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bus708


Location: Maryland
Joined: Jul 24, 2010
Points: 321

Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Original Message   Apr 7, 2011 9:33 am
My yard is not that big ,but I do have a steep hill. Every year I sweat cutting it, for my reg mower wants to flip over. I tried a front drive unit. They just dont have traction on hills. Most of the time I just weed wack at it. If I do it looks terrible, but at least it is cut. I was thinking of getting a rear drive unit and put long studs in the tires. Does anyone have a better idea?
This message was modified Apr 7, 2011 by bus708
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aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #2   Apr 7, 2011 11:07 am
bus708 wrote:
My yard is not that big ,but I do have a steep hill. Every year I sweat cutting it, for my reg mower wants to flip over. I tried a front drive unit. They just dont have traction on hills. Most of the time I just weed wack at it. If I do it looks terrible, but at least it is cut. I was thinking of getting a rear drive unit and put long studs in the tires. Does anyone have a better idea?

Welcome back!  We lost more than half the threads you started.

I like Borat's idea.  Get a goat.  Reduces carbon footprint, the goat also fertilize the lawn.  Its just a natural sustainable cycle.  Goat eats, goats poop, goats feed the lawn, the lawn grows, goat eats lawn.  Not sure how big your lawn is, maybe two goats.  One boy, one girl, to keep occupied.  :)

Seriously, you can contract it out to someone else.  Or keep wacking it as you have done, just try to go slower so it looks nice.  Or try to get those lightweight 2-cycle lawnboys.  They have low center of gravity to prevent tipping over and light enough to push around without using self propel.

There's also the option of artificial turf, stays green all year round.  Never have to mow or wear out any machines.
Bill_H


Location: Maine
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Points: 354

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #3   Apr 7, 2011 11:21 am
At my former house I had a slope like that in the back that led down to a stream. I weedwhacked it for a few years but that was a real PITA because I had to stand in the water to do the bottom half. I ended up using Roundup on the whole thing then planted ivy (hedera helix). Worked great, it was thick enough after two years to prevent any weeds from growing.

Who the hell let all the morning people run things?
Paul7


Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Points: 452

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #4   Apr 7, 2011 3:47 pm
I just bought a used Ariens 6hp weed whacker that rides on two over-sized wheels.   It might be useful for your slope.  At least the cut would be even at the same height.  Having said that...I'd go with the ground cover suggestion.
oakville


Joined: Dec 6, 2005
Points: 92

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #5   Apr 7, 2011 5:16 pm
the old aluminum deck 2 stroke lawnboys are the right idea - i used to mow the grass at a hospital in the summer and they had this hill that was almost impossible to cut -  a 50' rope tied to the brackets where the handle met the deck of the old aluminum deck 2 stroke lawnboy did the trick in record time.  tie a separate rope to each bracket and the 2' difference is actually enough to aim the mower on the way down and up so you cut pretty quickly. 
longboat


Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Points: 103

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #6   Apr 8, 2011 8:43 am
x3 on the ground cover - junipers also work.  Another option is to terrace the hillside so you have several flat shelves instead of a slope.

Maybe those robot mowers would work good on the slope - I've seen a video somewhere of one mowing the slopes on a highway overpass.

Another possible option is to get one of those hovering mowers, tie a rope to it, then walk it back and forth while you stay at the top of the slope, just let out a little more rope after each pass.

TimC


Location: West Central Illinois
Joined: Apr 1, 2011
Points: 3

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #7   Apr 9, 2011 1:05 am
Bigger is better. JD X series 4X4! Seriously if its in a place where the ground cover would work that would be the best route. That isn't always the case though. I mow a large yard and bought a Deere X575 4X4 mostly to push snow but there is an area at the edge of the yard where it drops off to a creek and the 4X4 works great there.
drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #8   May 5, 2011 1:00 pm
Hills/slopes are a major issue at my place. I remove the collector-bag from my mower, to reduce weight and the possibility of roll-over, and I tend to cut diagonally across the slope, rather than try to push the mower straight up the slopes. I also wear golf shoes, for better traction.

This year, I may buy a low-profile/lightweight electric mower, just for those slopes. Mind you, I don't relish the thought of working with 100+ feet of extension-cord.

Having a goat would be great, if the municipality allowed it,,,,, and buying a flame-thrower has crossed my mind as well. 
alty


Joined: Nov 1, 2010
Points: 38

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #9   May 6, 2011 9:14 pm
No slope is too steep for them:

a href="http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l65/caltey/?action=view&amp;current=goats.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l65/caltey/goats.jpg" border="0" alt="goats"></a>

alty


Joined: Nov 1, 2010
Points: 38

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #10   May 6, 2011 10:55 pm
Hopefully the pic is here:

royster


" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"

Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284

Re: Is there a lawnmower for hills?
Reply #11   May 7, 2011 5:46 pm
I have found out that a rear wheel drive works much better than a front wheel drive on slopes and hills.

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