Written by Diana K. Williams; Updated December 29, 2018
Here are our picks for the best small farm tractors: For light landscaping and mowing, the John Deere 1-series is your tractor. The 1023e offers a 22.4-horsepower engine, 15.3-PTO horsepower PTO, hydrostatic transmission, and a 681-pound lift capacity. Moving up in size, compact tractors (roughly 25 to 60 hp.) and utility tractors (roughly 40 to 70 hp.) are capable of doing even more, with added transmission, PTO, and hydraulic options, as well as heavier loader lift capacities for a wider range of tasks.
Related Articles
1 Tips for Driving Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers
2 Walk-Behind Vs. a Surfer Mower
3 The Weight of a Kubota ZD28 Zero Turn Mower
4 Use a Riding Lawn Tractor on Slopes
A rolling yard makes for a beautiful landscape, but can make mowing dangerous unless you consider a few key elements when selecting a riding lawn mower. Most mowers are rated for mowing slopes up to 15 degrees, but there are features that make certain types better than others. But no matter which style you choose, when mowing hilly terrain always go slowly, don’t turn on steep slopes, and follow the instructions found in the operator’s manual for mowing on hills.
Traction and Stability
When you think about mowing hilly terrain, the first thing that usually comes to mind is traction. The last thing you want is a lawn mower that leaves you sliding down a slope. The best riding lawn tractor for mowing on slopes provides adequate traction making the mower feel stable to ride on. Tires rated for mowing on slopes is one way to maintain traction. Another is selecting a mower labeled with the current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ANSI B71.1 label. It ensures the mower is equipped with safety features that promote traction and stability.
Front Steer Versus Zero-Turn
Most riding mower manufacturers recommend mowing slopes up and down and not side to side. However there is still a risk of flipping the tractor because when mowing uphill, the weight of the tractor shifts to the rear wheels. Front-steering tractors are less likely to flip over backwards on slopes greater than 10 degrees than zero-turn-radius, or ZTR, riders. Consumer Reports says that ZTR riders were also shown to be difficult to steer mowing downhill at high rates of speed. Many ZTRs ended up skidding out of control. When driven at a slow rate of speed they performed as well as front-steering tractors on hilly terrain.
Deck Size
Deck width determines how easy it is to maneuver on hilly terrain. If you’re mowing an open yard, deck widths from 42 to 54 inches work well. If you have tight ditches that you need to get down into, then a narrower 30- or 32-inch deck makes it possible and yields an even cut. Of course you never want to mow a slope steeper than the lawn mower is rated for. An appropriate mower deck, of any size, is equipped with deck wheels to maintain an even cut.
Mulit-Task
If you plan to use your riding mower for more than just mowing the yard, you need to keep in mind that attachments for your mower change the weight distribution of the machine. Rear baggers shouldn’t be used on hilly areas. They make standard lawn tractors and ZTRs rear-heavy, making them prone to flipping over. Towing a lawn vac behind a mower strains the transmission and leads to costly repairs.
References (4)
About the Author
Diana K. Williams is a certified Master Gardener, has more than a decade of experience as an environmental scientist, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and environmental studies from the Ohio Northern University. Williams is a winner of Writer’s Digest Magazine's annual writing competition.
Cite this Article
Choose Citation Style
K., Diana. 'The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hilly Terrain.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/riding-lawn-mowers-hilly-terrain-101935.html. 29 December 2018.
K., Diana. (2018, December 29). The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hilly Terrain. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/riding-lawn-mowers-hilly-terrain-101935.html
K., Diana. 'The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hilly Terrain' last modified December 29, 2018. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/riding-lawn-mowers-hilly-terrain-101935.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.