IF You are a Tractor Operator in your ROOKIE Season.

[AxleHub]

. . . . . . . .

If you are going downhill on a diagonal with something in the bucket or even the bucket raised up. You are probably doing it wrong.

Also, I thought that having the FEL on and carried low would help stability kinda like an outrigger or kickstand if the rear started up. That benefit though true can be a lot better if the FEL is removed first with just the tractor I found out on here through advice/past posts. The loader's weight actually raises the tractor's center of gravity.

If you have the quick drop FEL (arms and all) like me from Kubota though, good gawd don't drop it somewhere unlevel. You'll wish you hadn't when it's time to put it back!

Yes, taking the fel off on a non-flat area is . . . Shall we say . . . . another of those learning experiences for us rookies lol.

Personally . . Whether its a lawn mower or a tractor . . I reserve my steeper slopes for either up and down or sideways . . . Anything for diagonal directions is for flat land or mild slopes imo. Its been a very long time since my childhood days . . but even then . . Seeing farmers running tractors on the jills in our area of WI used to give me wonder . . . those 2 wheels spread wide in the back and 2 wheels tight together in the front . . what a tricycle effect. Its a wonder there weren't more accidents back then.

Lennyzx11, your pictures look like great views of pretty country. Looks like you've got good equipment, and you've got a learning and awareness going that a tractor offers benefits and challenges to slope inhabitants. I hope you keep sharing with us either on this thread or others on tbn about your experiences and successes . . . you will have a lot to contribute in 2016

 

[AxleHub]

AxelHub,
So you would feel safer running into large concrete blocks than the trees? Or just launch over the blocks into the trees? I want to watch this.

Greetings jenkinsph,

Yes, if I was sliding down a steep hill and had a choice between having contact with a 2 foot high concrete big block wall or a series of hardwood/softwood trees . . . I would definitely choose the wall. If the words "hurtling down the hill" is involved, either way its trouble. But if its a low speed slide . . the chances of being stopped without bodily harm jump up a great deal with the wall imo.

Lets remember that trees don't move just as the block wall doesn't move. But trees have spear like branches that often are at operator's chest and head high. And a rops on the tractor doesn't protect you from the branches or slamming into a tree and the resulting tractor tip up into the tree body because of its vertical nature. If I was going fast enough to hit the wall either head on with the fel or sideways with wheels . . . Either way . . If it caused the tractor to flip . . At least the rops has a chance to protect the operator per its design. And if its a slow speed impact . . The wall stops motion and you might be jostled but you aren't hitting branches unprotected.

But lets talk about another part of your short post. You have 10,626 posts on TBN by its count. Regardless of your age or experience . . that implies you are a senior member on TBN. So when you state you'd want to watch me or any member have potential injury (especially stated on a thread regarding rookie issues) . . it makes a person wonder what impression you are trying to create for others. Now you might claim its a joke or a dig or whatever . . . but it certainly doesn't seem like veteran leadership or wisdom shown on a thread about rookie learning or mistakes.

I've personally witnessed people get hurt badly on a couple of occasions, not on tractors but motorcycle accidents that were inattentive driving . . Watched them "sail in the air" at 20 miles an hour or faster. I still remember each of those events clearly and wish I hadn't seen them . . . they did not end well.

I think my reasons for a wall vs. the uncettainty of trees offers some logical reasoning for safety benefits with either minor speed or potential help from rops if its a more significant speed. And certainly others might have another solution or other viewpoints based on logical reasoning too. But I would certainly not desire any poster's viewpoint end in harm to themselves to prove my opinion. And I would think anyone with 10,626 posts would feel the same way.

 

[Handloader109]

All good points guys. Thanks for the information and keep adding to it. I've been on tractors from a very young age but they were all pretty big, (1950's model MF 85 and MF90 Propane burners both trike and 4 wheel) that we used to mainly pull things, bushing, plows etc. No fel. Now I've a little 25hp with a fel. Started moving dirt yesterday and within 10 min had an uh oh moment with the fel, load and slight Hill. Yes, got to move less, and I DO need to add a rear weight.

 

[jenkinsph]

Greetings jenkinsph,

Yes, if I was sliding down a steep hill and had a choice between having contact with a 2 foot high concrete big block wall or a series of hardwood/softwood trees . . . I would definitely choose the wall. If the words "hurtling down the hill" is involved, either way its trouble. But if its a low speed slide . . the chances of being stopped without bodily harm jump up a great deal with the wall imo.

Lets remember that trees don't move just as the block wall doesn't move. But trees have spear like branches that often are at operator's chest and head high. And a rops on the tractor doesn't protect you from the branches or slamming into a tree and the resulting tractor tip up into the tree body because of its vertical nature. If I was going fast enough to hit the wall either head on with the fel or sideways with wheels . . . Either way . . If it caused the tractor to flip . . At least the rops has a chance to protect the operator per its design. And if its a slow speed impact . . The wall stops motion and you might be jostled but you aren't hitting branches unprotected.

But lets talk about another part of your short post. You have 10,626 posts on TBN by its count. Regardless of your age or experience . . that implies you are a senior member on TBN. So when you state you'd want to watch me or any member have potential injury (especially stated on a thread regarding rookie issues) . . it makes a person wonder what impression you are trying to create for others. Now you might claim its a joke or a dig or whatever . . . but it certainly doesn't seem like veteran leadership or wisdom shown on a thread about rookie learning or mistakes.

I've personally witnessed people get hurt badly on a couple of occasions, not on tractors but motorcycle acvidents . . Watched them "sail in the air" at 20 miles an hour or faster. I still remember each of those events clearly and wish I hadn't seen them . . . they did not end well.

I think my reasons for a wall vs. the uncettainty of trees offers some logical reasoning for safety benefits with either minor speed or potential help from rops if its a more significant speed. And certainly others might have another solution or other viewpoints based on logical reasoning too. But I would certainly not desire any poster's viewpoint end in harm to themselves to prove my opinion. And I would think anyone with 10,626 posts would feel the same way.

AxleHub,
There is not anything safe about sliding down a hill into a wall or the trees. I would hope no one thinks the wall would add any safety to this scenario.

Yes I have been here on TBN for a while and like others I was a guest for several years prior to signing up. In all those years I have never had anyone on an ignore list. You are special though and will be the first one. I think it is better this way, better for the forum members who no doubt get tired of the bickering.

 

[jenkinsph]

Greetings jenkinsph,

Yes, if I was sliding down a steep hill and had a choice between having contact with a 2 foot high concrete big block wall or a series of hardwood/softwood trees . . . I would definitely choose the wall. If the words "hurtling down the hill" is involved, either way its trouble. But if its a low speed slide . . the chances of being stopped without bodily harm jump up a great deal with the wall imo.

Lets remember that trees don't move just as the block wall doesn't move. But trees have spear like branches that often are at operator's chest and head high. And a rops on the tractor doesn't protect you from the branches or slamming into a tree and the resulting tractor tip up into the tree body because of its vertical nature. If I was going fast enough to hit the wall either head on with the fel or sideways with wheels . . . Either way . . If it caused the tractor to flip . . At least the rops has a chance to protect the operator per its design. And if its a slow speed impact . . The wall stops motion and you might be jostled but you aren't hitting branches unprotected.

But lets talk about another part of your short post. You have 10,626 posts on TBN by its count. Regardless of your age or experience . . that implies you are a senior member on TBN. So when you state you'd want to watch me or any member have potential injury (especially stated on a thread regarding rookie issues) . . it makes a person wonder what impression you are trying to create for others. Now you might claim its a joke or a dig or whatever . . . but it certainly doesn't seem like veteran leadership or wisdom shown on a thread about rookie learning or mistakes.

I've personally witnessed people get hurt badly on a couple of occasions, not on tractors but motorcycle acvidents . . Watched them "sail in the air" at 20 miles an hour or faster. I still remember each of those events clearly and wish I hadn't seen them . . . they did not end well.

I think my reasons for a wall vs. the uncettainty of trees offers some logical reasoning for safety benefits with either minor speed or potential help from rops if its a more significant speed. And certainly others might have another solution or other viewpoints based on logical reasoning too. But I would certainly not desire any poster's viewpoint end in harm to themselves to prove my opinion. And I would think anyone with 10,626 posts would feel the same way.

AxleHub,
There is not anything safe about sliding down a hill into a wall or the trees. I would hope no one thinks the wall would add any safety to this scenario.

Yes I have been here on TBN for a while and like others I was a guest for several years prior to signing up. In all those years I have never had anyone on an ignore list. You are special though and will be the first one. I think it is better this way, better for the forum members who no doubt get tired of the bickering.