Help: New R1s or chains for R4s?

[POC]

I have a 35 hp 4x4 Mahindra 3215 and live on a hilly, wet patch of Indiana land. I'm trying to get some logs out but my tractor has a difficult time just getting ITSELF out of the valleys without trying to drag a log or pull a trailer with a log. My R4s just aren't doing the job.
I'm contemplating buying new R1 tires all the way around for it, but was reading about chains and wondered if just adding them to the R4s wouldn't get me by.
Any experience?
Thanks

 

[jeff9366]

Are your current R4 tires filled with liquid or inflated with air? How worn is the tread?
Tire pressures per Operator's Manual? Underinflated tires can slip on the rims.

R1/ag tires have more traction in mud but not a huge increase in traction over R4 tires in dry conditions.

Is your hydraulic fluid topped up?


Bare tractor weight of Mahindra 2515 is 2,500 pounds.

I had a Kubota B3300SU with this weight and 33 horsepower. I found the B3300SU too light for my applications on flat ground. I sold the B3300SU and purchased a 3,700 pound bare weight tractor and have have had adequate weight and stability since.

Are you towing logs with a Three Point Hitch cross-drawbar, which allows you to lift tractor end of logs a few inches to decrease friction of logs against the ground? Or are you towing logs from the rear-center drawbar so the logs are flat on the ground?

What is your estimated weight of trailer + trailer load when loaded with a tree trunk?

Have you considered a PTO powered logging winch?

VIDEO: tractor logging winch - YouTube

 

[POC]

Tires are not fluid filled.
Inflation is at or above suggested, no slipping on the wheel.
Tires are 10 years old, so, they are worn. I'm dealing with wet areas on quite a hill. Even new they didn't do very well. That's why I was thinking of new tires.

I've tried to pull logs out of this valley before will little success and smaller logs.
My tractor is a gear drive, but fluids are where they should be.

I'd love to have a larger machine, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I have to do with What I have.

I've looked at winches, but that wouldn't really help much as the distance up the hill is close to 1/8 mile. And again, they are expensive.

I don't know the weight of the trailer and logs off the cuff.

 

[LouNY]

Good heavy chains will give more grip then R1's.
The ride will suffer when the ground is dry and hard.
Over inflated tires will provide less traction then softer ones.

 

[Thomas]

Chains will make BIG differents more so if your rear tires are loaded,check with your dealer see if your model needs wheel spacers chains on R4's

 

[jeff9366]

Tires are not fluid filled.
Inflation is at or above suggested, no slipping on the wheel.
Tires are 10 years old, so, they are worn. I'm dealing with wet areas on quite a hill. Even new they didn't do very well. That's why I was thinking of new tires.

Are you towing logs with a Three Point Hitch cross-drawbar, which allows you to lift inboard end of logs a few inches to decrease friction of logs against the ground? Or are you towing logs from the rear-center drawbar so the logs are dragged flat on the ground with ground irregularities increasing friction?

Some skid logs on an old car hood from the junkyard, using the hood as a sleigh.

If you decide on R1/ag tire replacements but have to travel the same route on the hill, the soil will soon be churned into a bog.

Is there a time during the year when your problem hill is dry?

 

[Deerherd]

Loading tires is not the panacea that so many claim on here, ESPECIALLY with wet conditions. It only gets you stuck faster. The same thing with chains.

Increasing the tractor weight with wheel weights or filling the tires will enable you to maintain traction longer in good conditions and cut the time it takes you to get stuck in half when it is greasy.

Changing to R1 tires will give you better traction but you need to make sure they will fit your wheels. Getting R1 tires to fit R4 rims can be a little daunting. Additionally R1 wheels generally give you more width adjustments.

Cheapest solution would be chains and wait until it dries out a little. Remember, you can REALLY get stuck with chains....

 

[Dave M7040]

Since you have a 4 x 4, you need to not just focus on the rear of the tractor.

I know you spoke of replacing all 4 but getting the proper sizes when switching styles can be next to impossible and you need wheel changes as well.

The tractor is designed with a fixed tire circumference ratio between the front and rear axles.

Years back, manufacturers like John Deere stuck a label on the back of the seat advising of the front to rear ratio.

If you ignore this fact, you risk doing serious damage to the tractor.

I think high quality chains will be a big improvement. Most real forestry companies use chains on their skidders

Dave M7040

 

[jeff9366]

Mahindra 3215 - dimensions

2006 - 2008 15 Series
Compact Utility tractor

Mahindra 3215 Tires:
Ag front: 7x16
Ag rear: 11.2x24
Lawn/turf front: 27x10.5-15
Lawn/turf rear: 41x14-40
Industrial front: 27x8.5-15

From TractorData.com



R1 Tire prices from MILLER TIRE:

https://www.millertire.com/categories/tractor-tires/compact-tractor-tires/7-16/
https://www.millertire.com/search-results?q=11.2 24

R1 Wheels + rims on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...&_odkw=7+X+16+tire+rim+tractor&LH_TitleDesc=0

 

[ruffdog]

Chains will make a big difference and will add a small amount of weight. You can always add weight and front chains later.