I was told it is a bad idea...hold my beer!

[Tiptoo]

Sheer rock obstacle towards the top. Definitely have to go around.

 

[goeduck]

Need a goat to navigate those slopes.

 

[4570Man]

Why didn’t you buy a mini excavator to work that?

 

[Tiptoo]

Why didn’t you buy a mini excavator to work that?

I made a list of tasks for both a tractor and a mini excavator. I then went back and forth for several months. I convinced myself that a tractor would be the better choice for general tasks around the property and eventually get a backhoe attachment to achieve the rest....including this trail (that's what I had envisioned at that time)

Now, you are absolutely correct.....why didnt I buy a mini excavator???

I may rent one for a week and get my tile work done around the property. With the remaining time I can play on the trail and see where I can get with one.

 

[goeduck]

A tractor is the best choice for general tasks, you made the right decision there. That said, a mini ex is the best choice for selected tasks which you seem to have for the short short term. You are on the right path equipment wise in my opinion.

 

[Tiptoo]

Tractor trail

 

[3930dave]

I'm happy with the progress I'm making lately. I've even mounted an action cam to the rops and will post some YouTube videos of my trails soon. I may have to place it on a hinge so that the angle can be seen.

Side note....I'm very diligent about checking thing's over and notice on my lunch, gear oil appearing to come off the front knuckle seal. I worried about it all day. Came home and pressure washed my tractor down and put it in my shop up on the lift. I wipe everything down well. Then I checked the fluid level and I was in the middle of the half shaft but below my dipstick. I topped it off. I continued wiping off the tractor. I popped the hood and started to clean the filters when I noticed the front axle relief/vent hose had a puddle of gear oil around my battery. I cleaned it up. Monitor without movement, the seals on the knuckles are not leaking. Is it just run over from the vent?....I hope so! Does it matter that my vent hose is kinked? Or is the kink keeping my fluid in while on the slopes??View attachment 575934

That hose looks somewhat collapsed - if that is the case, then I'd replace it, or at least re-route it to take the kink out. Route it higher or extend it if you are still doing crazy slope work might not be a bad idea either.....

What is at the end of the hose ? Your tractor looks fairly new, but sometimes the end fitting gets plugged up with dirt, or helped along that path by insects....

Rgds, D.

 

[goeduck]

Tractor trail View attachment 577472

Looks like you have room to zig zag up the hill?

 

[Tiptoo]

Looks like you have room to zig zag up the hill?

I do....and I gonna have to....just a lot of trees to avoid.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

And by flatter ground ....I mean...back in the 30s...agh....getting overwhelmed....almost accepting defeat for this route

Seems like you don't mind the risks you're taking..... I'm more of a scaredy cat on slopes. I hired professionals with huge excavators to cut the initial rough road into the side of my mountain. It is so steep, when climbing it on foot, you can touch the ground in front of you with your hand to steady yourself. I remember asking the operator if he would have to cut the road as he went down, to create a safe road for himself, and he said "nah, I could drive this thing straight up and down that slope, or any other way I need to go." Any time he got in a bad spot, he just used the huge arm/bucket to get himself out. Only cost $200 an hour and the road was cut in just a few hours (including tree removal). Also got a lot of expert advice on exactly where to place and slope the road. Well worth it. There was plenty of work left for me to smooth the road afterwards.

I could watch those big machines work all day long--and I did.

Seems like you're tackling steeper and steeper slopes; I just worry one day it will be too steep.....