Can I descend a 40 degree hill on my 4700?
- Thread starter pclausen
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mr.offroad
New member
I've done a lot of offroading with All types of equipment, and I'd say go. As long as it's not very slick, I'd keep the loader on, Keep it in a low gear, go nose first with the bucket close to the ground to keep your back end from rising, four wheel drive, should be a cakewalk. Ascending I would do it the same, only pointed uphill. this time using the bucket for ballast.:thumbsup:
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pclausen
Veteran Member
I suppose I'm just looking for a sanaty check before "going off the deep end"
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pclausen
Veteran Member
You guys have changed my mind on the 460 (loader). I'll keep it on!, with the teeth bar attached. Nice emegency tool for sure! Not sure why I would have attempted without. This forum rocks!
MtnViewRanch
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Yes sir, figure that the FEL is your emergency stop. I would have the bucket on the ground curled back so that the front lip is up 6" or so above the ground on the first time down. :thumbsup:
RoyJackson
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Good idea...loaders with teeth work pretty good as an emergency brake.
I think I'd try it but I'd back down that slope. Like zzvyb6 wrote, the lower reverse gearing will help keep the speed down. Also, if that cutter gets squirrelly, I think it would be easier to control backing it down.
If you have chains for your rear tires, I think that would also help.
If this is a one time event...yes, give it a try. Have a cell phone (with a good signal) or other emergency signalling device, just in case.
If you plan on doing this regularly, it may be worth having someone with a dozer come in and clear it out permanently.
One more thing...although I always use my seatbelt, I don't know if I would on this job (unless you go down forward). If that tractor loses traction, I think I'd want to bail out...but that's only with the cutter down slope.
Last edited:
magicheater
Veteran Member
That is not steep at all. I have been pulling logs up a much steeper hill. Have to have a load in the bucket for some logs, and then there are the logs that I have to leave at the bottom and winch up, I can tell because the front end starts to come off the ground. When using your tractor in precarious places, the slower the better. Always keep the load as low as possible.
arrabil
Veteran Member
I've watched a Mennonite mow 40-50 degrees downhill over and over and over again in his 4600. You can't pay me enough to do what he does but for him it seems to be old hat. He had to come to a stop at the bottom each time too because he would otherwise run into a concrete drain. Seen him do it multiple times over a couple years with the same tractor.
Yeah right! Just cause you're doing something similar does not make that hill "not steep at all."
mustangsallysdad
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After seeing your photos, I'll stick by my earlier post recommending you have at it...that appears to be about a 25% slope...no more than 30%.I hear you ragkar. Believe me, I'll be in 4x4 all the way!
Here are some pics. Keep in mind that it is very hard to capture slopes and such with pictures.
Here a side shot showing the angle of the "not so steep part" with the 4700 pointing down:
Same position as above, looking straight ahead from the drivers seat (see why I want to drop these trees?):
Driver's seat looking down:
Looking back up at the house from the "not so steep part":
Looking up at the house from the very bottom:
A shot from a (slight) distance showing the hill:
As a bit of background, I have been driving tractors for 30 years, not for a living unfortunately, but my point is that I know tracters and their limit (except for this crazy drop). This particular hill is just borderline something I would just go ahead and do.
