Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt V
1. I have been told that you can't use a zero turn lawnmower on hills steeper than 5 degrees as it is very light in the front and can possibly flip over backwards. True?
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Actually, the danger with zero-turns on hills is not flipping over backward. It is the danger of the front-end "washing out" when driving sideways on a hill. Because they have caster-wheels in the front, there is nothing to "hold" the front-end of the mower from sliding down the hill.
As a result, to drive one sideways on a hill you must use the lap-bars (which control the rear wheels) to prevent the front-end from washing out. It takes some skill. I know if at least 2 instances when people were driving zero-turns on hills when the front-end suddenly washed out, causing the mowers to drive rapidly downhill into a lake!
Typical zero-turns are fantastic for flat lawns & when you don't need to use attachments. There is nothing better for just cutting grass, but they are
not recommended for hilly lawns.
The Cub Cadet i1000 Series tractor is the only zero-turn lawn tractor on the market. It combines zero-turn maneuverability with a steering wheel (instead of lap-bars), non-caster front wheels, attachment capability, etc. The i1000 Series is the only true-zero turn that has the same capability on hills as typical lawn tractors. (Disclaimer: I work for the company that makes Cub Cadets.)
For steep hills, neither zero-turns nor lawn tractors are recommended -- lawn tractors can tip over if the angle is too great.