Rollover

bowhunter3030 · May 22, 2005

I was operating my tractor (B3030, FEL, 6' blade) on a hillside yesterday and many times I thought I was going to tip it over. Just how far can you go on an angle and be safe? I was leaning to the right or left many times to shift my weight. I ride my Grizzly on same angles and feel very safe. Is it due to the higher center of gravity? As for as going up a hill or down a hill, what is the angle of safe operation?

Woods · May 22, 2005

Scary isn't it ? It seems that a higher center of gravity and the fact that the front axel pivots in the center instead of having springs to attach it to the frame allow the tractor to easily tip because only the rear tires keep it from rolling over. I'd like to get some "training wheels" to help mow my sand mound /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Other side hilling specific tractors have extra wheels and tires mounted along side the exising wheels to extend the width of the tractors track. Someone invent a kit to mount your unused turf tires and wheels to the existing ones and sell it here /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Bob_Skurka · May 22, 2005

<font color="green"> Just how far can you go on an angle and be safe? </font>

There is no clear answer that I can find to your question, especially considering you can flip a tractor on its side on FLAT ground. The problem is that conditions vary wildly on every slope and every property. For example, lets say you are crossing a side slope of 15-degrees and your upper front wheel drops into a rut, then the tractor actually is momentarily more stable, but when it comes out the momentum of the tractor actually going to get worse very quickly IF the tractor speed is high because the wheel will pop out of that rut. Worse yet, what if the bottom wheel hits a rut or the top wheel climbs over a rock? Both events have similar effect of increasing the angle and destabilizing the tractor. Slopes are best climbed and decended in a vertical path.

bowhunter3030 · May 22, 2005

Bob, so when it feels like you are close to going over, don't go any farther because you probably will. Could my tractor, in 4 wheel drive, go up and down the same hills as my grizzly, in two wheel drive, on a vertical angle?

Boone · May 22, 2005

The guy that owns TBN, sells tilt guages for a small price, so there is no guessing at what angle the tractor is at.

FL_Cracker · May 22, 2005

But what good would the tilt gage be if there are no rollover specs on the tractor?

Maybe it could just be used to repeat a safe operation. ie. I have done 15 degree slopes before so as long as I stay 15 degrees or lower I should be OK... Who can I get to test that hill that will be my limit.

I guess I'll have to do it. Can someone please "HOLD MY SIGN" for me.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Lockport · May 22, 2005

One should always operate up and down the elevation /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. However, if all else fails /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, hit the fuel and turn downhill as fast as you can! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · May 22, 2005

<font color="blue"> Bob, so when it feels like you are close to going over, don't go any farther because you probably will. Could my tractor, in 4 wheel drive, go up and down the same hills as my grizzly, in two wheel drive, on a vertical angle? </font>

I think we are more afraid of tipping over than our tractors are, so I think we tend not to test just how far we can go. Personally I will push my equipment only as far as the pucker in my shorts will allow me, and when the tractors seat looks more like floss stuck between my cheeks than it looks like a tractor seat, then I have gone far enough!

As for what a tractor will climb? I don't know, but I do know they will climb some pretty steep hills if you shift them down and power them up. I have no idea how they compare to a grizzly or other 4x4.

I'm not a big fan of the tilt-meters but some folks won't do without them. My personal opinion is if I am watching the tiltmeter then I am not watching what I am doing. I prefer to operate by the pucker factor.

dknarnd · May 22, 2005

There is no way to compare a Grizzly to a tractor and the capabilities of either. I also own a Grizzly and it will take you places that common since tells you that you shouldn't even be trying to go there. The center of gravity on tractors is much higher than an ATV and leaning on the tractor will have little to no effect. I have been mowing on the same hills for 30 years and know just where I feel safe at. Now throw in a new woodchuck hole on one of these hills while mowing and the pucker factor increases dramatically. The wheel drops in a hole and the mower jerks downhill and before you know it you are on the edge. The tractor will not even come close to where the Grizzly will go.

btolle · May 22, 2005

I spend some time on hills and agree with what has been written, there is no published or standard angle because a small hole or rut can cause you to roll and even a small angle.

I have one hill that I mow with my Sears 42" riding mower but I mow at a 45 degree angle to the slope to minimize the risk. I do not ride my B7510 at 45 degrees on that hill, maybe 25 degrees, but not 45.

One hazard of tractors is I have gotten super-sensitive to being off camber. We spent 2 weeks offroading in Moab, Utah early this month and I found myself really puckered up in off camber situations even though I know my Jeep would probably be less likely to roll than my Kubota.

Bill Tolle