New to tractors

[Dogtrainer]

I have 5 acres with a small orchard and a creak with lots of berry vines and brush. I also have a pond that I use for my business as I train Labradors for gundog and family pets.
Operating a tractor is something new for me but I have operated heavy equipment in the past to a limited extent. My major concern is the top heavy factor or rearing up and going over backwards as I climb out of the creek after doing maintenance. I'm assuming I will need to go straight up and down the hillside and climbing out would be better if backing out of the creek uphill. Any thoughts are appreciated.
I have a Honda 500 quad and I can climb out of the creek in two wheel drive easily enough so the hill isn't too steep.

 

[Muhammad]

Welcome to TBN.

 

[Dogtrainer]

Thank you!

 

[creekbend]

Good to have you aboard. There is quite a lot of knowledge to be gained by reviewing the forums here on TBN. Best wishes.

 

[kensnelling]

Welcome to the forum from Oklahoma. Be safe.

Ken

 

[moored4]

:welcome: to TBN! :thumbsup:

Happy :tractor: ing!
I trialed Labs when I Was down south!

 

[Dogtrainer]

Thank you all! I'll get my new toy by the end of the month and I'm sure there are going to be tons of questions.
I'm retiring from the fire service, 29 years and the last 20 as a Captain. The last 10 years I've been building my dog training business so now with 5 acres to clean and maintain the tractor is a must. Lot different than a fire engine!

 

[NHmitch]

Great to have you aboard, I traded my police car this year after 17 years for a tractor because my injuries from my last deployment with the military were too much to keep doing the job, but life is good from a tractor, and I hope you enjoy it! The one think I would recommend is keep your center of gravity as low as possible, and always, always wear your seat belt with the ROPS in the up position. If you don't have ROPS, Roll Over Protection, on the tractor, make that one of the first purchases you make after you buy your new tractor. What type of orchard? Do you know what type of tractor you are getting? Anyways, welcome, and enjoy retirement, you've earned it!

Mitch

 

[Dogtrainer]

I'm getting a John Deere 3320 with loader and backhoe. It has ROPS installed already. I've been looking at some of the stupid stuff on YouTube about rollovers and YES, seatbelts are a must. thank you thou. That's the kind of info I'm looking for.

The orchard so far is just 8 trees but is going to go maybe 12 trees. Just for us and neighbors to enjoy, but there are a TON OF WEEDS!

 

[MarkV]

I'll add my welcome! I think you have solved your problem already. Use the backhoe and loader to lessen the degree of incline out of the creek. Think ramp on both sides.

MarkV

 

[vwnotrunning]

Welcome - I 2nd MarkV on building a crossing location. There will be times that you will want to haul something into or out of the creek.

 

[Dogtrainer]

I like that idea!

 

[Dogtrainer]

I was talking to the sales person at JD and he was telling me that as long as the slope of the hill wasn't TOOOOO steep, and there was no danger of side swipping anything, I could lower the out riggers of the backhoe to just off the ground 6" or a foot to stop any tip over.
I'm thinking, 'if I have to lower my down riggers, I shouldn't be at that angle in the first place'! Your thoughts?

 

[MarkV]

Pretty common practice for me at our mountain home. I will also swing the backhoe boom to the uphill side and extend it when I get into a side hill situation that makes me nervous. I am not necessary recommending you get in those situation but sometimes it does happen.

Your fist step, in my opinion, is get the tractor and spend some time on it before you attempt the more challenging parts of your property. Like anything there is a learning curve.

MarkV

 

[Dogtrainer]

Haha, obviously you have had a lot more experience than me. If my wife saw me extending the backhoe to help prevent rollover, she would stop payments, to prevent rollover.
If ya get my drift! Bye bye tractor. I'll get in a plethora of practice before showing her my new skill LOL LOL

 

[Dogtrainer]

Ordered the tractor today!!!!!
They have my tractor at the dealers lot and the loader and backhoe are ordered now.

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

Is this the same Browns Valley, CA in Napa, CA? I had a house up in Circle Oaks for a little over 11 years. Until I retired from AT&T and moved to AZ to enjoy the dry heat????

Good luck with your tractor,orchard and most of all the PUPPIES.:thumbsup:

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

Ordered the tractor today!!!!!
They have my tractor at the dealers lot and the loader and backhoe are ordered now.

Remember New Tractor means lots of pictures as soon as you get her home.

 

[Dogtrainer]

No, we are about 15 miles east of Yuba City, Marysville, on the way to Grass Valley. I plan to put the JD 3320 to work ASAP on the property. I'm just thinking the dog training may cut into my tractor play time! Gotta get that wife more involved in the training aspect. ;0)

Anyone married more then 6 months knows what a bold line of BS that is! We've been married for 45 years so I'm hopping she never sees this post!

 

[NHmitch]

Lol, Thats funny, because I have been married for I have been married for 14 years going on a hundred. I frequently worry that she will see my posts, or how much time I spend on this site

Mitch