Nearly tipped today

erkme73 · Jun 18, 2018

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 · Jun 18, 2018

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

Gaowlpoop · Jun 18, 2018

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

HCJtractor · Jun 18, 2018

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

Thomas · Jun 18, 2018

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

1stDeuce · Jun 18, 2018

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 · Jun 18, 2018

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 · Jun 18, 2018

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 · Jun 18, 2018

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.