ZTS2 vs XT GX54 for 16-20degree sloped lawn

[MountainMaker]

Getting overwhelmed by what information is available online. Cub Cadet mowers with Synchro Steer says they can handle 20 degree sloped lawns with no locking differential (example ZTS2 50 now known as Z3). The XT2 GX54D tractor style for example is less expensive and has locking differential. John Deere X570 has locking differential and is about $3800 more than the Cub Cadet. I do not plan on any other attachments (plow etc). Went to both dealers today (not Home Depot) and am leaning towards the Z3 Synchro Steer Zero Turn mower due to wider wheel base, larger tires and sitting lower to ground. Cub Cadet dealer strongly suggested Zero Turn over the tractor style mower for our 1-2 acre sloped lot.

Questions
1) Is Synchro Steer better than a locking differential mower on sloped lot (ZTS2 vs XT2)
2) Have you had good experience with the Cub Cadet ZTS2-50 and XT2 GX54
3) Is John Deere tractor style worth the extra $4k.

[Sergeant]

I have a 2022 Cub Cadet Z-force SX54 which had Hydro-gear ZT-3100 transmissions

I have a John Deere GX335 with Diff/lock older Version of the X500 series Basically and Older Version of the John Deere X580

I also Have a 2018 Cub Cadet XT3 GSX stopped Production in 2022

My Z-force SX54 will make it Up slopes steeper than 20 Degrees without Issue

My Main House In on a flat 3.9 acre Plot But I also Have an 18 acre weekend Home which has 4 Hills On it That are 20 Degrees or steeper The tractors with diff/lock also don't have an Issue with the Hills

Here are all the tractors and riding Machines I Currently Own
Cub Cadet Original Garden Tractor 1961

Cub Cadet 60 Rear engine rider 1968

Cub Cadet 70 Garden Tractor 1963

Cub Cadet 106 Garden Tractor 1970

Cub Cadet 1450 Garden Tractor 1976

Cub Cadet 1541 Garden Tractor 1991

Cub Cadet 2182 Garden Tractor 1991

Cub Cadet 3208 Garden Tractor 2000 -Diff/lock

Cub Cadet XT3 GSX Garden Tractor 2018 -Diff/lock

Cub Cadet Z-Force SX54 Zero turn 2022

Ingersoll 3016PS Garden Tractor 1992

John Deere 110RF Garden Tractor 1964

John Deere 112SF Garden Tractor 1969

John Deere 140H3 Garden Tractor 1974

John Deere GX335 Garden Tractor 2004 -Diff/lock

John Deere X748 Garden Tractor 2012 -AWD and Diff/lock

John Deere Sabre 1542 HS Lawn Tractor 1999

Simplicity Wonder-Boy Rear Engine Rider 195?

Wheel Horse 416H Garden Tractor 1992

White GT2055 Garden Tractor 1999

John Deere 2032R TL Compact Tractor 2026 -Shift-able 4WD


Many of those machines listed will not make it to the Top Of those Hills with out 4wd/AWD or Diff/lock

John Deere is really worth the extra money. It really has been since MTD became the parent of Cub Cadet, because MTD has slowly marched Cub Cadet to be a cheaper and lower-cost machine than what IH had really intended for the brand. As you see, I have several post-IH machines (any Cub Cadet machine made after April 1981).

That said, I really do love my Cub Cadet Z-Force SX54. Because it is such a billy goat, and I hate zero-turn with lever steering. I prefer the steering wheel control of the Z-Force SX54. It's like driving a lawn tractor, but you get to do a 180 at the end of the row and go back the other way.

If you go with a garden tractor, get a Deere X500 series, as it really is worth the money over an XT2 GX54 D. Because with the X570, you get an easily serviceable K72 transmission. You can service the K62 in the XT2 GX54 D, but you have to go through the battery box to refill the transmission, and the K62 does have drain plugs. But the K72 in the X570 can be refilled without having to be an orangutan to refill the transmission.


But if you go with a zero turn, you can't go wrong with a Z3 Synchro Steer Zero Turn for slope mowing.

Here Is My 2022 Z-Force SX54 Below

[spndncash]

I would be wary of anything on a 20degree slope once you start sliding very little is able to stop your slide. I would think a zero turn would be worse than a tractor since the front weeks do nothing to stop direction changes. I would use diamond chains year round. 4wd would be best but the weight might make it worse since most 4wd are quite large - and expensive like a ventrac I think lastly I would go with full rops in case it flips

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by spndncash

I would be wary of anything on a 20degree slope once you start sliding very little is able to stop your slide. I would think a zero turn would be worse than a tractor since the front weeks do nothing to stop direction changes. I would use diamond chains year round. 4wd would be best but the weight might make it worse since most 4wd are quite large - and expensive like a ventrac I think lastly I would go with full rops in case it flips

The steering wheel Zero turns do not have dummy wheels. You actually have control over the front wheels, unlike a traditional zero turn, because there are steering gears on top of the front wheels. The front wheels will not do a 360. They turn all the way to the left or right but do not turn all the way around.

[Ozcub]

I would borrow one from Sargeant and see how you go , if no good borrow the next one