In need of serious Lawn Tractor recommendations based on specific needs?? Thanks

[DEWFPO]

I appreciate all the comments and recommendations. You've mentioned interesting options and brands I'd not heard of so Thanks.

I test drove a JD zero turn on a slope similar to the ones I maintain and for me (I assume because of my lack of experience with a zero-turn) it was downright dangerous. Forget my wife trying to control it.

I had a MF GC2300 54" MMM and it cut the open areas just fine (23 HP diesel) but it was too large for the tree'd areas that we like to keep cut down for fire mitigation reasons. This is the reason for the narrow deck.

Right now I do what I can with the small gas powered mower I mentioned in my first post but it's the wrong piece of equipment for the job. I cut the rest with string trimmers, both wheeled and free hand but it's several days worth of work each time we do it and I'd like to be able cut 95% of it with a ride on mower.

4WD would be perfect but the price really goes up quite a bit with the jump from 2WD which is why I am thinking I can probably get away with a 2WD with a locking differential.

I've taken too many 'barely' controlled slides down these slopes when there's dew on the grass and I've got the trans in 1st gear. All I can do it steer and hang on.

I'm taking all the advice and doing internet research since I only have a JD dealer in town. I'll have to make some long road trips to tryout the other brands but if they meet our needs it will be worth it.

Again, Thanks Guys

DEWFPO

 

[SPYDERLK]

Lots of folks giving good advice here...

Why 48" or smaller?

I had a BX2660 - 26hp diesel 4wd (with a diff lock) with a fantastic turning radius and the Mid Mount Mower lowered the center of gravity. It weights about 1400lbs, and is a serious mower, plus you can pull 500# without any issues.
The mower deck I had was 60", That will eliminate it from your list... but it is a mower on steroids for certain.

If you can increase your deck size - you will open up a lot more options...

The issue is loss of speced HP due to hi altitude [7100']. Im not sure if diesel is sensitive as gas, but OP expects a loss of 25%. I know from my own use that BX1500 15HP diesel does fine with a 54" mower @ nearly 1000 feet. I think a BX1800 with 48" mmm would do well for OP. ... but its a 3 cyl - excluded in the requirement.
larry

 

[DEWFPO]

I should have said 'multi-cylinder' in my first post as opposed to twin-cylinder. My previous MF GC2300 was a 3-cyl. (diesel) and it appeared to have adequate torque and lug down stamina.

DEWFPO

 

[CalG]

Have you found anything with locking diff. that appeals to you?

It seems to be a rare feature in the smaller sizes (<48 inch mower deck)

The zero turn independent hydrostatic wheel drive offers the advantage, but the controls are sensitive!

 

[CalG]

Seems he said price didn't matter for now and I don't recall him mentioning fast either.

Seriously.

The familiar phrase, "good fast or cheap" was used figuratively to highlight the likely necessity of compromise on the OP's list of requirements.

Nothing more.

 

[Gafn]

I just posted these in another post...

Forget the tractor max maneuverability, and ZERO danger to the operator:
One option no one has mentioned... Take the operator off the mower...

2015 Summit Mowers Remote Control Slope Mowers

or better yet the Mini
Spider MINI - Slope mowers SPIDER - radio controlled bank mower SPIDER ILD 01 ILD 02 MINI
Buy these and your neighbors will pay you to mow their slopes...

 

[SPYDERLK]

I just posted these in another post...

Forget the tractor max maneuverability, and ZERO danger to the operator:
One option no one has mentioned... Take the operator off the mower...

2015 Summit Mowers Remote Control Slope Mowers

or better yet the Mini
Spider MINI - Slope mowers SPIDER - radio controlled bank mower SPIDER ILD 01 ILD 02 MINI
Buy these and your neighbors will pay you to mow their slopes...

Slopes are stated as ~ 15% max [8.5 degrees]. No need for any consideration on that basis.

 

[Gafn]

Slopes are stated as ~ 15% max [8.5 degrees]. No need for any consideration on that basis.

Sorry - I missed that someplace... only 8.5 degrees....

Well the remotes sure would be fun, and he could get paid to mow his neighbors dangerous slopes...

 

[DEWFPO]

Simplicity and John Deere make a line of mowers with a 'locking' feature on the rear axle.

Interesting on the remote controlled units but that's a bit out of my league.

*** Please Note : A typo on the slope. Some of the majority of the slopes I deal with are ~15 degrees or greater, not 15% slope. A few spots are even steeper. My error. Yesterday, I was mowing across a slight slope and the front left wheel slid down one of the steeper slopes until it hit a stump and stopped. To get the mower out of that situation (along with gasoline pouring out of the vent hole in the gas cap) I had to stand with both feet on the edge of the right rear fender, hold the seat down with my left hand so the engine wouldn't shut down with me off the seat, leave the trans. in R + full throttle and got my wife to jump on the rear hitch to get both rear wheels down so I could get traction. My wife said I looked like a rodeo rider. I didn't think it was funny all.


Thanks, DEWFPO

 

[CalG]

Have you considered "naturalizing" your property landscaping? Mowing is sounding like an adventure! ;-)