Wheel spacers or weights for slopes?

[Gary Fowler]

Gary, I do have the tires filled (all 4) and currently have 3" rear wheel spacers.
I don't have any problem going up & down the slopes as far as the tractors ability, BUT when I do, the tires pull the grass lose from the ground or just tear it out if they spin and that leads to erosion and ruts. Mowing side slope doesn't result in that, which is why I prefer to mow that way.

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With the extra weight, you should not be spinning the tires which is likely why they pull the grass loose. You may be able to go up and down now with the added weight and wider tires. Wider spacing wont help traction any but will add a bit to side to side stability. I still don't know why you would be spinning tires going up a slope that you can mow side slope. Are you sure you are running in 4 WD? Even in 2 WD you should be able to climb a 20+ degree slope without spinning tires unless it is extremely wet.

 

[number9L]

Yes, I always mow the slopes in 4wd. Very well could be that the rear is too light and not providing enough traction (up and down). I do know that when I changed from loaded R4's to the loaded R1's they were *drastically* lighter - several hundred pounds worth. I am not sure the R1's have enough volume to supply significant weight in the rear actually.

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[SPYDERLK]

Yes, I always mow the slopes in 4wd. Very well could be that the rear is too light and not providing enough traction (up and down). I do know that when I changed from loaded R4's to the loaded R1's they were *drastically* lighter - several hundred pounds worth. I am not sure the R1's have enough volume to supply significant weight in the rear actually.

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Going forward with the R1s is where their traction advantage lies. Backing up the hill the R4s were likely better. Were you using the same mower when you had the R4s?
larry

 

[number9L]

I'm all for liquid tire ballast and wheel spacers but I've got to say for that small steep area between the trees and the pond I'd use a string trimmer after I got what was practical and safe with the tractor. "A man's got to know his limitations".

What model tractor is that and how wide is that thing?!

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[number9L]

Going forward with the R1s is where their traction advantage lies. Backing up the hill the R4s were likely better. Were you using the same mower when you had the R4s?
larry

Yes, same mower on same slopes but....I only had the wheel spacers a short time (maybe mowed a couple times) before trading the R4's for the R1's. The R4's sucked pretty much everywhere for me actually, unless it was bone dry.

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[vtsnowedin]

What model tractor is that and how wide is that thing?!

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That is a JD 5045E with 4.1 inch spacers each side and the rears in the widest position. Out to out it is 92 inches wide so it just fits on an eight foot flatbed. I like the setup a lot but would have to swap the tires to a narrower setting if I had a lot of land plowing to do.

 

[number9L]

That is a JD 5045E with 4.1 inch spacers each side and the rears in the widest position. Out to out it is 92 inches wide so it just fits on an eight foot flatbed. I like the setup a lot but would have to swap the tires to a narrower setting if I had a lot of land plowing to do.

I bet that one does good on the slopes doesn't' it?

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[vtsnowedin]

I bet that one does good on the slopes doesn't' it?

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Ayup! that was the plan. I have plenty of steep wooded slopes where even this setup needs to be used with care but there are few places where I can't get within a chains length of the log I want.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Vtsnowedin: I keep mixin merical grow with the diesel I put in my lil 3005 hoping it will grow up to be like yours! Lots of hills here too...

 

[vtsnowedin]

Vtsnowedin: I keep mixin merical grow with the diesel I put in my lil 3005 hoping it will grow up to be like yours! Lots of hills here too...

:laughing::laughing: God if only that would work I could have saved a lot of payments!!