Tractor in the mountains

[littlehorsefarm]

I live in the mountains of Georgia ... not quite like the Colorado mountains but we've got some hills here.

My property is primarily rolling hills. The previous owner would not cut some of the hills with his 2wd MF tractor.... One of my friends actually rolled an ATV on one of my hills.

That said,

I ordered a pair of these --> Amazon.com: Sun Company 201-F Lev-o-gage Inclinometer and Tilt Gauge: Automotive

When I travel around my property I move slowly. Traveling down a slope I descend on an obtuse angle across the face of the hill and then creep when transition to a different slope, or need to change direction.

I just brought home a new L3800 and still learning what I can and cannot do. As others recommended I keep the bucket low, have the rear tires filled with water and travel with an implement on back ... I've got the backhoe which weighs in at 1400 pounds.

I have lifted an inner wheel once or twice and will second the pucker factor. If it feels bad then chances are you're too steep

Worth noting ... I slid off into a ditch today. I was in 4wd and the tractor seemed to crab walk into the ditch. I locked the rear diff and creeped out puckering all the way. Next pass I kept the diff locked and the tractor tracked straight.

I think traction is a major concern with these smaller utility tractors and so when judging a slope, along with the angle consider ground condition, speed, traction and speed.

Last comment ... I've never put anything on it's roof but I have a history of pushing limits. If you feel yourself going over TURN INTO THE ROLL, put your head down and hold. :shocked:

 

[Chilly807]

The L3400's feel tippy on side hills, no question. My tires are set at their widest, and it helps. Part of the problem is that they're tall for their width. I'm pretty cautious around side hills, my wife is more so than I am.

Holes and bumps are bad business, as is slippery ground.

Sean

 

[Baby Grand]

We have a L 3400 Kubota that has exceeded our expectations. However, since we are in mountains of Northern Colorado the land is NOT level. Any one have any idea how much slope it takes to put this tractor on its side, something I do not want to do. I know it will make a difference if there is a load in the bucket and the amount of weight I have on the back end, but there must be some number that indicates the degrees of slope to stay away from. I'm bascially a chicken when it comes to slope with this tractor. Along anther line of thought, I have read many things about attaching a backhoe to tractors of this size. Any one have any experience with a backhoe on an L 3400. Has anyone come up with an economical solution to additon of weight on the backend. I have a blade on the 3 point and have attached bar bell weights onto the blade. Seems to work, but I would like more weight than the estimated 300 pounds I currently have. Thanks and have a good day.

Bring a cell phone (if there's coverage) and tell someone reliable where you will be working and when they should call you to see if you have finished (check in at the ranger's station).

 

[CLkid]

Thanks for the response. Be carfeful with your experiment, but be sure and post your results. I have deceided to ad weight to the back of the tractor with a 3 point trailer hitch that will allow the use of weights from weight sets. These are cheaper than regulare tractor weight sets. This will also give me a trailer hitch on the back of the trtactor. Since I can't weld and the nearest weldoing shop is 60 miles away, I thought it would be cheaper just to buy from a manfacturer. The company that makes the 3 pont hitch is Omni Manfacturing located in Minnesota. UPS is suppose to deleiver tomorrow, the 21st. I hope the weight will help. Good luck with your project.

 

[CLkid]

Thanks for the information. I think I will purchase one of these.
As I use the tractor more, I have a better feeling of what my tolerance, and the tolerance of the tractor is for a safe slope. Did lift a back wheel the other day, but it was my fault. The advise to keep the bucket low, especially with a load, is excellent adivce.

 

[KYDan]

I live in Kentucky on a hill farm and rolling over is always a consideration. You can also flip one over backwards if it is steep enough. BTW, the TBN carries tilt indicators in their store.

 

[CLkid]

Thanks for the helpful information. I'm giving some serious consideration for the purchase of one of these.

 

[CLkid]

I need some information on a backhoe. Do you have a frame mount or is it just on the 3 point. I can see a backhoe would add some needed weight and allow you to place the weight from side to side, at least to some extent. Thanks for you input.

 

[littlehorsefarm]

I need some information on a backhoe. Do you have a frame mount or is it just on the 3 point. I can see a backhoe would add some needed weight and allow you to place the weight from side to side, at least to some extent. Thanks for you input.

I have Kubota's frame mount backhoe. I'm told it weighs 1400 pounds. I have operated with and without ... The tractor feels like a tank with and is more stable in my opinion.

 

[Grandad4]

I need some information on a backhoe. Do you have a frame mount or is it just on the 3 point. I can see a backhoe would add some needed weight and allow you to place the weight from side to side, at least to some extent. Thanks for you input.

You are rightfully concerned about your slopes and operating in a safe manner. How you do that depends on what work you need to do. If you are moving material with the FEL, ballasting the rear tires and putting something heavy at the back makes the tractor more "balanced", front to rear. It may or may not improve side-to-side stability, because that depends on how high you carry the weight in the FEL and on the rear. Traversing anything but a minimal side slope with a full bucket of material in the FEL is just not good practice, no matter what you have on the back.

The backhoe is a great tool, but it's a ridiculously expensive way to add weight in back if you really don't need to use it for digging. As for swinging the BH boom or using the stab as a "prop" on a side slope, that kind of acrobatics is something you do occasionally in a pinch, not when working the ground or delivering repeat loads of material on slopes. Kind of like painting the side of your house from a trapeze... yeah you can do it, but most people don't make a habit out of it. :laughing: