Dirt Moving do I nven need a tractor?

[newbury]

Get a tractor with a backhoe then drive with the stabilzers down.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Here are some things I wouldn't do. I wouldn't buy a subcompact tractor that was only four feet wide in the rear tread and has one position rims, and I wouldn't leave the tires unfilled cause it might mark up the lawn. and I wouldn't put a loader on it and start digging with out a proper (as recommended by it's manual) ballast on the back and or in the tires, Then I wouldn't start useing it on my steepest ground trying to carry loads in the bucket held highr then the front axle while traveling crosswise of the slope looking for chuck holes to drop the low side front tire into. All while having the ROPs folded down and not wearing my seat belt.
I would buy a tractor with a wide rear stance and four wheel drive and have the tires loaded, keep the ROPS up, wear my seat belt on anything other then leval ground and get used to it doing all kinds of work on my levelest land and leave the steep and challanging stuff for next year.

 

[TripleR]

Lots of good and varied advice none of which I can disagree with as like in so many things, there is more than one way to, well you know the rest. There are more makes and models of tractor from CUT to Utility to Ag than you can imagine that will work; some better or worse than others.

Based on your description of the slope, I agree with others that about any tractor should handle that and many of us operate on much, much steeper slopes. I even regularly violate the advice not to mow across slopes as there is no other way to do it; given a choice up and down it is, but it is common practice in the hill farms where I live as working up and down exacerbates erosion and you would be surprised how steep some people plant crops on. I don't recommend it, just acknowledge it.

"If" you need to terrace anything, hire someone to do it as you don't have the knowledge or skill, yet. It is much best to start out with simple tasks and take the time to learn. I have been operating tractors a long time and am not ashamed to admit there are things I can't or won't do and pay to have it doe or turn the tractor over to one of my sons.

I am also a proponent of buying something designed for your ongoing tasks and not just some initial work. We rent back hoes, excavators, tracked skid loaders so we don't have to store them or spend the $$$$ to buy an occasional use machine.

Since you are new to tractors, you might want to go rent one for a weekend to get an idea of the capabilities of a particular size/type of machine to use as a baseline for comparison.

Don't hesitate to talk to your neighbors to see what they use, you might be surprised at how helpful they might be.

Tractors are often much more stable than they "feel". I doubt that I will ever be "comfortable" operating on much of a slope even on those I have done hundreds of times, but you will learn with time what your tractor will do, just don't rush it. Most of us really can't tell when we are on the razor's edge though there can be tell tale signs by watching your uphill tires etc., I have kept a tractor on its wheels by quickly steering and accelerating downhill, but I sure don't recommend it and I was lucky. There are some good old threads on operating on slopes that will help you and you can find them with the search function. NEBRASKASPARKS started a couple of good ones, well worth the time to read.

I think it has already been mentioned, but if it scares you or you are in doubt, don't do it.

Keep reading, there are a lot of very knowledgeable people on here and I have learned a lot from them.

 

[stefanie]

Yep. See Gradient, Slope, Grade, Pitch, Rise Over Run Ratio Calculator for a calculator that shows the angles. Entering a 100' rise and a 830' run gives ~12% grade or about a 7 degree slope. Most tractors should be able to handle that

Aaron Z

Great Page Thank you for the input.

 

[stefanie]

Since you are new to tractors, you might want to go rent one for a weekend to get an idea of the capabilities of a particular size/type of machine to use as a baseline for comparison.

.

Duh! Now why didn't I think of that? I like the idea of a test drive. I mean I do it before I buy a car. This is such a great site and my thanks to all of you.

 

[TripleR]

Just a few old posts:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/183762-how-kill-yourself-without-knowing.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/186232-whos-better-estimating-slope-angles.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/183743-rollover-protection.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/242289-safe-mowing-slopes.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/222339-need-advice-mowing-slope.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/199464-slopes-tractor-tilt.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/104751-maximum-hillside-mowing.html

 

[Gary Fowler]

My mistake. I was trying to figure out if I need a full size tractor or will one of the little "bobcat" type things be better suited to the job. Is a smaller lower to the ground more stable? I have seen them doing road work so I assume it will have the power.
As for the shovel, I just celebrated the 56th anniversary of my 9th birthday. I refuse to grow any older than 9! So forget the shovel thing for bigger jobs.

+If all you want to do is move dirt, then a skidster (Bobcat) is the way to go but it is designed to do just that and other chores while possible are not as easy as a tractor. It doesn't have a 3 PH to use conventional attachments but they do make skidsteer attachments for just about all the things a normal tractor uses, they are just 4 times the price and rarely can you find good used farm type equipment for a skidsteer.
I would hire a dozer to make your terraces and then buy a tractor suited for your other chores. I like my Kubota B26 TLB and use the backhoe all the time for planting trees, digging up exposed rocks, burying dead animals and hauling dirt.

 

[Don87]

Duh! Now why didn't I think of that? I like the idea of a test drive. I mean I do it before I buy a car. This is such a great site and my thanks to all of you.

Please post pics of your property if you can. Especially pics of your 'billy goat' hill because I think that is the part you want to terrace. That's the part I was recommending the dozer for.

 

[MasseyWV]

Please post pics of your property if you can. Especially pics of your 'billy goat' hill because I think that is the part you want to terrace. That's the part I was recommending the dozer for.

I agree. Posting pictures of the area would help considerably.

 

[k0ua]

Here in Branson, Mo. we have 2 kinds of ground.. UP and Down. I operate every day on steeper ground. But you need to be vigilant all the time. When I came here originally, I sold my nice New Holland TC33DA because I thought I just would not be able to operate it here. I was used to operating tractors on more or less flat land. Then I missed having a tractor so badly I risked buying a B7500 Kubota.. There was a bit of a learning curve but I learned how to keep the shiny side up. I learned some things here like getting fluid in the rear tires of my next tractor a Kubota L3400hst and building some rear ballast.. I am on my 3rd tractor here now, the Kioti you see in my avatar. You can operate a tractor on steep terrain, you just have to be vigilant and think you actions through.

James K0UA

 

[radrock]

Duh! Now why didn't I think of that? I like the idea of a test drive. I mean I do it before I buy a car. This is such a great site and my thanks to all of you.

I will second on renting a tractor first. I demo'd a tractor that I thought I really had to have once. After bringing it to the place and trying it out I almost instantly decided I didn't like that tractor after all. It would be a shame to buy something you don't like. I have operated big yellow iron for all of my life. I can tell you that if you are scared of something then do not do it. I think fear has hurt more people than I can think of. I seen a guy turn a motor grader over on a 3:1 which is not that bad but he was scared. But if you let fear run the machinery it can hurt you.

 

[case245]

i would hire somone to do it then you dont have maintance on the tractor and you dont have to be scared of the tractor i wouldnt even look at sub a 100 horse power for that job

 

[GManBart]

Once you buy a tractor, you will wonder how you lived without it! Just today I used mine to move a picnic table from one part of property to another (couple hundred yards). That took all of five minutes, but would have been a huge hassle with a truck/trailer, dolly, etc.

 

[jpm1]

From some brief reading here, i would consider a tracked skidsteer. if all your doing is moving dirt and such and possibly some mowing go with a highflow tracked unit. They are unbelievably stable on steep slopes.
Personally, i have been on a tractor for 53 years now in all sorts of foolish places, i cant say i have been scared of situations but i show respect for the machines capabilities and will push it to the limit and then some, Its all right to be scared to operate a piece of equipment on a slope, it is dangerous work for a new comer, a lot to take in and understand, go slow and start on some level ground to start out. Soon it will come natural just like when you learned to walk.
If in doubt then the best thing is to rent a certain piece of equipment for a weekend and try it, dont forget the insurance on it in case it does roll .. . Becareful and good luck, John
BTW ( 3 years ago i rolled a Barko log loader over the side of a mountain it stopped 300' down on a ledge when the ground gave way, i havent regained the nerve to operate one since and i operated one of these for 30 years)

 

[Coyote machine]

You absolutely do NOT need a tractor, BUT I could use a second one so if you're game I'll show you how to operate the one you buy and when I'm done doing the work you need done I'll just disappear into the wind with my new tractor and you still won't need one! :dance1:
It's a deal one needs to entertain!

 

[Ted Summey]

Of course you "need" a tractor to do the hings you WANT to do with your property. I agree with hiring the heavy dirt moving and grading then get a tractor for your property maintenance and tractor capable improvements. I've hired heavy equipment on several occasions. A pro does the heavy work better and faster than I can with a tractor.

 

[stefanie]

You absolutely do NOT need a tractor, BUT I could use a second one so if you're game I'll show you how to operate the one you buy and when I'm done doing the work you need done I'll just disappear into the wind with my new tractor and you still won't need one! :dance1:
It's a deal one needs to entertain!

I think I like boxorox's idea better. I will be going up to the property soon I hope I will have some pictures for you then.

 

[RaydaKub]

From some brief reading here, i would consider a tracked skidsteer. if all your doing is moving dirt and such and possibly some mowing go with a highflow tracked unit. They are unbelievably stable on steep slopes.
Personally, i have been on a tractor for 53 years now in all sorts of foolish places, i cant say i have been scared of situations but i show respect for the machines capabilities and will push it to the limit and then some, Its all right to be scared to operate a piece of equipment on a slope, it is dangerous work for a new comer, a lot to take in and understand, go slow and start on some level ground to start out. Soon it will come natural just like when you learned to walk.
If in doubt then the best thing is to rent a certain piece of equipment for a weekend and try it, dont forget the insurance on it in case it does roll .. . Becareful and good luck, John
BTW ( 3 years ago i rolled a Barko log loader over the side of a mountain it stopped 300' down on a ledge when the ground gave way, i havent regained the nerve to operate one since and i operated one of these for 30 years)

A tracked skid like jpm1 shows is what our landscaper used when we built our house. He whizzed across our hillside with the various blades and levelers at top speed. I can climb the hill he was on with my BX, but I'd never go across it like he did. Lots of weight, all but dragging on the ground. I'm sure you could roll one of those, but you'd have to work at it a lot harder than a tractor.

 

[boxorox]

I agree on how much you will use as I have small kubota and nowa little larger shibaura an I dont go 1 or 2 days without using one of them at least once the more you use them the more comfortable you will be behind the wheel and the more fun you will have using them. my 2 cents worth is buy the biggest one you can haul and comfortibly afford as my bigger one gets things done faster, also take the time to make sure the salesman shows you all the safety features and all the knobs and whistles before you leave with it read the owners manual and ask any operatingquestions you might have if you have to write down questions before you go.good luck.be safe.have fun.