What do I get to mow steep fields [while sitting down]

[DrRod]

Just came I'm from mowing the steepest parts of my fields using my trusty DR Field and Brush Mower. And I have to admit that I'm getting older and that kind of work is getting harder. I can get to most of my fields with my tractor but some of it is just too steep to risk. Even going up and down is tough in some parts due to limited turning/adjusting areas.

A few years back I tried using a flail mower behind my ATV and it was not a success. Aside from the ATV always being in the wrong gear, the lip of the mower would catch on tufts of grass or brush and flip over -- 80 whirling knives in the air punctuated by leaking gas followed by fire, now that's entertainment.

I looked at the Swisher pull behind mower but I'm not sure I can raise the deck enough to clear the stuff in my field. I don't think I've seen a riding mower that goes high enough either.

So I'm looking for your advice on what can take real field mowing conditions [not ball parks] and is least likely to tip over.

 

[murphy1244]

Ventrac or Steiner might work for you. I have the Ventrac 4500Y with the Kubota diesel and luv it.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I used to have a place with some steep areas. I had a small 40/32 horse 4x4 Massey with a six foot bush hog and a big Case 2096 4x4 with a 15 foot batwing. The Massey never gave you that warm and fuzzy feeling but that big high Case was fine as long as I kept the side with the battery box on the high side.

Where I am now, I have some steep slopes that I can handle with my from mount ZTR. Those are supposedly more stable on slopes than the usual belly mounts. I also pull a 66" Swisher that is more of a finish mower than a bush hog. I think the same model may go a bit higher but my Swisher is good for maybe 5.5 inches tops.

The Swisher is okay but not the best built mower but then they are not the most expensive. I forget the name but a few years ago I found a make that was much heavier but costs more. I would have to do some searching to find it. Anything behind you needs to have a fail safe kill switch for sure.

If money is no object there are some commercial slope mowers available. As mentioned, Ventrac is an option though in my opinion, a bit pricey. There is a place that I pass by regularly that mows some pretty steep areas with one set up with dual wheels all the way around.

 

[dieselcrawler]

How steep are you talking? I have 118 ac of prime WV hillsides, only flat spots are where the house and barn floors are... And at 100+ years old, a marble wont sit still on that!

Ive found that I can climb/descend 45 ° slopes, and sidehill 30 °. If I cant get on ground with the tractor at those slopes, it isnt going to be useful to me cleared as pasture or hay fields. What can you use ground for thats so steep you cant clear it with your tractor?

What about making your current tractor more slope friendly? I spaced out my rear wheels 9" wider, built a full roll cage ROPS, and carry railroad track in the loader bucket for front ballast.

 

[4570Man]

How steep are you talking? I have 118 ac of prime WV hillsides, only flat spots are where the house and barn floors are... And at 100+ years old, a marble wont sit still on that! Ive found that I can climb/descend 45ｰ slopes, and sidehill 30ｰ. If I cant get on ground with the tractor at those slopes, it isnt going to be useful to me cleared as pasture or hay fields. What can you use ground for thats so steep you cant clear it with your tractor? What about making your current tractor more slope friendly? I spaced out my rear wheels 9" wider, built a full roll cage ROPS, and carry railroad track in the loader bucket for front ballast.

Are you sure about that? And is it really degrees instead of percent.

 

[bcp]

This may help.



Bruce

 

[4570Man]

This may help. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=484601"/> Bruce

That's more believable, but he had it marked as percent.

 

[MossRoad]

Power Trac 1850

45 degree (yes, degree) slope mower...

TSM Class

 

[dieselcrawler]

Yes, i measured my slopes in degrees, with an angle finder. 45 degrees feels like straight up and down, even though its only half way to 90 degrees !

 

[4570Man]

Man, I'd like to see pictures of that. Are you sure it wasn't reading in percent.

 

[4570Man]

Power Trac 1850 45 degree (yes, degree) slope mower... TSM Class

I have no doubts a specialty machine can do it. I'd be very surprised if a regular tractor can.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I cannot provide pictures of myself in action, and my wife wont watch me when I get on the steep stuff. But I have verified the angles I stated, as I try to be as accurate as possible in all my statements. I give my word that the angles are true, in degrees, and will get some pictures if possible. The only one I have readily available is on a 20 ° slope, in an area I comfortably sidehill.

 

[DrRod]

Ive found that I can climb/descend 45 ｰ slopes, and sidehill 30 ｰ. If I cant get on ground with the tractor at those slopes, it isnt going to be useful to me cleared as pasture or hay fields. What can you use ground for thats so steep you cant clear it with your tractor?



You ask a fair question. In fact, last night I asked myself why it's so important to mow those areas. I guess its because they are interspersed with other parts of the field that are easy to mow and they are highly visible from the road -- so maybe its a matter of pride [I like a tidy farm].

Then, after looking at the prices of equipment and considering that I would probably spend more time maintaining it than using it [one mowing a year] I thought about applying the labor versus capital investment algorithm. In short, it would be cheaper and easier to just hire someone to use my DR mower for a day or less than it would for me to do it myself with another piece of machinery in the garage [which is pretty full already]. Not always easy to find someone to reliably do such work but it can be done.

Appreciate your thoughts so far -- additional thoughts are still most welcome.

Thanks

 

[teejk]

I cannot provide pictures of myself in action, and my wife wont watch me when I get on the steep stuff. But I have verified the angles I stated, as I try to be as accurate as possible in all my statements. I give my word that the angles are true, in degrees, and will get some pictures if possible. The only one I have readily available is on a 20 ° slope, in an area I comfortably sidehill.

That angle would probably be beyond my max but I learned the hard way.

 

[teejk]

Ive found that I can climb/descend 45 ｰ slopes, and sidehill 30 ｰ. If I cant get on ground with the tractor at those slopes, it isnt going to be useful to me cleared as pasture or hay fields. What can you use ground for thats so steep you cant clear it with your tractor?



You ask a fair question. In fact, last night I asked myself why it's so important to mow those areas. I guess its because they are interspersed with other parts of the field that are easy to mow and they are highly visible from the road -- so maybe its a matter of pride [I like a tidy farm].

Then, after looking at the prices of equipment and considering that I would probably spend more time maintaining it than using it [one mowing a year] I thought about applying the labor versus capital investment algorithm. In short, it would be cheaper and easier to just hire someone to use my DR mower for a day or less than it would for me to do it myself with another piece of machinery in the garage [which is pretty full already]. Not always easy to find someone to reliably do such work but it can be done.

Appreciate your thoughts so far -- additional thoughts are still most welcome.

Thanks

Goats? Other than that, I'm inclined to go straight up and straight down or hit the stuff at an angle in multiple passes. Front to back rolls are rare...side to side is unfortunately pretty common.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I completely understand wanting a nice clean look. Most of my fields are visible from the road that goes thru our farm, and I like to keep it clean. But some parts Im just going to let grow, too steep or rough to mow. Not worth the risk.

 

[flusher]

Just came I'm from mowing the steepest parts of my fields using my trusty DR Field and Brush Mower. And I have to admit that I'm getting older and that kind of work is getting harder. I can get to most of my fields with my tractor but some of it is just too steep to risk. Even going up and down is tough in some parts due to limited turning/adjusting areas.

A few years back I tried using a flail mower behind my ATV and it was not a success. Aside from the ATV always being in the wrong gear, the lip of the mower would catch on tufts of grass or brush and flip over -- 80 whirling knives in the air punctuated by leaking gas followed by fire, now that's entertainment.

I looked at the Swisher pull behind mower but I'm not sure I can raise the deck enough to clear the stuff in my field. I don't think I've seen a riding mower that goes high enough either.

So I'm looking for your advice on what can take real field mowing conditions [not ball parks] and is least likely to tip over.

That JD 4110 is a nice little tractor. Low center of gravity. The least expensive way to trick it out for mowing steeper hills is rear wheel spacers and two more wheels the same size as what you have now to increase the wheel track width.

Good luck

 

[dieselcrawler]

I completely understand wanting a nice clean look. Most of my fields are visible from the road that goes thru our farm, and I like to keep it clean. But some parts Im just going to let grow, too steep or rough to mow. Not worth the risk.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's all about your budget. I have a Steiner that is good on hills, but my Cushman 6150 would run circles around it in steep conditions. With wing decks out at ten feet, it has amazing stability.

 

[Egon]

Extended training wheels may do the job?