Hill Question

swoods80 · May 23, 2004

I am thinking of looking at a tractor like the Kubota B7510DT but have a steep hill I would need to take the tractor up and down. I do not plan on doing work on this hill I just need to transport the tractor up and down it here and there. I know nothing about tractors but read the article on this forum about "tipping". Is this something I realy need to worry about? Or only if using a loader?

Thanks

MikePA · May 23, 2004

Is this something I realy need to worry about? Or only if using a loader?
It's difficult to say. Is there any way you could quantify how steep the hill is? Most of the time, but not all, the context of 'tipping' has to do with tipping over sideways. Having said that, going up and down a hill, whether with a FEL (filled or empty) can be dangerous. Does the hill have grass on it which can be slippery when wet? Stones? Dirt, mud? Steep hills can be dangerous on a garden tractor.

Only you can evaluate how steep, and therefore how dangerous, your hill is. Again, safety on hills applies to all tractors, with and without a FEL.

Any possibility of posting a picture that includes a frame of reference to gauge how steep it is?

Bird · May 23, 2004

You can actually go up and down some very steep hills. The biggest danger is in getting crossways on a slope and rolling the tractor. Going up a steep enough hill does present the possibility of a tractor rearing up and going over backwards, so if in doubt, back up the hill. There is also a considerable hazard with going down a hill forward with a load in the front end loader. Unless you have an adequate counterweight on the back end of the tractor, the load in front may reduce the weight on the rear wheels to the extent that your brakes are ineffective. Having the tractor in 4WD will provide front wheel braking as well, and keeping the front end loader just as low as possible; barely off the ground will provide a reasonable safety factor, and allow you to drop the front end loader and its load onto the ground if necessary.

polecat · May 23, 2004

u sure r a slow reeeda!!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · May 23, 2004

( u sure r a slow reeeda!!!!!!!!! )

Maybe so, but I thought it was just that Mike is a faster typist.

Henro · May 23, 2004

You have gotten some good advice here...but the question remains as to how steep is steep?

Ycu can take a carpenters level out and measure run over rise and calculate the angle. This would help in getting good advice. If you are not up on the math to do the calculation, if you get the run and rise numbers someone here will be happy to do the math for you I am sure.

Like Bird said, when in doubt, back it up... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Egon · May 23, 2004

I use a Kubota B7100 on slopes up to 20 degrees. Most of field work is at 10 degrees. Sometimes the degree of slope can be deceiving as it blends into the background.

Just keep the loader and any stuff hanging on the back low and ready to drop.

Bob_Skurka · May 23, 2004

I have a hill that I won't even take my bigger tractors onto it, but it is a compound hill that slopes 2 directions.

On the other hand I also have a fairly steep grade from the road down into my valley, the drop is probably only 18' feet or so, but its a good 20 degree slope. Going up or down is not a problem AS LONG AS THE TRACTOR IS IN LOW GEAR range. If the tractor is in high range it will run down that slope in a fairly uncontrolled fashion (don't ask me how I know). If the tractor is in low range it decends with no problems and is always totally controllable.

Again, I'm not sure of the slope, I guess it at 20 degrees, but neither large tractor can climb that slope in high range.

As others have said, keep the implements low.

If you plan on working on a slope, buy a Steiner, Power Trac or a Ventrac tractor.

swoods80 · May 24, 2004

Thanks for all the reply's. The hill is actually a dirt (I live in the desert) with a dirt road on it. I would guess it at 20 to 25 degrees. I would not be working on it, but I have stables at the bottom of the hill and the house at the top so I would be using it for transportation purposes mainly.

TOMDUALLY · May 24, 2004

If your new tractor has a FEL you might be able to punch a new road at a slant going up the face of the hill this will decrease the angle of the climb and give you a lot of 'seat' time. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif