Too Steep for Orange BX25 Love?

[tiredguy]

Just saw a Toro Dingo for sale that reminded me of your post, and it
would definitely be the cats a$$ to use on your yard project. Bobcat
and I'm pretty sure a couple more companies make similar machines.
Just a thought if you haven't bought anything yet.
Al

 

[ShaunRH]

My L3200 starts to roll at about 18°-20° according to my clinometer.

Front to rear, 22° starts getting scary.

 

[Flienlow]

So I have started on my quest. I am still on the back side of house making a path down the side of the house. I need to remove a lot a retaining walls. One was made of railroad ties, and the other of block. The hill is so steep that when I back up, the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air. Its been a slow go, but I am make progress. Will post an update later.

 

[D2Cat]

This is a receipt for disaster, "The hill is so steep that when I back up, the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air."

Your insistence on using existing equipment could end up costing you much greater then purchasing, renting, or hiring out the correct equipment.

 

[olthumpa]

This is a receipt for disaster, "The hill is so steep that when I back up, the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air."

Your insistence on using existing equipment could end up costing you much greater then purchasing, renting, or hiring out the correct equipment.

What D2Cat said ! !

Also, "the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air.", puts all the weight of the tractor plus the weight of whatever is in the FEL on the front axle. The entire front end,(tires, bearings, axles, housing, drive shaft, etc), was not made to handle that much weight. It is only a matter of time before you break something.

 

[skeets]

What D2Cat said ! !

Also, "the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air.", puts all the weight of the tractor plus the weight of whatever is in the FEL on the front axle. The entire front end,(tires, bearings, axles, housing, drive shaft, etc), was not made to handle that much weight. It is only a matter of time before you break something.

Hey listen before you go much farther would you mind ever so much to put me in your will for that piece of property?

 

[sawmill]

"The hill is so steep that when I back up, the tractor rides on the front wheels with the rears in the air".


Here's your sign.

 

[Flienlow]

Perhaps I omitted the fact the backhoe is off, I have no ballast in the rear tires and the bucket was full of retaining wall blocks while backing up?

In regards to safety, I have hundreds of hours on small tractors. I also was a heavy equipment operator at one time. I have been on everything from a kubota b7100 to a Cat 375 hoe, 954 loaders, D8 ect.
There is no way to side hill on this terrain, you would flop it for sure. And while steep, there is no way to endo this tractor (even if it could be done.) This does not mean that I throw caution to the wind,. rest assure I am cautious.
My biggest concern is that the hill where I want to put an up/down path will be too steep or that I will get the tractor stuck.

So far everything is working out according to my plan. I will say I am surprised at how big the bx25 is once you finally get it home and have rub marks on trees to prove it.
Stay tuned, if for no other reason than to say...I Told You So!

 

[lakebota]

I think you only need to remove the "?" of your post title.
In the pic of the slope cross-section I see what looks like the start of a pistol butt tree trunk. Good indication of unstable ground.
Through my career in far nor cal I worked in some of the steepest terrain (Trinity Co). I always sought geo-tech evaluation when slopes exceeded 50% (2:1 or 22 1/2* (a 1:1 is 100% slope or 45*)) and many times when it exceeded 30% if material was loose shale or clay .
I'm guessing what you will be doing is creating a continuous sloping bench with switchbacks. Unless there is bedrock showing on the surface (or near to it), any structures will be floating, and should be of the weeping type so as to not trap water.
Also note that digging into that slope could easily start movement that leads to big problems. Unless you have a huge budget to drill and cast foundation in bedrock or pin structures to the slope I think not much can be done to improve what you have.
edit-> Going straight up and down the slope in a bx can lead to a run-away. The brakes, if they begin to slide won't help.
In the steep terrain I worked in, all pioneering was done by excavator, a cat was next. I have never seen any type backhoe or other wheeled vehicle working steep slopes. If you are only trying to pack material, why not build a buggy of sorts that you can winch up and down.
With your experience it would seem to me you would know this. Small site, rubber track excavator with belly blade to create your working pads is appropriate.
If there are already benched paths on the hillside my guess is they were built when the site was logged, or by an old cat skinner. A tractor is not suitable implement for your site.

 

[skeets]

I really really really hope nobody in here says I told you so

 

[OldeEnglish]

I would strongly advise listening to what these guys have to say, especially lakebota about the geo tech. Out on the west coast is a whole different ball of wax from anything I've ever had to deal with. I know when I hear landslide, the first thing that comes to my mind is the west coast.

Did you check with your local building department on any permits that needed to be obtained or type of silt protection required for the lake before you even stick a shovel in the ground? Mark my words....a neighbor will call and report you, there is one in every neighborhood! Like I said before, contact the EPA when working near a body of water and understanding their requirements, don't forget you don't own that lake. If you ignore the process, you will be fined up the rear and you'll see your name on the front page of the local newspaper! Trust me, it happened to a guy I know building a stone wall along a dock. It's never a good thing to be on the bad side of the EPA.

I'm not trying to knock your experience, but adding weight to the tires is #1 to get some weight right on the ground especially with a heavy attachment. One good bounce is all it takes for that machine to roll.

Good luck!

 

[Flienlow]

I think you only need to remove the "?" of your post title.
In the ipc of the slope cross-section I see what looks like the start of a pistol butt tree trunk. Good indication of unstable ground.
Through my career in far nor cal I worked is some of the steepest terrain (Trinity Co). I always sought geo-tech evaluation when slopes exceeded 50% (2:1 or 22 1/2* (a 1:1 is 100% slope or 45*)) and many times when it exceeded 30% if material was loose shale or clay .
I'm guessing what you will be doing is creating a continuous sloping bench with switchbacks. Unless there is bedrock showing on the surface (or near to it), any structures will be floating, and should be of the weeping type so as to not trap water.
Also note that digging into that slope could easily start movement that leads to big problems. Unless you have a huge budget to drill and cast foundation in bedrock or pin structures to the slope I think not much can be done to improve what you have.
If there are already benched paths on the hillside my guess is they were built when the site was logged, or by an old cat skinner. A tractor is not suitable implement for your site.

So, there is no bed rock, but glacial till. The switchbacks were made by who knows what, probably made made? They are about 3 feet wide which is why I bought the bx due to it being capable and narrow. Once I get past the initial steep part it does get better. I still want to make a straight up and down gravel path and then wide the switch backs with gravel.

As far as other responses, I am not sure what better a "Contractor" could or would do, or how much safer a skid steer would be? it would make a wider path which is not what I want not to mention the cost of bring all of it in.

This is all subject to change as I make my down the hill. Thank you all for the suggestions.

 

[Flienlow]

Well I finally made it past the house and on to the slope. After removing a brush stump, I made several slow and progressive passes going further and further over the slope to compact the soil. It was going well until we ran into some large rocks mid slope by the tree . My tires end up digging in and spinning. My biggest issue was the safety switch in the seat. In order to keep the engine running, I needed to put my left foot on the loader arm to keep myself back in the seat. Works great, but prevents you from pressing the already difficult to reach rear diff lock.
Oh how I wish the diff lock would stay engaged, and the switch was more sensitive.
We ended up winching the tractor up the hill with my buddies jeep. I then tried to back down the slope thinking the backhoe over the rear tires would help with the climb. Once again, the rocks in the slope caused issues. With a little persistence and friend in the bucket, I was able to get back up the hill. A little girl and gymnastics consumed the rest of the day.

 

[Diydave]

I have a feeling that rig is goin into the drink, soon.

 

[Daren Todd]

I have a feeling that rig is goin into the drink, soon.

That's a pucker factor of 10 plus some streaks

 

[85Hokie]

That's a pucker factor of 10 plus some streaks

And that is from looking at the pictures...........not to mention being in the SEAT! .......wifey poo aint gotta enough suds for the streaks!

 

[D2Cat]

Partner, you're an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Little Orange]

Your picture 1 of 3 reminds me of the Safety Officer who showed up on a construction site wearing a ball cap with the "Work Safe" logo across his fore head.

Every worker on the site was wearing a Safety Hard Hat, that was the last day on the job for the safety officer.

Trust your jeep buddy has a little more fore thought maybe he can make some sense of the situtation, and he knows how to wear a SEAT BELT.

The postings here tell a very interesting story to others who have a lot of experience to share, of course we may never know the end of your story.

Keep smiling buddy, you are a lot too young for your little girl to lose.

 

[lakebota]

Your picture 1 of 3....

the same one that shows the outrigger buried and creeping down slope?
The pics you posted could be used for safety training.
I think you mentioned many years of operator experience. At this point I can't figure out if this post is to shock readers, or to impress others?
Everyone should make note to never operate a rubber tire implement in such locales.

 

[Flienlow]

Partner, you're an accident waiting to happen.

Substantiate. You think I will topple a FEL with the bucket down? Flop it over sideways? over backwards with the hoe on?