Safest way to tackle a steep slope?

Anonymous Poster · Nov 15, 2002

Hi guys. I haven't posted much being fairly new to the world of tractors. Got a BX22 about 5 months ago and my 15 yr old son and I have 150 hours on it already, so we've been 'practicing' alot.

We have this large pile of dirt that the builder left on the side of a hill. He used it to bury tree stumps when we built 14 yrs ago. Anyway, it was very unsightly, and we've been working at grading it down into the existing slope which is pobably around 25 degrees. Started at the top and have been pushing the dirt down little by little. Well, we are at a point were we need to grade it to the 25 degree slope. (I'm estimting here, it could be steeper) What's the safest way to tackle this? Pushing with the FEL? Would it be better to take the FEL and BH off, and use a rear blade? Would filling the tires help much? Or should I just call someone with a dozer?
Thanks. I've really enjoyed reading what you guys have to say and have learned alot!!

JATO_RaT · Nov 15, 2002

PaJohn, I just cut & moved approximately 1500 yards of material at my place on comparable terrain.

My plan was to decrease a slope that was anywhere from 20 deg to as much as 40 deg. It was a situation where the previous owner had built a pad to build a home at the highest point of our property. Problem was, it looked phony and backed us right up against 2 other properties. It was impossible to mow so a weed eater was necessary to maintain it.

I tackled it by using my Kubota L48 which is a larger tractor then your BX so when I say this, I won't be able to comment on your tractor as I am not familiar with it. I don't like cutting hard earth with the loader if I can help it. The reason is because of the beating it takes at all the pivot points. With that much leverage out front and the power of the tractor continually pushing on them, it just loosens the loader up faster requiring sooner replacement of bushings. I like backing down and pushing into the dirt with my boxblade. The amount of dirt you can move is considerable as the weight of the tractor works with you. The ability to control the depth of cut is also much easier this way since as with the loader, the bucket angle changes depth of cut and the nature of the loader to load down and dig deeper as the load increases requires constant attention. A boxblade with a hydraulic top link works exceptionally well. The main thing will be if your 3 pt. hitch is up to the task. The 2 drawbars do the bulk of the push and on some tractors like my old NH 2120, the bars bent very easily. The 2 Kubotas I have used, mine and a Kubota L4850 easily handled this use. If you want to know more, just ask. Rat...

gerard · Nov 15, 2002

It's always seemed more stable driving down a steep slope so in your case I would think using the slope in your favor would be the way to go ie pulling down with a box balde or pushing downhill with the loader. If the dirt has been piled it won't be too hard packed and I would be too concerned about using the loader a little like a dozer. If you have enough dirt you could also use it to fill in the slope and reduce the slope - ie make it more gradual. Important if you plan on mowing it in the future.

frank_f15 · Nov 15, 2002

just go straight up or straight down, i use the fel or rear blade as a stop . if urae going up hill and have rear blade on and set close to the ground, if the slope geta little too steep the blade acts as a stop, and u can back off nicley. some of the toys made for toddlers have a a plate that hangs down off the back so it the little one puts too much weight on the rear the plate stops them form flipping backwards. i hope i made this understandable? i ain't too good with desprictions/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

chrisjbell · Nov 15, 2002

Something that I didn't see anyone mention....

For that small tractor (mine's little, too), the backhoe should come off of it before you spend much time on a steep hill. You can leave the front loader on (although I agree that you don't want to use it for cutting in to hard soil - hard on the bushings). But get rid of the BH and get a box blade or even a flat blade (I'd say box is better for moving dirt).

But the backhoe raises the center of gravity quite a bit on a small tractor and you will greatly reduce your chance of a rollover by removing it (I sure wouldn't have dared a 25 degree slope with my backhoe on!).

The other thing to consider, especially for those of us with smaller tractors... A bulldozer can do in a day (or less, with a good operator) what a CUT will take weeks to do. I've rented bulldozers, and they aren't cheap, but even with me operating them I can get quite a bit more done with it than the Kubota. Plus, no damage to the Kubota.

There're a couple of options there... You can usually get one of the big rental companies to drop off and pick up a 'dozer and you can do it yourself. Quite a bit of fun, although they may not let you have one if you haven't operated one before. A better option (cheaper and faster) is to hire someone with their own equipment to come do it for you. They know what they're doing and are usually pretty reasonable (there's a local guy in my area that charges $50 or $60 / hr. for him and his dozer, for example - 'course, he's always busy).

But get that hoe off on a steep hill. You're scaring me /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif...Chris

Anonymous Poster · Nov 15, 2002

Thanks Chris, but now I'm confused. Wouldn't I want the extra weight of the BH if I'm going down the slope? I'd understand if I was trying to go across. How much slope does it take to flip forward anyway? I would think the FEL would act as a stop, no? But it sure is scary looking down a 50-70 ft 25 degree slope.

JackIL · Nov 15, 2002

PaJohn,

I thought someone else would chime in on this earlier, but it seems not.

There are NO circumstances you should be taking a tractor like yours on slopes of 25 degrees.

However, you say you estimate it to be 25 degrees. I suggest you go to your local hardware or home supply store and pick up a carpenter's protractor for less than $5. In addition, get a small piece of plywood say a foot square or larger. Walk out onto the slope, place the plywood on the ground, place the protractor on it and measure the slope in degrees in a variety of places.

Slopes up to 15 degrees should not be a problem so long as you have the tractor properly ballasted and always carry the loader low. From 15 to 20 it is questionable. Most of us would probably not want to take the risk. Certainly at 20 and above it is beyond what the tractor was designed for.

If your slopes are really in the 25 degree range, take your own good advice and hire a bulldozer to come in and take it down for you. It won't take him long and it will certainly cost you less in the long run compared to the possibility of an accident.

Jack

manganos · Nov 15, 2002

The reason you do not want the BH on is because the BH moves a lot of weight to the top of the tractor making it more unstable. I noticed a big difference while on slopes with my BX22.

JohnMiller3 · Nov 15, 2002

… There are NO circumstances you should be taking a tractor like yours on slopes of 25 degrees….

…get that hoe off on a steep hill. You're scaring me…

It’s one thing to have the “proper” equipment, like a low profile unit with c of g hugging the ground, with no loader or backhoe attached to ruin one’s day, using equipment like a dozer and most of all an experienced operator that “eats, sleeps, and dreams” this kind of stuff…

But just merely having equipment that can dig and move some dirt like your BX22 with a couple of inexperienced operators doesn’t appear to instill confidence to complete this task you’ve presented…/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I don’t know ya… but there is no doubt in my mind you dearly love your precious 15 year old boy… and he the same of his Father… believe me on that slope with your equipment, just moving the loader with a slight load or the backhoe extended … it takes but a fraction of a second for something to go “deadly” wrong… even Superman wouldn’t be fast enough to control the situation when the BX22 takes a tumble down that slope with that doomed operator strapped in…

I pray, you do the right thing…I believe you may have answered your own question…

… it sure is scary looking down a 50-70 ft 25 degree slope…

chrisjbell · Nov 18, 2002

PaJohn,

Sorry to be confusing, but someone else already chimed in on this one. The thing about our little CUTs is that the BH is an "add-on" implement, and what I mean by that is the BH adds weight that is generally *above* the tractors center of gravity. This makes the tractor less stable, despite the fact that you're adding a bunch of weight.

As an example, I often have to load up my FEL with gravel and then travel on slopes (*very* carefully!). Even with the bucket as far down as I can keep it, I've added a lot of weight but it is at or above the axles, which decreases the stability of the tractor. (When doing something like this, always keep your hand on the loader controls and *drop it fast* if you feel things wobbling!) Anyway, added weight doesn't always == increased stability.

And as far as going straight up and down hills, the problem comes when the tractor isn't balanced, both side to side and front to rear. The loader will offset the BH somewhat, but is still nowhere near as heavy as the BH. I suppose keeping the BH on the uphill side would be better, but for a steep slope like that I wouldn't try it. One of the later posters was right - get a bulldozer and knock that slope down once and for all.

...Chris