missourithunder
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2009
- Messages
- 437
- Tractor
- 2009 Kubota BX 1860
Talk about an eventful morning. I know it's hard to tell by the photos but if you look close you can see two skid marks going down the "lawn" on the west side of the house. I nearly had a roll over while mowing this morning.
The grass is still filling in so there's still a lot of top soil showing which was a bit damp from the rain last night (1st mistake; steep hill + wet grass = a bad situation when mowing). Like always, I cut the front yard first and then make my usual first pass going down the slope (2nd mistake, failed to ensure I was in low range and in 4WD).
Everything was fine until I hit the brake to slow down a little and I literally slid down the hill. Knowing that at the end of the hill is a 10ft drop off, I had two choices; keep it straight and pray I stop in time or turn to the left slightly, hoping to kind of power-slide to a stop. I figured (quite quickly) it was better to lay it down on it's side then to drive off the cliff. The power-slide worked but I swear I was on 2-wheels.
I think the only thing that saved me was the fact that the RFM was all the down. By the way, the loader was barely off the ground so that had nothing to do with it. What's incredible is I had just read the "Almost rolled over" and "layed down bx24" threads last night.
Lessons learned -
1. Never, ever mow steep hills when ground is wet
2. Complacency kills, keep it in low range and 4WD at all times
3. Always have someone within ear shot. The wife and kids were sleeping
4. Situational awareness is a must.
Have a safe weekend gents.
MT
The grass is still filling in so there's still a lot of top soil showing which was a bit damp from the rain last night (1st mistake; steep hill + wet grass = a bad situation when mowing). Like always, I cut the front yard first and then make my usual first pass going down the slope (2nd mistake, failed to ensure I was in low range and in 4WD).
Everything was fine until I hit the brake to slow down a little and I literally slid down the hill. Knowing that at the end of the hill is a 10ft drop off, I had two choices; keep it straight and pray I stop in time or turn to the left slightly, hoping to kind of power-slide to a stop. I figured (quite quickly) it was better to lay it down on it's side then to drive off the cliff. The power-slide worked but I swear I was on 2-wheels.
I think the only thing that saved me was the fact that the RFM was all the down. By the way, the loader was barely off the ground so that had nothing to do with it. What's incredible is I had just read the "Almost rolled over" and "layed down bx24" threads last night.
Lessons learned -
1. Never, ever mow steep hills when ground is wet
2. Complacency kills, keep it in low range and 4WD at all times
3. Always have someone within ear shot. The wife and kids were sleeping
4. Situational awareness is a must.
Have a safe weekend gents.
MT
Sincerely glad you are alright.
