Working On A Slope

[DanielVT]

Hi,

New member here, so have mercy on me.

I have a couple of acres to mow with my new toy, an L4400 with a 6' bush hog. Slopes from 10 to 30 degrees. The book says I should back up these slopes, because if I go up frontways I might end up with the front of the tractor coming up over my head.

Fine, I says. Backing up will do me for 95% of the field, but I'd like to back down the hill in a couple of spots. These are pretty steep, so maybe I shouldn't mess with them. But I was thinking last night - I have a 6' mower attached to the 3-point hitch - there's no way I'm going to tip over backwards! If the front wheels come up, the mower will hit the ground behind me. Right?

Sorry for asking such a basic question, but I'm gonna feel real dumb if I squash myself.

Daniel

 

[teg]

From your little photo, looks like you have a FEL... that will help you keep the front down. As for the three point hitch and the mower keeping that from happening... it will fold up just like a pretzel.

You can also add some weight in the bucket (scoop up some gravel or dirt). And you never have to worry about asking basic questions here... Welcome to TBN.

 

[TripleR]

As stated, your mower will not act as a stop to keep you from flipping over. By dropping it to the ground however, you will take the weight off of your three-point and help avoid a flip.

Backward roll overs usually occur under power and in essence, according to my VoAg teacher, the tractor is rotating on the axle, so by backing down you are not exerting rotational forces like you would going up the hill.

Definitely keep the bucket on.

I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but from personal experience, if you are really concerned about something like this maybe you shouldn't be doing it until you get a little more seat time.

I am in the learning process myself with a new tractor and until I get much more time in use I will not attempt some things I am very comfortable with on one of my other tractors. And in the end you have to ask if something questionable really needs to be done.

 

[Inky05]

...Backward roll overs usually occur under power and in essence, according to my VoAg teacher, the tractor is rotating on the axle, so by backing down you are not exerting rotational forces like you would going up the hill......

What goes down must come back up...

 

[TripleR]

What goes down must come back up...

Yes, but not necessarily via the same route.

 

[DanielVT]

I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but from personal experience, if you are really concerned about something like this maybe you shouldn't be doing it until you get a little more seat time.

I'm not at all offended by someone giving me advice that a) I asked for an b) might keep me from killing myself. Thanks.

And in the end you have to ask if something questionable really needs to be done.

Yes, it's occurred to me that the part of the field that I was talking about is in an area that I can't see from the house...

 

[Youare]

I work in southeastern Vermont and live in southwestern New Hampshire.

The problem with backing down a slope that is steep with a brush hog is before the rear wheels on the tractor go over the edge the brush hog will be suspended out in the air off the ground. This changes the center of gravity a little because of the weight on the rear of the tractor and the front end gets a little lighter with the rear wheels going over the edge. Besides you probably will nt do any cutting on the edge if the brush hog is off the ground.

Backing uphill keeps the brush hog on the ground untill you reach the top. If your tractors rear wheel rims are made so the width came be changed make sure they are positioned for the widest stance. This will make the tractor muvh more stable, even a 6" difference in width makes a huge difference.

It will take a while but you will get accustomed to the slopes your tractor can safety handle. Remember to keep your FEL close to the ground when mowing, especially on any side slopes. Wear you seat belt and becareful, but enjoy.

Randy

 

[DanielVT]

Now I'm really confused...the manual that came with the loader says "To reduce the possibility of a rollover, it is not recommended that the loader be attached when operating another implement on a hillside".

Now I understand that backing up a hillside with a loader full of rocks lifted as high as possible would be a Very Bad Idea...but if the loader is empty and kept low, and I'm backing straight up the hill and not across it, what the heck are they talking about? Doesn't it add stability to have the extra weight in the front?

I did take it up to the top of the upper hill yesterday afternoon, backing up with both the mower and the loader on it. It wasn't terrifying, but I was pretty wide awake by the time I got down again. The mower is fun! Backed into some scrubby crap that I've been wanting to get rid of for a couple of years...whapwhapwhapwhapwhap problem solved.

 

[TripleR]

If you really went by what manuals on some equipment, you wouldn't be able to use it.

Yes, a FEL "can" make a tractor less stable on hills especially going across them, but depending on the size of the tractor the difference is very small. Once you get use to you tractor you will become comfortable with how it works and in some instances a FEL can actually help stability.

I have a steep pond levy that I mow with my CX80 and a 10' mower and I am constantly raising and lowering the FEL for better weight transfer. The FEL on it hasn't been off in years.

 

[dex3361]

Is your L4400 an HST? Do you have the rear tires loaded? Like stated before are the rear wheels set to widest position? I have the L4400HST and use it a lot on hills and I am pleased with the way it performs. I would get a tilt meter so you know how steep the areas are. I have some places that are 27 degrees and this is pretty steep. It is difficult to stay in the seat on the 27 degree area.