Tractor Choice for Slopes

[Pistonbroke]

With 4wd/drivetrain braking, what happens when the tractor slides away and one front wheel starts spinning backwards? I guess this probably doesn't happen anymore since (I assume) most modern tractors are equipped with a working front LSD.

Still can happen . LSD isn't locked solid,just less likely to happen. Our valtra has locking front diff which sounds great but if you brake it disengages so need to pick your gears right before heading down.

 

[Pistonbroke]

As far as fert spreading goes,all of the very steepest ground that was ploughed and reclaimed through mid Wales was done with trailed land drive lime spreaders with twins. Our old contractor's favourite kit was a 5610 ford which he turboed with a spreader he made himself. He'd go across slopes that a tractor couldn't get up while steering with his knees and lighting his pipe

 

[NFI]

I'm just worried I'll agree to more horses.... a one way journey to being skint!

Seriously though.
Take advice from the others on here, if you're not used to slopes get someone who is.
We've all seen how tractor accidents happen and then happen so easily.

 

[Cowabunga]

With 4wd/drivetrain braking, what happens when the tractor slides away and one front wheel starts spinning backwards? I guess this probably doesn't happen anymore since (I assume) most modern tractors are equipped with a working front LSD.

If the tractor starts sliding, the aim is to keep the wheels turning and slightly accellerating, not to brake, because traction is lost. The primary aim is not to get into that situation. That Case has or had brakes in its front axle by the way, and that’s a fact.

 

[box]

Out of curiosity, was the Case driver still in the cab at the bottom of the hill or was he/she ejected from the cab? Bloody lucky to come away from that in one piece.

 

[Cowabunga]

Out of curiosity, was the Case driver still in the cab at the bottom of the hill or was he/she ejected from the cab? Bloody lucky to come away from that in one piece.

He was ejected and airlifted to hospital. Fortunately only bruised and shock.

 

[Weasel]

If the tractor starts sliding, the aim is to keep the wheels turning and slightly accellerating, not to brake, because traction is lost. The primary aim is not to get into that situation. That Case has or had brakes in its front axle by the way, and that’s a fact.

That case doesn't have front brakes

 

[Cowabunga]

That case doesn't have front brakes

Not any more. It had front brakes and an exhaust brake. 99% sure as these were the reasons for getting it rather than a Ferguson for which neither was an option.

 

[Weasel]

Not any more. It had front brakes and an exhaust brake. 99% sure as these were the reasons for getting it rather than a Ferguson for which neither was an option.

Exhaust brake yes, front brakes no

 

[steveR]

As a youth I was pushed down a hill by a trailed fert spreader (2wd tractor in those days) and I`ve NEVER forgot it... I`d much rather have a 1 (x 600kg) bag mounted spreader and a tractor in 4 wheel drive any day....

Been there, still got the t-shirt and happily, no longer have the brown trousers.

 

[Weasel]

Been there, still got the t-shirt and happily, no longer have the brown trousers.

What kind of tractor

 

[steveR]

What kind of tractor

DB1212, hooked to a Tasker with greedy boards, so probably 30cwt?

 

[Weasel]

DB1212, hooked to a Tasker with greedy boards, so probably 30cwt?

I've got a 990, could imagine,
Did it have the high cab?

 

[celtis man]

We have a few slopes , one in particular has nothing in the bottom but withes and brambles.when I was younger I spread fertilizer across the hill with a fiat 540and a vari spreader. Then I had a near miss with a jd 2040s and a ballast roller that pushed me side ways down over another hill, how I stayed up right I will never know

 

[Oscar]

Ground conditions at the moment are lethal , rock hard ground with even short grass is like driving on ice . I ve been driving steep ground and slopes for 40 years but had half a dozen " moments " the last week , nothing dramatic but only because I was aware of the potential threat . Be careful out there !

 

[Hard Graft]

Well I slid down a hill the other day in the sp sprayer in a grass field and that was not fun

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Hi All,

If this question has already been answered then apologies for the post but I couldn't find an easy way to search previous threads and would appreciate some advice on tractor selection, please.

We've moved from the flat land of Oxfordshire to the slopes of Somerset with 36% gradients in places across 30 acres. Not being an experienced driver on sloping land I'd be interested in what tractors you'd go for with a £25K +VAT budget. We're breeding horses, I know madness (she got me drunk one night) so harrowing, rolling, mowing, spraying and taking away muck to a neighbour, as well as hedgerow management and doing our own fencing.

I'm debating between a JD6320 (8.5K hours), McCormick T100 Max (2K hours) or possibly an Alpine for extra safety (no experience with them), all with a fitted loader. Assume the JD and McCormick will need wheel weights.... any other advice, thoughts or views gratefully received.

Many thanks...

Come and spend a week with me haymaking .... you will learn all about steep fields . ....it's not the tractor it's the driver that counts !

 

[ollandroverman]

That case doesn't have front brakes

It looks like it does to me...air brakes, 50kmh, front brakes

 

[Oscar]

Well I slid down a hill the other day in the sp sprayer in a grass field and that was not fun

Yea , all mine were on the Bateman on row crops doing liquid fert or spraying weed in grass .
Could not believe on Friday doing docks in shin high silage ley how slippy things were . Was unable to drive up slopes ( got wheel spin and no diff ( as hydrostatic) ) in fields I have sprayed for years and you can imagine what it was like coming down the slope having got to the top on a flatter route !
Very experienced owner/ driver unfortunately rolled his 6 month old Bateman a few weeks ago in Devon on a slopey grass field but not stupid steep or anything . He said it started to slide and take off abit across the slope but he was not overly worried however the back wheels suddendly found grip and the sort of shock grip and guess the slosh of liquid in tank was enough to flip the machine over ( had about 800ltrs in tank) . He told me that if it had not been him , he would have never believed what happened.

 

[hintonroadhero]

Exhaust brake yes, front brakes no

You must be mistaken... didn't you know that Cowabunga is always right !!!!