Nearly tipped today

[erkme73]

I know, I know, it doesn't look dramatic on video, but sitting in the cab sure left an impression. I was going nice and slow with 1540 lbs of concrete bags on a plastic pallet. I was going to go left, but the drive slopes ever so slightly to the right. In an instant, the rear tire was up and panic struck. It felt like it was continuing to roll as I lowered the load. Once the load was on the ground, I picked it back up from the downhill side.

 

[ThirdMan]

Nice video! I can believe that felt pretty dramatic. Tires have air in them?

 

[Gaowlpoop]

Looks dramatic enough to me! I have spinster tightening moments when my rear wheels just slip.

 

[HCJtractor]

That's surprising. I would load my rear tires if not done yet.

 

[Thomas]

That's how we learn the do's and don't's...good video.

 

[1stDeuce]

If you carry weight low like that, you'll most likely only roll till the front axle hits the stops. If you carry it higher, you can end up on your side as the load moves far enough off center to topple the tractor.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Years ago a fellow I know had a forklift, he was watching his worker carry a heavy pallet load like that low when the back lifted up. This fellow jumps up on the forklift back thinking he would add weight. It did, but in doing so the loaded pallet slid off which catapulted him up in an arc. He landed on his head with a broken neck. It happened he said in seconds.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I was thinking. I have had tractors,a telehandler and my articulated loader all raise a leg to go pee. The machine is front heavy and pivoting on the front or sometimes rear axle. Not really a tipping event.

 

[Einthewoods]

I can understand the drama.

I am clearing a bunch of trees from my property right now. On one I had mostly pushed over, I was giving it a final shove to get it completely down. All of a sudden it came down and suddenly had the weight of the tree pushing down on my bucket. I was also nose-down on a slope. The weight of the tree lifted the back end of the tractor up and leaning precariously down the slope. A quick drop to float on the FEL was the only thing that kept it from coming over.

Once back on all fours, I backed away from the tree. Shut the motor off and dismounted. Walked around a bit for my hands to stop shaking enough to not spill my glass of bourbon.

Surely doesn't sound as bad as it was, but one of those moments where you declare work done for the day and 5 o,clock somewhere. I have continued to learn respect for slopes and weight on the FEL.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Why didn,t you have a weight box mounted on the back to help keep the rear of the tractor from lifting ?

 

[dragoneggs]

Why didn,t you have a weight box mounted on the back to help keep the rear of the tractor from lifting ?

Probably because he was preparing for some post hole digging and setting. I'm more surprised that he actually had video of the incident.

 

[erkme73]

These comments are great. I was halfway expecting the standard "you idiot" (which is well deserved) but, instead people volunteer their own embarrassing moments.

As to why I didn't have a heavier implement - well, that's equal parts laziness and need. The day was starting off setting about 15 (of 60) posts - so I needed both the PHD and the cement. Once I landed the pallet with 23 (60#) and 2 (80#) bags behind the house, I went and grabbed another pallet to offload only what was needed.

I generally keep the loads as close to the ground as possible, precisely due to the leaning/tipping/rolling risk. I figure the closer to the ground, the lower the COG, and the less time it'll take to get the weight back to the ground.

The video was captured by one of my exterior security cameras. I cannot say for sure whether the leaning would have stopped with the front axle reaching its stop, but I sure wasn't comfortable with testing it...

ETA - my rear tires contain liquid. I don't know what it is (I am the second owner, and I can't ask the original owner since this tractor ultimately crushed him).

 

[duffer]

ANY tipping to one side or the other definitely gets my attention. It's not so much the actual tip angle, but the possibility of it continuing to tip even more.

Glad you're OK, even though your shorts may be wet :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

These comments are great. I was halfway expecting the standard "you idiot" (which is well deserved) but, instead people volunteer their own embarrassing moments.

ETA - my rear tires contain liquid. I don't know what it is (I am the second owner, and I can't ask the original owner since this tractor ultimately crushed him).

Holy crap, you idiot... that tractor is possessed! :laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Crushed as in like a bug, financially or emotionally?

 

[erkme73]

Like a bug, unfortunately. Well, technically not the tractor, but the trailer on which it was loaded. I don't know the specifics, but ultimately the trailer started to roll towards his house, and he thought he could stop it. He stepped in front of the trailer (which apparently wasn't connected to a tow vehicle). He realized that wasn't going to work, and tried to step out of the way, but lost his footing. It rolled right over top of him.

Since we live in such a remote area, it took nearly an hour for the paramedics to arrive - and by then he was gone. The guy was in his 70s. It happened in front of his wife and grown kids who happened to be there. Really tragic. The family held on to it for about a year, and then sold it to me (I live on the same mountain).

 

[tractchores]

Definitely gets your attention. I feel like I do that maneuver quite a bit when moving heavy stuff. Just need to be well aware of what you're doing. Usually that means you need more ballast and is hard on the front axle

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't believe anyone might think they could stop such a moving load. That can't be right. Regardless. Another totally avoidable tragedy!

 

[erkme73]

Agreed. He was the lone survivor of his Vietnam platoon. All had succumbed to one type of cancer or another (they were repeatedly doused with agent orange). 6 months prior to the accident, he was becoming symptomatic. Whether that had any impact on his decision to step in front of the trailer, or his inability to get out of the way, no one knows. Still devastatingly sad to his family and those who knew him. He was Mr. Safety - and had his tractor for the primary purpose of helping his neighbors.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Maybe a little humor is in order. A friend who has a mower sales/service business used to work for the city on their busses. One day they had to get a tire replaced so when they removed that big wheel they were discussing how to get it downhill to a truck. The biggest guy runs downhill, says just roll it to me...which it took several guys to do. Big guy thought he could catch it.
Flattened him, he was dazed but fine.