Operating on hilly ground. You level land guys are wimps!!

[Scooby074]

Pictures can be very deceiving. I run my BX sidehill on a 17-20* slope to mow my yard. In pics it looks quite mild depending on how the camera is held.

Some pics of my old Deere x540 on the slope

With the protractor on the tractor, this is about a 17* slope to the right

 

[gotrocks]

I hope it's alright to tamper with a pic posted by others.
This thread just got me to wondering.
So I took the original pic put it into a design cad and then
drew an exact horizontal line.

Then draw the line down one tree trunk.

Measure the angle and (what dose it prove? if anything)

View attachment 225233

 

[LD1]

Pictures can be very deceiving. I run my BX sidehill on a 17-20* slope to mow my yard. In pics it looks quite mild depending on how the camera is held.

Some pics of my old Deere x540 on the slope

With the protractor on the tractor, this is about a 17* slope to the right

If my math is correct, 17* is about a 30% grade also.

I hope it's alright to tamper with a pic posted by others.
This thread just got me to wondering.
So I took the original pic put it into a design cad and then
drew an exact horizontal line.

Then draw the line down one tree trunk.

Measure the angle and (what dose it prove? if anything)

View attachment 225233View attachment 225234

It only proves that the tree is either leaning by that much, or the camera is tilted by that much, or a combination of both???

Since you already have that in CAD, why not use that horizontal line, and draw another line up the hill, and figure THAT angle?

 

[Scooby074]

If my math is correct, 17* is about a 30% grade also.

Yep:thumbsup: My yard ranges from 30-36% in the steep parts.

TAN (*) X 100 = %

 

[5030]

I contract ditch bank mow with my M9 for the township using a sidemount 9 foot disc mower and I've been on some ditch banks where the only way I'll mow them is with the mower extended BELOW the tractor direction, that is, me at the top of the ditch bank, the mower locked in the down position and my **** very tight.....:laughing:

you can't mow uphill-downhill. That is an impossibility. It has to be parallel to the ditch bottom which is usually filled with water and other assorted things I don't want to be in.....:laughing:

I have an acute sense of angle, especially in a high centered vehicle like a large frame tractor.

My other concern is oil starvation. Tractors are wet sump and no windage tray in the pan to keep the oil down in the sump. Extended operation at extreme angles could possibly starve the engine of lube oil.

 

[sweep]

It only proves that the tree is either leaning by that much, or the camera is tilted by that much, or a combination of both???

Guys;
1. I was joking about people on level land being wimps. It was supposed to be taken as tongue in cheek.

2. The camera was not tilted. IT WAS LEVEL

3. Guys operate on hills this steep, AND STEEPER, in my area. This is what they grew up with. You do what you gotta do.

4. The hill is actually steeper in real life. The photo actually made it look less steep.

 

[5030]

No matter what, it appears steep enough to make my **** pucker.....:laughing:

 

[gotrocks]

Ok here it is LD1.

 

[electrarc]

Hills, hills and more hills. Where can I get a tilt meter that goes over 25 degrees? I use a builder digital meter and a spirit level, no use when you are moving.

 

[sweep]

Ok here it is LD1.

View attachment 225235

You are showing the right hand angle tilting to the left. The camera was level in that pic.


Do this pic with the trees on the right. Look at the other trees on the lft in the background - they are growing up straight.

 

[RobertBrown]

My neighbor cuts this going up and down. Steeper than the 2d photo shows.
I live in Appalacian hill country and I have seen guys mow and BALE hills steeper than this.

I'm not making this up. One guy bales round bales and they all roll down to the bottom of the hill as they come out of the baler.

Appalacian hill country..gotta love it.

A little too much pucker factor for me. I would be standing on the foot rest on the up hill side with one hand on the throttle and one hand on the wheel.
Even mowing up hill would make me nervous, you couldn't see where you are going without leaning over.

 

[5030]

I have a couple fields that I contract mow and bale that have slopes and when I'm not level, I'm uneasy. Must be I'm a flatland wimp.....

 

[Scooby074]

Hills, hills and more hills. Where can I get a tilt meter that goes over 25 degrees? I use a builder digital meter and a spirit level, no use when you are moving.

You have the machine for the slopes for sure!!:thumbsup:

While were talking about machines and slopes, have a look at the AEBI and Reform tractors from Switzerland
Products & Business areas - ASH Aebi Schmidt Holding

REFORM ｻ Reform

One of those things where "If you have to ask..." Even well used theyre over $45,000

Heres a very nice slidshow showing their machines in Switzerland. Beautiful countryside. Watch in HD Fullscreen. Their walking tractors are awesome! AEBI - SWISS QUALITY - Landtechnik - YouTube

Another Brilliantly shot HD slideshow

http://youtu.be/SZVWgV_3B08

How about going on a 75% slope?
AEBI Terratrac TT270 climbing a 75% slope - YouTube


reform - YouTube

This is probably my favorite ROW clearing video, A Reform on steep hills running a front mount flail. Love how the 4WS keeps the tractor on the hill and heading the right direction.

Noremat-XP Reform-Mounty - YouTube

Of course there are north american products like the Kut Kwick and Dew EZE
but they're mowers only. Better not forget about the Ventrac/Steiner and Power trac Either but they arent in the same power class as the machines listed.
KutKwick ..." Hey, watch that pond!":thumbsup:
Kut Kwick, Corporation: Heavy Duty Commercial Slope Mower, The SuperSlopeMaster - YouTube

DewEze
Deweze ATM 162 Slope Mower - YouTube

I guess you could say living on a hill side makes me a bit of a fan of how others work on their slopes and what tools they use

 

[Bill 55]

Sweep what part of the Ohio Hill Country are you in? I grew up in Northwestern Guernsey County and now live in Southeastern Coshocton County.

 

[D7E]

Since the trees in the background (upper right of the pic) are on a bit of an angle (5 degrees or a bit more), I'd say the camera was held on an angle too.

The fence posts are upright though !

 

[Runner]

This is one of my 20 degree slopes. When I mow this with my 72 inch RFM, I have to dial in about a 10 degree "crab angle" to keep the tractor moving straight.

The belly mower doesn't tend to drag the machine downhill like the rear mower does. Fortunately, it is smooth ground, so I have not encountered any problems so far....

As mentioned previously, pictures do tend to flatten out the appearance of sloped ground.

 

[RoyJackson]

The fence posts are upright though !

I couldn't see them well enough...and they don't appar to be in line of sight.

 

[scoutcub]

Well this is too funny.....I was going to start a thread on this, but sweeps beat me to it. Even took a few pics recently for the thread. Oddly enuff, I'm also in Ohio, I think I'm in "hill country"??!
I HATE slopes. I have the 1.4 acres in the pic and some acreage closeby, both with slopes. I get very nervous operating heavy equipment on them, especially the excavator when swinging the carriage around.....feels like you're gonna fall outta your seat!
The pics are of one of the steeper parts of my lot....and doing loader work sideslope is very nerve-wracking. Can't always go uphill/downhill. Any guesses on this slope? I'd be interested to know, I'm overseas now and can't put it to the test. Fortunately, I've finished the dirt work with no issues. When I first started mowing, I was going up/downhill.....now I go sideslope with no reservation, using a zero turn tractor. It's wide stance and lo CG really work well.

Sweeps - what part of the hill country? I'm just south of Canton.....

 

[jake98]

Nobody beats our slopes.. even the trees grow crooked.. :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

Any guesses on this slope? I'd be interested to know, I'm overseas now and can't put it to the test.

Using the buildings in the background as reference, my estimate is 20 to 22 degrees. Pretty steep...