Traction Using a Tractor on Mountain Property

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

My only issue with the max and any other comparable brand name sub compact is that they have a pretty high price tag compared to their ability. Some of the heavier work you have to do may be to much for a small machine when you start talking about large trees and land clearing or building roads. A backhoe on a tractor that size as far as I am concerned is useless, not to ruffle any feathers but you guys simply cannot dig very well in hard ground especially in rocky soil with a machine that small. I have a kioti dk50se hydro with a Woods bh90x hoe, which is substantially larger than the machine you are considering, and it has no problem lifting my machine off the ground and moving it around when in harsher soil. Doing harsher work like this with a machine that is too small is hard on equipment and in some situations you won't even be able to accomplish the work you need done. For the money you will pay for a scut you can find a cut or utility tractor that is much more capable, even if you go used for a tractor that is well taken care of it will be worth it.

"Ability" I think is subjective. You guys who have machines that can take down the side of a mountain in a few passes have one idea of ability; for folks like me who've been doing everything with a rake and shovel for years, even a small tractor is a BIG step up. Even if my backhoe can only take small scoops, if it doesn't involve using my back and a shovel, it's a good thing.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

When it comes to Mahindra tractors what I know for sure amounts to exactly zero. I poked around a bit trying to answer your question and found the same info you gave me but not much else. I could not find if the rims were adjustable for width or if spacers were available or recommended. On this site.
Max 24 4WD HST | Mahindra
I noticed that for AG tires they use 9.5x 16 on the rear while the three they compare it to use 26x12-12.
The larger the tire the more Rimguard you can put in it. I'm not sure that carries through the other tire types.( and perhaps it is a misprint)
When you mount a loader you take the suitcase weights off. It is one or the other not both. Yes a MMM is low weight that lowers COG. A back hoe is a gommin thing that is often in the way and it's COG depends on what position you have it in. I''d spend the same money on renting a mini excavator a couple of weeks a summer and get more done with it and have your tractor free to back fill and tend the excavator.

There do appear to be 'perhaps misprints' with the tire dimensions??? I've heard a lot about a backhoe being a less necessary attachment, but I keep going over it in my head and actually think it's more important for me than the FEL. I mean, how else am I going to get rid of all those 4-foot-high humps of dirt throughout the woods (presumably left over from the original clearing of the land, building of the house)? We need that dirt in other places! With mountain property, you always need dirt, for leveling. And you can't buy it; I've tried. We're so remote there are no subdivisions, so no basements being dug, so no "free fill dirt" or indeed at any price! I do keep thinking about the "just rent a tractor a few weeks a year" idea and have to ask: Why don't you do that?

 

[drajj5]

I looked at getting the smaller Max series tractor, I ended up getting the bigger Max 28. I also mowed with a husky garden tractor. Good little lawn mower, but it sounded like it was going to die while mowing light hills (whined at me). I have some rolling terrain and some steep terrain. I did attempt it (steep area) from the bottom and lost traction not far from the bottom.... So being a Guy, I took the long way to get to the top and thought, "Down should be easier than up"- Butt pucker factor went through the roof as I dropped over the edge. The husky never spun a tire.....Nope I was picking up some speed and slammed it in reverse to try not to hit Mach 1. Heart pounding, I putted back to the barn to break out the weed eater and regain my manhood. I had about broke the steering wheel off merely by clutching it so hard. Oh well 3 hours using the weed eater scalping the hill so bad that I wouldn't have to break it out again for a month.....

Then it came time to purchase a tractor, I knew sitting high would give me the Heeby Jeeby's. So I looked for a low profile design, and ended up with the 28 model. Got that sucker home and drove both ways (up and down) and it was a success. Still, starting from the top and going down hill has pucker factor (this hill does not 'ease' into it) dead level to a steep grade. There is no way I could ever mow this sideways, up and down is the safest for sure.

Both my back and weed eater are thankful that the now, "not so new tractor" handles the task..


I wish I could use a tractor set up like "vtsnowedin", darn thing looks as wide as it is long. No way I could navigate my tight spots dotted around my property. Guess that is why he owns two different sizes.:thumbsup:

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I looked at getting the smaller Max series tractor, I ended up getting the bigger Max 28. I also mowed with a husky garden tractor. Good little lawn mower, but it sounded like it was going to die while mowing light hills (whined at me). I have some rolling terrain and some steep terrain. I did attempt it (steep area) from the bottom and lost traction not far from the bottom.... So being a Guy, I took the long way to get to the top and thought, "Down should be easier than up"- Butt pucker factor went through the roof as I dropped over the edge. The husky never spun a tire.....Nope I was picking up some speed and slammed it in reverse to try not to hit Mach 1. Heart pounding, I putted back to the barn to break out the weed eater and regain my manhood. I had about broke the steering wheel off merely by clutching it so hard. Oh well 3 hours using the weed eater scalping the hill so bad that I wouldn't have to break it out again for a month.....

Then it came time to purchase a tractor, I knew sitting high would give me the Heeby Jeeby's. So I looked for a low profile design, and ended up with the 28 model. Got that sucker home and drove both ways (up and down) and it was a success. Still, starting from the top and going down hill has pucker factor (this hill does not 'ease' into it) dead level to a steep grade. There is no way I could ever mow this sideways, up and down is the safest for sure.

Both my back and weed eater are thankful that the now, "not so new tractor" handles the task..


I wish I could use a tractor set up like "vtsnowedin", darn thing looks as wide as it is long. No way I could navigate my tight spots dotted around my property. Guess that is why he owns two different sizes.:thumbsup:

That is so funny! OMG that's exactly what I've been going through. Yeah, the Huskvee is a bit of beast; I've beat it all to heck! But it's just not made for this stuff. Our grades too are often like that: dropping over the edge. Going down/going up; equally scary in different ways. Sideways forget it. But I have to say, losing traction at the bottom when going up ain't half as bad as losing it right at the top (the steepest part); I HATE that. I always feel like I'm gonna tip over backwards. Then out comes the weedeater, then when your shoulders are still aching a week later you think, well I didn't actually kill myself on that hill, I just need to suck it up....

Nice to hear your Mahindra is doing the job. Curious, why did you choose the Max 28 over the smaller Max? Seems like the bigger you go, the HIGHER profile you have?

I too want vtsnowedin's rig. He won't say what it is though.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am an owner of a power trak 1850. It is a beast. It is rated at 45 degrees sideways and operates a majority of implements found on scuts and cuts. Having been up to 40 degrees on this machine I can tell you it is not for the feint of heart. If you decide to dismount on that kind of slope you will probably tumble to the bottom.

I like Steiner but have found them more of a mower than a tractor. On your slopes I would absolutely recommend the pt line. I would be nervous about a standard cut.

But, the while I feel the pt is a Swiss Army knife (it does everything good, none of it perfect) and it does do everything it has a lot of quirks. Swing by the pt forum for more opinions if you want

 

[Coyote machine]

One additional way to increase safety on any terrain is to work with 2 way radios AND a cell phone when using any machinery that has the potential to maim or kill you. I have all kinds of equipment, and have found the tipping point on most of it the hard way. I dislike my Scag zero turn because on even a reasonable slope, especially with damp or wet grass it's deadly. It has broken free on me a couple of times with it's swivel front wheels. Once down my septic mound I forgot that pushing the handle bars forward doesn't make it stop, instead it hurls me faster toward the tree directly in front of me. Second time I was coming up the side of my drive in a rush because guests were arriving any minute. The grass was wet probably because it was raining as I whipped the Wildcat up the slope, only to find myself being hurled down the embankment faster than it's ever gone when I lost traction at the top of the hill. That mower spun around faster than a bumper car in a kiddie park, and this time I was pulling back as hard as I could on the handlebars as the mower went out of control toward a big tree at the bottom of the embankment. Happened so fast, I could do NOTHING to stop the rapid descent. Hit a rock before the tree and had to use the tractor to pull it out backwards up the hill.
So, the walkie talkie are backups in case I roll or flip or do something that has me under or beside the tractor or mower. Phone is there two in case I can't raise family on the walkie.

What tractor dealers do you have near you? If there is a Kioti dealer I strongly suggest looking at their line of machines in the 30-50 HP range. I've had 2 since 2009 when I had previously not owned a tractor. I learned what I needed was more loader capacity then my DK-35 had so I traded up to the DK-40. Now I have what I need, and I have similar terrain as you spread out over 25 acres of field, streams, ponds, woodland, steep drives, ditches, bog land that never dries out, etc. I have a backhoe by Kioti that will dig 8' deep and it does an amazing job. I leave it on most of the time with loaded rear tires.

My take on your situation is you really need to be well versed in your specific terrain, and know where you can go, and what you can do when, with a particular machine, in any given conditions. Some places you may need to deem to dangerous for you and machine for now. The challenge, as I see it is to determine those places now, and possibly visit them later once you have experience with whatever machine(s) you end up with. I've bought a lot of different mowers over the last 30 years on my property, for different tasks, as I've changed the landscape in the process. I've put several of them in my pond, over the banks, in the ditch, etc. And hopefully I've learned something each time.
If you could post some pics of your land and it's biggest challenges that could help us help advise you further.

 

[drajj5]

Sounds like the terrain in VA is similar to where I live in North Ga. There is no flat spot on my property (unless it was graded). Just hills and valleys....

I went with the 28 VS the smaller Max for several reasons.

First, I wanted a loader that could reach over the side of a full size pickup truck (some of the small tractors- loaders will not go high enough).

Second, it had a bit more ground clearance. I feared that the belly would drag in uneven terrain and I didn't want to get hung up cresting a hill.

Finally, power, more lift capacity in the loader, more lift at the 3pt hitch - had the most to offer in a (small package).

There are several companies that make the same general size tractor

Max 28
Kubota B series
Yanmar 324
John Deer 2032
Kioti ck20
Their are others, trying not to discriminate.....

They are all good, but I took a chance on Mahindra... So far so good!

Highly recommend trying one this size as it should do what you need as they can navigate some tight spaces around the house. Good luck as you muddle through the process to find your perfect fit.

 

[vtsnowedin]

That is so funny! OMG that's exactly what I've been going through. Yeah, the Huskvee is a bit of beast; I've beat it all to heck! But it's just not made for this stuff. Our grades too are often like that: dropping over the edge. Going down/going up; equally scary in different ways. Sideways forget it. But I have to say, losing traction at the bottom when going up ain't half as bad as losing it right at the top (the steepest part); I HATE that. I always feel like I'm gonna tip over backwards. Then out comes the weedeater, then when your shoulders are still aching a week later you think, well I didn't actually kill myself on that hill, I just need to suck it up....

Nice to hear your Mahindra is doing the job. Curious, why did you choose the Max 28 over the smaller Max? Seems like the bigger you go, the HIGHER profile you have?

I too want vtsnowedin's rig. He won't say what it is though.

It is right there in my info under my avatar. It is a 2012 JD 5045E with a 553 loader. the spacers are JD dealer installed 4.1 inch each side. Cost me $27,350 as shown and the 72" cutter was another $2K The tranny is nine F 3R gear partially synchronized so you can shift up or down while moving but not shift ranges until a full stop. The JD lawn tractor has been sold and replaced with a new one. I forget which exact model. It stays up at my daughters house and the girls have been doing all the lawn mowing so I haven't touched it in over a year. That may change as One daughter has moved to Atlanta and the other is moving to Maryland so I will end up being house maintenance man and lawn boy.

 

[SpringHollow]

I agree with WoodlandFarms. I bought my Power Trac 1850 (same tractor he has) because of the slopes I live and I have not regretted it. So much more stable than regular Cuts etc. It handles slopes steeper than what I am comfortable on. Beats having my rear tires go up in the air which happened all of the time on my CUT's even with the tires as far out as possible. But not a great tractor if you want to do lots of plowing for crops.

Ken

 

[Gafn]

Someone mentioned the B - BX series... My experience says to stay away...
I was mowing a 30 degree slope (dry grass), driving directly up, using a B series, with 4 foot finish cut mower, 3 suitcase weights on the front - no FEL.
That tractor has 25ish HP, weights less than 1500 lbs and on that slope it simply would spin out, make ruts and be a real PITA to recover.

I have since upgraded to a 35hp tractor that weights a touch over 4000 lbs, and have no issues.
I am a chicken-chit on the steep slopes, so I keep a used (cheap) commercial walk behind mower for that work.... if it starts to slide of flip, just let go of it - use your tractor, or wench to recover it.