What gear should i be travelling downhill when loaded?

[rockstarrancher]

Thank you everyone for the advice.

Did I miss you say how big the mccormick is?

How big is the bigger case that handled it fine?

Tractor weight is the factor for safely handling a load. 400bu wagon loaded is probably in the 25000# range.

We arent in real hilly area, but usually see farmers not exceed 3x.

So for a 25000# hopper you'd want at least a 8000-9000# 4wd tractor in relatively flat area. Not sure what your hill is like. Im in central OH, so what I call a hill, someone in WV or KY might call flat gound.

Trying to hold back a load too big for the machine, with just gearing and brakes, is a dangerous proposition. As is trying to go even faster just to stay ahead of it

I can’t recall the McCormick size but I want to say it is an mtx 135….. the case that handled it much better is a magnum not sure the number but a much bigger tractor. Sorry for the late response.

 

[Hay Dude]

Thank you everyone for the advice.

I can’t recall the McCormick size but I want to say it is an mtx 135….. the case that handled it much better is a magnum not sure the number but a much bigger tractor. Sorry for the late response.

I own a tractor similar to a MTX 135 and I was up until a month ago, a Magnum owner.
A Magnum is a much heavier, sturdier platform. Great tractor.

 

[RayIN]

Thank you for your reply! What happened the first time down the hill in this particular scenario, was just that, my wheels skidded and I believe my rpm’s were running much higher than where I should have had them … it was last year so I don’t recall exactly what I did wrong, but I made a mistake and I think I pulled it out of gear thinking I could coast down the hill, or was in the low of a gear… and I also mistakenly braked too hard. All in all it was a mess that and I think I am lucky the gravity wagon didn’t jackknife… it was quite a scare, I’m not sure when I will have to do it again, but I am trying to best prepare for the situation next time it happens …. I asked my boss about what gear or speed he would travel down it himself and he really didn’t have an answer, just basically said I don’t know, just go down the hill.

Tractor not big enough to handle the load is your problem. Either use larger, heavier tractor or put electric brakes axle on rear of trailer and manual controller on tractor.
Meanwhile, buy more life insurance to support your family.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I had to go down a long hill with this load,

I kept it around 10 mph by choosing a lower gear and then using the brakes on and off to keep it slowed down and under control.

SR

 

[LouNY]

Tractor not big enough to handle the load is your problem. Either use larger, heavier tractor or put electric brakes axle on rear of trailer and manual controller on tractor.
Meanwhile, buy more life insurance to support your family.

This is an old thread so the OP has it figured out or it's not an issue;

Halve of this makes sense the other is not practical. Added brakes to a farm wagon chassis is impractical and expensive.
Adding a manual controller "if" the grain cart has electric brakes would be handy, but I've never seen a grain cart or front steer grain box with electric brakes. Some of the larger ones have an hydraulic brake option however very few tractors in North America have built in air or hydraulic braking systems. Some of the European imports do and a few of the larger newer ones do.

"use larger, heavier tractor" you use whats available and modify your operation to cope.

And your last line doesn't even warrant a response.

 

[Farmer495]

Old thread, but go down in the same gear you can go up in, better chance your brakes will hold and do more than lock your wheels up.

I have many, many, hours doing road haulage with brakeless wagons that weighed more than the tractor pulling them. A lot of it with 2wd tractors and unsynchronized transmissions. Some of it with tractors that didn't decent brakes to start with.

Going down a long hill on paved road with a long flat or uphill afterwards takes a different approach than a long downhill with a high traffic intersection with a stop sign and only a 90 degree right or left turn as an option.

Real fun sliding down a hill with the rear wheels locked and wagon trying to push you sideways.

 

[rgr33]

Man o’ man Rob, don’t know how steep the hill is, but that would give me the willies