How steep can you climb?

[Matt400]

Just curious to know how steep your wheeled compact can climb?
Pics would be great too if you have any.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I can go sideways on 45 degree slope. but ultimately climbing is more about traction than anything else.

 

[brandoro]

On reasonably solid footing it could climb steep enough to tip over backwards. That is the real limiting factor. If you need to climb something very steep backing up is a better plan. Makes a difference if you have a FEL, something heavy on the 3 point. Even how high you are carrying said attachments.
Y'all be careful.

 

[Matt400]

On reasonably solid footing it could climb steep enough to tip over backwards. That is the real limiting factor. If you need to climb something very steep backing up is a better plan.

I would back up for sure and it would be with a rotary cutter to mow a bank and reach to the top without having to back all the way up. I think this may be better than a mid-mount mower.
Just not sure how well it would work and hate to invest in the wrong equipment.

I am looking at Compacts & sub compacts so not sure which would be better on a steep bank. If I go compact I could step up to a cab model and add snow removal to its duties. If I go sub compact the snow removal will be more efficient with my pickup so I have that option.
Currently I mow all of the field and 1/3 of that bank with a walk behind brush mower and tackle the top 2/3rds up by the deck with a weed-eater.

The steep part is where the deck is in this picture, that's an old pic and now the brush is gone..just grass & weeds.

 

[Matt400]

ultimately climbing is more about traction than anything else.

So true, I use one of these:

and with the differential locked I can get 1/3 and in some places 1/2 way up the bank by our deck but run out of traction. I may try this spring with a set of chains.

 

[RoyJackson]

It's hard to tell exactly how steep the slope is at the top.
However, I'd try that slope going forward with the loader installed and down low. The transmission should be in low gear or low range. Definitely in 4WD!
The area must be dry...no dampness down low in the grass.
Going down, I'd suggest backing down the slope. Again, low gear... If your tractor is a gear machine, don't do any declutching going up or down. If those tires start spinning, you can try the differential lock, but if the tractor starts going sideways, stop and back down the slope. Your tractor won't do the job.

I tell you, I mow an area like the steeper section weekly during the summer. It's not a long slope (20-30 feet). It's slow going in low range 1st gear...but if you going to try it...it's just going to be slow.
I have had my front wheels off the ground whenI did it without the loader installed (but the loader gets in the way when mowing the rest of the lawn). So, I leave the loader frame on and drop the bucket off...the loader frame provides enough front ballast.

 

[Matt400]

It's hard to tell exactly how steep the slope is at the top.
However, I'd try that slope going forward

I will try and get a better pic of this, can't go forward. The deck is built off the lawn (house is in the background) and I cant drive up onto the lawn, wife would kill me for smashing shrubs & flowers

 

[MossRoad]

I can go sideways on 45 degree slope. but ultimately climbing is more about traction than anything else.

Show off!

My little brother to your's can only go up, down and across 25 degrees due to the limits of the Kohler engine's oiling system.

 

[RoyJackson]

I will try and get a better pic of this, can't go forward. The deck is built off the lawn (house is in the background) and I cant drive up onto the lawn, wife would kill me for smashing shrubs & flowers

If you have to back up...same things apply:
Very slow
Low Gear
4WD engaged
Differential lock if necessary
And, know when to give up the attempt!

I'm not sure how your top link should be adjusted. In the scenario I wrote about in my post (short, very steep slope), I'm operating a rear finishing mower and I disconnect the top link (due to the acuteness of the transitions from slope to level areas). I don't think I'd want the top link disconnected when backing up the slope of yours. I have backed my cutter up slopes, but nothing near as your slope appears. I was backing to get under branches, not because of the slope.

Good luck!

 

[SpringHollow]

I seriously would look at the Power Tracs. Nice tractors unless your main intent is ground engaged equipment used in farming.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

Show off!

My little brother to your's can only go up, down and across 25 degrees due to the limits of the Kohler engine's oiling system.

Well..... My tractor can. Personally I cannot... gets way to scary.. 25 degrees is way scary...

And as for going nose first off a 45, that takes some big eggs. Like the streets of San Francisco. You have no clue what the next step is...

 

[some zilch]

i go up and down stuff that if i didnt have my seatbelt on, i would actually fall out of the seat

 

[Thomas]

Low range..4x4.. bucket low to the ground..backing up..until rear tire spins or my gut feeling say enough.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Get four legged critters like goats, llamas, alpacas, cows or horses in that pecking order and let them do the hard work.

 

[tommcintire]

When I worked on the town crew in college, we maintained a slope that was about 40 degrees. We used to just weedwhack it with heavy duty weedwhackers. Didn't really take that long. 5 of us could do about 1/2 an acre in under an hour.

Looking at your pics, you probably can hit the shallower part with a tractor with ease (guessing) and then use a weedwhacker for the "scary part". If you keep up with it (less than 1 foot grass) it really isn't that bad.

 

[MossRoad]

Matt400,
Have you considered planting a ground cover on the steepest parts so you will not have to mow it?

 

[TripleR]

Like Roy Jackson, I mow slopes that steep and worse. Some I drive up and down when there is a flat place on top to turn around and if not will just mow on a zig-zag. In some areas, I have to back up and where there is an abrupt transition, you may have to lift it a litte and then catch it on the way back down. I can do this with my 2660 with FEL and 48" rotary cutter or MMM. My 2305 will do the same.

I was raised flat land farming and getting use to my hill farms took some getting use to. My father in law rolled lawn mowers a few times, but we have never had problems with a SCUT, CUT or full size tractor; surprising what these will do.

 

[RoyJackson]

Matt400,
Have you considered planting a ground cover on the steepest parts so you will not have to mow it?

And that is the best advice yet!!!

 

[dex3361]

Here are a few pics of one of the trails I mow(I will refrain from calling it a road). It starts out going up and the rise is
The first is a view from my shop toward the trail.
The second is a view from the last point of the trail where you can see the house.
The 3rd is a view up the next rise of the trail.
The 4th is a view up the last rise to the ridge.
The rise in elevation is about 400' in elevation.

 

[Opti-Mist]

Older gas tractors, Ford at least, were limited to about 17 degrees on sideslope courtesy of the carburetor float.