Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills 2019

On this page you will find our top 10 picks of the best riding lawn mower for hills in 2019, plus our top tips for safely and effectively mowing hills and slopes when using either a lawn tractor or a zero turn riding lawn mower.

As always, we will begin with our top choice, and give you a brief overview of each mower in turn and link through to each of the full zero turn mower reviews, as well as the lawn tractor reviews so you can check them out for yourself in more detail, plus we will also give you the links through to the full product listings on Amazon.com too.

Using this list as a buying guide should make your search for the best zero turn or lawn tractor for hills much quicker and easier than trawling the entire internet, and because we have only included the best riding lawn mowers which have already proved themselves in the real world, your chances of landing the perfect mower for you, as opposed to settling for second best, are greatly improved.

For more information on the differences between lawn tractors and zero turn mowers, check out this page.

We have also posted another page which includes our list of the Top 10 Ride On Lawn Mowers for 2019, and includes the Best Zero Turn Riding Mowers, along with the Best Lawn Tractors  which you can check out by clicking here.

Here Are Our Top Tips For Safely And Effectively Mowing On Hills And Slopes…

Lawn Tractor Riding Mowers…

• Safety first, if the slope you intend to mow is pretty steep and your lawn tractor won’t back up the slope-don’t use it!
• Stay clear of uneven ground, including holes, ruts and drop offs as these can increase the risk of your lawn tractor tipping.
• Remove any debris such as rocks and sticks which could damage your mower before mowing.
• Only mow when grass is dry.
• Unhitch attachments such as mulchers and grass baggers to minimize risk of tipping.
• Mow up and down the hill and NOT horizontally.
• Avoid changing direction when mowing a slope, drive to the bottom and turn on the flat.
• Mow slowly and steadily.
• Do not stop on a slope.
• Do not put your lawn tractor in neutral and coast downhill.

Zero Turn Riding Mowers…

• Ensure the tires on your mower have good traction to prevent sliding.
• Only mow when the grass is dry.
• Choose a mower with wide rear wheels to increase surface area on the ground.
• Drive slowly on hills of 15 degrees or less at a constant speed of no more than 4-5 mph.
• Avoid making any sharp turns on a hill.
• Get rid of any bagged clippings before mowing the hill-the weight can reduce steering effectiveness and increase risk of slipping.
• Use the protective roll bar (ROPS) if available.
• Slower speeds and accurate steering are the key to successfully mowing slopes with a zero turn mower.

Here Are Our Top Picks Of The Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills 2019…

#1. Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin

In at number #1 we have the Husqvarna YTA24V48 lawn tractor mower which has an easy starting and powerful 24 HP Briggs & Stratton engine which performs very well indeed when it comes to mowing on inclines. A foot pedal operated  hydrostatic transmission allows you to change both your mowing speed, and direction, and the cruise control feature delivers a constant speed when mowing rougher terrain.

The Husqvarna YTA24V48 also features a tight turning radius for great maneuverability, in fact it handles almost as well as a zero turn mower when it comes to mowing in and out of hard to reach areas and up to and around obstacles.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#2. Craftsman T135 18.5 HP Briggs & Stratton 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower

Next up we have the first of no less than 3 Craftsman lawn tractor riding mowers which have shown themselves to be pretty outstanding for mowing over hills-the Craftsman T135. This mower is powered by a quick and easy starting 18.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine whichhas all the power required to tackle larger yard jobs, including those with up to and including 15 degree inclines, with ease.

The T135 also features foot pedal operated transmission for a smoother ride, along with long lasting lawn protecting wheels which are designed to give plenty of clearance, great traction and optimum maneuverability, without chewing up your lawn.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#3. Craftsman T150 19 HP Briggs & Stratton Gold 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower

In third place, our second offering from Craftsman is the Craftsman T150 which has a slightly more powerful 19 HP Briggs & Stratton engine than the T135 above, giving it extra hill mowing power, and as with the T135 allowing it to safely and effectively mow inclines of up to 15 degrees.

The Craftsman T150 has a hand lever operated hydrostatic transmission and also allows you to mow in reverse and tackle any hard to mow spots without having to interrupt your lawn mowing. This mower also has lawn protecting tires for ultimate grip and preventing skids and damage to your lawn during mowing.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#4. Craftsman T225 19 HP Briggs & Stratton Gold 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower

Our fourth choice of best riding lawn mower for hills in 2019 is the Craftsman T225 which also features a 19 HP Briggs & Stratton easy start engine which will give you all the power you need to safely mow slopes and hills with inclines of up to 15 degrees. This lawn tractor style riding mower has a foot pedal operated hydrostatic transmission for a pretty smooth ride plus a high-back seat for added comfort.

As with the 2 other Craftsman mowers on this list, the T225 also allows you to mow in reverse making any hard to reach areas of your yard much more easy to mow, and there is also an integrated deck washout system for quick and easy cleaning after mowing.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#5. Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series

In at number #5 we have the Ariens 915223 Ikon-X 52 which is our first choice of zero turn riding lawn mowers for hills. The Ariens Ikon-X 52 has a premium 23 HP Kawasaki OHV engine which is designed to thrive in the filthiest of mowing conditions and has a rotating metal chopper screen to stop dirt and debris getting into the engine and causing problems.

This mower also features a hydrostatic transmission for smooth and effortless operation and has the power to do a pretty decent job of mowing hills of up to 30 degrees incline. You also get a 4-point hanging deck for minimum deck movement during mowing for a more professional cut and a plush high-back seat with armrests for improved comfort during mowing.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#6. Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series Kohler Hydrostatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower (Lt 42 In. 18 Hp)

The Cub Cadet XT1 LT42 features a pretty decently powered 18HP Kohler engine which provides consistent power in the toughest of mowing conditions, along with a foot pedal operated hydrostatic transmission, and a soft touch cruise control feature for smoother mowing, and which makes this a treat little tractor mower for use on small hills.

This Cub Cadet lawn tractor also comes with a 12 position, spring assisted lever operated deck lift, 4 anti-scalp wheels to protect against slicing patches of turf on high points of your lawn, a tight 16″ turning radius for improves maneuverability, a deck washout port and a comfortable high-back seat.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#7. Husqvarna Z254 54″ 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower

And at number #7 on our list we have our second zero turn mower for hills– the Husqvarna Z254 which has a powerful and impressively durable 26 HP Kohler engine which is capable of climbing steeper than average hills with ease. However, it has to be said that this mower can take some getting used to when mowing hills as this is a pretty heavy mower, although once mastered it’s surprising just how well it actually mows hills and slopes.

The Husqvarna Z254 has a brilliant hydrostatic transmission which gives you an impressively powerful performance with plenty of torque and incredibly smooth acceleration. It has 4 anti-scalp wheels to protect your lawn and is very comfortable to use despite its size.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#8. Husqvarna MZ61 61″ 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower

Our number #8 pick for best riding lawn mower for hills is the Husqvarna MZ61 zero turn riding mower which is a semi-professional grade mower and as such is a fairly big and heavy machine. The MZ61 features a powerful, yet quiet and extremely hard wearing 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Y-Twin engine which will have no problems climbing hills.

Due to the weight of this mower you can expect to slide when going downhill, and if you have particularly steep hills, we recommend ordering this mower with the optional roll bar. The MZ61 also has a commercial-style hydrostatic transmission for higher ground speeds-up to 8.5 mph, and a very smooth performance overall.

Click here for the full review…

Click here to view on Amazon.com…

#9. Ariens Zoom 34 – 19hp Kohler 6000 Series V-Twin 34″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower

At number #9 we have yet another zero turn mower-the Ariens Zoom 34 which comes with a cooler and cleaner running 19 HP Kohler V-Twin engine with SmartChoke technology for easy and reliable starting time after time. The Zoom 34 also features a hydrostatic transmission for smooth, shift free operation.

The Ariens Zoom 34 is a pretty compact zero turn mower which is really easy to learn and operate, plus it also handles really well on hilly terrain. The cutting deck has a 4-point hanging system to prevent excessive movement during mowing and give a superior cut with reduced scalping.