Four wheel drive when descending slope.

[Redneck in training]

My tractor developed a leak of hydraulic fluid level sight on the back of the transmission. The dealer gave me new improved part and advised me to park the tractor nose down slope, pull the sight out and press in the new one. There is a slope about 25 deg on side of our driveway so I pointed the tractor down and drove on the slope. Once the rear wheels left the driveway the tractor accelerated very rapidly even though I stepped on the brake. When it reached the bottom it did almost complete doughnut, balancing on two wheels for a while and stopped. Only then I realized what happened. The rear wheels lost traction and the machine was just sliding down. When I tried to reverse the tractor back to the driveway it would climb a little bit and the wheels started to slip. Only after I engaged the front wheel drive it climbed the slope. The moral of the story is: Unless you have a tractor with all four wheel with breaks always engage front wheel drive to have four wheel breaking action. The tractor has industrial tires, ROPS and I was wearing seat belt.
Here is my questions: Would loaded tires help? How the guys with two wheel drive tractors do it.

 

[KennyV]

Here is my questions: Would loaded tires help? How the guys with two wheel drive tractors do it.

1. Yes...
2. Very carefully.

 

[Bedlam]

Ive noticed a huge difference loaded or not loaded

 

[RonVL4]

Still would have to be very careful but loaded tires to me is a very good investment! I have loaded tires and my brother has identical b2630 Kubota without and it's like day and night.

 

[Bedlam]

There are many threads regarding loading and with what and the weight of the liquids.For me I changed from calcium to water and anti freeze.(tractor is inside).
And reciently had some tire leakage, and am now going with straight water. cheap easy and better for enviroment. Simply use a garden hose with some reducers to a small tube and fill it up.Im comfortable with it not freezing as its inside unless plowing snow etc.
For the last month I have had one tire loaded and the other without and easily noticed a slippage on one side with no water.
So other than the freeze factor, water is to me the best to use. expecially if im changing the tubeor fixing a flat.
And 4 wheel is also an advantage for braking through the driveline.
Ballast on the rear a definate consideration.
let us know how you make out

 

[LBrown59]

My tractor developed a leak of hydraulic fluid level sight on the back of the transmission. The dealer gave me new improved part and advised me to park the tractor nose down slope, pull the sight out and press in the new one. There is a slope about 25 deg on side of our driveway so I pointed the tractor down and drove on the slope. Once the rear wheels left the driveway the tractor accelerated very rapidly even though I stepped on the brake. When it reached the bottom it did almost complete doughnut, balancing on two wheels for a while and stopped. Only then I realized what happened. The rear wheels lost traction and the machine was just sliding down. When I tried to reverse the tractor back to the driveway it would climb a little bit and the wheels started to slip. Only after I engaged the front wheel drive it climbed the slope.
*The moral of the story is:
Unless you have a tractor with breaks on all four wheels always engage front wheel drive to have four wheel breaking action. The tractor has industrial tires, ROPS and I was wearing seat belt.
Here is my questions: Would loaded tires help? How do guys with two wheel drive tractors do it.

*This is preached over and over and over again all over TBN.
How did you miss it ?

I've noticed a huge difference between loaded and not loaded.

Loaded tires on the front don't help one bit in this situation .
A wheel with out brakes won't stop loaded or not loaded.

 

[Bedlam]

I was speaking of rear tires loaded ..But he didnt really say which.
I made an assumption.

 

[LBrown59]

There are many threads regarding loading and with what and the weight of the liquids.For me I changed from calcium to water and anti freeze.(tractor is inside).
And reciently had some tire leakage, and am now going with straight water. cheap easy and better for enviroment. Simply use a garden hose with some reducers to a small tube and fill it up.Im comfortable with it not freezing as its inside unless plowing snow etc.
For the last month I have had one tire loaded and the other without and easily noticed a slippage on one side with no water.
So other than the freeze factor, water is to me the best to use. expecially if im changing the tubeor fixing a flat.
And 4 wheel is also an advantage for braking through the driveline.
Ballast on the rear a definate consideration.
let us know how you make out

A very bad idea and an unsafe pratice.

 

[Redneck in training]

There are many threads regarding loading and with what and the weight of the liquids.For me I changed from calcium to water and anti freeze.(tractor is inside).
And reciently had some tire leakage, and am now going with straight water. cheap easy and better for enviroment. Simply use a garden hose with some reducers to a small tube and fill it up.Im comfortable with it not freezing as its inside unless plowing snow etc.
For the last month I have had one tire loaded and the other without and easily noticed a slippage on one side with no water.
So other than the freeze factor, water is to me the best to use. expecially if im changing the tubeor fixing a flat.
And 4 wheel is also an advantage for braking through the driveline.
Ballast on the rear a definate consideration.
let us know how you make out

I am leaning toward Rimguard. Our land is pretty hilly so I would like to lower the CG instead to go for maximum mass. I am thinking about 50 to 60% instead of usual 75% tire volume. How much difference it would make?

 

[Bedlam]

Well, I would think it would easily help. After 30 years , I like it as it seems to give a better ride as well. Ive never consider only filly them less.Hopefully some can put up a chart that shows the weight per gallon.
You might find an older thread here
TractorByNet.com - Search Results

I know there are some charts online that tell the volume of gallons for a size of tire.
I have alwasy prefered tubes myself also. even with this small leak I let it go for three months and it rusted the rim but far far from not being usable I wired it down and sealed the rim without any problems.