Least Tippy Machine

[oosik]

I would suggest - hire a dozer and get the holes filled. The OP does not know how stable his current tractor is. That is a definite accident - looking for a place to happen. Understanding comes with time and safe operation.

 

[Hay Dude]

Aebi Tractors are the most stable on earth

AEBI New England, LLC | Alstead, NH

AEBI New England, LLC was formed to become an Aebi Tractor Dealer in 2001 to serve the New England Region. We are currently one of four Distributors in the USA.

aebi-ne.com

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/auction-results/list/category/1100/tractors?Manu=aebi&CTRY=USA

 

[Cycledude]

How about some pictures of the problem areas ?

 

[Egon]

Best be looking at a breaking disk and tracked machine to cultivate the 14 acres. Then use a large drag for leveling.

 

[kubota shifty]

I have a Kubota L4330 with 6-inch wheel spacers and ag tires. I thought for sure this arrangement would provide the level of stability I was looking for, but it doesn't. I live on 14 acres of rolling/bumpy land that was previously a tree farm. There are holes all over the place and the land is generally uneven.

I plant a few acres, but I'm mostly interested in managing the land, clearing, and freeing up space for new uses. I felt much more stable in a Bobcat T650 that I had rented before buying the Kubota.

What types of machines are very stable on uneven ground, can use standard attachments, and are easy to work on/maintain? My budget is about $30,000.

I have [correction] a 4310 purchased as a vineyard return (Sonoma County). It is my understanding that for vineyard use the wheels are installed so that it is a narrower wheel base and that the same wheels can be flipped to widen the base. I have learned to keep the bucket down for stability. Also, you should keep a heavy attachment on the back - at least the box scraper. I keep some kind of gravel around, usually road base, to fill all large holes. Just had to fill deep ruts from having sand delivered when the ground was soft. Also, my understanding is the "automatic" version of this tractor is not good for heavy ripping kinds of attachments, like a disk. I was thinking that you could disk up your field to help reduce the holes. Hopefully you have a manual. I had to get an automatic because the ex husband couldn't drive a stick for anything.

 

[JWR]

Aebi Tractors are the most stable on earth

AEBI New England, LLC | Alstead, NH

AEBI New England, LLC was formed to become an Aebi Tractor Dealer in 2001 to serve the New England Region. We are currently one of four Distributors in the USA.

aebi-ne.com

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/auction-results/list/category/1100/tractors?Manu=aebi&CTRY=USA

View attachment 699358

I agree completely. The AEBI is THE machine if one is serious about mowing steep ground -- I mean seriously steep. The ones I saw in Europe (and at farm shows here) have the engine (A Kubota engine I think) beside the driver rather than in front of him. Very low CG. And I think they have PTO and 3pt both in front and in back. They are also expensive as all H. I'd love to have one but can't justify the cost & few people can.

 

[oosik]

Good Lord - they are VERY expensive. Interesting, informative web site.

 

[JWR]

How big are these holes? Sounds like you might need to doze it and start over if you're unsafe driving a tractor that size because of holes.

Yes , and a few more comments: First, I have 6 inch spacers on my Kubota B2150 and it made ALL the difference in the world. A problem is that the Japs-anese have yet to figure out that America is not flat. I don't know if you bought the Kubota new or used but you may want to trade if steep ground is your main operating venue. Until you get into the much larger machines (like M5, etc) you typically have NO in-out adjustment on the rear wheels with Kubota. Even on those larger sizes they will not go as wide as other brands like MF , Deere and New Holland. I have seen one or two low-profile Kubotas used on right of ways but they are so rare you'll never find one. My own MF 2660 rear tires will go out a foot wider spread than any Kubota of similar size. Also forget front tire spacing as that does not matter -- front axles pivot in the middle.
Second, forget filling the holes with the tractor. Unless it is soft or mostly sand your FEL will not hack it for earth moving (!) As others said -- hire a dozer which in the long run does a far better job , does it faster than you can, and is the right way to do it. Depending on your overall terrain you might be able to get the dozer to do just the worst parts and save cash.
Third -- the guy asking for pictures is a good post too -- hard to know what you are dealing with otherwise.
Fourth: the so-called orchard machines come in several different flavors. A low-profile machine is more what you need and those are used for highway maint, chicken barns, etc. and I have one (MF2660 LP) that I use on fairly steep ground. They typically have smaller diameter rear tires which helps to lower the machine and NO there no reason to avoid AG tires. In facty, very GOOD rteasons to keep them!
Fifth: Someone above said he is comfy on slopes 20 deg steeper than his wife? To clarify (look at the red chart above) a 20 degree slope is roughly 40% which is a fairly steep one to begin with so his wife must have been on the flat only ??

 

[kpsp50]

From what I'm hearing it would be better if you would fill in the holes and smooth them out if you can't do it or don't have the ability don't feel bad hire somebody with a dozer and let them fill it in it would be a lot cheaper and safer for you not to get hurt or destroy your equipment

 

[60047]

Excellent feedback. Thanks everyone. I've decided to fill the holes with a dozer first. There are hundreds of holes, since the property was previously a tree farm.

The property does not have hills and is not steep. It just oddly jagged, with a lot of overgrowth. Sometimes the holes have filled up a bit and then the tall grass sort of camouflages them. A lot of the jaggedness is likely related to small holes that have worn down over time.

Regarding filling/grading with a dozer: Could a heavy (20,000 pound) wheel loader work just as well?

 

[k0ua]

Fifth: Someone above said he is comfy on slopes 20 deg steeper than his wife? To clarify (look at the red chart above) a 20 degree slope is roughly 40% which is a fairly steep one to begin with so his wife must have been on the flat only ??

Yep anything but flat ground is "pretty scary" for the wife. She can't tolerate much slope at all.

 

[4570Man]

Yep anything but flat ground is "pretty scary" for the wife. She can't tolerate much slope at all.

My experience is 99 percent of people will overestimate the angle of a hill by double what it actually is.

 

[k0ua]

My experience is 99 percent of people will overestimate the angle of a hill by double what it actually is.

I wouldn't doubt that for a moment.

 

[Hay Dude]

I cut places where some people won’t walk. My experience has been most times tractors will slide, not tip.

 

[Xfaxman]

Excellent feedback. Thanks everyone. I've decided to fill the holes with a dozer first. There are hundreds of holes, since the property was previously a tree farm.
---------------------------------------------
Regarding filling/grading with a dozer: Could a heavy (20,000 pound) wheel loader work just as well?

Based on what my 11,000 pound compact telehandler can do moving dirt with the 1 cubic yard 6 foot wide bucket, I would say yes the wheel loader could do it.

 

[hube2]

My experience is 99 percent of people will overestimate the angle of a hill by double what it actually is.

This is why I put a magnetic level on my hood to measure the angle of my tractor on the slope rather than the slop. 30 degrees, give or take, is the angle my tractor is at on the steepest slop I will mow. There are a few places steeper but I won't mow those.

 

[60047]

@Xfaxman If you have operated both a compact wheel loader and standard wheel loader, how does the stability compare to your telehandler? How has maintenance been on your machine? I had been eyeing a ground-engaging telehandler for a couple years, but they have have always been outside of my budget.

 

[Xfaxman]

Have not operated a wheel loader, I am judging their performance from watching videos and no pivoting front axle, same as my dirt digging compact telehandler. So it is not tippy like a tractor.

I did a direct comparison with a Bobcat T300 using my toothed bucket and mine dug hard clay and sandrock where the T300 just spun the tracks.

Maintenance has been no problem. And it has done everything that I have needed a machine to do since I got it back in September of 2009.
Never have wished for my tractor back.

 

[4570Man]

Regarding filling/grading with a dozer: Could a heavy (20,000 pound) wheel loader work just as well?

I’m sure it would work but not nearly as good as a dozer. A loader was designed to lift dirt, a dozer was designed to shape it.

 

[Tony H]

I have a Kubota L4330 with 6-inch wheel spacers and ag tires. I thought for sure this arrangement would provide the level of stability I was looking for, but it doesn't. I live on 14 acres of rolling/bumpy land that was previously a tree farm. There are holes all over the place and the land is generally uneven.

I plant a few acres, but I'm mostly interested in managing the land, clearing, and freeing up space for new uses. I felt much more stable in a Bobcat T650 that I had rented before buying the Kubota.

What types of machines are very stable on uneven ground, can use standard attachments, and are easy to work on/maintain? My budget is about $30,000.

Small but look at Ventrac