Long story short, I'm trying to determine how reasonable it is to improve an L3800 for hillside (side hill) work within a reasonable budget ( a few/5K).
In other words, how much can the L3800's (4x4 HST, currently with loaded R1s) stability be improved for side hill work without compromising the tractor or wasting dollars.
I presently hog these hills with it and do about 70% across the slope, 30% up/down, always when dry. They are pretty moderately sloped... never measured but easily 20% or > in portions.
If I put in grapes, all work will be side hill though an offsetting factor is that I would groom the hill sides prior to planting, eliminating as many irregularities as possible.
My main concern would be spraying chores and I won't always have the luxury of waiting for things to dry out... would either be a hitch mounted or towed rig.
Other tasks like mowing or any ground engagement work can normally by delayed until things have dried out.
A few ideas I was considering:
1. Lower CG by changing out front/rear wheels/tires to smaller diameter (while maintaining correct ratio since 4x4). Would need help calculating size options and or is it feasible to change gear ratio if need be.
2. Widen stance - 3" wheel spacers on each rear wheel
3. Widen stance - wider rear wheel/tire profile than existing R1s but with similar aggressive tread
4. Add weight - loaded tires, wheel weights, front suitcase weights, fat (short) operator, other? I keep looking at the FELs "subframe" and can't help but think there must be a way to leverage it for some type of low ballast mount.
5. reduce pivot travel of front axle? If that's realistic, would it then be worth while to either widen (or spacers) or load the front tires as well?
And the potentially dumbest, partially formed, half-baked, thought of this while typing the above kinda of idea....
6. if the FEL was on... and the bucket were modified with a wheel on each corner, and the bucket loaded to near lift capacity with a stable ballast... and in the FLOAT position so that the added wheels maintained contact with the ground... would it aid lateral stability, acting as an articulated extension? confused2:
Other suggestions welcomed.
And yes, I'll buy a purpose built machine if necessary.
This notion of adapting the L3800 was inspired in part by "Flusher"'s sexy orchard tractor in this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/115967-help-selecting-tractor-steep-brush-6.html
In other words, how much can the L3800's (4x4 HST, currently with loaded R1s) stability be improved for side hill work without compromising the tractor or wasting dollars.
I presently hog these hills with it and do about 70% across the slope, 30% up/down, always when dry. They are pretty moderately sloped... never measured but easily 20% or > in portions.
If I put in grapes, all work will be side hill though an offsetting factor is that I would groom the hill sides prior to planting, eliminating as many irregularities as possible.
My main concern would be spraying chores and I won't always have the luxury of waiting for things to dry out... would either be a hitch mounted or towed rig.
Other tasks like mowing or any ground engagement work can normally by delayed until things have dried out.
A few ideas I was considering:
1. Lower CG by changing out front/rear wheels/tires to smaller diameter (while maintaining correct ratio since 4x4). Would need help calculating size options and or is it feasible to change gear ratio if need be.
2. Widen stance - 3" wheel spacers on each rear wheel
3. Widen stance - wider rear wheel/tire profile than existing R1s but with similar aggressive tread
4. Add weight - loaded tires, wheel weights, front suitcase weights, fat (short) operator, other? I keep looking at the FELs "subframe" and can't help but think there must be a way to leverage it for some type of low ballast mount.
5. reduce pivot travel of front axle? If that's realistic, would it then be worth while to either widen (or spacers) or load the front tires as well?
And the potentially dumbest, partially formed, half-baked, thought of this while typing the above kinda of idea....
6. if the FEL was on... and the bucket were modified with a wheel on each corner, and the bucket loaded to near lift capacity with a stable ballast... and in the FLOAT position so that the added wheels maintained contact with the ground... would it aid lateral stability, acting as an articulated extension? confused2:
Other suggestions welcomed.
And yes, I'll buy a purpose built machine if necessary.
This notion of adapting the L3800 was inspired in part by "Flusher"'s sexy orchard tractor in this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/115967-help-selecting-tractor-steep-brush-6.html
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