Best Mountain Tractor?

Darren · Apr 4, 2002

The trick Roy is to think used. The mogs have both an hour meter and an odometer so you can get a good idea of how much use they've had. Used, an ag mog would be less than a new tractor of less capability. I seen them come up for $18K and less and at least one already had the backhoe attachment. Ninties models seem to go for about 30K.

Even a full time farmer could probably run a used mog for decades. Did I mention you can run them in 30" deep water? The entire drive train can be pressurized via the onboard air system to run in even deeper water.

RoyJackson · Apr 4, 2002

The trick Roy is to think used. The mogs have both an hour meter and an odometer so you can get a good idea of how much use they've had. Used, an ag mog would be less than a new tractor of less capability. I seen them come up for $18K and less and at least one already had the backhoe attachment. Ninties models seem to go for about 30K.

Even a full time farmer could probably run a used mog for decades. Did I mention you can run them in 30" deep water? The entire drive train can be pressurized via the onboard air system to run in even deeper water.

Yeah, they have a heck of a hydraulic system too! There was one I saw that could actually shift the body of the vehicle for better stability on a hill side. This was more of a truck then tractor though.
Several years ago, the Maryland DNR had one.... I'm sure it's gone now...thing never got used..real low hours. It was set up as an off road fire truck.

The other's I've seen were at military memorabilia shows..all trucks. There was one for sale about 10 miles from me. I thought about asking about it, but I'd like to make it to my next birthday with all parts of my body intact! My wife's first words when the Deere was delivered were "Oh goody, it's got a bucket! Easier to bury you with...!"

MarkV · Apr 4, 2002

<font color=blue> "Oh goody, it's got a bucket! Easier to bury you with...!"</font color=blue>

Is your wife related to mine?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MarkV

Egon · Apr 4, 2002

Fellows:

Percent is something altogether different from degrees.

Egon

Darren · Apr 4, 2002

The military models released by Belgium, France, etc had gas engines and six speeds.They weren't setup for ag use. Although the ag models look like trucks the feds classify them as tractors and don't charge import duty. They've also been classified by the IRS as legal to use off road diesel and the original certificate of origin from the manufacturer/importer shows them as tractors which leads to something interesting.

Depending on the state where you live (one where farm tractors aren't required to be licensed) you have a 40 mph "truck" you can drive on the road without plates. Of course if you got stopped by a cop it wouldn't hurt to have an 8'
brushhog hanging off the back.

BTW Michelin has some high speed tires that fit a mog that make a regular ag tire look like slicks. Those coupled with the mog's shift on the go fwd and locking differentials, front and rear (seen those on a tractor?) means you can take it places you probably wouldn't dare.

Moon · Apr 4, 2002

Sorry Guys; sometimes i can be pretty dense; but I have quite a few hills I'd like to figure the degree of slope of (for point of reference). I understand the formula ( i think) but how in the world can i measure the distance up or the distance forward. Is it just a two person opertation holding a tape as steady as you can at some point in the air and measuring forward and down?

RoyJackson · Apr 4, 2002

Sorry Guys; sometimes i can be pretty dense; but I have quite a few hills I'd like to figure the degree of slope of (for point of reference). I understand the formula ( i think) but how in the world can i measure the distance up or the distance forward. Is it just a two person opertation holding a tape as steady as you can at some point in the air and measuring forward and down?
moon..

If you do this, you need a clip on level to ensure your horizontal is level.

So:

Use the same length for horizontal to simplify your calculations...remember the level!! I suggest you use 100". I also suggest you use a straight edge or cut the straightest 2"x4" you can find to a 100" length.

Set your horizontal (level), then measure down (tape measure is fine).

Record the "down" (better expressed as VERTICAL) dimension.
Divide the VERTICAL dimension by the HORIZONTAL dimension. If you're using a CONSTANT HORIZONTAL (as suggested above), this will be easy.
This will be the tangent of the angle. Either look up the angle in the Trig charts (if you have them) or, if you have a scientific calculator, use Inverse tangent. The TANGENT will be the percent slope (remember, the tangent of 45° is 1.00 (or 100%). All tangents > 1 multipled by 100 would give you the slope percent. The INVERSE TANGENT would give you the slope in degrees.

Do this at least 3 places on a slope (try to stay on one path going down the slope), then average that number..better if you do it 5 places..but 3 should give you a good average.

Example:

26" VERTICAL divided by 100" HORIZONTAL = .26

.26 times 100 = 26% slope

INV. TAN of .26 = 14.57° slope.

The easier method would be to buy a gauge designed to measure slopes (angles). These are available (I had one I got thru Sharper Image years ago...but it broke).
I'm sure these would be available at hardware stores. If you use the electronic gauge, I suggest you mount it on a straight edge of at least 72" (6'), and again, check the slope at least 3 places and average those measurements.

Now, I have to thank several folks who squared me away on the definition of percent of slope. That was the hard part...

If any of y'all disagree with the methodology..no prob..but have your math ready.

Egon · Apr 4, 2002

Moon:

You can use a compass that has a clinometer.

Or two people and a tape 50 ft or so long. Hold the tape level, use a level to determine this and then on the downhill side measure the vertical distance to the ground. This gives you a tangent number from which you can look up an angle in degrees from the tangent tables. From this information you can also covert to % grade with no tables. Your calculator will have all these functions.

Now in days of old this was done with a metal chain,plumb bob, level and thermometer to determine the distance. Then a survryors level was used to determine the elevation change between the two points.

Egon

Anonymous Poster · Apr 4, 2002

Egon,

Or two people and a tape 50 ft or so long. Hold the tape level

You must be one tall guy.. to hold a 50' tape level on a pitch nearing 20 deg +...

You got the right methodology, though, I do question the thermometer. Was this used for scaling purposes or when tell when it's hot enough to have a beverage? Hill climbin's not easy.

From a carpenter's standpoint you can stand on a 12/12 pitch roof which is 12" horizontal for 12" rise (or 45 degrees slope) and use a hammer (or hold onto a rope to keep from falling off) but this is no place for a tractor.

I can't imagine using any powered vehicle on more than a 6/12 or a 6" rise for 12" horizontal or 22.5 deg other than going straight up or down the slope.

I used to farm in PA and bringing wagons down from the hills loaded with hay weighing 2x the tractor soon learns you the slopes and what works and what doesn't, as I have reloaded a few bales.

Carl NH

Egon · Apr 4, 2002

Carl:

Remember, 50 ft. or so leaves a lot of leeway.

The thermometer is to calibrate the steel chain for expansion. I did forget to mention that a tension gauge is also used to ensure the tape is always under the same tension. A sun shade is used to protect the level, the rod is of special construction and has a level indicator on it. The instrument man takes at least three readings on the rod at different indicies and there are limitations as to the allowable difference in the readings. Also, when working in the vicinity of a large mass such as the Himilayan Mountain range corrections must be made for plumb bob deviation.

Egon