tipping

[loopyl]

Thank you for the advice, I was going to make a joke about the monetary definition of tipping but being new to the board I wasn't sure.

 

[Berniep]

Joke away! Sometimes these threads need some humor.
At the risk of being redundant in regards to the other threads. (but there are new people here all the time)
A tilt meter isn't going to help when the downside rear wheel drops into a hole you didn't see and turns a slope that was nowhere near dangerous into a rolled tractor.

 

[Scrounger]

I have a tilt meter but even when its reading 'safe' if I feel the cheeks pinch I know I'm not as safe as the tilt meter reads. I spent some time cleaning up ATV trails on the tractor this summer and more than once the tilt was less than 15% and I was not feeling good at all. Major cheek pinching going on.

Birds forward and backwards rule is what I've done for years. My grandfather used to do that on the banks of a reservoir that were almost too steep to walk on. Never had an issue.

Like others have stated, the 'gut feeling' is worth more than most think.

 

[LBrown59]

I just got my L4400 a month ago. I know tipping can be a problem if you go across a hill but what about going up and down a hill. I will be using it on trails that are quite steep. Looking at the tractor I have a FEL and a lot of the weight seems to be over the front tires. It would seem to me that it would be difficult to tip but I don't want to take any chances. I don't think those tip meters are useful however.

This is sorta distorted reasoning.
Say you don't want to operate the tractor on any slope that's over 10% .In that case A tilt meter will keep you off all Such slopes.
By avoiding those areas you won't have any issues with tipping on those places.

 

[LBrown59]

I saved a lot of $$ by NOT buying a "tilt meter". I go by the "fill my pants" meter.... If it "feels" OK...then I'll go...if it doesnt "feel" ok..I dont care what ANY "tilt meter" tells me...I aint gonna do it!!!

Tilt meter about $25.00 .
Last time I heard Hospital and Funeral home rates were well above that.

 

[Sully2]

Tilt meter about $25.00 .
Last time I heard Hospital and Funeral home rates were well above that.

Extremely poor analogy! Im NOT getting sideways on ANY..repeat ANY slope! And when my butt cheeks clench tight on a SLIGHT slope...going straight up and down it..I wont go on THAT slope again!

Besides..Im well insured!

 

[johnk]

I always back up the hill because I usually don't make it the first couple of tries. It's pretty washed out in the spring from runoff and very difficult to get up. I have a box blade on the back with rippers extended. I carry the box blade low to the ground while climbing in reverse and when I lose traction I drop the blade and drag that little section as smooth as I can when descending. Then I go in reverse again and hopefully the section I just dragged will let me get a little more traction and continue my ascent. When I get to the top I spend all day dragging the trails because it feels like a conquered Everest. Here's a pic of my steeper section but what you can't see is all the off camber washouts....Nice and slow is the only way to go. I wouldn't even think of trying to go straight up with the tractor. Lose traction and then what???

 

[gone2dawgs]

I am also worried about tipping. I did something that perhaps was not the brightest idea. I went stright up the steepest slope I have very slow, in 4WD, with the FEL low to the ground and a Box Blade (about 400 lbs) on the 3 point hitch (with my ROPS and seat belt of course). I slowed the tractor down at the most sloped point and got the rear wheel spinning. It was my test to see the point at which I would loose traction. I would LIKE TO THINK I would loose traction on a slope before the front would rotate up and over.

I also have my rear wheel filled, I hope you have done the same. As far as going across a slope, it looks like 45 degrees is about the point of tip. This is based on my glancing and judging where the center to gravity is and the midpoint of my wheels. But you also have to have margin for dips, pholes, etc., By the way, I also have my rear wheels entended the max., about 10 inched beyond normal.

BE CAREFUL!!!

 

[Bird]

I would LIKE TO THINK I would loose traction on a slope before the front would rotate up and over.

And MOST of the time you will. But the one time you don't will sure ruin your day.

 

[gone2dawgs]

I am outraged that the manufactures do not provide clear, precise information on the point of no return. It is very simple to calculate the center of gravity and for various configurations (FEL down, FEL up with the max. permissible load, etc., etc.) the slope at which roll over will take place. I can not believe the manufacturers are not required to provide this. I am a single engine plane pilot and perhaps that is my perspective; you ALWAYS know where your center of gravity is before you take off with a bunch of fat passengers (smile) to ensure you are with a prescibed set of limits. I am also an engineer so maybe I am overly **** about this topic....But I feel strongly that I am correct! My 2 cents.