Soldier415
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2016
- Messages
- 693
- Location
- Vermont
- Tractor
- 2001 Kubota L3010GST. 2005 Kubota L3430HSTC
Disclaimer: I'm a first time tractor owner, had it since September, and first winter with one.
We got our first snow that stuck a few days ago, about 5 inches. Driveway is 1/4 mile with steep sections that include a 90 degree turn right as you head down from the house. Couldn't use the blower as I hadn't put the chains on yet. Tried getting the chains on the tractor here at the house and it wasn't happening. Need to get rear wheels off ground to set and tension. Was going to take it to dad's shop and put it on the lift.
Had checked the driveway earlier in the day and it wasn't slick, and truck went up and down in 4WD with no slippage so figured I'd have enough traction to get the tractor down the hill, over the bridge and up to the trailer.
trumpwrooong.jpg
It had warmed up that day which melted the slow slightly and compacted it, then it got cold again and froze.
Was in 1st gear so i could just creep down. As soon as I started the downhill she went full slide...FAST. Wheels not even turning just sliding and gathering momentum rapidly. Headed straight for the pictured drop off at the end of the turnout with a 10-15 foot sloped drop with logs at the bottom.
Touchhole puckered so tight you wouldn't have been able to fit a needle up it with a sledgehammer.
Slammed it into second gear and floored it to get all 4 wheels spinning and started working the wheel to get the front end pointed to the right and get some semblance of forward motion as I figured hitting trees was preferable to going over the bank and rolling over.
Sliding sideways and forward now pointed right at a stand of trees. As i'm working the wheel I raise the FEL bucket up and thumb it down so the edge tamers are pointed down. As soon as the front wheels leave the road for the ditch I start lowering it fast so right as front wheels hit flat ground I dropped it all the way digging the bucket into the ground and stopping my forward momentum.
Engage brake and shut it down.
Shaking like a snitch at a gangster party from adrenaline. Take some pictures.
Walk back up to house and pour a whiskey. I also change my shorts...
From losing traction to dropping bucket to prevent impact with trees was probably 8 seconds.
The pictures really don't show how steep the grade is.
Slide started where I am standing
Looking down at the drop off on the back side of the turnout
We got our first snow that stuck a few days ago, about 5 inches. Driveway is 1/4 mile with steep sections that include a 90 degree turn right as you head down from the house. Couldn't use the blower as I hadn't put the chains on yet. Tried getting the chains on the tractor here at the house and it wasn't happening. Need to get rear wheels off ground to set and tension. Was going to take it to dad's shop and put it on the lift.
Had checked the driveway earlier in the day and it wasn't slick, and truck went up and down in 4WD with no slippage so figured I'd have enough traction to get the tractor down the hill, over the bridge and up to the trailer.
trumpwrooong.jpg
It had warmed up that day which melted the slow slightly and compacted it, then it got cold again and froze.
Was in 1st gear so i could just creep down. As soon as I started the downhill she went full slide...FAST. Wheels not even turning just sliding and gathering momentum rapidly. Headed straight for the pictured drop off at the end of the turnout with a 10-15 foot sloped drop with logs at the bottom.
Touchhole puckered so tight you wouldn't have been able to fit a needle up it with a sledgehammer.
Slammed it into second gear and floored it to get all 4 wheels spinning and started working the wheel to get the front end pointed to the right and get some semblance of forward motion as I figured hitting trees was preferable to going over the bank and rolling over.
Sliding sideways and forward now pointed right at a stand of trees. As i'm working the wheel I raise the FEL bucket up and thumb it down so the edge tamers are pointed down. As soon as the front wheels leave the road for the ditch I start lowering it fast so right as front wheels hit flat ground I dropped it all the way digging the bucket into the ground and stopping my forward momentum.
Engage brake and shut it down.
Shaking like a snitch at a gangster party from adrenaline. Take some pictures.
Walk back up to house and pour a whiskey. I also change my shorts...
From losing traction to dropping bucket to prevent impact with trees was probably 8 seconds.
The pictures really don't show how steep the grade is.
Slide started where I am standing
Looking down at the drop off on the back side of the turnout