Traction Using a Tractor on Mountain Property

[Coyote machine]

Thank you very much for the advice. Scary stories. My worst fear is dropping the tractor into the big pond (14 ft deep).

We have always had two unbreakable rules when operating ANY kind of power equipment:

1) Never unless someone else is there on the property.
2) Always carry the cell phone.

(We have a lot of bear so we even carry a cell when walking in the wooded areas.)

I do intend to post some pics of the project areas, and I look forward to hearing your ideas.

You're welcome. Maybe you should add to the 'rules', bring scuba gear!:laughing:

A FEL bucket can be used to dig various kinds of ground, but IMHO, it is not the best tool to do so. Concrete like clay may resist being dug up to smooth out the bumps in your landscaping. A box blade and backhoe can do a lot to add to your capability to rework your 'dirt'. And there is less chance of bending loader arms, parts, if using hoe or BB to loosen, then bucket to work the area smoother.

Like most people wanting/getting their first tractor the list of to do projects is endless, the highest priorities on the list and what you can afford to do the most important work items are what ought to determine what you buy, whether new or used. Short budget, maybe buy used and see what you can accomplish, then save and trade, buy new once you get a feel for the real magnitude of what you're trying to do with what works, based on your revised budget. You won't know how much you can get done until you have a machine that is more capable than your Husky, for your specific chore list.

If I had my way/wish list I'd have a rubber track skidsteer, and a mini-Ex in a snap. But for now, and probably for my lifetime my Kioti has to do most everything I throw at it and then some.
I'm not complaining, I love my tractor; I'm just saying, if wishes were horses.....
Did I mention a 12 way blade on a dozer? Well, one can dream, yes?

 

[SpringHollow]

This is what 30 degrees of body lean looks like on the back of the dam, a 26.57 degree slope.

I have a storm creek that I drive down into. The banks are 20 degrees plus and the slope of the ditch is also 20 degrees plus. With the Power Trac, I do u-turns on the bank which is 20 degrees in 2 directions. That is with single tires and the bucket raised in the air and full of gravel and water. Never even think about tipping. Above 30 degrees, I would add the duals (tractor is rated for sideways on a 45 degree slope when the duals are installed). The used one I bought was used to mow the sides of ammunition depots. Regular tractors that I have owned have a wheel in the air when I start lifting on a 10 degree slope, probably even on a 5 degree slope. Power Tracs are extremely safe slope tractors. Because of that and their versatility, I use mine more in a year than I did with the regular tractors in 10 years. Just don't buy one to plow a 50 acre field.

Ken

 

[vtsnowedin]

Here is one that could get a lot of her to do list done.
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=9304139

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

For hard clay soils and rocks (and roots) you will want to add a tooth bar to your FEL. A VERY worthwhile and relatively low-cost tool. In my experience, you really can't do any meaningful "digging" or even grading without one.

- Jay

Yep, that's on the short list and I was going ask how much it helps. Thanks for the input.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I have a storm creek that I drive down into. The banks are 20 degrees plus and the slope of the ditch is also 20 degrees plus. With the Power Trac, I do u-turns on the bank which is 20 degrees in 2 directions. That is with single tires and the bucket raised in the air and full of gravel and water. Never even think about tipping. Above 30 degrees, I would add the duals (tractor is rated for sideways on a 45 degree slope when the duals are installed). The used one I bought was used to mow the sides of ammunition depots. Regular tractors that I have owned have a wheel in the air when I start lifting on a 10 degree slope, probably even on a 5 degree slope. Power Tracs are extremely safe slope tractors. Because of that and their versatility, I use mine more in a year than I did with the regular tractors in 10 years. Just don't buy one to plow a 50 acre field.

Ken

That's impressive.

Actually I think the PowerTrac is ideal for my needs, at least on paper. I'm having a problem with the fact that kitted out it costs the same as a SCUT. Also, on the videos I watched I noticed two things: 1) the engine seemed really, really noisy; that will really affect how I feel about using it. 2) There's a video of a PT digging with a BH and every time he dug down, the front end lifted, and every time he raised up the full bucket, the rear end lifted. Or do I have that backwards???? Maybe that was an older, smaller model?

Definitely interested in learning more about the PT.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Here is one that could get a lot of her to do list done.
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=9304139

Ha ha..... that's a beeeg machine.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Ha ha..... that's a beeeg machine.

Yes and it can get a lot done in a short amount of time. Assuming it all runs and works right you could buy it and do the bulk of your earth moving to do list while putting a couple of hundred hours on it in a year or so. Then you could resell it for as much as you paid for it and buy the tractor you want for continued maintenance of your property and not have to beat it up moving a lot of over sized (for it) rocks. The seats adjust. You can drive a beeeg machine just as well as you can a small one.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

It's interesting that I've gotten recommendations for everything from a Power Trac (kind of a mini-SCUT on steroids) to a 40 hp tractor. Guess there's more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[Creamer]

Ha ha..... that's a beeeg machine.

It's not that big and will do a lot of work. It definitely is a nice tractor and the right size if you want a tractor. The PT has its place and it all depends on what you want but this is a good example of a good tractor.

 

[blucoondawg]

The power trac is lacking in the ground clearance department and has quite small tires which will have a harder time rolling over objects or uneven surfaces that a tractor tire could handle easily. Could have issues getting it stuck a lot if not on smooth enough ground