Traction Handling a steep slope

   / Handling a steep slope #21  
Maybe consider a four wheel wagon and a long chain. Yes, you will have to hand load the wagon, but you can keep the tractor up on the high ground.
 
   / Handling a steep slope #22  
Beautiful property... sounds like you’ve got the answer (don’t do it)... the wagon, cable, burn it are all great suggestions... we’ve tried them all but we’ve never used our tractor to do “shoreline management”... the erosion issue with rutted water channels is a great comment above... we’ve used the boat to drag logs over to a duck blind island... but we are trending toward a “work with nature” approach... as opposed to conquering it... we tried... it won...

Good luck...!
 
   / Handling a steep slope #24  
If it were my property, I would not be able to resist carving in a tractor-able "road" down to the dock. IE, bench-cut in a sloping path. A tooth bar on your loader bucket and a sturdy box blade should be able to get the job done.

Hard to tell from the pic if there enough room between the big tree and the boulder to carve a path through like so:

hill path.jpg
 
   / Handling a steep slope
  • Thread Starter
#25  
Thats a great idea. Ideally I want to put some sort of switch back path in. Gentle enough for an electric golf cart. And maybe still wide enough for the tractor. There are some nice properties near by that have done that. Probably cost a fortune and a lot of permits. But that is a ways in the future. But I like how you took advantage of all that width.
 
   / Handling a steep slope #26  
Thats a great idea. Ideally I want to put some sort of switch back path in. Gentle enough for an electric golf cart. And maybe still wide enough for the tractor. There are some nice properties near by that have done that. Probably cost a fortune and a lot of permits. But that is a ways in the future. But I like how you took advantage of all that width.

I've done lots of hillside work and cuts with Kubota tractors but I've also paid for someone else with the proper (Tilting blade) dozer, excavators to do some side hill cuts so I can use them with my tractors and RTVs. A tracked dozer can safely cut a flat path/road/drive across a hillside in short and safe order and how much is body and or machine damage worth.
 
   / Handling a steep slope #27  
Thats a great idea. Ideally I want to put some sort of switch back path in. Gentle enough for an electric golf cart. And maybe still wide enough for the tractor. There are some nice properties near by that have done that. Probably cost a fortune and a lot of permits. But that is a ways in the future. But I like how you took advantage of all that width.

Hmmm, I would have never even thought to investigate obtaining a permit for a simple path in my own yard. I can certainly understand that any potential erosion or run-off could affect the lake water quality, so silt-fencing on the downhill side might be a responsible thing to do. But I would, you know, just start carving the path and see if anyone bothers you about it. I really doubt they would. Live free or die, right? Do you have a box blade? Get a piranha or other tooth-bar for your loader and have fun! The only cost will be some of your time.
 
   / Handling a steep slope
  • Thread Starter
#28  
There are strict rules near water edge (especially first 50ft). I cant even cut a tree without a permit and its doubtful they would grant it.
 
   / Handling a steep slope #29  
There are strict rules near water edge (especially first 50ft). I cant even cut a tree without a permit and its doubtful they would grant it.

The "critical area" rules here in Southern MD are like that and worse.[Salt water here, inlet from the Chesapeake Bay] No tree can be cut within 1000 ft of the water without a permit. Usually requires planting several trees and huge expense even if you get the permit. Some understandable, some idiotic. I built a wooden ramp down to our pier in similar circumstances to yours in order to be able to take my 4WD Kubota to/from the pier. Carefully placed such that I did not have to cut a single tree. Ours is a steeper/taller bank than yours as best as I can tell from your photo. I cannot tell from your photo where the water begins, whether you have any potential turrnaround space down closer to the water etc. Any chance of a picture from further out and maybe from the side look at the pier ?
 
   / Handling a steep slope #30  
Permits aside... I think you could cut a path with a switch back or two. I have a steeper slope and have done pretty much exactly that with my BX25D and a Piranha tooth bar on the bucket. I will try to dig up some photos and post later.

Without a tilting boxblade or backblade it is difficult to cut the proper angled path across the slide slop unless you also mess with backhoe. I assume you don't have that on the back of your tractor. Also the switchbacks take a lot of room unless you don't mind a Y turn to negotiate it. I have one turn that I can go around without using reverse but it results in a steep section, and the other requires a Y turn.
 

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