Traction Using a Tractor on Mountain Property

[Xfaxman]

Here is a visual of an 18 degree slope, serious Pucker Factor the first time I mowed it.

 

[SpringHollow]

Both your Bobcat V417 and Toolcat 5610 F look like very nice pieces of equipment. Also have very nice slope ratings. If you ever need more room to store things and want to give them away, .......

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

So today i had to get in a bit of mowing. I knew this section was steep but figured it to be in the 35 to 40. Actually it (according to my inclinometer so it could be wrong) is 45. I was just starting to turn up the hill and wanted to hop off and get a picture. I can run this angle and have with the bucket up and a load of something light. Would not run it with a bucket of rocks.

BTW, my tractor is NOT set up for this severe slope. It slides a lot and you have to crab to get her to stay straight. Setting up refers to no chains, great tires and pressure around 2 to 4 lbs in the tires.

 

[SpringHollow]

That is when you really appreciate the tilt seat!!!

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

No kidding, but bailing off the downhill side is like a 4 foot drop.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. We're getting close to a decision. So, because of our terrain, we're looking for a smaller tractor (22-24 HP) to get through tight spaces, but with enough weight and wide enough wheelbase to handle the grades, and enough power to handle our heavy clay/rock soil. FEL & BH. HST because accidentally jerking the tractor is gonna hit a tree or put a wheel somewhere I don't want it to go. 4WD of course. Cat 1 hitch. Used is not an option.

Tractors I have looked at so far:

1. Yanmar. Much cheaper than the competition but also lighter weight, less power, and no Cat 1 hitch. Not impressed.
2. Nortrac. Much cheaper than the competition and specs are good; heavy tractor w/ good power. However, no HST available, plus some concerns about maintenance/reliability.
3. Mahindra. Heavier and more powerful than the others; also lower and wider. The only 22HP tractor we saw that could lift itself off the ground w/ the FEL at idle speed.
4. Kubota, New Holland. These are relatively high, narrow tractors (not good for the hills), plus less power/weight than the Mahindra. I'm also hearing some RECENT issues w/ build quality & reliability.
5. PowerTrac. Small, low and powerful for its size. However, the bigger ones cost as much as a SCUT and are cash only. Extreme lack of ground clearance may be a problem too.
6. Simplicity Legacy. A kind of lawn mower on steroids. Has a lot of nice features and mows like a dream. But mowing isn't a priority for us; we live in the mountains and don't care about stripes, and when you add the FEL and BH it costs more than a SCUT w/ less power. Makes no sense.
7. John Deere. Saw these a couple days ago. I don't understand these new JDs. Extremely high tractor, no Cat 1 hitch, less powerful than the competition. Huge bolted metal plates everywhere, which make it look way beefier than the competition, yet it's a lighter tractor. How is that possible? True, there's a lot of flimsy plastic I could easily flex with my hand, and someone told me a lot of that metal is cast aluminum so maybe that's it. Probably the tractor least suited to our needs.
8. LS. Another high, narrow tractor. Good value though.

So, I guess we keep coming back to the Mahindra Max and eMax 22-24. I've looked at spec sheets till I'm dizzy and they just seem to beat every other tractor in their class for our specific needs.

I don't want to offend anyone with these comments. I'm simply a first-time tractor buyer with no brand loyalty, and these are my first impressions of these tractors (some of which may be wrong) plus "doing the math" based on spec sheets.

 

[tractorgp]

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments. We're getting close to a decision. So, because of our terrain, we're looking for a smaller tractor (22-24 HP) to get through tight spaces, but with enough weight and wide enough wheelbase to handle the grades, and enough power to handle our heavy clay/rock soil. FEL & BH. HST because accidentally jerking the tractor is gonna hit a tree or put a wheel somewhere I don't want it to go. 4WD of course. Cat 1 hitch. Used is not an option.

Tractors I have looked at so far:

1. Yanmar. Much cheaper than the competition but also lighter weight, less power, and no Cat 1 hitch. Not impressed.
2. Nortrac. Much cheaper than the competition and specs are good; heavy tractor w/ good power. However, no HST available, plus some concerns about maintenance/reliability.
3. Mahindra. Heavier and more powerful than the others; also lower and wider. The only 22HP tractor we saw that could lift itself off the ground w/ the FEL at idle speed.
4. Kubota, New Holland. These are relatively high, narrow tractors (not good for the hills), plus less power/weight than the Mahindra. I'm also hearing some RECENT issues w/ build quality & reliability.
5. PowerTrac. Small, low and powerful for its size. However, the bigger ones cost as much as a SCUT and are cash only. Extreme lack of ground clearance may be a problem too.
6. Simplicity Legacy. A kind of lawn mower on steroids. Has a lot of nice features and mows like a dream. But mowing isn't a priority for us; we live in the mountains and don't care about stripes, and when you add the FEL and BH it costs more than a SCUT w/ less power. Makes no sense.
7. John Deere. Saw these a couple days ago. I don't understand these new JDs. Extremely high tractor, no Cat 1 hitch, less powerful than the competition. Huge bolted metal plates everywhere, which make it look way beefier than the competition, yet it's a lighter tractor. How is that possible? True, there's a lot of flimsy plastic I could easily flex with my hand, and someone told me a lot of that metal is cast aluminum so maybe that's it. Probably the tractor least suited to our needs.
8. LS. Another high, narrow tractor. Good value though.

So, I guess we keep coming back to the Mahindra Max and eMax 22-24. I've looked at spec sheets till I'm dizzy and they just seem to beat every other tractor in their class for our specific needs.

I don't want to offend anyone with these comments. I'm simply a first-time tractor buyer with no brand loyalty, and these are my first impressions of these tractors (some of which may be wrong) plus "doing the math" based on spec sheets.

Just found this discussion. I posted this video on TBN last fall. I started to get fairly comfortable working the hill but wouldn't want to work on this kind of slope all the time

 

[Creamer]

Nice Summary! It sounds like you are looking at the right things for your needs.

I find the PowerTrac very interesting and certainly see it where it could be very useful. What frustrates me is that it is not "standard" in that you are limited to their implements which may or may not be what I want. I like felxibility because i do not know what I will be doing 10 years from now or even 5. Tractors kind of grow on you and I would have a very hard time changing that I have had mine 22 years.

Personally I prefer non-HST because I have a better feel and do not have to run the engine as fast. I like the quieter environment as well as I can hear other things going on. When I say better feel, I mean things like when I put the tractor in gear I know it should be moving at a certain speed and if it isn't I am getting wheel slippage rather than having to look and deal with the associated lag. This is just a matter of personal preference though and not of functionality. You need to get what you are comfortable with - I just wanted to point out what I consider a big advantage of a geared unit, being able to use all my senses. For the same reason I do not want a cab.

Although I do not have any experience with a Mahindra they sure do look good and a lot of people seem to like them. Consequently I do not think that they would be a bad choice. Have fun shopping!

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Just found this discussion. I posted this video on TBN last fall. I started to get fairly comfortable working the hill but wouldn't want to work on this kind of slope all the time

Nice video, nice tractor, and beautiful property.

Made me go back and look again at the BX, can anyone tell me what these rod-like things are--axle? steering control arms?--and how sturdy? Whatever they are, they're gonna be in danger of hitting rocks, stumps, dirt. This is one thing I look at on every tractor.

 

[millsan1]

I was leaning towards the Max myself, but ended up with the BX. I think either are fine machines.