How hilly is hilly?

[DanCollins]

Howdy, I'm in the market for a lawn tractor. I have a narrow deep suburban lot with a walkout basement in the back. I like what I've read about the advantages of a hydro, but some have warned against it for hilly property for performance and reliability reasons. Is my property hilly enough that I should avoid a hydro?

 

[mechanic mark]

Not necessarily, I would seriously consider looking at twin cylinder lawn tractors vs. single cylinder. Do your research online then narrow it down to a couple and go take a test drive.

 

[gfp55]

Howdy, I'm in the market for a lawn tractor. I have a narrow deep suburban lot with a walkout basement in the back. I like what I've read about the advantages of a hydro, but some have warned against it for hilly property for performance and reliability reasons. Is my property hilly enough that I should avoid a hydro?

Are you looking for new or used? Can you post some pictures of your hills to get some idea of the hillys your talking about? Some people like hydro some gear. It kind of like cars/trucks automatic vs manual. I work mt tractor hard and a hydro has never lasted with me. I have 8 speed 4hi 4lo gear transaxle with external clutches and I can haul wood, cut grass, plow snow, blow snow, etc. and I have zero problems. I can say much about the new stuff thats out there because I'm trying to be nice. Like someone posted before shop around, do your home work. Good Luck

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Mow and exercise simultaneously with a nice walk behind. It probably won't turn over on top of you.

 

[Shughes717]

Mow and exercise simultaneously with a nice walk behind. It probably won't turn over on top of you.

No, but a friend of mine just lost a couple of toes. He was mowing his yard and backed over his fire pit. He fell backwards and the mower took his big toe and shredded the others. Lucky he didn't get hurt worse. He has a sense of humor about it though.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

There are people that have no business with a mower at all of any kind. And then some of those same people involve alcohol in the mix.

Years ago I was acquainted with a foreign gentleman with a PhD in economics. Sober, never drank and never owned a mower before. He purchased a push mower with one of those whirley blades underneath that was recommended to him by my brother. First use, that paper coffee cup in the lawn just keeps being rolled by the deck. OK, let's evaluate the situation.:laughing: The cup is now behind the deck and if I lift up with the handle I can kick that cup under to see if the whirley blade will shred it. Yes sir, sure did and a good portion of the big toe cut off :licking:. by that whirley blade. Well DUH

 

[LazerZLandscaping]

Usually hilly is considered a 15 degree angle or slope.

 

[DanCollins]

Usually hilly is considered a 15 degree angle or slope.

Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.

 

[LazerZLandscaping]

Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.

Usually more than 15 degrees I'll mow with a push mower.

I don't want to put my lawn/garden tractors or my ZTs at risk of tipping.

 

[Carscw]

Thanks for the info. My backyard is probably 12 feet lower than the front, and it makes that transition over the width of the house which is about 30 feet, so I guess I'm exceeding 15 degrees. But given that the yard is narrow, I'll only have to make 2 passes on each side to do the side lawns. If that's going to wear out a hydro on a typical mower from Sears/Home Depot/etc, that's just sad. I think I'll be looking for an automatic. Thanks again.

If I am thinking right it would be about 40 degrees