The rear tires are loaded with beet juice, so I'm sure it helped somewhat. Though having rear ballast past the axle probably would have helped in this scenario. I did learn to use the bucket to curl myself out which worked surprisingly well. I remember when I had a ATV stuck or my riding lawn mower stuck...there's nothing you could do except pull it out with something else. But having the bucket is quite useful to get out of a tricky spot. I only remembered this method from watching folks use excavators and curling themselves out of mud. Just glad my tractor has enough power to do it.Am aware slopes generally look a lot less severe in pics v IRL. Makes a lot more sense being it was in 2WD, albeit unintentionally. No counterweight on the back, weight on front (even if it’s just the loader with nothing in the bucket), only back wheels turning, too slick for front wheels to get traction to turn. I’ve gotten a 2WD loader “stuck” (wouldn’t move anywhere but downhill, but hadn’t sunk in) many, many times in that scenario. It’s very easy to do with a 2WD loader if the front end is downhill, even on a mild slope.
If you need it to turn and it won’t, that’s the time to use split brakes (if your machine has that capability). Apply the brake only on the left wheel if you need to turn left, right brake to turn right.
4WD is incredibly useful in that scenario. The vast majority of overall pulling power is in the big rear wheels, but if there’s a bunch of weight on the front and not much on the rear due to positioning, weight distribution or whatever else, having power to the front wheels allows the machine to back out of places a 2WD would be inexorably stuck.
With the bucket on, you can curl down, lift the front of the tractor, curl up as you back up. Most times that will push it out backward.
All that said, it would be highly unusual to have driven off road a lot and never been stuck.
It would also be unusual to be immediately highly proficient with a new machine even if you have experience running equipment. One of my first tasks for my L was to pull the base out from under a large oak tree that was hung up half fallen into another tree. Messed with it for about 2 hours cutting and pulling; honestly disappointed in my new tractor’s pulling power, blaming it on my mistake of getting that horrible power robbing HST. Getting back on the tractor after a water break, noticed I had the range in Medium the whole time. Put it in Low and pulled the tree down.
You got out without damaging anything or anyone and learned some stuff, so that’s a good day.
Mine has split brakes too but they are useless since they are on the right side. How can I use the forward pedal and brakes at the same time when they are on the same side. I couldn't get my left leg on that side lol.
Really wish I had got the L2502. But it is what it is.
