What is the most stable tractor for hilly terrain?

[Fordguy581]

Hello everyone, first time here,

I'm looking to buy a tractor that is between 40 - 60HP, my property has some pretty steep areas and I am not too sure how a standard tractor would work there.
would you know what model would be more stable / lower center of gravity?
I've looked at low profile tractors but they are all around 100HP. I've also seen the power Trac tractor, but it doesn't have a standard 3 point hitch. Any suggestions would be appreciated,

Thanks,
Paul

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To TBN Paul. You came to the right place to get answers.

Most tractors can have there wheels spaced out further to give a wider stance. You can also have the back wheels filled to give more ground weight. Others will come along and give you more detailed info.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Just as mddorange has suggested, especially regarding wheel 'spacing'; the inner part of the rim can be flipped around and bolted to in a number of configurations to bring the wheel closer or farther from the tractor.

'Filling' the back wheels/tyres means weighing them down with a fluid, instead of simply air.

Whatever tractor 'colour' that you decide on, discuss this with the dealership... along with what you intend to use the tractor for. Especially what the biggest task that you envision that you require the tractor to do.

Oh, and buy an inclinometer. There are some nice ones for sale (under Safety) in the TBN "Store". :thumbsup:

Hopefully I haven't 'talked down' to you, I don't know your experience with tractors.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Another one from WV! Welcome aboard!

Where are you in WV? I'm at the bottom edge of the northern panhandle.

As stated, widen rear wheels, add spacers as well. I added 4.5" to each side, have all 4 tires loaded, and want wheel weights too... buy a longer wheelbase tractor if available, vs shorter, if comparing models.

 

[rbtjr]

+ 1 for a/ having the rear wheels configured to be as wide apart as possible, b/ "loading" the rear tires with fluid and c/ spacers on the rear wheels. We added 4" spacers to each rear wheel of a Kubota L3800 on which the rear wheels were a fixed distance apart (due to having R4 tires and rims). The spacers made a significant positive difference in the stability of the L3800. Also + 1 for the inclinometer. And be very careful. When in doubt, don't do it. There are many threads on TBN about operating safely on hills. I suggest that you find them and read them.

Best wishes with your selection and operation.

 

[CobyRupert]

Agree with Wagtail.
Setting tires to the widest stance makes a huge difference compared to how tractors typically get delivered which is narrow so that they fit on the truck or the dealer lot.
I went from probably around 65" to 76" wide and it was night and day. Now I definitely chicken out way before the tractor is anywhere near rolling over. It's funny, I'll chicken out, stop, get off, stand back and look and see that I'm not even close, then I tell myself "keep going no problem", then get back on, then chicken out again. Sort of like when I try to climb trees!

 

[flingwing1969]

I had 40 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California and all but a bit of it was up and down, some of it pretty hairy indeed. I had a Kubota B21 and used it for years with only a few scary moments. That said, I ALWAYS understood that my wheeled CUT, with the standard teeter-totter front end was pretty much like a tricycle and required that the rear tires remain on the ground at all times for stability. Yes, rear wheel spacing does make it more stable, but it will not cure the design "problem" with most wheeled tractors and their front axles.

NEVER try to work or even travel across a slope of any steepness. NEVER try to raise your loader above the axle height to dump it when your are even diagonal to a slope - that was one of my scary moments when doing some road work, I was pointing down hill on the road maybe 30 degrees cross-slope when I tried to dump a bucket load over a barbed wire fence into a canyon - the right rear tire lifted off the road and the tractor started to roll towards the downhill; only quick action putting the bucket down, crushing the barbed wire fence, saved me from dumping the tractor on its side.

If I would have had the money, a better option for my terrain would have been a track-steer for sure. But, they don't have a TPH or a rear PTO, of course. I like the PowerTrac idea and it's CG is certainly lower but you know if it will or will not work for you. These articulating CUTs might offer better stability but I know nothing about them other than they have good engines and an interesting design. Certainly would have been in my consideration on my mountain, if the price was okay.

 

[flingwing1969]

I found a photo of the Yukon working across a hillside. Looks pretty good, actually. Also, it has front and rear PTOs.


And is available with a loader.

 

[MossRoad]

What tasks are you going to be doing?

 

[RalphVa]

Power trac, or similar.? Think it has 3ph and all. Not sure about hp. Smallest diesel is 30 hp.

Ralph

 

[ericm979]

I've 20 acres in the Santa Cruz mountains and it's steep. I had a few scary moments with my old Kubota B7100 even though I'd set the wheels as far out as possible. When I got my Branson I had the dealer put on lower profile wheels&tires from the 15 series and add 2" spacers to the rear. It's still not an ATV and there's lots of places I can't go but it's way more stable than the B7100 when I work across or turn on the gentler slopes.

I considered the PowerTrac etc and discarded them since they're expensive and not available to test drive before purchase.

 

[Fordguy581]

Thanks for all the suggestions,

I was researching and I found that the Massey Ferguson 2600H series has lower center of gravity and I'll probably go see one in the next week. I called the dealer and they also recommend filled tires, they also suggested R4 tires, he said that they are smaller diameter so they lower the tractor.

So I think that I'll go see them and I'll let you know what I decided.

Thanks again for your help,
Paul

 

[Wagtail]

... It's funny, I'll chicken out, stop, get off, stand back and look and see that I'm not even close, then I tell myself "keep going no problem", then get back on, then chicken out again...

I had a similar experience. Once whilst raking hay, on a slope that I'd confidently raked the year before, and once whilst slashing an unfamiliar paddock. It just looked 'hairy'.

On the slashing job I stopped, hopped off the tractor & had a pipe to figure out what I was going to do. At one point in my pondering I took off my sunglasses and, suddenly, the angle wasn't as dangerous as I'd thought! Turns out that I was wearing my 'driving sunnies' (for seeing distance) and they were warping my 'close in' vision.

I now wear only regular, non-prescription sunglasses when operating the tractor.

 

[CalG]

Made for hill country.

They have a couple of them for mowing the slopes in summer at the local ski area.
Pretty neat machines.

Aebi TT241 | ASH Aebi Schmidt Holding AG

 

[Wagtail]

We added 4" spacers to each rear wheel of a Kubota L3800 on which the rear wheels were a fixed distance apart (due to having R4 tires and rims).

Good point! I have R4 rims & tyres and they are 'fixed'. I'm sure that adjustable wheels are available (= $) if you make a point to ask.

 

[Fordguy581]

I forgot to add, I'll be using the tractor for building roads on my mountain property, and clearing for a house, so I will need to move rocks and logs around also.

Someone asked where in WV, I'm located in hardy county WV.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have a 1983 model Ford 4610 SU with the rears out as wide as possible. With loaded rears and front weights, ROPS, and canopy, I am right at 6K pounds in a very low wide tractor. I have some fairly steep terrain that I brush hog and the tractor is very stable. With my seat belt I feel very safe. My Workmaster 50 in 4WD and loaded rears is very stable but has a higher center of gravity. At north of 7K pounds with FEL and loaded rears it is stable also. The SU is still better on the slopes but the Workmaster is good too.

 

[MossRoad]

Power trac, or similar.? Think it has 3ph and all. Not sure about hp. Smallest diesel is 30 hp.

Ralph

No. Power Tracs don't have a 3pt hitch. All attachments are on the FEL arms, with the exception of the models that have a backhoe. With that said, you can easily weld a Power Trac quick attach plate to almost anything.

 

[MossRoad]

So just for fun... watch this video... Especially around the 3:15 mark to the end. You won't see anyone with any of the other machines mentioned in this thread trying that, because they can't.

Note that the operators stay upright although the machine is on a severe slope. That's because the seat tilts automatically to keep the operator upright. It would be too uncomfortable, and dang near impossible, to stay in the seat on those side slopes.

Of course, many will say that a Power Trac is not a tractor. In a sense, it isn't. It's a tool.

They excel over standard tractors at many tasks, but in raw pulling power, a standard tractor has them beat. So if you're going to be pulling stumps, or plowing dirt, a conventional, standard tractor will be better suited to the job. However, if you're going to be moving dirt from point A to point B, downed wood, mowing hilly terrain, using a forklift, FEl work, snow plowing, things like that, the Power Trac works really well.

Anyhow, not trying to talk anyone into anything, but they are always worth a look.

 

[flusher]

Check out the Case IH JX series straddle tractors

JX Straddle Tractors | Case IH

They're called "straddle" because you sit lower on the tractor with your legs straddling the transmission. My 1964 MF135 diesel is a classic straddle tractor with a low center of gravity for maximum stability.



My 135 has been modified to squat very low for work in orchards. The rear rims are 16" dia instead of 28-32", the rear wheels are 18" wide (like those used on a combine or a bankout truck) and the front axle spindles have been shortened to keep the tractor level.

Good luck