Steepest grade you have made it up?

[k0ua]

I have some extreme slopes here too. When I originally came here to Branson, I sold my tractor thinking I would not be able to use it. But I have had 3 tractors here now and lived to tell about it. Some areas you just have to be very careful. some areas, you just have to leave alone and live to fight another day.

 

[vtsnowedin]

And if the wheel spacers are really wide, you can't fit between the trees, which will keep you from sliding down the hill.

View attachment 424643



Bruce

Yes wheel spacers and adjustable rims can give you a much wider and stable stance and if two trees are closer then you're wide butted tractor can fit through then one of them belongs in the wood pile.

 

[DT86]

This is probably one of the steepest I've ever done.

 

[yanmars]

That looks steep.

 

[LD1]

Agreed, but most tractors are limited in what they can climb by traction. Slippage will bury you quickly. Properly added weight will reduce slippage, allowing the operator to effectively use available power. Of course, adding weight incorrectly can introduce problems - that is why we ballast the tires, add wheel weights, and place suitcase weights where they will have the desired effect.

On flat or mostly flat ground you are correct. But on steeper slopes, adding weight is also more you have to carry up hill.

At what point of steepness where weight begins to hurt you in the real world I don't know. But anything more than 45 degrees and more of the weight is trying to pull you down hill than aid in traction.

 

[CalG]

I've got a bank barn that the Fordson lives under.

The "hard way" out is a pretty steep climb. It's easy to claw up the slope with the front wheels clawing fresh air and the clutch foot deciding how much air is showing.

I bet 30 degrees Max.

 

[CalG]

Yes wheel spacers and adjustable rims can give you a much wider and stable stance and if two trees are closer then you're wide butted tractor can fit through then one of them belongs in the wood pile.

I've narrowed down to fit the trees! No use in setting up for hills if you can't get there. !

 

[DT86]

At what point of steepness where weight begins to hurt you in the real world I don't know. But anything more than 45 degrees and more of the weight is trying to pull you down hill than aid in traction.

Doesn't it depend on where that weight is?

I run with my grapple up front while bush hogging on severely steep ground to keep the nose down. That 1,000lbs on the back would really screw me over.

 

[Teachu2]

On flat or mostly flat ground you are correct. But on steeper slopes, adding weight is also more you have to carry up hill.

At what point of steepness where weight begins to hurt you in the real world I don't know. But anything more than 45 degrees and more of the weight is trying to pull you down hill than aid in traction.

I have no intention or desire to climb a 45 degree slope on a tractor, or any other land vehicle. Not gonna do it - up or down.

 

[Sysop]

I would think as long as the center of gravity stays forward of the propulsion it is aiding in the traction on the hill. I can't climb the hill I mentioned in the previous post without a load of gravel (probably a ton) in the FEL. With an empty FEL the front gets pucker-factor-inducing light, all four tires spin as the front bounces in the air slightly, and all forward motion stops... I don't think I'm at 45 degrees by no means, but I'd think the leverage of having the weight far enough uphill and forward of the tire's contact patches would aid in traction at any angle (whether it produces usable amounts or not I would question).

I know the big right of way mowers used on the most extreme hills we have here, have these massive racks of suitcase style weights (only much larger) that extend way beyond the front of the units (probably 4' or perhaps more between the back of the weights and the front of the tractor). Some of them are duals front and rear, some are triples on the rear and duals on the front. They climb some amazing hills...

 

[CalG]

Just a note.

A 45 degree slope

1:1

is incredibly steep, snow will barely hold at that pitch. We humans often over estimate pitch steepness

I snow ski, and pitches are part of the assesment.

 

[dragoneggs]

Just a note.

A 45 degree slope

1:1

is incredibly steep, snow will barely hold at that pitch. We humans often over estimate pitch steepness

I snow ski, and pitches are part of the assesment.

Agreed.

 

[LD1]

Yes 1:1 is steep.

Yes location of weight makes a difference.

But at some point, weight begins to be counter productive. Causing it to pull you down the hill with more force than the added traction. At what point that is, I have no idea. Depends on several other factors. But to just say added weight will help is not true.

Ballasted rear tires and implement on the back may be best to counter a full loader going forward up the hill. But then what to do.coming back down empty? Is forward downhill best (with the ballasted tires to the uphill side). Or baxkingnback down? And if backing back down it would be even better if the tires were not loaded. But how much better? And how would that effect going uphill with the load.

Again, too many variables. But weight ain't everything. ATV's are light. And don't have r1 tires like my Kubota. Yetbit does very well going uphill given its short wheelbase and light footprint. Take it to the extreme, talkinng about the steepest hill it can climb, now add 1000# and do it again. Add that 1000# right at the cog. Would the aid in traction be greater than the added gravity pulling back down the hill?

 

[Xfaxman]

Visual aides.

 

[Sysop]

Something tells me that wasn't the result you were looking for.

 

[Xfaxman]

Something tells me that wasn't the result you were looking for.

Strange, they show up on my computer in the post above yours.

Here is the snip.

There is something different going on with the photo uploader, I will edit the original post and upload them again.

When I reloaded, it changed the order and added this at the bottom:

 

[Teachu2]

Yes 1:1 is steep.

Yes location of weight makes a difference.

But at some point, weight begins to be counter productive. Causing it to pull you down the hill with more force than the added traction. At what point that is, I have no idea. Depends on several other factors. But to just say added weight will help is not true.

Ballasted rear tires and implement on the back may be best to counter a full loader going forward up the hill. But then what to do.coming back down empty? Is forward downhill best (with the ballasted tires to the uphill side). Or baxkingnback down? And if backing back down it would be even better if the tires were not loaded. But how much better? And how would that effect going uphill with the load.

Again, too many variables. But weight ain't everything. ATV's are light. And don't have r1 tires like my Kubota. Yetbit does very well going uphill given its short wheelbase and light footprint. Take it to the extreme, talkinng about the steepest hill it can climb, now add 1000# and do it again. Add that 1000# right at the cog. Would the aid in traction be greater than the added gravity pulling back down the hill?

I agree with your points, and even your conclusion that nothing is absolute. I am sure that a PROPERLY ballasted tractor will climb better than it will without ballast.

 

[oldpilgrim]

What's the steepest grade? I don't have too many hills where I use my tractor but my 90 yo father looked at my tractor and said,

"Looks like it'll climb up anything that's got a top to it or pull anything that's got two ends to it."