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SwedishRider

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hopefully someone can comment on this question:

I ordered a GTH24V52LS and will have it outfitted with V61's up front and Tru Powers in the rear, and all 4 tires filled to tire stem with Rim Guard at delivery. Dealer will level the 52" deck, prep it, and deliver it after tires are swapped and filled.

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products...rs/gth24v52ls/

How would my GTH setup compare on hills with the Husqvarna R322T AWD articulating rider?

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/riders/r-322t-awd/

I'm curious to know thoughts on how the two different designs would handle mowing, traction, handling, etc. on steeper slopes... any thoughts? :dunno: It doesn't even have to be these specific models... ex:a JD x500 vs an AWD articulating rider comparison would be very helpful... I'm more interested in Garden Tractors with Ag and V61 tires (non-4wd) vs AWD articulating riders.
 
#2 ·
Jim, I think you will be just fine with what you have on order. The articulating machines I've seen before are huge by comparison, and typically uses dual wheels to provide the added margin of safety on hills.

I do like the specs and attachments for that articulating Husqvarna though.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
D-Dogg said:
Jim, I think you will be just fine with what you have on order. The articulating machines I've seen before are huge by comparison, and typically uses dual wheels to provide the added margin of safety on hills.

I do like the specs and attachments for that articulating Husqvarna though.
Click to expand...
Interestingly, I just checked the instruction manuals for both units:

R322T AWD says not to exceed slopes of 10 degrees, which is about 18% grade.

GTH24V52LS says not to exceed slopes of 15 degrees, which is about 27% grade.

VERY strange indeed! I would have thought the articulating rider would have been able to handle much steeper slopes than a GTH tractor, but I guess not.. and that's without the Tru Powers, V61s, or the Rim Guard!
 
#5 ·
JimCT said:
Interestingly, I just checked the instruction manuals for both units:

R322T AWD says not to exceed slopes of 10 degrees, which is about 18% grade.

GTH24V52LS says not to exceed slopes of 15 degrees, which is about 27% grade.

VERY strange indeed! I would have thought the articulating rider would have been able to handle much steeper slopes than a GTH tractor, but I guess not.. and that's without the Tru Powers, V61s, or the Rim Guard!
Click to expand...
Thats just the degree of slopes their lawyers tell them to put in the owners manual to cover their rears.
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Boyd said:
Thats just the degree of slopes their lawyers tell them to put in the owners manual to cover their rears.
Click to expand...
But it is weird that a garden tractor gets a slope of 15 degrees as a safe slope to handle, while the AWD articulating rider, which is advertised as being able to handle slopes and wet areas better, only gets a rating of 10 degrees as safe.

I don't get it. :dunno:
 
#7 ·
While I have never driven one, I could see the possibility that an uphill turn on a slope might result in a rollover somewhat easier than on a GT. The apparent higher center of gravity and somewhat narrow track might come into play?

Now the Ventrac is the more familiar articulating mower. They claim a 30 degree slope is safe on their machine.
http://ventrac.com/advantages/slopemower/
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
I've been researching the R 322T AWD, and in many sites and forums I've read, it seems the key is that the rear of the machine is where the weight is, and so you have to ascend a hill forwards and back down if it's steep rather than go down deck first. Makes sense actually given the layout of the machine.

Most people say these machines are like mountain goats on slopes! And give a great cut! I am intrigued...
 
#9 ·
I've spent time on a Steiner, and when you are sidehilling and turn uphill, the front inside tire wants to come up. I think the articulation in the middle takes away some of the stability.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
hodge said:
I've spent time on a Steiner, and when you are sidehilling and turn uphill, the front inside tire wants to come up. I think the articulation in the middle takes away some of the stability.
Click to expand...
With your experience in mind, is an articulating rider good on hills of say 27% slope if used straight up and down, not cutting horizontally? Would you say it is better, the same, or worse than a traditional garden tractor at cutting steeper hills?
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Here are some shots of the area I need to mow. Ignore the water in the basins.. the area is a drainage area for street drains and dissipates usually within 24 hours after the end of a hard rain. I would never mow there when wet anyway. I'd have to double check, but steepest part of the larger hills measured about 30% slope when I measured, exceeding the 15 degree threshold by a little bit. It's got some unusual obstacles as well... rocks to protect drain pipes mostly. There is pretty wide flat area at the top of the hill for turnaround. Telephone pole gives some perspective.
 

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Discussion starter · #13 ·
D-Dogg said:
I do see some steep slopes, but careful planning of your route can ensure safety.
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It's tough to make a judgement from just pictures as they can be deceiving, but I think you'd agree the tru-powers and V61s really are needed in this case.

Do you think the GTH series with swapped tires and Rim Guard is up to the task? Or do you think that articulating rider is worth a good look before I make this official? As always, honest opinions (brutal as they may be) are always appreciated. :thanku:
 
#14 ·
JimCT said:
With your experience in mind, is an articulating rider good on hills of say 27% slope if used straight up and down, not cutting horizontally? Would you say it is better, the same, or worse than a traditional garden tractor at cutting steeper hills?
Click to expand...
I don't have extensive experience; so, I can't answer that. I do know that a steiner is stable, due to low center of gravity and wide stance; I have a friend with a steiner, who mows steep grades similar to yours. I think that an articulated mower would handle your angles, based on what I see in the photos, if there is sufficient traction, and the deck will allow for the initial approach angle.
I mow a very steep bank in the front of my house with my Kubota B7100. 4WD and staight up and down are fine; I have never experienced a loss of traction or control, even in wet grass. I definitely feel that a 4WD, articulated tractor would do it. Previously, I mowed the same bank with different rear wheel drive wheel horses, all with ag tires. Straight up was no problem, either, as long as the grass and ground were dry.
I would ask the dealer if you can try one out, given your land considerations. If they want to sell you a machine, they will allow you to make a good determination.
 
#15 ·
If you take into consideration that a 4/12 pitch for a house roof is just over 19* (33%), I think the GT might be the better choice.

I don't have any experience with articulated tractors, but a sudden sharp turn almost makes them into a tripod with one leg closer to the centerline than I might feel comfortable with. Stability would be my major concern without duals all around. I don't have that concern about a normal tractor with loaded tires on that grade.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
TUDOR said:
I don't have that concern about a normal tractor with loaded tires on that grade.
Click to expand...
If it were you with my hills and a 2wd tractor, how would you load the tires? I'll have Vredestein V61's up front, and Carlisle Tru Power's in the rear. Would you load all four with ballast, or just the rears, or something else entirely? :dunno:
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
D-Dogg said:
I'm not sure how well these pictures show the slope, but I mow this up, down, sideways, whatever with no worries.
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Thanks for the comparative pics! If I remember correctly, you have a 2wd JD with the same size V61's up front and Tru Powers in the rear. How do you have them loaded? Just the rears, or are you loaded on all four tires? How would you load a 2wd garden tractor if you had to mow my hills?
 
#19 ·
My rears are loaded with about 65lbs of magnesium chloride each, and I leave my 50lb wheel weights on the rear (though not really necessary for that lot). My front tires are not loaded.

In your case, as I recommended previously, take it slow and find a good pattern. If you feel really uncomfortable, stop and find an alternate pattern. Loading the fronts will give you maybe 25lbs per tire which is not insignificant, but probably not necessary.
 
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SwedishRider
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