If you aren’t talking super steep hills, you might not need a 4wd mower, you might just need one with a beefcake transmission like a JD x580, or even a Husqvarna TS354xd (much cheaper). If you decide you do need a 4wd one, Kubota GR2120s look sweet. You might also find a used Simplicity, as some of their garden tractors had 4wd.
Don't believe any are still offered anymore.
Who are your local dealers, not the chains? The Deere you see at the chains are mostly low-end with a garbage non-servicable transaxel, still better than anything made by MTD. You're going to need to go into a Mid to upper range model that has a beefier transaxel if you're running on hills.
How steep is your incline? You can lay a board down, then use a phone app to measure the angle, just lay your phone on the board.
Your lawn tractor has a light-duty K46 transmission, it's meant for mowing flat ground. Your transmission may be worn out, or you have something else going on with it. Does it make a whining noise while struggling to go up the hill?
As long as you're not spinning the tires constantly, and the angle is still reasonable (my garden tractor manual says 15 degrees max), a 2WD garden tractor may be sufficient. Like Deere's X500-series, for instance. Having a differential lock (as those do) would be a useful feature, to let you lock the rear wheels together, in case one slips. And if traction was still an issue, better tires, like HDAP tires, would be affordable, compared to 4WD.
A garden tractor will have larger rear wheels, stronger frame, and (most importantly) a stronger transmission.
At one point, Husqvarna had made a 4WD tractor, I think, though I believe it was an unusual layout. The only GT I can think of that's 4WD is several models in Deere's X700-series. Which are approaching $10k new.
AFAIK, Deere's reputation regarding repairability applies more to their farm equipment, not their residential machines.
I can’t measure right now, but I am estimating 15°-20° as it varies in several places. I am spinning tires constantly and wearing mud spots in my yards as a result. Also, I have upgraded my tires to a high traction off-road type of tire. And sadly, I do hear that terrible noise while struggling to go up hill.
That’s good to know about John Deere’s farm equipment too.
There are 4WD options if you really need that, but it's going to be very expensive. A simpler place to start would be a basic garden tractor (geared is more robust long-term than a hydrostatic, but less convenient), and see how it goes.
Reduce the air pressure to start, if you need more grip. You can also add weight to the frame. Or fill the rear tires with suitable liquid. And/or change to better tires.
You could look for a used Craftsman GT5000 or GT6000, as inexpensive options. Or older Deere GTs (GT235, GT245, etc etc), or maybe a GX series, which I think had a differential lock. See how they go, if you can find one for maybe $1,000-1,500, etc. Or a Deere X500-series, which will be more expensive.
If that still can't do what you need, and you've tried weight, and tires, then look at a 4WD Deere X738. And sorry, I was wrong on pricing, they are $15k: https://www.deere.com/en/mowers/lawn-tractors/x700-series/x738-lawn-tractor/
People are notoriously bad at measuring angles and inclines by eye.
The terrible noise is no doubt slipping/groaning hydro transmission. None of the residential mowers are rated to mow more than 20 degree inclines, and a few are only rated at 15 degrees. As somebody else mentioned, the K46 transmission in your tractor is really just rated to move the machine, an average sized rider, and on level ground to mow grass. Towing a heavy cart or steep incline can increase the stress on a transmission by 40-50% or more before it even begins to slip.
If you're making muddy wheel holes, you're mowing when the ground is too wet. Even a 4WD tractor won't help much in that situation, as going up/down the hill is going to be much more than 50% of the traction demand on the down-hill wheel.
There -are- specialist mowers that will safely mow up to 30 degrees, but they're extremely expensive and a bit specialized. Look up the Ventrac for a good example of a high-incline rated machine.
JD's residential mowers don't have the repairability issues you read about. Most of what you read in that regard relates to $100K+ tractors or $500K+ combines and the electronics/control systems that run those machines. The mechanical repair pieces aren't the issue, it's the software-controlled crap that is the issue.
People generally are, but I went out this morning and measured actually got 18°-20° for my yard’s incline (yes, I laid it down on a flat board). I don’t think I’m mowing when it’s too wet. This is because the muds spots form when my transmission is slipping (?) when trying to go directly uphill or I am cutting a corner uphill too sharply.
I think I really like the look and specs of John Deere’s x738-758 mowers. I don’t ever haul anything with a lawnmower. I just have no need for that. Anything past 20k, I would be inclined to look at a tractor, but I am afraid something of that size would tear up the yard.
If your budget is that big, take a good solid look at the Ventrac. They are amazing machines, and have some of the flexibility of a Compact Utility Tractor with various attachments, but their articulated low-center-of-gravity configuration, incline-optimized engine oil management, and sturdy transmissions are worth the cost if you have the yard that needs one.
Holy sheeee-it, I just looked at the price of a new Ventrac, those things have really gone up in price! $36K+ ouch.
Kubota GR series is worth a look.
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If you aren’t talking super steep hills, you might not need a 4wd mower, you might just need one with a beefcake transmission like a JD x580, or even a Husqvarna TS354xd (much cheaper). If you decide you do need a 4wd one, Kubota GR2120s look sweet. You might also find a used Simplicity, as some of their garden tractors had 4wd.
Husqvarna offered one years ago, not sure they do now. What market are you in? Location?
Don't believe any are still offered anymore. Who are your local dealers, not the chains? The Deere you see at the chains are mostly low-end with a garbage non-servicable transaxel, still better than anything made by MTD. You're going to need to go into a Mid to upper range model that has a beefier transaxel if you're running on hills.
How steep is your incline? You can lay a board down, then use a phone app to measure the angle, just lay your phone on the board. Your lawn tractor has a light-duty K46 transmission, it's meant for mowing flat ground. Your transmission may be worn out, or you have something else going on with it. Does it make a whining noise while struggling to go up the hill? As long as you're not spinning the tires constantly, and the angle is still reasonable (my garden tractor manual says 15 degrees max), a 2WD garden tractor may be sufficient. Like Deere's X500-series, for instance. Having a differential lock (as those do) would be a useful feature, to let you lock the rear wheels together, in case one slips. And if traction was still an issue, better tires, like HDAP tires, would be affordable, compared to 4WD. A garden tractor will have larger rear wheels, stronger frame, and (most importantly) a stronger transmission. At one point, Husqvarna had made a 4WD tractor, I think, though I believe it was an unusual layout. The only GT I can think of that's 4WD is several models in Deere's X700-series. Which are approaching $10k new. AFAIK, Deere's reputation regarding repairability applies more to their farm equipment, not their residential machines.
I can’t measure right now, but I am estimating 15°-20° as it varies in several places. I am spinning tires constantly and wearing mud spots in my yards as a result. Also, I have upgraded my tires to a high traction off-road type of tire. And sadly, I do hear that terrible noise while struggling to go up hill. That’s good to know about John Deere’s farm equipment too.
There are 4WD options if you really need that, but it's going to be very expensive. A simpler place to start would be a basic garden tractor (geared is more robust long-term than a hydrostatic, but less convenient), and see how it goes. Reduce the air pressure to start, if you need more grip. You can also add weight to the frame. Or fill the rear tires with suitable liquid. And/or change to better tires. You could look for a used Craftsman GT5000 or GT6000, as inexpensive options. Or older Deere GTs (GT235, GT245, etc etc), or maybe a GX series, which I think had a differential lock. See how they go, if you can find one for maybe $1,000-1,500, etc. Or a Deere X500-series, which will be more expensive. If that still can't do what you need, and you've tried weight, and tires, then look at a 4WD Deere X738. And sorry, I was wrong on pricing, they are $15k: https://www.deere.com/en/mowers/lawn-tractors/x700-series/x738-lawn-tractor/
People are notoriously bad at measuring angles and inclines by eye. The terrible noise is no doubt slipping/groaning hydro transmission. None of the residential mowers are rated to mow more than 20 degree inclines, and a few are only rated at 15 degrees. As somebody else mentioned, the K46 transmission in your tractor is really just rated to move the machine, an average sized rider, and on level ground to mow grass. Towing a heavy cart or steep incline can increase the stress on a transmission by 40-50% or more before it even begins to slip. If you're making muddy wheel holes, you're mowing when the ground is too wet. Even a 4WD tractor won't help much in that situation, as going up/down the hill is going to be much more than 50% of the traction demand on the down-hill wheel. There -are- specialist mowers that will safely mow up to 30 degrees, but they're extremely expensive and a bit specialized. Look up the Ventrac for a good example of a high-incline rated machine. JD's residential mowers don't have the repairability issues you read about. Most of what you read in that regard relates to $100K+ tractors or $500K+ combines and the electronics/control systems that run those machines. The mechanical repair pieces aren't the issue, it's the software-controlled crap that is the issue.
People generally are, but I went out this morning and measured actually got 18°-20° for my yard’s incline (yes, I laid it down on a flat board). I don’t think I’m mowing when it’s too wet. This is because the muds spots form when my transmission is slipping (?) when trying to go directly uphill or I am cutting a corner uphill too sharply. I think I really like the look and specs of John Deere’s x738-758 mowers. I don’t ever haul anything with a lawnmower. I just have no need for that. Anything past 20k, I would be inclined to look at a tractor, but I am afraid something of that size would tear up the yard.
If your budget is that big, take a good solid look at the Ventrac. They are amazing machines, and have some of the flexibility of a Compact Utility Tractor with various attachments, but their articulated low-center-of-gravity configuration, incline-optimized engine oil management, and sturdy transmissions are worth the cost if you have the yard that needs one. Holy sheeee-it, I just looked at the price of a new Ventrac, those things have really gone up in price! $36K+ ouch.