Gator Stability

[Phred]

Guys,

I have a few places that make me nervous on a tractor.
Across slopes that are pushing 20 degrees.
I had a dozer out and no problem. Can go just about anywhere, but that is to be expected. Almost the same with a miniexcvator.

The problem is that some of these areas I want to cut.

How about a 6 wheel diesel gator and a swisher?

How steep a hill can one run across with a gator?

Fred

 

[beenthere]

<font color="blue"> ""run across "" </font> ??

Do you mean drive, like in slow? I assume that, but was not sure as the implication was to move across pretty quick.

The gators seem to be very stable on side hills. I was impressed with my 4x2 gator a while back when my grand daughter surprised me with a quick turn off the road and down a pretty steep slope into the ditch. The gator handled it quite well, but I was pretty emphatic when I said "don't EVER do that again!!". I think she was just looking for some attention. Hope she was a bit scared herself. I can't say what slope I think they will traverse, 'cause that depends on your pucker factor, not mine. I doubt it will tip over on any slope that you can still remain in the seat (without a seat belt /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ). Just an opinion.

 

[cowboydoc]

Hi Fred,

You can't beat the Gator for stability. I have had mine on some very steep side hills and no problems at all.

 

[Phred]

Guys,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ""run across "" ?? )</font>

Yes. Poor choice of words. I meant drive slowly.

Would you guys rate these as much more stable than a tractor our about the same?

One thing that I have noticed is they do not seem to offer a roll bar? That would seem to me to be a basic requirement.

But the idea is that I could use this for all sorts of tasks on a regular basis, and with a swisher tow behind mower as needed a couple of time a year to cut down the steep spots.

These gators seem to be very low to the ground, and I suppose you could also fill the tires to get the center of gravity even lower.

Thanks for the advice.

Fred

 

[yellowsocks93]

I could not roll my 4x2 Gator if I tried. Being 18 years old and all I have taken it full 15 MPH full wheel turns on our gravel drive, off the main paved road into our very steep ditch, and pretty much anywhere in the woods. Over small trees and everything. Most of the time I drive it gingerly but now and then i take it sidehilling and everything. I scared my fried the other day when I went off the paved county road and into our ditch which is very steep and side hilled the whole way to the driveway. Tractors can be very stable too like my JD 990 and our JD 970 with the wide turf tires handle side hilling very easily. I would say the gator is more stable than some tractors such as my old 4300 but not the 990.

 

[Ole_Hickory]

<font color="blue"> I could not roll my 4x2 Gator if I tried. </font>

Let me try and I will show you how it is done.

 

[Dargo]

I owned a 4X6 diesel worksite Gator for a while. The one thing I can say about it is that I've never been on a more stable vehicle, except maybe a 955 Cat dozer I had. On both the dozer and the worksite Gator I'd have to say they would stay on the side of a steeper hill than you would imagine. Unless your tractor has duals or triples on it, the worksite Gator will traverse a steeper hill than a tractor. I've flipped boats, ATV's, tractors, cars, trucks, lawn tractors, you name it; and have the scars to prove it. Heck, my JD 4600 went over really easy. Some think I've been a bit wild, others think just a bit stoopid and a slow learner. I've begin to mellow with age. Stuff just seems to hurt more now. Not to mention that I'd like to lengthen the time between surgeries. Anyway, I never did manage to flip my worksite Gator or 955 Cat. I once screwed up and missed a curve with the Gator and slid sideways down a steep bank and honestly expected it to go over, and it didn't. In my experience, I've found when sliding sideways down a hill, one of the leading downhill wheels always seems to grab, and over you go. The Gator didn't. I have a Kubota RTV now and am going to try to keep it rubber side down as well. So far, it seems pretty stable as well.

 

[Dargo]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, make sure that the "swisher" engine has a pressurized lubrication system. I roasted several gas engines mowing the side of a dam because at steep angles they lost lubrication and cooked.

 

[cowboydoc]

The Gator is much more stable than the tractor. You would be hard pressed to cause it to rollover.

 

[yellowsocks93]

Ok Ole Hickory. You could not roll it unless you don't know how to drive.