Snow 1025r ability to jump curbs

[mtfella]

Howdy folks,
I recently moved from the country-side into town and was wondering how many of you have found it necessary to jump curbs when plowing neighborhood sidewalks or if this is a definite no-no. I have a quick attach loader mounted plow and no mower. The clearance looks pretty tight to me but I am an old man that doesn't see real well and doesn't move on and off the tractor real well either. Just looking for some input from folks who know much more than I do. Thanks in advance.

 

[sixdogs]

I'll view it as high risk only because I was with a guy that rammed the underside of his engine into a curb on a slope in deep snow, bent the oil pan enough to damage the oil pump and disrupt oil pressure. Not sure of the exact bill but it was not cheap and had to be done by the dealer. 25 years later we still don't talk about it.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Do you know how tall your curbs are?

Maybe one of the fine folks with a 1025 can do some measuring on your behalf and let you know?

 

[mtfella]

The curbs here are 5" give or take a bit. The sidewalks in this town butt right up next to the curb top mostly following grade.

 

[tractorshopper]

I used my belly mower on my BX to mow the lawn of a flip house my brother and I did in town. I regularly had to hop the curbs. If you go slowly and hop the curb at a 90 degree angle, there shouldn't be any problem at all. In fact, in your case, even less since you don't have the mower on. I also did a lot of other dirt and grapple work on that flip property and when my mower wasn't on, I hopped the curbs all the time, even at an angle sometimes instead of straight on.

All that said, I don't have a snowblower so don't know if that shaft would be in the way, but I'd imagine it is higher than the mower would be in which case, straight on should be fine I'd think.

 

[mtfella]

I don't know for sure but I think your BX2380 probably has a little more ground clearance than my 1025r. I will try to check that out when I get a little more time. I sure do thank everyone who replies, this is sure a helpful forum for an old duffer!

 

[briano228]

I would not be ascending or descending curbs with quick hitch... the front overhang is pretty significant. My dealer specifically warned me of curbs with my blower as he had two units in for major repairs for curbs. It’s a big investment you’d be safer to use curb cuts for crosswalks or driveways.

 

[mtfella]

I don't have a blower, just a blade but even at that there is significant front end overhang. I have been doing as you suggest and using driveway curb cuts. This often means backing up along the walks which works fine if the direction I am forced to take puts the curb line on my left side. I have some difficulty twisting to my right and watching the curb line closely. I guess I was just hoping for an easier ways of moving about but I think you are right! A little discomfort is far better that knocking off the oil pan or damaging the frame! Thanks for your input.
joe

 

[4570Man]

Actually jumping curbs is bad. Driving slowly straight on as long as it doesn’t bottom out is fine.

 

[John_Mc]

I don't know for sure but I think your BX2380 probably has a little more ground clearance than my 1025r. I will try to check that out when I get a little more time. I sure do thank everyone who replies, this is sure a helpful forum for an old duffer!

ERROR IN THESE SPECS: TYPO ON TRACTORDATA.COM DISREGARD
Looks as though your 1025r has the greater clearance (specs from tractordata.com)
Clearance at the front axle:
JD 1025r: 12.3" <-- incorrect
Kubota BX2380: 8.4"

EDIT: In looking at picture of the 1025r, I found it hard to believe is had a 12.3" clearance. I wondered if it was a typo on TractorData. Further research on a JD dealer's website indicates the 1025r has a 7.7" clearance at the front axle. So you were correct that it is a bit less than the BX2380. (I submitted a correction to tractordata.com)

I'd suggest slowly driving over the curb when it's not buried in snow, with the equipment you will be using installed, and asking a friend to watch what kind of clearance you have.

If it were me, and I had the clearance to not bottom out (with a bit of room to spare), I would drive over it. I'd just make sure my tires were properly inflated, my plow was lifted (resist the urge to clean that last little bit, as sooner or later you will hit the curb), and drive over slowly. If the plow is loader mounted, you should easily have clearance for the loader/plow with it raised. Once my plow was clear, I'd consider lowering it back down if necessary to take the weight off the front wheels, possibly giving me a hair more clearance as the front of the tractor passed over the curb