Seatbelt / ROPS Using Tractor on Lake (frozen)?

[keeney]

Now that the lakes here in MN are frozen, lots of people are out ice fishing, etc on the lakes. It occured to me to wonder if it would be safer to use a seatbelt/ROPS or to not have a seatbelt/ROPS while working on a frozen lake with a CUT.

Some of the things I anticipate doing are towing an ice-fishing house into position and clearing an ice-skating area.

The lake surface is about as level and flat as you can possibly imagine, so unless you drive into a recently-cut open hole where somebody was harvesting some ice or winter diving or something, you are unlikely to roll the tractor over.

My big concern would be what about hitting thin ice? Would it be more likely that the operator is crushed by the tractor partially falling through the ice, or drowning/freezing due to being dragged under with the tractor due to wearing ROPS.

One common piece of advice when driving a car or truck on the ice is to leave seatblets off and even perhaps keep the window rolled down to make an under-water escape quicker.

- Rick

 

[RoyJackson]

Real simple...I wouldn't operate a tractor on a frozen lake...period!

 

[Bird]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gifI with you, Roy; I'll leave the ice fishing, driving on ice, etc. to someone else. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Even when I was a kid, the only time I got on ice was when I knew for a fact that the water under it was less than waist deep.

 

[bczoom]

I'm with Roy and Bird.
As a kid, I grew up near a big fishing spot on Lake Erie (Sturgeon Point for those that know the lake). We would go diving in the summer and were amazed on how many cars, trucks... were laying at the bottom. The fish seemed to like them though.

Anyway, back to your question. I would "think" it would be best to not use in this circumstance. Rollovers can happen fast on ground but loose your base on ice and I'd want off as fast as possible. I figure if you and the tractor are both going in, let the ROPS break the ice around you but I would want to get away from the machine very quickly. Unlike a car, there's no floatation on a tractor and if strapped on, you're going down deep quickly.

 

[keeney]

I also agree about not driving on deeper water. I might go as deep as 8 feet or so to plow an ice skating area near the shore.

At this time of the year (early January), I am not too concerned with going through - there are lots of full size trucks driving and parked all over the lake. My little 1800 lb JD 4100 is not going to go through ice that can hold a 6000 lb 1/2-ton. Heck, the other day, about a half a dozen small aircraft landed and took off on the lake.

My rule of thumb for driving anything on the lake is to wait at least two weeks after the last reported car went through!

The problem comes in late February / early March when things can start to get soft again. Its tough to predict two weeks BEFORE somebody else goes through the ice!

- Rick

 

[DUMBDOG]

Just remember to leave the windows rolled down in case you have to get out in a hurry. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Currmudgeon]

If you're going to work on ice, you might think of a few other protective practices.

Consider wearing a PFD, a personal flotation device or one of those flotation jackets you can get at the boat shop. Consider clothing that will retain some warmth while soaked, like wool or pile. A $1,000 dry-suit is probably not in the cards, but maybe a wetsuit would make sense.

Consider having a spotter with a throw rope and a ring-bouy or some kind of float. Canoeists use throw-bags with a float and a rope inside.

Consider a pair of ice-daggers. These are short ice-picks used to stab into the ice to help drag yourself over the edge onto solid ice. You can grind them from screwdrivers. Put corks on the end so you don't stab yourself. You can stab the ice right through the corks, breaking them off. They are usually worn on a string over the neck, so they are ready to hand.

You might consider a float pole. A 10 ft length of two inch PVC pipe with end caps, possibly foam filled for extra safety. Tie this across your ROPS with light string. If you go through, the pipe will tend to break free, giving you something to hang onto and to use for a reach pole.

Recon the ice first and cut some holes.

Good luck and stay dry.

 

[Soundguy]

Wow.. nice ideas.. you deserve some kind of cute safety award! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Wow.. nice ideas.. you deserve some kind of cute safety award! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously.. though.. great ideas.

Soundguy

 

[rdln]

shut your tractor off just before the air intake goes under water, insurance wont cover you on the ice.