bubba Fett, I live on a steep yard with lots of rock the flat area around the house has a small lawn the rest has flowers and plants with walkways.

Google Search

whatever grows in.....Western North Carolina?

 

[Bubba Fett]

Poison Ivy.

 

[AndyL]

Old belt drive ransom 42"

Used to cut a condo in my youth you couldn't stand on the slope, but at a fast walk you could sidehill nicely with the ransom. Just be ready to grab clutch and turn 180° downhill if something got awry.

The hydrostat upgrade resulted in tumbles and fences getting replaced.

 

[Ton ton]

Goats don't mind steep land. Best answer yet.

 

[Ton ton]

You could use a bcs sickle bar . They can go pretty steep.

 

[ace10]

The OP addressed the goat suggestion already.

I have considered goats, but fencing everything in with a nice-looking wood fence (I'm in a neighborhood, which technically doesn't permit goats) would be murderously expensive and sucky to maintain. ..

 

[AndyL]

Old belt drive ransom 42"

Used to cut a condo in my youth you couldn't stand on the slope, but at a fast walk you could sidehill nicely with the ransom. Just be ready to grab clutch and turn 180° downhill if something got awry.

The hydrostat upgrade resulted in tumbles and fences getting replaced.

Quick Google maps search... Figured I'd throw in a picture to add some idea of the angle for comparison.

 

[seber]

There are a number of low flowering perennials that bloom all summer. You would need a spreading type or several and a three inch deep barrier in the ground to keep them out of the lawn. Local garden centers do this all the time.

 

[Ton ton]

The OP addressed the goat suggestion already.

Thank you, sir.

 

[kelpaso1]

We have one of these at work. It was $25k and its always broke.

80XFlail — TracMow | Remote Control Slope Mowers

www.tracmow.com

Maybe they should have called it 80XFAIL