Slopes/hillsides.

[Eric McCarthy]

Well I did a ballsier move today and put on my big girl panties and aerated a customers yard that had a few nasty slopes/hills sides to it. I made pretty decent money doing the yard.

All in all aerating on the slope sideways wasn't to bad considering. The 500 pound aerator stayed on the ground for the most part. A few spots I could not back up with the aerator down or it would cause wheel spin. So I'd put it up just a tad to get traction then go at it again.

Times like this I wish I had a set of flotation turfs on it for a wider softer foot print and less likely to rut up the ground. Then again too wide and I would not have gained access to nearly as many yards as I have.

 

[Kingcreek]

I can't tell from the pics how much slope or pucker factor but I've done some work that makes me a little nervous. I keep the FEL and anything attached to the 3 point low and go slow, always ready to steer downslope to keep 4 wheels in contact. I also don't mind having a ROPS and a seat belt fastened.

 

[TripleR]

Operating on slopes really takes getting use to, I'll let you know when I do and been doing it for thirty years or so. Pictures really don't give a good idea of how steep something is. I have taken pictures of slopes that scare the heck out of me and when looking at them couldn't believe how benign they look.

 

[Benhameen]

Eric, would mind posting a pic of your aerator? I'd like to buy one or possibly make one. It would just be for personal use so I don't want to spend to much on something I'll only use on occasion.

Thanks

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

There is so many variables in weight to height, I have a old simplicity garden tractor that has so much bottom weight and fat tires, that it is almost impossible to tip it over. My b gives you a little uneasy feeling on some slopes and that's even with 150lbs in fat tires and a wide width.
I haven't gotten to work my L enough yet to really know, but I took it for a few trips over some of my steeper hills and it felt like it was suction cupped to the ground.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

All in all it wasn't to terribly bad, the home owner says he handles the slopes fine with his riding lawnmower. Maybe I should have stayed off of it seeing how I do not have ROPS nor a seat belt. I just went slow and took my time. As my dad told me as a kid, "go slow and get in trouble slow" so with that I feel if things did start to go south then I could have recovered myself pretty efficiently. By far its one of the steepest inclines I've been on thus far with the tractor.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Eric, would mind posting a pic of your aerator? I'd like to buy one or possibly make one. It would just be for personal use so I don't want to spend to much on something I'll only use on occasion.

Thanks

Oh sure no problem. My aerator is a Ryan aerator originally built as a tow behind unit. When my dad bought it he had it made so he could take the bucket off his loader and put the 4ft aerator on his loader arms. He had not used it in forever so I got my hands on it and a buddy of mine rigged it in his back yard one night so it was a 3pt set up.

The coring tines are 3/4 of an inch in diameter and can plug down 4'' deep, also weighs in around 500lbs.

Even on your own yard you want something heavy that will plug down deep to work efficiently.

 

[lsmurphy]

Realize your attachment is also a ballast.

My mower for example is 458lbs and has a low center of gravity. In order for the tractor to turn on it's side it will need to take the mower with it. Same with your aerator.