Adding weight to loader for bush hogging? Anyone ever done this?

[Jlwolaver]

I have a M7040 4wd and it feel light in the front on steep slopes. Anyone ever added weight to the loader?

 

[fried1765]

I have a M7040 4wd and it feel light in the front on steep slopes. Anyone ever added weight to the loader?

Put some dirt in the loader bucket if you feel that you need more weight.

 

[GrizBota]

I have a M7040 4wd and it feel light in the front on steep slopes. Anyone ever added weight to the loader?

I have not. I take my FEL off all together when I run the brush hog, so as to lessen the chance of hitting a fence or tree.

I run a 5’ brush hog that weighs 700 lbs on my L3830, which has loaded tires. I cut some pretty steep ground in amongst my trees. When it gets really steep (like 33 degrees, a 1.0 vertical to 1.5 horizontal fill slope) I back up the slope using the diff lock. I suspect you’re running a larger brush hog with a 70 Hp tractor. Most of the slopes I cut are about 1.0 vertical to 3 or 4 horizontal. A 1.0 vertical to 3.0 horizontal is probably steeper than is comfortable to side hill.

You might think about suitcase weighs on a rack mounted to the front brush guard if you’re really going up some crazy steep ground.

Nose up, my tractor will starve for fuel on a 1.0 vertical to about 2.0 horizontal or steeper slope with less than about 1/3 tank of fuel. That’s not any fun.

Some folks will probably think we’re both lucky to be among the walking with this kind of talk.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Put your brush hog on the ground or in float when climbing slopes even while its' not cutting. it's going to feel light in the front climbing forward as that's normal. The massive weight and length of the brush hog should counter weight distribution issues if you drop it down. Or your slope is too unsafe to climb.

My calculous professor many years (decades) ago stated that anything over 45 degrees (1 to 1) is not climbable without winch assistance OR kinetic energy applied.. That stuck in my head for some reason. We were both offroad Jeep guys.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

The only issue with putting weight in the loader bucket is that the front axle is floating and un-sprung. It's like a teeter totter. If you put weight in the loader bucket you MUST go absolutely vertically up the slopes.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have a M7040 4wd and it feel light in the front on steep slopes. Anyone ever added weight to the loader?

Thats why they invented front bumper weights.

Dan

 

[mikester]

Keep your loader as low as you can, cut while backing up the steep slopes in 4WD.

 

[JimmyJazz]

Keep your loader as low as you can, cut while backing up the steep slopes in 4WD.

Low gear as well.

 

[mcmxi]

Taking the loader on and off can be a pain, but front weights is the way to go. And if you're creative you can use them as rear ballast when they're not on the front.