RK24 vs 37: Steep gravel driveway question

[HenthornHill]

Hey all -

New to the forum, and looking at purchasing a RK24 or 37 to maintain my 20 wooded acres of property in southern Indiana. As much as I love the 37, I like the pricetag on the 24 more, but have one very specific concern: I have to maintain a gravel driveway with a 19 degree/35% slope, and am concerned if the 24 will be able to pull a box scraper up that angle without issue. Any thoughts from the group?

Other uses for the tractor are general firewood processing, brush hogging, trail maintenance, etc.

Thanks!

 

[LouNY]

Very few tractors will pull a blade of any type up that grade while using it,
you may be able to fill a box blade and carry it up,
but even that is doubtful.
Also verify that the tractor you are looking at can pull those slopes without having oiling problems.
That information can be difficult to find.

 

[HenthornHill]

Thanks for the response - and apologies, since I'm new to the tractor scene - "oiling problems"? Not sure I've heard that term before...problems related to an oil pump trying to pull at those angles?

Also, I should have clarified, the 35% grade is only about 30' of drive...the rest of it is ~10%.

thanks again!

 

[LouNY]

Yes, oiling problems would primarily be engine associated but they could also be hydraulic associated.
If a steep grade allows the engine or hydraulic pump to suck air instead of fluid severe problems will result.
My driveway has a 16 degree slope or about 25% in several areas.
The first tractor I used a lot on it was an Oliver 1550 if I didn't keep the engine 2guarts over full it would suck air and you could see the oil pressure gauge bounce,
when using the hydraulics it didn't bother as much because of the way the reservoir and pickup was.
When I refreshed that engine I did add a deep sump and extended oil pump pickup to it which cured the engine oil issue.

My Branson 8050 I have never seen the oil light flicker but I run her a quart over just for piece of mind and I run the hydraulics a few gallons over full.
Even with a 10,000 pound tractor I can not pull much material up the hill at a time.
With a box blade just half full and trying to trim and level going up grade she will be digging and chewing with all 4 tires which is not conductive to good leveling.
All of my finish grading is working down hill, up would be preferable as gravity always moves the material down hill and it is needed up the hill.

 

[fried1765]

Hey all -

New to the forum, and looking at purchasing a RK24 or 37 to maintain my 20 wooded acres of property in southern Indiana. As much as I love the 37, I like the pricetag on the 24 more, but have one very specific concern: I have to maintain a gravel driveway with a 19 degree/35% slope, and am concerned if the 24 will be able to pull a box scraper up that angle without issue. Any thoughts from the group?

Other uses for the tractor are general firewood processing, brush hogging, trail maintenance, etc.

Thanks!

The cardinal rule of tractors: "BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR"!
If you buy the RK24, you will shortly thereafter buy the RK37, or larger.
Then you will be looking for a buyer for the used RK24.
BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR .....the FIRST time!!

 

[Diggin It]

Mine is essentially the same size as the 24 and I would not consider trying to drag a box blade behind it up any kind of hill. These are garden tractors on steroids, not real pulling machines.

You should consider blue though while shopping.

 

[Racenut]

Selling a practically new RK24 in the middle of winter is going to suck. You should just get the bigger machine and save yourself the hassle

 

[Mat4644]

10% or 5.7 degrees isn't too bad. Just cary gravel up with the loader if needed and grade down. Any possibility of smoothing out the 30 foot steep section? The RK 24 is a subcompact with a decent weight. Something a frame size bigger with bigger wheels might be better. Very good prices on the RK tractors.

 

[3gunr]

The 37 is way more tractor than the 24 for that much ground get the 37. I have the mahindra 2538 witch is the same as the rk 37. it is a real workhorse.

 

[tman1020]

Those are both nice tractors but a world of difference between them. The lift capacity on the 37 is amazing for size and would be very handy if you’re doing any type of tree work.
As far as the driveway goes no matter what you buy your going to struggle dragging material up that slope. It’s going to make a lot more sense to use the front and loader to carry the material up to the top and drag it downhill.
My last tractor was about the size of the 24 and I loved it and it was fantastic but I currently have a tractor about the size of the 37 and I am very happy with it. If I had to do it again I would definitely buy 37’s frame size not the smaller.

 

[jeff9366]

New to the forum, and looking at purchasing a RK24 or 37 to maintain my 20 wooded acres in southern Indiana. I have to maintain a gravel driveway with a 19 degree/35% slope, and am concerned if the 24 will be able to pull a box scraper up that angle without issue? Any thoughts from the group?

Other uses for the tractor are general firewood processing, brush hogging, trail maintenance, etc.

RK24, like other subcompact tractors, has only 9" of ground clearance. You will often high-center in woods. (5" hole + 4" tree branch = 9")

RK24, like other subcompact tractors, is available only with a two (2) range HST transmission, limiting power transfer to wheels at all times but especially when performing ground contact applications dragging up a slope.

Buy once, buy right. Minimally the RK37.



RK Tractors RK24H
2017 -
Sub-Compact Utility tractor
TYM built

Distributor: RK Tractors (a part of Rural King)
Manufacturer: TYM
Type: Sub-Compact Utility tractor
Original price: $10,499 (2017 )

RK Tractors RK24H Power
Engine (gross): 24 hp
17.9 kW
PTO (claimed): 18.8 hp
14.0 kW
RK Tractors RK24H Engine
Yanmar 1.3L 3-cyl diesel

Transmission
Type: hydrostatic (2-range)
Fuel tank: 5.8 gal
22.0 L

Mechanical
Chassis: 4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: power
Brakes: wet disc
Cab: Two-post ROPS.
RK Tractors RK24HHydraulics
Valves: 1
Pump flow: 4.18 gpm
15.8 lpm
Total flow: 6.95 gpm
26.3 lpm
Steering flow: 2.77 gpm
10.5 lpm
Tractor hitch
Rear Type: I
Control: position control
Rear lift (at ends): 1323 lbs
600 kg
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 1058 lbs
479 kg
Power Take-off (PTO)
Rear PTO: independent
Clutch: electro-hydraulic
Rear RPM: 540 (1.375)
Mid RPM: 2000
Dimensions & Tires
Wheelbase: 57.5 inches
146 cm
Weight: 1610 lbs
Ground clearance: 9.4 inches
RK Tractors RK24H attachments
60" mid-mount mower deck
front-end loader
Attachment details ...
Electrical
Ground: negative
Charging system: alternator
Charging amps: 40
Battery volts: 12
Page information
Last update: September 20, 2020
Copyright: Copyright 2020 TractorData LLC
Contact: Peter@TractorData.com


Five reasons owner/operators trade up from Subcompact Tractors:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
More ground clearance.
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) ~~ rather than two-range (2) HST.
More tractor power.

 

[Snowman754]

I have a RK55H open station and a 100 to 150 foot section that is an 11 degree grade. With a 6 foot box scrape the wheels will spin alot of times going uphill. (In 4 wheel with diff lock). I could use a for or 5 ft box I think with no prob.
In your case I think the other comments are correct. The steepest part won't get done uphill with any tractor. For the rest though I don't think the 24 will be very logical nor will you be happy with the 24.

 

[Ortimber]

Coming from a guy that bought two tractors that were too small, buy bigger than you think you’ll need.

 

[agjones]

And get the backhoe or rent an excavator to nudge the steep out of the driveway.

 

[Muhammad]

Use the money savings to get a small dozer like a magnatrac. Uphill on gravel will give you all kinds of challenges, be it traction or stability.

 

[fried1765]

Use the money savings to get a small dozer like a magnatrac. Uphill on gravel will give you all kinds of challenges, be it traction or stability.

When I was twelve I wanted a Magnatrac.
No more!

 

[Muhammad]

When I was twelve I wanted a Magnatrac.
No more!

They do look pretty cool when you're 12, don't they?

 

[fried1765]

They do look pretty cool when you're 12, don't they?

Oh .....how I wanted one of those!
Magazines had them advertised every month.
Still do...I think.

 

[agjones]

Muhammad makes a great point. I use two of the Magnatracs professionally and they are fantastic workers. In my trail building business these things are unbeatable.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Minimally the RK37.

Would you say the same to someone on only 1 acre?

I have 1 acre on the bottom of a mountain, part of which is covered by a house. I have fences dividing the front and back yard, and the back yard into half. Part of the back yard is only accessible via a 10' gate and a 5' gate. I am wanting a subcompact for gardening and landscaping. I may buy more acreage in the future, but given the limitations on my lot size, I feel like the RK24 is about as big as I can go.