How sttep of grade can an ASV Rc100 work at safely?

[tuckinlugz]

I have a mulching job I am bidding on a creek that's a little tricky. It's .65 acres and about 100 ft wide straight down to a creek. There doesn't seem to be any severe drop offs but it is pretty steep going straight down hill. Everything I have been on so far has been pretty flat.

Anyone have any experiences? Thanks, Mike

 

[AX MAN]

I would suggest not doing the job if it is extremly steep or close to the creek. The machines can climb fairly well. But as you grind a sapling and try to climb over it you loose traction. Be carefull when you do loose traction because as machine slides backwards it will try to get sideways because of the head weight. Soooooo, keep your head close to ground and Be Carefull

 

[McCaskey]

ASV Face Down:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/92626-asv-face-down.html#post1045131

But seriously, with the head facing down hill, my RC100 with rubber tracks does not have a lot of traction for backing up. Often slipping sideways on a slope. Attacking on a side angle can put serious strain on the tracks & wheels, possibly derailing the uphill track. Look for an escape route at the bottom, hopefully the creek is dry.

 

[tuckinlugz]

The creek at the bottom is not dry. I'd say it's about 30 degrees going down. It's about 200 feet from the begining of the lot to the creek. Looking at it I think it'll be ok, but I know that even when I am backing off the trailer sometimes it seems pretty steep!!!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Here is what you will have to look for. The others are right. It is not a good idea to mulch going down hill, with the mulcher on the front and going downhill mulcher first it will load the front of the tracks. Therefore unloading all the remainer, you will have no control and will HAVE to go down the hill. Now it would be best to find a spot at the bottom to turn around and then mulch uphill. This will place all the weight of the tractor and head on the tracks increasing your traction. This will work the tractor more but is the only safe way to work an incline. Now as others have mentioned if you get on a tree track length you will loose traction. So you need to process as much material as possible before you drive over it. Would be best also to make sure the ground is dry as possible.
Good luck and I hope you don't have any pics to post like I did!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a hard way to learn, and expensive!!

 

[AX MAN]

I would suggest not doing the job if it is extremly steep or close to the creek. The machines can climb fairly well. But as you grind a sapling and try to climb over it you loose traction. Be carefull when you do loose traction because as machine slides backwards it will try to get sideways because of the head weight. Soooooo, keep your head close to ground and Be Carefull

I did not make it clear. I assumed you would be going uphill. I would. It is the stumps left from what you grind that cause you to loose traction. All the slipping down and going back up across those stumps is rough on the tracks. Don't let this scare you off. If you think you can do it then go for it. You learn by doing.

 

[tuckinlugz]

This is true. But usually the learining is really expensive! And expensive=BAD for me!

 

[greg@edge]

you need a machine with steel tracks!

 

[AX MAN]

This is true. But usually the learining is really expensive! And expensive=BAD for me!

Everything about this business is verrrrrrry expensive.