Help! Stuck In The Sand

[BGM72]

I took delivery of a New Holland TC 18 with 4WD, FEL (54" bucket) , Industrial Tires, Rear Blade and Yard Rake. I bought the tractor to pull sand away from the house that has built up over the winter and to rake the beach after it is level. I was very excited and put the tractor right to work. I started by trying to use the bucket to dig in - the tires spun, I used the back blade to pull the sand away - the tires spun, I used the bucket to drag the sand back - the tires spun. Thank god for the locking rear wheels or I would still be out there spinning the tires. I am sure some of my problems will be solved with practice and experience but there seems to be a major issue.

Please help! My wife is going to kill me if this thing won't do what I told her it would.

Thanks!

 

[Bird]

I certainly couldn't say for sure without seeing what you have and what you're doing, but it sounds to me like you're trying to take too big a bite at a time; i.e., need to dig in very shallow with the bucket, then go forward with the lip just below the surface until you fill the bucket, same with the blade; don't try to go too deep all at once, and go with a very light touch on the acceleration instead of charging into things (do you have the manual transmission instead of HST?). In other words, just need a little practice, and go at it slow and easy. I'll bet most of us have been there./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I know I did a lot of wheel spinning when I first got my B7100.

 

[Egon]

Is it dry sand or wet sand. Could make a big difference.

Egon

 

[BGM72]

The sand is dry where I am working.

 

[deepsnow]

From past experience I strongly agree with Bird's recommendation. A less "aggressive load" & easy on the power limits spinning. One other factor may be the weight of your tractor. I was debating on purchasing a TC21D vs TC25D (went with the TC25D). The one thing the dealer strongly suggested with either the 18 or 21 Boomer was wheel weights. His reasons: better traction and improved stability.

 

[pennwalk]

They use a medium sized JD tractor to rake the beach at Stone Harbor NJ. It has 4WD and ag tires. They drag an 8 or 10 foot landscape rake. They move at a steady pace. It would be interesting to see if the ag tires would make the difference. I wonder if there is a driving style that reduces tire spin?

Chris

 

[Kodiak]

How about lowering the air pressure in your tires. This will create a larger surface area with less pounds per square inch exerted on the sand, thus allowing your tractor to stay on top. Your dealer should be able to advise you on how much is safe.

 

[frank_f15]

i think one of the problems is for some applications u may have a tad to much bucket for the tractor. try going a little lighter on the controls, and make sure u have some weight on th rear. u se low gear, and go slow. you will get it with practice.

 

[Egon]

If it's dry sand good luck! Maybe wait till it rains and you can work with wet sand. There just may be a world of difference.

Egon

 

[BGM72]

It is HST.

 

[glennmac]

There are only three solutions that come to my mind:

1. Heavier tractor.
2. More tractive tires.
3. More delicate technique, as has been suggested.

 

[banjobj]

I had a similar problem with my TC 21 D when using the FEL, until I added about 400 pounds to the 3 pt ( I made a cement weight) It is very easy I used a plastic tub, threaded rod and Sacrete. My rear tires are loaded with CaCl, but the rear weight made a big difference. The advice you have been given by others is also good, go slow and take small bites!!!!!!!

 

[BGM72]

I usually have the back blade on the 3 pt but my tires are not loaded, loading the tires might help. Also would it help to put any weight on the towing hitch?

What type of tires do you have?

Thanks for the input!

 

[RanchMan]

Egon-

Wet sand definitely makes a lot of difference!

A couple of fellows I knew (honest! I wasn't one of them!!) in their youth hung around the beach on weekends during the summer. Lots of people would "cruise" the beach - but some of them didn't have much sense and took their Camaros & other low ground clearance vehicles on to the sand. Before you knew it, sand was spraying as they tried to "gas" their way out.

Well, the fellow and his buddy would find such folks and tell them "We can get you out for $20." Demanded payment BEFORE removal. Anyway, they'd get the $20 and then proceed to "relieve" themselves self just behind the rear tires. As long as the driver didn’t "gun" it, they would often just back right out. The $20? Well, usually went to purchase more "adult beverages" which were then "recycled" and often used on the next goofball that got stuck.

Wet sand - yep - definitely helps traction! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[hosejockey2002]

If you're going to work on the beach in sand maybe some really wide turf tires would be the ticket. If you add weight to your industrials I think you would just make matters worse. On most surfaces the weight would help but you probably want to "float" on the sand if you can.

 

[JimMorrissey]

BGM,

Larger tires sounds good, but if you don't want to buy new tires....try to deflate the ones you have a bit. Not too much, but enough to give you some more width. I used to do this in my Jeep on the beach. It works well and is standard practice when traveling in the sand. When you're back on hard ground you can fill them again. I guess you're gunna need a compressor now. Excellent excuse for another fine tool to have around.

 

[BruceW]

Test the wet sand theory by setting up a sprinkler in an area you would like to have more traction in.

Good Luck

bruce

 

[banjobj]

I have R-4 tires, it might help to put weight on the hitch , but I think you would be limited as to how much you could put on. I think the loaded tires would work better for you. This has been discussed in great detail in the past. Try a search and I think you will find lots of info on what to use/ pros and cons.

 

[Mosey]

I’ve never had my tractor in sand, but I have been four wheeling in sand with Jeeps many times. The key to sand is to stay as light as possible! Also, use wide tires with low tire pressures, I mean very low, less than 5 PSI. Also, the aggressive tread is only going to make you dig in – which means you’ll dig DOWN. If you’re primarily going to be using your new tractor is sand, then I would see if your dealer is willing to swap your industrials for turfs. Did you tell your dealer at the time you were buying it that you would be using it in sand? If so, they should have known better than to sell you industrials.

 

[Soundguy]

The whole idea of having a tractor though, is weight and traction. A super light weight tractor, with no traction isn't going to pull a large implimint good... A box blad would be out of the question. A light jeep for floating over the sand is one thing.. but the tractor uses ground engaging equipment.. new story.

Soundguy