Traction Would you operate on this hill?

[jamescroy9]

I don't own a tractor yet.

I'm interested in the Kubota BX25 with a FEL and BH attachments (see fig 5 below)

I live on a hill. I have some dirt removal projects I'd like to complete with a Kubota BX25 or similar model.

I need your help. I'm worried about a rollover operating on this hill I live on. I need your experience in telling me if you'd operate on this hill of mine, using a BX25 with a FEL and BH attached, if my house were yours.

4 hill situations:

1. (fig 1 below) - Drive the Tractor around the left side of the fence and go up the hill
2. (fig 2 below) - BH work on right side of driveway near telephone pole, digging out drain from under driveway. Tractor would be positioned on driveway, facing down hill, with BH to do work on right side of driveway by telephone pole.
3. (fig 3 below) - Dig next to house. No room for Tractor at bottom next to house, so the tractor would be on the hill (right side of pix) facing uphill so the BH would be facing the house. Extend BH arm to dig next to house.
4. (fig 4 below) - Dig ditch work next to left and right side of driveway. Keep in mind how steep the drive way is. Look at fig 2 below to see how steep the driveway is. In fig 4 below, I'm pointing the camera downhill, so it's hard to know how steep it is.

BTW - I own a Cub Cadet RZT S 42" ride mower with the steering wheel (see fig 6 below). This does a great job mowing my hilly yard sideways (across ways) because the swivel caster wheels are not allowed to swizel because they are attached to the steering wheel. The steering wheel, which is tied to the front swivel caster wheels, does great to keep the mower from wanting to head downhill naturally while traversing the hill sideways. A typical zero turn mower with lap bars and freely moving swivel caster wheels would want to either want to go head-first or back-first down a hill while going sideways if you were to hit a slick spot in the grass. I bought this type of mower because the engine is mounted low and behind the drive wheels. Lower center of gravity than the typical lawn tractor with the engine in front over the front wheels. I haven't rolled over this mower yet and have been in very steep grades sideways. So I'm wondering if a Kubota is too top heavy and could tip easily trying to get to the areas in the yard I want to grade and move dirt and rock from. I wanted to let you know that the Cub Cadet can get around my yard without any troubles no matter the angle of attack if that would help with your opinion in the 4 hill situations above.

Thanks for your input,
James


fig 1:





fig 2:



fig 3:



fig 4:



fig 5:



fig 6:

 

[davesl708]

I would work facing straight up or down on those hills. Other wise you may be testing your ROP and seatbelt. Bota's can be a little tippy on slopes.
Zero turns may do fine if they don't start slipping.

 

[davesl708]

BTW, welcome to TBN

 

[bellweather]

I agree with the above. Only thing I would add is to remove the FEL and BH for mowing.

 

[AStanton]

Personally, I think you are courting trouble. You could probably rent a tracked mini excavator for a month for $2,000. Use their machine to take the risks with--be sure to buy the insurance.
I own a BX-25 there's no way you are going to traverse some of those slopes, in my opinion. Those BX-25's get and feel too dang tippy to me on any serious slope. If you can move up and down, fine. But across--forget about it.

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

Just my opinion, but I think it looks too steep for ME to feel comfortable. Hard to tell the true angle from the photos, but it looks STEEP. I think it might be a bit too much angle for my personal comfort.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Go with the BX . Now you can dig the footers for the retaing wall you are going to build to level out that slope. And you have a loader so you dont need a wheelbarrow .

 

[BleedingOrange]

Way to much pucker time . Not a chance I would put my Kubota on those sloops.

 

[MossRoad]

Not that tractor.

 

[HCJtractor]

Interesting topic and great pictures. You have a pretty place! What state are you in?