Mowing steep hills or other unique terrain isn’t a simple task. If you’ve ever tried, you know that not every mower is cut out for the job. Slope mowers are designed for hills and steeper inclines, but how do they compare to zero-turn mowers? Each has its strengths and trade-offs, especially when it comes to handling different landscapes.
If you’re looking for a new mower for your commercial or residential landscaping needs, keep reading for our comparison to see how these mowers stack up.
How Does a Zero-Turn Mower Work?
A zero-turn mower with tracks is a specialized type of mower that uses tracks instead of traditional tires on the back wheels, offering a zero-turn radius for easy maneuvering. Unlike tractor mowers, which can struggle with tight turns, zero-turn mowers are known for their precision and ease of control.
One of the main differences between zero-turn mowers with tracks and tractor mowers is how they’re steered. With zero-turn mowers, the back wheels or tracks primarily guide the machine, and operators use levers to control it. Maintaining control of a zero-turn mower is especially important when working on a hill, as slopes can increase the risk of accidents. Zero-turn mowers, even with tracks, are generally not recommended for mowing on steep hills as they increase the risk of injury.
Use on Hills
Let’s look at how these two types of mowers handle hills and steep terrain:
Zero-Turn Mower
While zero-turn mowers can handle gentle slopes, they often struggle on hills steeper than 15 degrees. Traction can become an issue, increasing the chance of tipping, especially on wet or uneven ground. If you’re considering a zero-turn mower for hilly terrain, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Limited Stability: Most zero-turn mowers aren’t designed to handle steep inclines. Attempting to use one on a slope could compromise stability and, most importantly, your safety.
- Traction Challenges: These mowers may have issues gaining enough grip on inclines, especially if the terrain is uneven or has loose soil.
- Operator Risk: Unlike remote-operated mowers, zero-turn mowers put the operator directly in the line of risk on hills.
If you’re often mowing on hills, you might want to look at options built specifically for that terrain.
Slope Mowers
You might want to consider slope mowers if you regularly deal with steep or uneven terrain. Slope mowers, like SPIDER models, are built to handle extreme slopes, often managing angles up to 60 degrees. With powerful engines and advanced safety features, slope mowers are built to handle challenging hills safely and efficiently.
Here are some of the features that make slope mowers ideal for rugged landscapes:
- Remote Operation for Safety: Effective distance control keeps operators off steep slopes, reducing the risk of injury.
- Enhanced Traction: Strong hydraulic winches and a low center of gravity provide a solid grip on tough terrain.
- Reliable Versatility: Capable of handling wet grass, thick brush and rocky hillsides, slope mowers deliver a clean cut with stability.
Steering and Performance
Zero-Turn Mowers
A zero-turn mower with tracks can be a great option on flat terrain. It’s designed to turn easily without repositioning the machine. The hydraulic systems make it easier to steer than a lawn tractor might, but turning and steering up a hill can be problematic.
Hills and slopes need regular maintenance to help ensure that they don’t erode. A zero-turn mower can have issues safely mowing a steep hill. Zero-turn mowers can also only operate in a horizontal cutting pattern. Taking a very sharp turn can cause the mower to roll over, so mowing at a steep angle can’t be done safely. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that zero-turn mowers not mow any hills steeper than 15 degrees.
Slope Mowers
A slope mower is designed for steep hills, with stabilizers and steering systems for those inclined angles. A remote-controlled slope mower can easily mow hills and go where it isn’t safe for an operator with a zero-turn mower. Machines like SPIDER mowers climb hills up to 60 degrees horizontally and vertically, thanks to their advanced steering and traction control.
In terms of performance, SPIDER mowers are also equipped with precise cutting and mulching blades, which promote healthier grass by cutting and mulching in one pass, often reducing the need for additional fertilizing.
Safety Features
Zero-Turn Mowers
When used on appropriate terrain, a zero-turn mower’s safety features, such as rollover protection structures (ROPS) and seat belts, provide added protection for the operator. These features help reduce the risk of injury by stabilizing the operator in the event of minor shifts or uneven ground. However, these protections are most effective on flatter surfaces and may not fully mitigate risks on steeper inclines.
Slope Mowers
A slope mower like the SPIDER ILD02 uses a patented drive system and skid steering to stabilize itself as it cuts. The remote control allows operators to work at a safe distance (up to 900 feet) from the actual mower. To put that in perspective, that’s about the length of three football fields. This range lets you manage tough terrain from a safe vantage point, well out of harm’s way.
Equipped with a low center of gravity, enhanced traction control and automatic braking, the SPIDER ILD02 minimizes the risk of tipping or slipping on uneven ground.
Productivity
Zero-Turn Mowers
The most talked-about benefit of using a zero-turn mower is that it reduces the time it takes to mow. Compared to a walk-behind mower or lawn tractor, a zero-turn mower can be much faster for covering large areas. A zero-turn mower can go at speeds above five miles per hour.
But a zero-turn mower isn’t always suited for all types of terrain, like under solar panels or in areas that haven’t been maintained. Very tall grasses and thick brush can be difficult or impossible for the zero-turn mower to cut.
A zero-turn mower can also be too large to cut under small spaces, so crews and operators may need to use manual brush cutters. This can be time-consuming and tedious, creating extra work just to mow a hill. Worse still, it can expose crews to dehydration and exhaustion if it’s a particularly hot day.
Slope Mowers
Using a remote-controlled slope mower can eliminate the need for manually cutting very tall grass and in tight spaces because these mowers are much more compact, with some made with specific needs in mind, like the SPIDER 2SGS. This mower was built for mowing turf under solar panels, with a lowered profile and open metal mesh for cooling the engine.
With remote-control mowers, you’re not sacrificing productivity, either. One SPIDER mower performs with the same efficiency as 16 operators using brush cutters. With a remote–controlled slope mower, you’re working with an efficient mower that’s durable enough to work on all kinds of terrain with precision.
Choose the Mower That Fits Your Needs
If you’re interested in a commercial lawn mower for landscaping, then you might be facing different kinds of turf and terrain each day. With that variety, you’ll want to choose a mower that can adapt and work efficiently day in and day out.
Slope mowers — especially remote control slope mowers — are a great choice for taking on waterlogged fields, deep brush, tall grass and, of course, slopes. SPIDER mowers are known for their unique design, quality cut and patented drive system. They can take on any terrain and cut grass while also mulching it! With a SPIDER, you get a quality cut with unmatched efficiency.
Want to learn even more about SPIDER mowers and how they compare to other mowers on the market? Take a look at our guide! This free e-book breaks down all of the advantages and features of SPIDER mowers.