I (narrowly) averted a multiple roll rollover crash in the tractor the other day.

[Soldier415]

Pictures never seem to do slopes justice do they? Glad you and the tractor are ok.

Also: you seat belt was on RIGHT?!

Yes. Seat belt was on. Bailing out isn't an option with a cab so I strap in.

 

[TheMan419]

Man I am glad you are here to tell that tale! Good fast thinking. There were probably 1000 ways to skin that cat, but what matters is you skinned it and are here to tell us about it.

I would agree put up a "guard rail". Posts with cross beams, a berm, both.... something so that in the future it is not as big of an issue.

Walking the tractor out with the bucket is not a hard task. I learned to do it when I buried the front in the mud this year. I have maybe 27 hrs on the tractor (it is my first). But you are right even if you pulled yourself out, now what. You still have no chains and a slick road.

 

[Milo]

In in spite of the fact our drive isn't steep my tractor with industrial tires skidded around a good bit on ice and packed snow. Now it has turf tires which hook up much, much better.

 

[Soldier415]

That berm is a good idea. Next time you could be in your car. I got my tractor in August. I had run it for 2 days straight loading brush in a pile with my front forks. I had got real confident and enjoying myself. Middle of the third day I was going to dump a load of branches off the fork. I was running out of places to dump and decided to dump while on a slight cross slope. I knew that was against the rules but it wasn't too much slope. In a blink of an eye I nearly laid the tractor over on its side. I now have pucker power. Now it's December my butt cheeks finally don't tighten up quite as much when hitting a small bump. Lessons learned and happy we learned with a close call and not getting hurt.

Never have thought of a barrier. Our vehicles have no issues getting up and down the drive generally.

 

[Soldier415]

In in spite of the fact our drive isn't steep my tractor with industrial tires skidded around a good bit on ice and packed snow. Now it has turf tires which hook up much, much better.

Chains are a must with how steep our drive is.

Here is a view from the bottom of the first hill looking up past the bridge.

View from the bridge looking up towards the turn where I almost went over the edge

Thats why I went with the studded euro style chains. Hate to end up in the brook

 

[TerryR]

Soldier,

Have you every figured out how much the average grade is?

 

[Soldier415]

Soldier,

Have you every figured out how much the average grade is?

I haven't. I really need to determine the grade of the slope

 

[kebo]

Jim Lake sings: "What a lucky man he was....." Glad you are ok Soldier, and the only damage was a perfectly good pair of underwear got ruined! You can buy new briefs, lol. You're a wiser man for it, though.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Glad everything worked out for you... I'm sure that it was a very valuable learning experience that cost very little, all things considered.

Having been playing with anything with a motor and tires for 30+ years, and 'playing' in the snow every chance I had, make situations like that easier to deal with. My mom is terrified by bad weather... because she has no confidence in her ability to 'drive out of' a slide or other situation that suddenly comes into play. By intentionally sliding around in fields, playing in the snow and ice, in safe conditions, I have built up a 'muscle memory', that makes vehicle handling in bad weather somewhat automatic. You don't have to 1) panic 2) think about what to do 3) do it, you just Do It naturally.

That's not to say I never have situations that make me pucker... but I do have enough situational awareness to deal with things.

Go play in the snow... it's good education and fun...

 

[Soldier415]

Glad everything worked out for you... I'm sure that it was a very valuable learning experience that cost very little, all things considered.

Having been playing with anything with a motor and tires for 30+ years, and 'playing' in the snow every chance I had, make situations like that easier to deal with. My mom is terrified by bad weather... because she has no confidence in her ability to 'drive out of' a slide or other situation that suddenly comes into play. By intentionally sliding around in fields, playing in the snow and ice, in safe conditions, I have built up a 'muscle memory', that makes vehicle handling in bad weather somewhat automatic. You don't have to 1) panic 2) think about what to do 3) do it, you just Do It naturally.

That's not to say I never have situations that make me pucker... but I do have enough situational awareness to deal with things.

Go play in the snow... it's good education and fun...

I'm comfortable in the snow and other slick situations. Was definitely interesting going from normal to "zero traction and rapidly gaining speed" in an instant. lol

 

[Deadman]

This is very typical of the R4 industrial tires. They are the WORST tire I've EVER used in snow and especially ice.

I took a tire cutting tool and "cut" my R4's and they are now literally 2-3X's better in snow and ice. I can't imagine using an Industrial tire on snow and ice ever again without cutting them.

 

[Thomas]

Smooth ice wet snow on ice not R4's friend w/out chains,rear scraper does come in handy when traction control broken on slope.

Dang glad good ending for you.

 

[motownbrowne]

This is very typical of the R4 industrial tires. They are the WORST tire I've EVER used in snow and especially ice.

I took a tire cutting tool and "cut" my R4's and they are now literally 2-3X's better in snow and ice. I can't imagine using an Industrial tire on snow and ice ever again without cutting them.

I'm planning on grooving my tires this week. I put truck tire chains on my small front tires, but don't have any for the back. Did you just do one groove per bar, or did you cut them in any other locations?

 

[Deadman]

The rears I just cut 1 groove per lug. I started in a little bit from the very corner thinking it would keep the lug stronger on the edge, but I think i'd cut it all the way to the edge if I did it again.
The fronts I cut at roughly 45* angles and cut each lug twice making like 3 sections. That was a HUGE improvement, because the R4 has absolutely NO side traction at all. They are like slicks. After cutting them, it does more work in 2wd than it ever could before in 4x4. The slipping and sliding like a fool is done, and its not an embarrassment to drive in snow in front of people now. The main thing is the wheel hop associated with spinning them in 4x4 is reduce now because they rarely have to spin unless the snow is really deep.
Before I cut them on my 2520, I hooked it to my dads Polaris Sportman 700 ATV and we had a tug of war on my snow cover gravel driveway. That Sportsman weighed maybe 800ish lbs, and I had over 1,000 lbs in my ballast box alone and in 4x4 he drug me around with ease. After I cut them we tried it again on the snow covered driveway and when he staying in 4x4, I could drag in around in 2wd like he wasn't even back there. So, it made one **** of an improvement.

I just traded my 2520 for a 2720, so I need to cut these new tires. I had it out today and it really Pi$$ed me off in the snow, so I put it away before I got too mad. used my ATV for the jobs and never looked back.

 

[motownbrowne]

The rears I just cut 1 groove per lug. I started in a little bit from the very corner thinking it would keep the lug stronger on the edge, but I think i'd cut it all the way to the edge if I did it again.
The fronts I cut at roughly 45* angles and cut each lug twice making like 3 sections. That was a HUGE improvement, because the R4 has absolutely NO side traction at all. They are like slicks. After cutting them, it does more work in 2wd than it ever could before in 4x4. The slipping and sliding like a fool is done, and its not an embarrassment to drive in snow in front of people now. The main thing is the wheel hop associated with spinning them in 4x4 is reduce now because they rarely have to spin unless the snow is really deep.
Before I cut them on my 2520, I hooked it to my dads Polaris Sportman 700 ATV and we had a tug of war on my snow cover gravel driveway. That Sportsman weighed maybe 800ish lbs, and I had over 1,000 lbs in my ballast box alone and in 4x4 he drug me around with ease. After I cut them we tried it again on the snow covered driveway and when he staying in 4x4, I could drag in around in 2wd like he wasn't even back there. So, it made one **** of an improvement.

I just traded my 2520 for a 2720, so I need to cut these new tires. I had it out today and it really Pi$$ed me off in the snow, so I put it away before I got too mad. used my ATV for the jobs and never looked back.

Good information, thanks for passing that on. I'm a little reluctant to try it, but after a little googling, I decided to use my chainsaw for cutting the grooves. Wish me luck!

 

[tman1020]

Good information, thanks for passing that on. I'm a little reluctant to try it, but after a little googling, I decided to use my chainsaw for cutting the grooves. Wish me luck!

Good luck sounds sketchy to me. Hope it doesn't become expensive.

 

[tman1020]

It be nice to see some pictures of what you did.

 

[motownbrowne]

Good luck sounds sketchy to me. Hope it doesn't become expensive.

Yes, I hope that also.

I've got just the saw for the job, though. A nice little 40cc Dolmar with a 12" bar. Real sharp chain, high RPMs, and keep my fingers crossed (and out of the way ).

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Yes, I hope that also.

I've got just the saw for the job, though. A nice little 40cc Dolmar with a 12" bar. Real sharp chain, high RPMs, and keep my fingers crossed (and out of the way ).

Yup. Can't keep your fingers crossed if you only have one! Lol

 

[riptides]

Good information, thanks for passing that on. I'm a little reluctant to try it, but after a little googling, I decided to use my chainsaw for cutting the grooves. Wish me luck!

Operating a Chainsaw ON your tractor? I'd opt for another tool. Seriously.