[N.H.BOY]

Has anyone fallen or tipped their ZTR over?? I was doing a slope today and I was thinking about that as my front tires started to lift alittle off the ground. I do the slope at a angle, but the ends I have to run up straight and down the other end. Been doing this lawn for about 2 years and today was the first day my tires lifted. I must be getting to be a fat a**

 

[procut]

I was wondering the same thing. I have been on some pretty steep slopes with my ZTR and never had any problems. Personally I have never heard of anyone tipping a ZTR.

 

[pcguy]

About every year or so around here it seems a homeowner with a commercial ZTR flips and either is seiously injured or killed. Sad really.

 

[Itsgottobegreen]

I have seen a couple guys do it. Mostly guys getting caught up in trees with roll bars. Its pretty easy to flip a ztr around here with the hills.

I did watch one that flipped one end over end four times. (the trac vac was acting like a roll bar, which was the only thing saved the guy) I ran up to the guys to see if he was ok. He screamed something in spanish and took off running.

 

[GTLC]

I flipped mine because my rear wheels came off the 2x4 ramps. Bad news for the mower, thank god I was able to bail quick.

 

[ALarsh]

I think it would be pretty hard to flip a Z. I have taken my Z on some very serious hills and have, for the most part, remained in control the whole time.

 

[soccerlawn]

I have never had a problem with mine and I have slopes all over. But my dealer tells me there are some guys that come in to the shop all bruised and battered from flipping theirs. I think they hit a bump on the hill and just lost control.

So yes it does happen so everyone stay safe out there.

 

[Gizmo_019]

I know a guy that flipped his commerical 60" Gravely the first day he had it. He had a contract mowing like 70 electric substations and he said he was haulin tryin to get done with one and didn't get stopped quick enough at the fence and it climbed and flipped over backwards. He bailed and wasn't hurt. So it can happen. I would think that a ZTR would be easier to flip on incliens than a regular mower, I've come close to flippin my Crapsman a time or 2.

 

[Envy Lawn Service]

Well, the mowers are pretty darn stable as long as you are in control of them.

But if it breaks loose and starts to run away like they often do... then all bets are off.

So runaway potential and steep uphills are what worry me the most.
But most of my really scary situations have had to do with dropoffs and sloped areas combined.

I've been in real trouble twice with that sort of situation. Both times my wife happened to be on the job with me also.... and both times I've escaped without injury to me or the equipment.

You really have to be extra careful with this zero turn equipment because it all can be unpredictable at best....

 

[The Grass Amputator]

I operate a ZMaster, and the only time I encounter problems on inclines and hills is when moisture/water is involved. Put it in a ditch just a couple of days ago on one of my commercial contracts.

Tomorrow, I am cutting one of my school contracts, where there are 3 hellacious hills. Won't cut them early in the morning, will wait until mid-late afternoon, when everything should be dried out.

When I get a digital cam, I'll have to take some pics of these hills for you guys, you won't believe them.

 

[lawnandplow42]

i went for a nasty slide on one once, thats about it. But a guy in our town did mulch his face with a mower, died before they could even get him into the helicopter. Absolute mutilation in front of the poor family.

 

[S man]

Thinking about this thread... I have seen ztrs like the gravely zt1640 that say low center of gravity and have seen this guy I worked with use one with no problem. Anyway, what about riders like snapper rear engine riders. I have some lawns with a little slope that look like I should take some precaution when I get my ride. It seems like the center of gravity is higher and looks less safe than a ztr. Is it safe to use?

 

[rob1325]

I personally never came close to flipping any of my ZTR's and either has any of my guys. Though when I bought my new 35HP Tiger with rollbar, I crapped my pants almost when I hit a tree limb and did a 45'er! This is the only time came close to flipping. Took it off that night.

 

[S man]

I personally never came close to flipping any of my ZTR's and either has any of my guys. Though when I bought my new 35HP Tiger with rollbar, I crapped my pants almost when I hit a tree limb and did a 45'er! This is the only time came close to flipping. Took it off that night.

oh boy. How big are the slopes you do?

 

[jimslawns-1]

I've had them over on their side 2 times, once all the way over, Ground gave away.

 

[Bulletproof]

Never rolled one of our ZTR's, but almost rolled a 72" front mount John Deere on the side of a water dam...scary as hell

I don't understand why everyone takes their rollbars off... they're there for a damn good reason, designed by engineers to save lives.

We have rollbars on our ZTR's and our JD, and I don't think any of our guys have smacked tree branches so hard they wheelied or flipped.

Maybe if you're having a problem get a folding rollbar... Just a thought

 

[rob1325]

oh boy. How big are the slopes you do?

Pretty steep here.

 

[deereman]

Our experience is not even close to tipping or rolling. I slide sideways but never enough to tip it. And our Deere ZTR I have had the front end come way up but will only go so far. When we mow our steep lawns that we do we never go down them. Always start at the bottom with different starting points so the lawns wont rut from going over the same tracks over and over again. and we work our way towards the top. And we always turn up hill and ALWAYS keep the weight on the rear tires and you should be fairly safe.

 

[bls47303]

I flipped mine because my rear wheels came off the 2x4 ramps. Bad news for the mower, thank god I was able to bail quick.

Why are you using 2x4 ramps? I wouldn't use anything smaller then a 2X8.

 

[lawnrangeralaska]

I have seen a couple guys do it. Mostly guys getting caught up in trees with roll bars. Its pretty easy to flip a ztr around here with the hills.

I did watch one that flipped one end over end four times. (the trac vac was acting like a roll bar, which was the only thing saved the guy) I ran up to the guys to see if he was ok. He screamed something in spanish and took off running.

thats like the funniest **** ive heard