Garden tractor with locking differential

[pbgvdad]

Which new or used Kubota garden tractor/mowers have locking rear differentials? I have to drive down a long, steep, wooded, moss and leaf covered hill behind my house to get to a lake-front lawn. I understand that AG tires and wheel weights would help, but I want to start with a locking differential.

 

[anthonyv]

I would think for what you are asking would be something along the line of a Kubota BX1500 4wd. The type of terrain you are describing, a small diesel with 4wd would be the safest. This model will have locking hubs along with the traction of 4wd to keep you from sliding down a slope. Locking rear hubs by itself doesn't do much for traction control on a slope, especially wet grass.

 

[D2Cat]

And 4 wheel drive won't do much good it it's not in 4x4. Especially needing the engine braking when going down hill!

 

[pbgvdad]

And 4 wheel drive won't do much good it it's not in 4x4. Especially needing the engine braking when going down hill!

Sorry. I don’t understand the relative benefits of 4WD, AWD, and 4x4 for driving up and down steep hills. Would you kindly explain. Thanks.


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[North Idaho Wolfman]

With a 2wd tractor you have no front brakes, you have no pulling ability of the front tires.

With a 4wd you have both pull and braking.

 

[vic gerbasi]

Which new or used Kubota garden tractor/mowers have locking rear differentials? I have to drive down a long, steep, wooded, moss and leaf covered hill behind my house to get to a lake-front lawn. I understand that AG tires and wheel weights would help, but I want to start with a locking differential.

GF 1800 has diff lock but no 4wd I have had mine for years and do occasionally get stuck in slimy ditch

 

[skeets]

How steep ,wooded, moss covered.leaf littered hill are you descending? A tad more information might be helpful to help you along so we may help you may make an informed decision on equipment that will give you the best, safest and most productive service for your needs.

 

[Treckerzeug]

Hello,

Maybe going downhill backwards should be the simplest and safest method?
Your problem is the weight transfer, forward to non driven, non brakeable wheels or rearwards without any worries.

 

[Ramos]

Heck, I'll throw my 2 cents in.

A locking rear differential will help SOME. You have two tires on the ground rotating at the speed you have decided on.

Adding 4WD will add another one or two wheels/tires doing the same thing depending on how the front differential is set up. That's a plus.

Backing down a hill that is already giving you trouble going forward is an invitation to disaster. At the very least, you may be sliding with challenged visibility and backwards steering. Worse, you can flip the thing backward. Not at all good....

 

[BWXT]

Heck, I'll throw my 2 cents in.

A locking rear differential will help SOME. You have two tires on the ground rotating at the speed you have decided on.

Adding 4WD will add another one or two wheels/tires doing the same thing depending on how the front differential is set up. That's a plus.

Backing down a hill that is already giving you trouble going forward is an invitation to disaster. At the very least, you may be sliding with challenged visibility and backwards steering. Worse, you can flip the thing backward. Not at all good....

All good points.

If you are trying to gain traction without going to the expense of a 4x4 machine, adding aggressive tires or chains, loading the tires/adding weights, and adding weight to the rear of the machine are great ways to increase traction. I have a VERY steep piece of lawn on the front of my property. My Troybilt lawn tractor has V-bar chains and about 125lbs of ballast weight on the back of it. I mow my lawn with this setup and it doesn't tear it up, but there's no way I could mow that slope without the chains and weight. As an added bonus if I take the deck off I can do wheelies!

 

[Missouribound]

I'm not sure if this answers your question but my B2320 has a differential lock pedal which locks the diff. only when it is depressed. If your situation doesn't require a constant locked diff then this should work for you. A full time locked diff would do a number on any area you don't want to tear up. Husquvarna however does have a garden tractor with a differential lock. Not being sure what your situation is it may be worth a look.
Would a small BX work for you or is that more than you want to spend?