Can all tractors flip over easy?

[IndyJay]

Don't confuse me with facts, I've already made up my mind...

 

[Learning2Tractor]

Subcompact tractors weigh 1,400 to 1,700 pounds. Subcompact tractors are fine for mowing grass and moving light loads around a smooth property in the FEL bucket. You can plow an established garden plot with a subcompact tractor, though most with a choice would prepare a garden with a PTO powered rototiller. Few employ subcompact weight tractors on more than two (2) smooth acres, three smooth acres tops.

As soon as a plow on a (light) subcompact tractor encounters any but the smallest underground root or other obstruction, including hard ground, the tractor will lose traction and stop.

When plowing dirt tractor capability is a factor of 2-WD or 4-WD and tractor weight.

A 4-WD compact tractor with a bare tractor weight of at least 2,700 pounds, such as the Kubota L3901 in the second video, will pull a single bottom turning plow through almost any moist soil, including sod which has been first mowed VERY SHORT or previously killed with Roundup/Glycophosphate. Plow will cut tree roots up to 1" if not too concentrated.

Compact tractors under 3,000 pounds bare weight operate in landscape, kitchen/commercial garden or hobby farm applications on one to ten flat acres.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR

I think I might not need a tractor then. I've been looking at the BCS walk-behind, but tractors seemed like they could do any kind of plowing. I was wrong.

 

[4570Man]

No convincing because your drawings don't align with reality. I have not clue how many agree, but that doesn't matter; what matters is the physics of the situation, some drawing.

Here's what it really acts like:
View attachment 755757

Your drawing is right to some degree but you’re ignoring the fact that the front axel has stops.

 

[MossRoad]

Fond this nugget when searching…

 

[MossRoad]

No convincing because your drawings don't align with reality. I have not clue how many agree, but that doesn't matter; what matters is the physics of the situation, some drawing.

Here's what it really acts like:
View attachment 755757

What are you talking about?

Drive the tractor across a hill and the CG moves towards the downhill side. It does not stay in a straight line.

Drive the tractor up hill and the CG moves back.

Drive the tractor down hill and the CG moves forward.

 

[MossRoad]

Your drawing is right to some degree but you’re ignoring the fact that the front axel has stops.

And that the tractor’s CG moves as it yaws, rolls, or pitches, especially when it is in motion due to centrifugal force.

 

[JasperFrank]

For purposes of this discussion, I will define flipping, as the front and back of the tractor exchanging places. Rolling means that you have tipped to the side and spun all the way around.

With the FEL attached, I have never experienced any thing close to flipping. An over loaded FEL will lift the rear wheels, occasionally on braking, but a lowered bucket just stops that, as the bucket hits the ground if its a rear over the front flip. Never even got close to a front lift over the rear flip. I don't think this is possible with the Ford 1220 CUT with the FEL.

Rolling is a whole other issue. Never had the tractor on its side, but Oh!, have I come close to that. And with my tractor its something I ALWAYS have to be aware of even it it looks like only a 5% grade since we have both exposed rocks and old tree stump holes mixed together. So I go real slow if on or turning on a grade of any sort.

 

[MossRoad]

Jeepers fellas, 4 points of ground contact on a rectangle are more stable than 3 points of ground contact on a triangle when you start getting on slopes. This is basic stuff.

 

[Thomas]

Depends on land your using for and how much seat time under your belt.

 

[MossRoad]

Think about this….

If you put a 4 legged stool on an uneven floor, it rocks.
If you out a 3 legged stool on an uneven floor, it never rocks.
Why? Because the 3 legged stool tips over to find level easier than the 4 legged stool.

Again, this is simple stuff.

 

[Eagle1]

play it safe - let only a trained professional drive your tractor. Seems to be majority answer to all other problems.

 

[MossRoad]

Depends on land your using for and how much seat time under your belt.

Again, while experience makes an enormous difference, the physics of a 3 wheeled tractor and a 4 wheel tractor make the 3 wheeled tractor less stabile on slopes. Always!

Having the knowledge to know that is irrelevant to the physics. It just means you know better than to try it.

 

[IndyJay]

And that the tractor’s CG moves as it yaws, rolls, or pitches, especially when it is in motion due to centrifugal force.

Hit a bump or a hole and all bets are off.

Also comes to mind how the old 3 wheel ATVs all went away in favor of Quads. Those old three wheelers would flip in a heart beat. Basically the same tread width, same wheelbase.

 

[2manyrocks]

I thought about buying an older tractor like an 8N, but then I started reading about them flipping over. I'm sure you can use common sense be pretty safe, but I got to thinking that maybe all tractors could flip? Was looking for advice on safety. I was thinking I probably need a sub compact now because they look safer, but I could be fooling myself.

It for plowing new ground with stumps and roots, mostly the leftover roots.

Edit: I have no experience with tractors, if you couldn't tell.

There comes a point when it makes better sense to hire a dozer or excavator to root out stumps once they get to a certain size simply in order to get the job done without tearing up a tractor.

Hit a bump or a hole and all bets are off.

Also comes to mind how the old 3 wheel ATVs all went away in favor of Quads. Those old three wheelers would flip in a heart beat. Basically the same tread width, same wheelbase.

I was also thinking about the Consumer Product Safety Commission banning 3 wheelers because of all the accidents.

 

[LouNY]

Fond this nugget when searching…

And they were all wide fronts, so must be more dangerous

 

[Cycledude]

Probably the main thing that makes tricycle type tractors easier to tip over is they are usually taller than the 4 wheel stance tractors. Either way the knowledge-experience of the operator probably makes the biggest difference.

 

[tjandrews]

NASD - Tractor Overturn Hazards

No other farm machine is so identified with the hazards of production agriculture as the tractor. The rubber-wheeled, row-crop tricycle tractor of the 1930's revolutionized production agriculture. The tractor had the speed, power, flexibility, adaptability, and handling ease that helped move farmin

nasdonline.org

View attachment 755747

That would be true if both axles were rigidly connected. But every wide-front tractor I've ever used has the front axle jointed so that on uneven ground it isn't constanly trying to twist the machine.

 

[LouNY]

There comes a point when it makes better sense to hire a dozer or excavator to root out stumps once they get to a certain size simply in order to get the job done without tearing up a tractor.



I was also thinking about the Consumer Product Safety Commission banning 3 wheelers because of all the accidents.

I was under the impression that they got banned because so many riders got their feet under the rears and they got eaten by the ride.
Also many kids got seriously injured on them from not being big enough to control and handle them.
It has been a long time since that happened.
So like any good overbearing government bureaucracy the consumer protection agency sued and got them banned.

 

[tjandrews]

Widening the rear wheelbase is a fine idea - unless you are going to plow with a moldboard plow. If the rear wheel of the tractor doesn't line up properly with the plow, you'll have no end of trouble with it.

 

[Tony H]

Just a common sense thing. Adding spacers to rear tires will give you a bit is a wider, more stable stance.