5 Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hills and Steep Terrain [ 2021 Reviews ]

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It is tiring work to push mowers all over your yard to remove grass. Especially for the people who own large acres of land, it requires a lot of physical work. Nobody wants to move around with mowers in a dreadful heat of the sun. 

Furthermore, it takes a lot of time to mow an entire land. So if you are a person who doesn’t like the idea of investing more time in some petty task like mowing grass, it’s time to upgrade from push mowers to some of the best riding lawn mowers for hills

We’ve researched some of the best lawn mowers for hills and narrowed down our list to 5 best of them. These are alpha riding mowers and are capable of cutting down grass in your steep terrain. Before we discuss these riding mowers, let’s take a look at some factors that make them a better option.

In this article, we are going to review the following riding lawn mower for hills: 

The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Hills Reviews

1. Ryobi Electric — Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower (Editors’ Pick)

Ryobi lawn-mower is an electrically powered riding lawn-mower and is simple to keep up. This Ryobi electric mower is eco-friendly and considerably quieter than the gas-powered mowers. It is controlled by 75Ah batteries and provides two hours of runtime/charge.

 

 

This Ryobi riding lawn-mower incorporates magnificent steering & turning range. You can charge this electric lawn grass cutter using a standard outlet of 120-voltage. For better performance and predominant power, this lawn-mower is furnished by three motors (brushless).

 

 

Ryobi’s lawn-mower has two sharp blades & 12 different height positions, which can be changed manually or physically. The blades of the mower bend when they hit any object protecting the engine from breaking. The maximum and minimum cutting height is 4-1/2 inches and 1-1/2 inches, respectively. 

 

 

The convenient features of the mower make it simple to utilize. The deck’s measure is 38-inches. The cutting width of Ryobi electric lawn-mower ranges from 30 in to 41 in. 

 

 

This riding mower also accompanies numerous valuable features such as a USB charger, LED headlights,USB Phone Charging point, cup, mobile phone holder, and cruise control. Furthermore, it does not include any belts, filter attachments requiring maintenance, making this lawn-mower simpler to think about than its gas-fueled partners. This mower is available with a 3-year warranty. 

 

 

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2. Husqvarna YTH18542  (18.5 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Riding Mower)

If we are talking about the best self-propelled lawn mower for hills then we can’t really miss out mowers from Husqvarna.

Husqvarna’s riding mowers offer top-notch performance with effective outcomes. Their minimal size makes them easier to move & they do require less area for storage. The Husqvarna 42 inches mower, is designed for premium performance & versatile utilization in any season.  

This lawn-mower’s reverse operating feature allows the operator to cut the grass in reverse by simply turning a switch. The turning radius of this riding lawn-mower is 16 inches. The Husqvarna riding mower includes headlights for convenient mowing at night time. The hydrostatic transmission controlled by foot pedals permits you to alter speed & direction, which allows you to keep your hands on the steering for ideal driving control. 

 

 

The cutting width of the Husqvarna YTH18542 lawn-mower is 42 inches. The maximum forward speed is 5.5 MPH, and the maximum reverse speed is 3 MPH. The maximum cutting height is 4 inches, and the minimum cutting height is 1.5 inches. 

 

 Husqvarna’s lawn-mower is capable of mulching, but you need to purchase the kit separately if required. It comes with a three-year limited period warranty against any manufacturing defect. The mower’s physical measures in terms of length are 69.25 inches, and overall width (including deck) is 50 inches.

 

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3. Ariens 915223 IKON-X (Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series)

This is another prospect from Ariens, which happens to be one of the best lawn mowers for hills.  Ariens 915223 is a residential mower possessing a commercial quality. It is constructed around a full welded tubular steel frame, increasing the durability of the mower. It is an intense machine, incredibly resistant to push or stress.  

This Ariens mower is very simple to operate, regardless of whether you have never utilized a zero-turn lawn-mower. The mower is fabricated with a 52-inch cutting deck that allows maximum airflow while mowing in troublesome conditions. 

 

 

Ariens 915223 riding mower permits you to handle little slopes up to 15-degree slants. Additionally, it includes 13 distinctive cutting heights going from 1½ inches to 4½ inches. It gives an excellent cut leaving your grass or lawn with a profoundly effective manicured look. The cutting width of the blades are 52 inches.

 

 

The sitting arrangement with high-back is padded along with its cushioned armrests that make you feel like cutting the grass from your favored special chair, even though you have a lot of cutting to do consuming your hours. The mower controls are mounted in easy reach, & it is responsive and smooth as well. 

 

With an instant start, single phase air filtration framework, and a pressurized oil framework even the biggest yard or lawn can be cut without requiring fuel again. Also, you can hope to complete more in less period with a velocity of 7 mph.

 

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4. Husqvarna Z254 54 inches (26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower)

In case you are searching for an amazing lawn-mower to upkeep your residential yard, at that point, look none other than the Husqvarna Z254 riding zero-turn mower. You can depend on this Husqvarna mower engine to start whether it is hot or cold, & even in bitter(zero) temperatures. 

 

 

Its triple-blade mowing structure allows you to cut grass of large lawns a few passes. Its capacity to operate at speed up to 6.5 MPH makes it an incredible choice in lawn grass cutting machines. This engine allows you to cut the grass around 2.8 acres in an hour. 

 

 

This Husqvarna lawn-mower is manufactured using an amazing 26 HP motor that completes the job in very less time. The high-back (15 inches) seat offers comfort to the operator. 

 

 

The braking mechanism of a Husqvarna lawn trimmer makes it reliable and dependable, ensuring your safety while utilizing the mower. The brake mechanism of this mower automatically activates & deactivates the guiding or steering switches to make your process simple and consistent. 

 

 

Additionally, Husqvarna riding grass cutter utilizes air induction mechanics to pump air to the highest point of its deck to make it simple for you to produce clean cuts. The deck is constructed using fortified steel, which makes it entirely sturdy.

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5. Craftsman E225 42-inches (Lithium-Ion Riding Mower-56V Electric Powered lawn-mower)

As one of the best riding lawn mowers for hills, this mower by Craftsman can be a great upgrade option to your push mower. 

The Craftsman E225 is an eco-friendly, battery-powered lawn-mower and compact in size. The mowing process becomes a lot easier & energy efficient using the battery operated lawn-mower. 

 

The Craftsman foot-controlled riding lawn grass cutter is operated by an electric drive of 56V lithium-ion battery & comes furnished with a steel deck. This lawn-mower supports two sharp blades. The turning radius takes up to 5 inches. 

 

 

The Craftsman mower offers cruise control and five cut height adjustments. The deck lift system of the mower is of manual type. The physical measure of the mower is 67.8 inches x 51.95 inches x 42.25 inches. 

 

 

The lawn-mower’s steering wheel is provided with a delicate touch & seat arrangement with high-back offers a comfortable ride. For extra security, it includes LED headlights for expanded visibility during the night time & a bumper. 

 

 

You can utilize the mulching pack (to be bought separately) to mulch the lawn grass clippings & return nutrients of soil for a sound yard. The maximum forward and reverse speeds are 6 MPH and 3MPH, respectively. 

 

The Craftsman E225 lawn-mower comes with a three-year limited warranty against any manufacturing defect.

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Why should you use a Riding Lawnmower?

If you are moving to ride mowers, it is obvious that this question might pop up in your head. Let’s clear your doubts and see why you must opt for these mowers.

One of the major advantages of riding mowers is that they can mow down much larger areas compared to push mowers. The helping factor for this is its deck which is larger than a standard push mower. This feature reduces the amount of time you need to invest in mowing. 

riding lawn mower

You don’t need to push riding mowers like push mowers. So there isn’t any involvement of physical activity in any sense. All you have to do is sit on it and the mower will do the job of mowing the grass.

Since riding mowers are powered they can mow grass at a much faster rate. This ultimately results in a reduction in mowing time compared to conventional mowers. Also since these mowers can move faster, your task can be completed in less time. 

There aren’t any complicated controls in riding mowers. It is fairly simple to use.

Since moving isn’t manual but powered in riding mowers. The cutting of grass is uniform.

Are Riding Lawn Mowers For Hills Dangerous?

riding lawn mower safety

There are some factors that influence whether these mowers are safe to use in hill areas, let’s look at them.

  • Stability of Mower

Mowers should be stable in order to mow the grass on hills or steep terrain. A fair amount of sturdiness and grip should be induced in it so that it doesn’t fail. If your mower is stable enough, then only you should use it in the hills.

  • Steepness of Hill

It is recommended to use riding mowers in slightly steeper hills. If you go on using a mower on a much steeper hill then it can end up falling off. This can lead to grave injuries or even casualties. 

  • Direction

For mowing grass on a hill, you should follow an up and down pattern. In this pattern, you ride the mower uniformly in an upward direction and then in a downward direction. If you ride in a cross direction then the mower can loose its stability. 

Factors to Consider While Buying Lawn Mowers For Hills – The Buyer’s Guide

Riding mowers are more efficient than hand mowers. As its name suggests riding mowers are powered mowers that don’t require manual force to push around. There are a lot of merits in riding mowers compared to push mowers. 

best lawn mower for hills

One of them is they don’t require much of a physical effort. Riding mowers are most suitable if you have acres of grass to cut. Since riding mowers have bigger decks they can cut comparatively more grass. This, as a result, reduces the time required for the mowing of the grass. 

While purchasing a riding lawn mower, you will have to spend a good sum of money. Compared to push mowers, there are a lot of things to consider for riding mowers. Seating arrangement, engine, deck size, horsepower and similar factors must be studied before getting a riding mower. But we’ve got that work cut out for you.

Here are some factors that you might wanna consider while buying yourself a riding lawn mower for hills: 

The type of your yard influences the type of mower you are going to use. You have to examine your yard thoroughly before purchasing a mower. The steepness of your yard will determine the power of your mower. 

A powerful engine is essential to climb the hill while mowing. While moving upwards, a lot of force is required and for that, the engine should have sufficient power. Also, you should ensure that the engine has good durability or else you will have to face frequent maintenance problems.

The grip is important when mowing on hills. For a better grip of the mower, its weight should be higher. But more the weight, more the power required for the engine to propel the mower. So there should be a proper balance between weight and power. You have to select a mower that fulfils both of these requirements.

Riding mowers come in small as well as large size with both having their own pros and cons. Larger mowers can cut more grass in less time but they are expensive. Furthermore, turning of large mowers is fairly difficult. On the other hand, smaller mowers offer great manoeuvrability but their cutting efficiency is low.

Riding mowers have more probability of causing injuries than push mowers. That’s why they should be equipped with proper safety features. Riding Mowers should have an arrangement of seat belts to prevent falling off. Also, the seat should be comfortable enough as you are going to be sitting for quite some time as you mow. 

Safety Tips With Riding Lawn Mowers For Hills

riding lawn mower safety tips
  • Always drive in an upward and downward direction. Never drive in a cross direction as it may lead to falling off of a mower and result in grave injuries.
  • Always try to ride your mower in a forward direction and keep the use of backward riding minimal. You can perform better manoeuvre while riding forward, also you might hit somebody if you ride backwards. 
  • Don’t turn on the blade when you are riding on roads or paved paths. Blades should only be used on grassy surfaces.
  • Riding mowers are heavy so take proper measures in their storage. If you have a garage then store it there, otherwise, keep it over a strong surface.
  • Don’t let your kids or pets near riding mowers. As they have automatic controls, kids can accidentally turn the mower on.
  • Always keep the key on you and never leave it on the ignition socket. 
  • Take all rocks, objects or garbage out of the lawn before starting mowing. These things can cause severe damage to the blade that’s why you should thoroughly inspect the lawn beforehand. 
  • You should always wear safety goggles whenever using a riding mower.
  • Whenever starting the mower, always keep it outside of the lawn. In any instance, if a big explosion were to happen it would occur outside of the lawn, thus preventing the major spread of fire. 
  • Carry out maintenance on fixed intervals.
  • Frequently wash the deck with arrangements provided in the riding mower.
  • Assemble all parts as per instruction manual.
  • Before mowing on hills and steep surfaces, practice riding the mower on flat surfaces.
  • Don does not mow for a longer period of time or the engine might heat up.

Riding Lawn Mowers For Hills FAQ’s

Why Should I Use Riding Mowers On Hills Instead Of Push Mowers?

As riding mowers are self-propelled, they don’t require any physical effort. Climbing hills with push mowers will require a lot of effort, that’s why it is advisable to use riding mowers in hill areas.
 

How To Carry Out Maintenance Of Riding Mowers?

For cleaning the deck you can use a hose or integrated cleaning system to take out dirt and grass clips. Maintenance of parts should be done as per given schedule.
 

Why Are Riding Mowers More Expensive?

Since riding mowers have more complicated parts, its cost is more than conventional mowers.

Final Verdict

So these are some of the finest riding mowers that you can purchase right now. All of them have extravagant features and each of them has their own speciality. While you can select anyone from the list, none of them will disappoint you in any way. At the end of the day, it is up to you which mower to select as per your requirements. 

Both Troy-Bilt and Husqvarna produce some commendable riding mowers and that can be seen from our list. Before purchasing a mower, you should inspect the surface that you are going to mow and keep factors discussed in mind. In the end, you will end up with a winner mower.

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