AxleHub
Elite Member
I've found since buying my 1st tractor in 2015 that I have learned to think of a tractor more like my motorcycle history than my car/truck history when it comes to slopes/hills/side hills. Why? Well with cars and trucks you think of "wheelbase" as a key ingredient to stability. But with Motorcycles and sub compact tractors its much more about "footprint".
On a flat - both a motorcycle and a sub compact tractor offer good control at speed and at slow. But on hills, angles, and curves - slow speed becomes tricky for both of them especially going slow. A sub compact tractor "seems" like a square or rectangle as far as foot print - but the reality is its a triangle because the front axle footprint pattern changes as you steer it. Both front wheels when turned, reduce the outer footprint to a smaller size creating a natural lean potential. When backing down a hill - the rear wheels never change their footprint width - so greater stability exists when in combination with weight balances front and back. In other words backing down a hill has less "leaning potential".
Now this was always an issue on a motorcycle trying to turn around when going slow - its hard to keep the bike from wanting to stay upright. But I never considered this a possibility on a tractor - as the tendency is less on lawn mowers - and I would not naturally desire to back down my steeper hills with my fel on - but I learned.
The whole concept of the front axle being a pivot on a modern sub compact or compact tractor - is not obvious by appearance - but its certainly quite "seat obvious" - especially because the operator doesn't get a lot of "lean" control like you do on lawn mowers or atvs. Looking at tractors of the past with two front tires right next to each other - its no wonder farming was such a very dangerous activity when your land had hills and slopes to be plowed and planted.
On a flat - both a motorcycle and a sub compact tractor offer good control at speed and at slow. But on hills, angles, and curves - slow speed becomes tricky for both of them especially going slow. A sub compact tractor "seems" like a square or rectangle as far as foot print - but the reality is its a triangle because the front axle footprint pattern changes as you steer it. Both front wheels when turned, reduce the outer footprint to a smaller size creating a natural lean potential. When backing down a hill - the rear wheels never change their footprint width - so greater stability exists when in combination with weight balances front and back. In other words backing down a hill has less "leaning potential".
Now this was always an issue on a motorcycle trying to turn around when going slow - its hard to keep the bike from wanting to stay upright. But I never considered this a possibility on a tractor - as the tendency is less on lawn mowers - and I would not naturally desire to back down my steeper hills with my fel on - but I learned.
The whole concept of the front axle being a pivot on a modern sub compact or compact tractor - is not obvious by appearance - but its certainly quite "seat obvious" - especially because the operator doesn't get a lot of "lean" control like you do on lawn mowers or atvs. Looking at tractors of the past with two front tires right next to each other - its no wonder farming was such a very dangerous activity when your land had hills and slopes to be plowed and planted.