Tipping and scaring myself!

[sanmigmike]

Alright, I know that there are way too many variables to give hard and fast rules. I do know that all too much of our property is sloped. I have been careful and not scared myself too much on the slope but feel I could do more if I had a real idea of my limits. Is there a rule of thumb...15 degrees or so?

Was doing some scraping on level ground with with a box blade, teeth down and came to a stop, thought it was a root, lots of stumps around so hit them often. Backed up a couple of feet after trying to lift the blade clear and had a real shock when the tractor started to roll. I had picked up a rotted stump and when the tire rolled up it we started tilting real quick... Stopped. Let my heart stop pounding and took us quite a while to get it out, it was stuck between the blade and the tractor. What with all the garbage, brush and so on down there it took a while to realize what I had picked up.
Didn't see it at all before I hit it and didn't realize I had until I got off to take a better look!

Coming up on 50 hours and no problems with the tractor. The rotary cutter had some problems but the dealer picked it up and fixed, dropped it off yesterday. No charge or hassle.

 

[btolle]

Glad you were OK and thanks for sharing your story, it might bring home the point that the seat belt should be worn even on what appears to be level ground.

BTW, one way I have found to tackle some of the slopes is to go up them at a 60 degree (or more) angle so the tractor is not leaning so far to the side. I hate slopes and being "off camber" more than anything.

Bill Tolle