Traction Would you operate on this hill?

[Citydude]

I agree with Gary Fowler. Judging from the trees and fence angle, I would mow it. Filled rears and spacers would make a considerable difference in stability. I'm not so sure I'd mow slopes with the backhoe attached however.

 

[22rimfire]

Buying a brand new Bx and tipping it over is not a good feeling! Ask me how I know. Awesome machines, but not for slopes. With all the responses so far I'm sure you get the idea, but I just thought I'd add one more. I know it sucks, and if you want one and have the money, buy all means get one, but for the work you describe I would hire it out to an experienced operator.

You also have to ask yourself how much you would use it after your initial excavation stuff. If all you're going to do is mainly mow, there are better options. Good luck with whatever you decide, and be careful on that hill.

 

[dragoneggs]

Lots of good points made. My property is steep as that in most places and steeper yet in some. And why I have been busy trying to terrace about an acre's worth with my BX. Up and down as other's have said, I do all day long. Often having to put in the differential lock to get up and always in 4WD. 2in spacers for the rear and 1.25in for the fronts. Keep bucket as low as possible. BH facing uphill when traversing. Go very very slow. A rock or dip on one side is all it takes to go from pucker to over.

So, I guess it depends on exactly what you want to do, how long you have, money an object, bla, bla, bla. Renting an excavator for me was out of the question because I can only put in a few hours a day every so often so it is a long term project. I whittle away and the landscape takes shape slowly. Do I wish I could snap my fingers (hire it done) sure but that isn't going to happen. That said, I surely wouldn't want to traverse slopes on a regular basis with my BX (hence the terracing but that is a lot of work and expense). Takes real discipline and patience to work on sloped property I have learned. Don't get confident. Good luck what ever you do!

 

[IslandTractor]

You really need to measure the slope to accurately assess the safety. Anything less than 25 degree slope could be mowed with a tractor albeit very slowly and with completely dry soil conditions. A zero turn mower would handle 30+ degree slopes with ease. They will start sliding before tipping over so you are pretty safe with regard to flipping them as long as you go slow and don't hit any holes or washout spots. It is hard to tell what the actual slope is in your photos, but looking at the fence and the slope, I don't think you are more than 15 degrees.

Seriously, you are happy mowing and turning a CUT on a 25 degree slope? My sphincter goes into spasm at about 15 degrees.

Mowing on a 25 degree slope might be possible but what happens when the downhill tire drops into a rut or the uphill tire rolls over a rock". Mowing up and down is not always practical and even so you need to turn on the slope. 15 degrees I do but 25? No thanks.

Get a Power Trac or similar articulated tractor that is designed for slope mowing.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I wouldn't use a wheeled tractor on that. I think you'll want a tracked dozer/excavator, if only for the stability.

 

[buickanddeere]

A lot of flat landers here. Nobody here farm on hills and valleys left by glaciers?

 

[ruffdog]

I have run hoes on steep hills before and some hills I would swing the hoe to the up side for ballast. Keep the loader low and use your head.

 

[MossRoad]

Just to be clear...
A 45 degree slope is 1 foot up for 1 foot forward. So, you'd go forward 8' and up 8'. Think about that angle.... stand 8' from an interior wall and think about walking up to the point where the wall meets the ceiling.

A 22.5 degree slope is 1 foot up for every 2 feet forward. So make a mark on a wall 4' high, step back 8' and imagine that slope. Much more manageable, but still gotta be careful going across that slope.

As others have mentioned, going across a slope and dropping a downhill side front tire into a hole or rut and you quickly get a change in your center of gravity.

 

[ultrarunner]

Nothing like having the right tool for the job...

SuperSlopeMaster: Commercial land clearing slope mower

 

[Sprinklerman]

And I am going to look at a job for the BX on Monday to trench a 2 foot ditch 50 feet on a hill with a 25% grade , And it goes towards the water , so I have to start at the bottom and work my way up . I was thinking of filling the front bucket and running a chain from the front bucket to my truck at the top . If it looks to hairy , I will call my buddy with a directional bore machine .

 

[Xfaxman]

And I am going to look at a job for the BX on Monday to trench a 2 foot ditch 50 feet on a hill with a 25% grade , And it goes towards the water , so I have to start at the bottom and work my way up . I was thinking of filling the front bucket and running a chain from the front bucket to my truck at the top . If it looks to hairy , I will call my buddy with a directional bore machine .

That is only 14 degrees, so it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Sprinklerman]

It doesnt sound bad when you show it that way . I was going off my neighbor who is a civil engineer and how he was describing it to me. I will see on monday

 

[MossRoad]

A lot of folks mix up "% grade" and "degrees of slope". On a highway, 8% grade is steep. But its less than 5 degrees. My Power Trac PT425 is rated at 25 degrees. That's about a 46% grade. A Power Trac PT1850 slope mower is rated at 45 degrees.... that's a 100% grade!

 

[GolfAddict]

Lots of good points made. My property is steep as that in most places and steeper yet in some. And why I have been busy trying to terrace about an acre's worth with my BX. Up and down as other's have said, I do all day long. Often having to put in the differential lock to get up and always in 4WD. 2in spacers for the rear and 1.25in for the fronts. Keep bucket as low as possible. BH facing uphill when traversing. Go very very slow. A rock or dip on one side is all it takes to go from pucker to over.

So, I guess it depends on exactly what you want to do, how long you have, money an object, bla, bla, bla. Renting an excavator for me was out of the question because I can only put in a few hours a day every so often so it is a long term project. I whittle away and the landscape takes shape slowly. Do I wish I could snap my fingers (hire it done) sure but that isn't going to happen. That said, I surely wouldn't want to traverse slopes on a regular basis with my BX (hence the terracing but that is a lot of work and expense). Takes real discipline and patience to work on sloped property I have learned. Don't get confident. Good luck what ever you do!

View attachment 418459 View attachment 418460 View attachment 418461 View attachment 418458

DE, I think this is a very useful post for the OP (James). I hope he is still following the thread.

It seems quite a few folks either missed or forgot that James wasn't asking about mowing the areas he showed, and in fact described the mower he already has and uses to mow it. He's asking about doing excavating/landscaping work with a BX25 on these slopes.

I wouldn't personally, I think it would be dangerous enough to not be worth the risk, and I'd hire it out. However, DE shows some similar very hairy type work can be done if attacked in the right way with extreme caution.

 

[tcreeley]

It shows the usefulness of the quickturn or the articulation for slopes.

 

[Xfaxman]

DE, I think this is a very useful post for the OP (James). I hope he is still following the thread.

It seems quite a few folks either missed or forgot that James wasn't asking about mowing the areas he showed, and in fact described the mower he already has and uses to mow it. He's asking about doing excavating/landscaping work with a BX25 on these slopes.
----------------------------

Yep, I noticed the thread got way off track.

James has not even been back to TBN since his first post:

 

[tcreeley]

Here is remote controlled bush hogging:

 

[tcreeley]

Faxman- your Bobcat V417 looks perfect for what he wants for the slopes!

 

[Xfaxman]

Faxman- your Bobcat V417 looks perfect for what he wants for the slopes!

Yep, very stable and good at moving dirt! :thumbsup:

6' wide, one cubic yard bucket.

Front axle is fastened to the frame, rear axle pivots.

 

[tcreeley]

Yep, very stable and good at moving dirt! :thumbsup:

6' wide, one cubic yard bucket.
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Front axle is fastened to the frame, rear axle pivots.
View attachment 418563

View attachment 418564

Very nice looking machine. I like that "reach!" and turning radius.