The Slope Test

Note: this video doesn’t show the full test. This is a quick edit to save you time. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the 4 wheel drive will do much better. In the full clip the 700 was further down in the ditch but only showed the end of the run touching the gravel. The real competition was between the zero turn and x500 series. They both did compatible. Thanks for watching.

[gregoryfaulkner]

We have a JD X738 with the 60" deck at my work place that we use for slopes. We really messed up by not choosing the 4WS version, because that would have made this amazing mower even more amazing and useful, because we really need that tight turning radius for our application. We use two 72" Hustler Super Z HDs' for our large fields. The Hustler zero turns will mow in some very precarious areas, but that JD X738 will mow just about anything, anywhere and puts one of the biggest, baddest ZTRs to shame on slopes and hills. It is unreal where the X738 can take us, which is what we bought it for. It's also nice that it's fuel injected with no cold start up issues (not like a Kohler FI engine that we have on a UTV that acts like its carbureted even though it's FI). Power steering plus it's traction, plus the 60" deck option, plus full-time 4WD, plus cruise control makes this mower almost perfect for our commercial application; perfect would have been the 4WS feature for another grand. As one example of how good this tractor is (disclaimer), we mow a slope that varies from 15-25 degrees for 200 yards with guide wires and poles right in the middle of the slope. Not only does this mower handle this very steep slope with very little slippage, but it allows us to meander around all the very tight obstructions with the steering wheel and handle to hold on to with easy-to-manage, one-hand power steering while in the middle of the slope.

I know that technically, the X738 is not a true slope mower and not rated for 25 degrees, but in reality it will do it and do it safely as long as you can hang on. It is an expensive lawn tractor, but just try pricing out a true slope mower. Previously, we had used a small tractor mower that would also handle the slope and obstructions, but its small deck took us forever and without the power steering, wore us out on that long stretch going full left, full right over and over with the steering wheel around the obstructions. The X738 is so easy. The X738 is comparatively, a good value and nothing like it on the market that I could find versus a slope mower. I just wish that I had opted for the X739 with 4WS because the turning radius is so much larger than the small tractor we once had. We paid probably a grand more for the 60" lawn tractor than we did for each of the Huslter ZTRs if I remember correctly, and the Hustlers are of course far more productive machines with respect to getting large swaths of grass cut, but for cutting steep slopes comfortably and quickly and thoroughly and safely, X738 is hard to beat. Unless of course you have an X739.

[unclepecos]

At 1:43 the rear wheel slide into the ditch & immediatly they stopped filming.
Good one.

[NeilLB]

Snapper cut MANY a steep slope with those little mowers. They're like a billy goat as you can shift your body weight around or even stand on the sides to keep em going.

[RogerDiotte]

Yup, I agree with most that it's still a very hard toss up to choose the right machine. The Zero's are freakin' AWESOME in everyday mowing especially just doing yards/fields with mid to mild slopes. The ride ons are AWESOME for their ability to get down in the crevices, slopes and holes and manage to get out more. If you have a decent yard that has obstacles and some decently sloped hills then it's a no brainer----ZERO TURN!

[vab]

I take my z445 on nearly 40 degree hillsides with stock tires. The reason a zero-turn is better than a Rider on a hill is that a mower wants to flip ( ive rolled several ) once you're experienced on a zero-turn you can easily make it slide out the back end rather than flipping. Much safer in my opinion. Just take some getting used to to keep it on the hillside or ditch.

[daneosborn]

Why didnt you just drive the first 2 up in the gravel like you did the 4 wheel drive one?

[Bangkok-ikfp]

you're keeping the right side drive wheels of the 4WD on pavement. that's not a fair comparison.

[irishgnome_]

First off you could see how wet it was. I am on JD zero turns all day at work. I have mowed steeper grades than that and not got stuck or slid at all. Gotta have a good tire and really know how to handle the machine. It took me a long Time but now I can do just about anything on a zero turn. All in all cool to see comparisons.

[newhorizon]

Thank u so much, heard from so many that zero turns suck on hills, ditches, & slopes. But, pulling one out with tractor was icing on the cake 😂

[odc]

That is my experience as well, and I only have a 2wd X485 tractor with a couple mini-suitcase weights on the front. I can mow ditches all day with the X485 without sliding. I bought a Z445 and it cuts flat ground so much faster and cleaner than the tractor. But on hills, the X485 is so much better.

[jgdta]

it would be great if they measured the terrain angles used in this test, and posted it !

[modeltrainproductions]

For hills and ditches I'd go with the all wheel drive tractor.

[jerrybeck]

I own a z445 and do ditches and hills every mow. It's 9 years old 1000 hours and I love it. Now if there wasn't mud in that ditch it would have been just fine. I've done 9 years of slopes and I must have gotten used to it and don't have trouble with it, you have to work the handles a lot to keep it on the slope tho. I hope to upgrade at 10 years and have looked at the new jd with a tweel, not really sold on that yet and also looking at a scag, tough call.

[jonwojcik]

The 4x4 has a larger deck, This means it can ride higher up the bank on drier ground while still scalping the bottom of the ditch.

[qdllc]

Have a zero turn. It’s rated for a 15 degree slope, and I believe it. I actually have to do strips with a mechanical push mower because I don’t dare risk getting the zero turn too close. In other areas, it’s a struggle to go up/down slopes. Better going uphill than downhill as far as having power and control. In spite of knobby tires, it is useless on slopes if you cut the bottom part first. Once you hit cut grass, all bets are off.

[dakotakelly]

Or just sit on one fender if it’s 2wd with a open diff, it acually help with traction a lot

[scottspeck]

misleading title.. this isn't a slope test it's a muck and wet grass test

[scottsoper]

That is a fairly mild ditch except for the mud in the bottom. I used a John Deere 420 lawn tractor years ago and could put it way over on it's side to mow a ditch. I had the wheels in the wide position and sat way over on the fender. (safety switch was worked around so it would run) This is a "do not do this at home" moment for most people. Today I would do it different. I would get the John Deere X758 with a 3 pt hitch and 60 inch mower. I would put Rim Guard in all four wheels keeping the center of gravity down. I would make an arm out to the side that mounted to the 3 pt hitch and went up and down with it. I would put a redesigned vary inexpensive push mower on the arm that could mow the ditch. That way one can do vary steep ditches and be a lot safer and still faster than a string This is still not for the average person: Most people do not seem to really understand machinery.

[semco]

Each of those mowers look great and I have the Z445 John Deere mower and it has a difficult time in a ditch area at my place so I try to stay away from areas where my mowers can get stuck. My 790 tractor got stuck in that exact spot when I g.ot it new also and I learned how to work with it in areas where I could get stuck. The zero turn mower does a nice job on most slopes with no problems.

[my_life_my_way]

I've taken both the D-105 and the Z345R are very steep inclines and they both do incredibly well. The Z345R I barely even have to lean with. The D-105 however being a lawn tractor, I do have to lean with but it still does very well. solid machines, well balanced. So far on my first season with the Z345R my only problems are that neither John Deere nor Gator make mulching blades for that machine and if I don't want to leave clumps or have to mow over multiple times to remove the clumps then I need to hold the shoot up with a strap or remove it. The shoot definitely needs to be raised at a higher angle so that the grass can be thrown out further. Secondly on the Z series, I find that I have to re-adjust the deck height after nearly every mowing, which is something I rarely had to do with the D-105. It seems there should be a better lock nut in place for the deck leveling. John Deere had it right when they used the non floating deck adjusters like with the D105 because it just seems that the Zseries gets out of level to quickely and to easily.