Driving on side slopes

[robertk]

Let's say for the sake of argument that the center of gravity is the center of your rear axle. Would it make sense to fill your tires only to the center line of the rear axle if your only concern is tipping when driving on side slopes?
Bob

 

[dirtworksequip]

Your center of gravity would change as the side slope got steeper,because the liquid would go higher on the downhill side of both tires. But thats not physics thats just for arguments sake.

 

[Superduper]

Tracked vehicles are entirely different animals. The tracks will cut their own berm while going sideways (slightly uphill) and the berm keeps the machine from sliding down. The hills (mountains) around here that I've seen them work are insane. To see them go over and down a hill that appears for all practical purpose to be a sheer dropoff is plain incredible. Of course the trick is for them to operate the blade so that you are always pushing a pile while going down... Nevertheless, it still takes nerves of steel (or an insane person) to task this. Obviously, tractors are completely different, as we have digressed...

 

[40_acre_mule]

First, let me start with a dumb question...

Where is the point of reference for the angle of a slope.
Is Zero degrees parallel to the horizon? Or in other words, zero is perfectly level?
If that's the case, I estimate that I regularly mow a slope of around 35 degrees. It is definitely a straight up/straight down operation.
It only works if I have the FEL on and the tractor in 4WD AND in 1st gear.
It just crawls up or down the slope with no trouble.
Any higher gear and the tractor picks up too much speed.
If I leave it in 2WD, the tractor tries to run away. Hitting the brakes just makes me skid down the slope.
Take off the FEL, and the tires slide over the grass.

 

[daTeacha]

Slopes are usually measured with reference to horizontal. Some folks use degrees, but some use percent, which often causes confusion when the two are used in the same conversation. A 100% grade means the rise and run are equal, 12/12 pitch to a carpenter, 45 degrees to a geometrician.

Sometimes in these threads, someone might say percent and someone might think they said degrees, and things get interesting. 35 degrees is about a 9/12 pitch and about a 77% grade. What kind of tires and soil do you have that allows you to move up and down that slope without simply ripping the sod out and sliding down the hill? I have a driveway section that is semi hardpacked gravel, nowhere near that steep, and still an adventure to go down with only rear wheel brakes. On my old Cadet 109 hst, I often find the rears spinning backwards as I slide/steer down that hill. Ditto the neighboring section of lawn.

 

[40_acre_mule]

Slopes are usually measured with reference to horizontal. Some folks use degrees, but some use percent, which often causes confusion when the two are used in the same conversation. A 100% grade means the rise and run are equal, 12/12 pitch to a carpenter, 45 degrees to a geometrician.

What kind of tires and soil do you have that allows you to move up and down that slope without simply ripping the sod out and sliding down the hill?

Thanks, teacha. That clears it up a bit for me. Yes, this is a pretty steep grade I'm mowing. It drops about 8 feet over a 12 foot distance (8/12 pitch?).
It is a hard packed, road-bed grade, red clay, pond dam for a 1.5 acre pond.
It was seeded with bahia grass about six years ago.
I have R-4 industrial (balloon?) tires on the tractor. They grip pretty good going down this slope in 4WD and 1st gear with the FEL sitting as low as possible and the RFM or the RC behind.
I start at the top, go straight down, then drive to the end of the dam to get back on top.
I can mow going up, but I have to keep the differential lock pushed in. Anyway it actually feels a little safer going top to bottom than the other way.

 

[3RRL]

Wow, 8/12 is pretty steep. That one slope I mow across the gulley is that steep up toward the top but not as much on the bottom. I set my rear wheel at about 6"- 8" up and back up...and push the mower up the hill, then back down. I re-adust the mow direction at the bottom and go back up, etc. I have no way to get to the top and mow down it. It's like a drop-off at the top. I could mow the section near the bottom sideways if I wanted and have done so, but not near the top.