When does a tractor roll?

[renewablejohn]

I think you're over reacting.
The op came on for some advice. Good advice has followed which they have acknowledged.
They now have a choice of ignoring it, upgrading their kit, hiring, getting a contractor, not topping or ....?

I wish I was over reacting. How many on here are actually in this position to actually speak from experience. I have a MF550 which in reality is a more modern MF35 and I can assure you it is absolute rubbish on most of my steep land. However the 4WD Holder sticks to the hills like glue. Until you use a proper alpine tractor you dont realise how unsafe a conventional tractor really is.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I wish I was over reacting. How many on here are actually in this position to actually speak from experience. I have a MF550 which in reality is a more modern MF35 and I can assure you it is absolute rubbish on most of my steep land. However the 4WD Holder sticks to the hills like glue. Until you use a proper alpine tractor you dont realise how unsafe a conventional tractor really is.

I'm not disagreeing that its best not attempted. See my earlier posts, and plenty of other people's.
My point is berating someone for taking on land that they haven't got suitable equipment to top it with is ott. There are plenty of other options.

 

[Grandad Pig]

I say just graze it harder and fk worrying about topping it. If it feels unsafe it probably is! The return on your time and effort of topping such ground will be miniscule whilst the cost of rolling could be very high on financial, limb and life terms... Whilst a machine may be safe to a certain point you need to allow a reasonable margin of error. When operating too close to the limits putting a wheel on an ant hill or in a small depression in the ground is all it takes.

As shown in that old film!

 

[PhilipB]

I wish I was over reacting. How many on here are actually in this position to actually speak from experience. I have a MF550 which in reality is a more modern MF35 and I can assure you it is absolute rubbish on most of my steep land. However the 4WD Holder sticks to the hills like glue. Until you use a proper alpine tractor you dont realise how unsafe a conventional tractor really is.

A) I was given the land. Its not the sort of land one would choose to rent.

B) the sloped area is less than 4ha all told, and only a bit of that is in any way debatable. - hence not enough to bother with a contractor or hired machine.

C) a 135 is not a 35. We have several of both.

D) I suspected that alot of people on here would have driven 135s and know exactly what they can and can't do. As indeed was the case.

All I was doing is gathering information. (thanks everyone) Which has been very useful in assessing risk.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

A friend of mine told someone that where he came from they played football on pitches steeper than that when shown a steep bank
As someone said one man's mountain another man's hill .who wants the expense of an alpine tractor just for topping.so do what you think is right and if your used to your 135 that's your best bet and as you say a lot have already used these.
Stay safe

 

[Grandad Pig]

Good thread this one, might even save a life one day.

 

[cambsfarmer]

S

 

[multi power]

Leave it alone this is the aftermath of a 5 time roll on a hillside here in September.
Father lucky to be alive.
My advice don’t take risks.

Your dad done that kev? Must have been steep

 

[Kevtherev]

Your dad done that kev? Must have been steep

Yes he’s a very lucky man
Experienced bloke too just shows how quick things can happen.

 

[multi power]

Yes he’s a very lucky man
Experienced bloke too just shows how quick things can happen.

Id imagine he would be about as skilled and experienced as there is, what actually happened?

 

[Kevtherev]

Id imagine he would be about as skilled and experienced as there is, what actually happened?

Tractor shot backwards in neutral pressed brakes up and over end over end then rolled multiple times.
Shows how good modern safety cabs are.

 

[JP1]

 

[simmy_bull]

View attachment 900757

On fairly smooth looking tyres too!!!

 

[Tomr10]

Steep at the top of this garden to walk up

 

[Happy hillbily]

On fairly smooth looking tyres too!!!

Read somewhere they grip better on the dry slopes than normal tractor tyres

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Read somewhere they grip better on the dry slopes than normal tractor tyres

Cleated tyres are only as good as their bite into the turf.
We had 650 fronts/710 rears on a 7495 baling tractor and it was seriously dangerous on steeper stuff, OK if the ground was soft enough to get a bite but a serious liability on hardpack.
Not hard at all to lose traction or suddenly have a front tyre spinning backwards on descents whereas our 6499 on narrower rubber was far far better. You could drive it until the tyres rolled off the rims

 

[multi power]

I wish I was over reacting. How many on here are actually in this position to actually speak from experience. I have a MF550 which in reality is a more modern MF35 and I can assure you it is absolute rubbish on most of my steep land. However the 4WD Holder sticks to the hills like glue. Until you use a proper alpine tractor you dont realise how unsafe a conventional tractor really is.

A 550 is very different to a 35
A 35 would be my weapon of choice for steep slopes

 

[multi power]

Tractor shot backwards in neutral pressed brakes up and over end over end then rolled multiple times.
Shows how good modern safety cabs are.

Feck

 

[JD-Kid]

Cleated tyres are only as good as their bite into the turf.
We had 650 fronts/710 rears on a 7495 baling tractor and it was seriously dangerous on steeper stuff, OK if the ground was soft enough to get a bite but a serious liability on hardpack.
Not hard at all to lose traction or suddenly have a front tyre spinning backwards on descents whereas our 6499 on narrower rubber was far far better. You could drive it until the tyres rolled off the rims

totally agree on hard packed ground singles get a better grip than duels or wide tires worked ground more rubber the better got 650 rears on tractor now used to have 20.8 on last one. the 650s let go quicker on hard ground
mate of mine used to say until the outside edge of the tire goes under the centre of yer arse it's not going to tip over ok till you slid and stop suddenly or hit a rut etc in a split second yer past the point of balance
keep the weight low and wide

 

[Jim bean]

Probably best to experiment with your tractor in the field. Do a bit at the bottom and see how it feels. Do not reverse up. If it looses traction going straight down let someone else do it.
I used to have a very steep farm Laverda hillside combine , fiat crawler all tractors 4wd with duals.