10 tips for SAFELY Operating a Tractor on Slope

In this video, we answer a viewer question about how we operator our tractor on the steep slopes of our farm. Kelly and I list 10 tips on how to manage tractor work safely.
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[@1mandoman1]

I learned a new word today, Rops, I knew them as safety bars. I too am in WV and am a new mini tractor owner. I only wish I had your land. Thanks for the video.

[@donaldnutter6941]

Good video, I'm 80 years young and operated a farm tractor for 50 years in these WV hills before I had rops and seat belt. I still have the tractor I grew up on but it stays on level ground. I slid sideways off of a slope in 1990 and I screamed because I thought the tractor was going to roll. I went to my dealer that week and had him order a roll bar. That was a two wheel drive tractor ,but I sold it in 99 and have had a four wheel drive tractor ever since.

[@KubotaL4060]

There is no debate. Seat belt and rops are proven life savers. I particularly like your closing comment of "just be ready". Deciding what to do after things start to go south is likely to result in failure. Thanks for the well thought out video!

[@LisaMedeiros-tr2lz]

Just a slight correction. Flipping your tires around to increase your vehicle track (width), does not lower your center of Gravity (CoG). You did not lower any weight of the vehicle because the tire diameter is the same in either orientation. So, the CoG did not change, but you did increase the track width and your footprint. Therefore, what you accomplished was increase your stability because if you drew a line from the CoG (that did not change) through each rear tire footprint (contact patch on the ground that increased further out from center), that angle became shallower increasing stability.

[@kamilegier4730]

In addition I would like to add the best safety device is your brain and when you use it things are always better. Before I work an area of my farm or forest I walk it to find any problem areas especially holes left by feral pigs. Secondly, I do all tractor work in low range except for bush hogging in mid range on open flat ground. I only use high range when traveling on a paved road. It very tempting to work faster but it’s never better.

[@Dan-oz4qb]

Good to see you again. I always dump my hazardous chemicals on my neighbor's property since it's fairly flat and much safer.

[@arendvantoever8473]

Even as a flatlander, RAPS saved my life. We changed our oldtimer (MF35, no safety features) for a newer model (Shibaura similar to kuboto) not too long ago and while shifting/pushing/loading a manure pile the side wall gave away and the tractor rolled on until the RAPS stopped it. It happens so fast, no time to react quickly enough I was thankful for Gramps in pushing to replace the old tractor he bought 3rd hand in the 60's (the new one was not a writeoff, but expensive to fix) for a newer one with the safety features. At least I can tell it myself (lost 2 friends to accidents), it is there for a reason even on flat land.

[@mariesheppard3750]

Yes seat belt and roll bar for sure Great video good your posting it to save some one s life

[@peterellis4262]

My wife and I will be getting our first tractor in the next week or two. Our land is predominantly flat, even bottom land, but there are some "bowl edges" to negotiate. While our elevation changes are around 20 feet not 200, your advice about going north-south up and down slopes and about backing up hills is still applicable and well noted. Thank you.

[@stevevarney8693]

Really good topic. Rehearsing what you would do beforehand is great advice and can apply to many other situations as well. As a fairly new tractor owner and no matter how cautious I have been, I have experienced some of these situations and this provided some clarity on what was happening at the time.

[@RimGuardBallast]

Great tips for operating on REAL slope. Beet Juice is something to consider for liquid ballast in the tires. 11 pounds per gallon, noncorrosive, all natural, -35°F freeze protection. It would add over 1,000 pounds of ballast to the Kioti tractor in this video.

[@gonzalosanabria2251]

Wow, dude you helped me so much with the rims inside out vs getting wheel spacers 🙌👍

[@brooksmorford3738]

Very informative. Viewers were asked to comment on the R.O.P.S. / seatbelt or NOT. I live in TN and have had that question answered and was completely sure of what my reaction would be in the event of a rollover. I honestly think about it almost every time I operate my Kubota on our farm. My answer has been NOT. Confident that If I were to be faced with that moment I would need to be ready to jump. However, the information provided is most certainly the best advice. I believe I am overestimating my physical abilities. Big time. Along side a water source, creek;pond etc maybe not. # 1 thing is we have to do ALL we can to not find out. Be safe and thank you.

[@R_R_R_R_R_]

I was grading with my box blade on one of my hills and for some genius reason I decided to go at an angle to save some time. That was a mistake and I rolled it over on it’s side. Thank God the cab stopped it from going over more, I slammed into the cab side and we slid down the hill a bit. It was a huge mess with hydraulic fluid and oil pouring out as I slid. The front loader popped off and 2 tires deflated. Lesson learned the absolute hard and expensive way.

[@mohawkvalleytoday4070]

Great video Troy and Camera Lady! Thanks so much for covering this topic so well! I am new tractor owner. Much of my land is sloped, along with the trail leading up the hill is in need of repair before I try to get the tractor up into the forest. Your safety points were very well thought out and highlighted the unsuspecting dangers of how doing something simple on slope could become very dangerous very quickly. Thanks for the very important lessons!

[@haroldbevins393]

Great video by the both of you.... Thanks for thinking of all of us for safety...

[@leopoldnicholas4123]

Eye opening advice ! Never thought about these possible accidents . Thanks very much

[@dawnmitchell6368]

Great info. Looking at my first tractor. My property is on a ridge in TN. So this has opened my eyes. Thank you!!

[@andreashofmeyr9583]

Thanks this was great! Doing my assessment tomorrow!

[@rastagrastag7784]

I think you’re absolutely correct anytime on the tractor you should use caution… I am also in the mountains of West Virginia and the slopes are really slopes. Respect the tractor and watch your speed and be alert👍👍👍👍Great video

[@beaverdam7830]

It's always good to have a healthy fear of what can go wrong so you can stay on your toes. I have a good amount of healthy fear after watching this video :)

[@shandor2522]

Good tips, and hilarious bit about the barrel of mercury!

[@markboettcher9443]

The only time I rolled my tractor I was moving very slow had no warning. Wearing seatbelt and had a rops. Not hurt. Just laid the tractor on its side. You need to always wear your seatbelt when you have a rops. They work together.

[@rastagrastag7784]

Great video I know exactly what you’re talking about I to live in the mountains of West Virginia and I’m learning my new tractor on these slopes. Like you said be aware be alert respect your boundaries and watch your speed

[@RBart-os6sy]

I just took delivery of a 2023 Kubota B2601, my 1st tractor. Thanks for the tips!

[@TheMichaelGrace]

Really important! Thank you for sharing.

[@lucasdog1]

Rops in use, use a seatbelt. You want to stay on the seat because it's the protected area. No rops, no belt. You dont want to be held in place when the tractor rolls and have no possibility of jumping or being thrown clear.

[@arnoldromppai5395]

you would never make the jump off the high side know mater what you think.. have Rops ride it out,, you stand a very low chance of being thrown clear, you will be thrown in the direction the equipment is going

[@lucasdog1]

@@arnoldromppai5395 Not saying you could jump clear, but I dont want to be strapped to he tractor as it rolls down the hill if there is no rops If it just rolls on it's side or upside down and I jump down hill, there's a chance I go further than it does. If it rolls over 3 times, I dont want to be in the seat any longer than I have to.

[@tomcogger2132]

Excellent safety video. I made a 3 point counter weight for my utility tractor using three old wheel weights mounted on a steel framework I built. It is compact and works nicely when I lift heavy logs onto my sawmill. Another advantage is it takes weight off the front wheel bearings. Before I made the weight I destroyed the front bearings by overloading the front end of the tractor. Since I built the counter weight the problem is solved.

[@ktran713]

I am about to get my first tractor and really appreciate the safety tips.

[@henrymorgan3982]

Good tips good stories. Always have an escape plan!

[@user-dn6mj2no7q]

Very good tips. Thanks 👍

[@billcowen4164]

Great advice about tractor safety

[@oldbuzzard76]

Great video work, and information as well , and I thank you for it .

[@markee063]

Before I even watch the video...I thank you, Troy! My new west Virginia fields and my new used kabota tractor certainly needed this vid. I'm still trying to find a level location for the sawmill I just built in the driveway.

[@jennablorezone8Band9A]

So appreciate the deep dive into safety and horror stories. I don’t want to be crushed or disemboweled. 🫣 Your explanation with center of gravity is superb! (+ loved the dry humor) I busted laughing with the mercury barrel. 😂

[@anthonywagner9873]

Great video Troy! I have land about 2.5 hours NNE of you and deal with this all the time. I follow the simple rule for ROPS use: If the ROPS is up, the seatbelt is on. If the ROPS in down, the seatbelt is off. The one thing I dislike about my Kubota is that the bucket lever prohibits you for getting on/off on the right side. When I'm mowing with the ROPS down, I always travel north and south, unless it's impossible. When that's the case and the ROPS is down, you have to make sure that the left side of the tractor is on the uphill side. Realizing small things like this may keep you out of the hospital I will admit, I mostly have the ROPS down though. Probably not the best decision but after thinking it through, it's the best one for me. This isn't the case for everyone.

[@briank10101]

"keep you out of the hospital".....out of the cemetery.

[@ccskyle]

Great video. Thanks.

[@DougBittinger]

I live in the Smoky Mountains region of east Tennessee. Mountain side property. Some steep slopes (I'm talking 35°). NOTHING flat. Getting older and needing mechanical advantage to keep doing what I do, so I'm considering buying a sub-compact tractor for grading drives and moving materials. I am concerned about working on slopes. I learned a good deal from this video, and want to thank you for sharing your experience.

[@1982MCI]

Thank you for doing this video!! I’m amazed at the number of individuals that do not know or respect how to operate a tractor on slopes. A friend of mine who also had a farm one mile from me and had been on equipment his entire life, and he was 59, was killed this past November because he didn’t follow these tips and his tractor rolled over on him on a very slight grade, nothing like you are showing in this video and it crushed him!! Chuck knew better but must have been trying to hurry and got complacent is all I can figure. We get comfortable when we operate these things for a few years and quit thinking about the dangers and these dangers should be on our minds every time our fingers turn the keys!! Please folks, someone is always waiting for us to come home so let’s make sure we can walk thru that door to greet them on our own!! It only takes a few more minutes to do it safely!!

[@portnuefflyer]

Working on the Idaho mountain slopes years ago with my little Kubota with a backhoe attachment, I used it often as a variable counterweight to get the needed stability when working on sideslopes.

[@genemciver3425]

thank you. very good instructions

[@philipedwards8762]

Excellent public service video. Still love sloped land!

[@laxton6family869]

Thanks. Rehearsal great tip!

[@kardyify]

I have been working 7 acres for 50 years in Oregon. Some of it forested. I do use a small tractor for some flatter mowing but most of it using a walk behind DR brush mower. More work but safer.

[@stephenlindsey9233]

Great video

[@ozjado]

Thank you

[@TaitGuy]

Good info, thank you!!! I'm watching all these safety videos cause My '96 New Holland almost crushed me on a < 10-degree slope, maybe in 5 degrees. Nonetheless, I was thinking my Parking breaking would always work. The bottom line is the parking brake vibrated loose I had my back turned to the tractor, etc... Thank you for those great tips.. I'm fine, just have a minor not in the back of my head and have lived to tell about it... Thank you again! ~ D

[@tommybounds3220]

Thank you for the video.

[@joemc111]

Troy, Kelly good show on Feb. 19,2022 I drove from Florida stayed at the New River Bridge, 15 degrees in the morning, drove up I-97 to exit 99 so I could drive the new Corr -48. Well the new Highway is unfinished, it’s the old route 33. So from I-79 at exit 99 the road for about 20 or 25 miles is new and then old route 33 is old West Virginia road for 35 miles. Just one of the great roads if your wanting to see WV.

[@divertim1]

Maintain control always back up and drive down.

[@davidholloway1944]

Love me some Mercury Water!! Breakfast of champions! Thanks for the video, I've got property on a 20 degree slope on the Oregon Coast which I'm starting to clear and this was very helpful.

[@LittleCabin]

Great, timely video. We have just ordered my first tractor for our hilly SW VA property, where I will be learning! I will have to actually drive it on an uphill driveway to get to a "flat" spot, so delivery day is going to be interesting. The good thing is I'm a little risk-averse, so won't be taking any big chances any time soon.

[@christopherfarmer1812]

General rule as stated in most owners manuals specifically tells you use the seatbelt if it has a ROPS bar/structure, if equipped with a holding tops and it's folded, or not equipped with a ROPS don't use your seat belt.. most farm co-op 's and insurance will tell you the exact same.... Loading tires with antifreeze was a later option, the predominant way used to be loading them with calcium chloride ( the salt brine solution the put on roads during winter weather ), you are well aware of the corrosion that causes, it ruined many a rear rim on tractors when they developed a tiny leak... Very informative video you provided

[@homesteadspirit9209]

Very informative....I had a NH TC18 compact with a loader when I started farming and I was driving it across a hillside once and the tractor began to slide sideways down the hill and I saw the wheels on the uphill side lift off the ground and I leaped off. I did not actually roll the machine thank the Lord but it was very close. My roofs were up but one other time on the same tractor I was mowing in the orchard and hit a rut and the tractor did begin to tip but the rops got hung up in a tree stopping the tractor. Those were both very close calls and I'm very lucky. The rops would have saved me if it had flipped. If your tractor has one it should be up all the time

[@alandinsmoorcontractingser7119]

You hit the nail on the head...just alway be ready..rehearse your plan. I have rops and a seat belt..i do not like wearing the seatbelt..because i am ( in my mind) always ready, id rather take my chances jumping off if i had to rather than get pinned. Those rops are good for one joust..then your on Gods will afterwards.

[@torstenjoergensen]

Important topic👍 I always use with ROPS up and locked and use seatbelt all the time. Better safe than sorry. And one more thing - if on a sideway incline, turn down hill if things begins to go pearshaped.

[@paideiadistribution2786]

Great Video!

[@brianphilbrook5262]

My John Deere 1023e says on the rops if the rops are up use the seatbelt if you have the rops down don’t use the seatbelt. I run my rops halfway because I have trees to drive under and my garage door is short. I don’t have anything steep side to side to work on. I also have the R4 tires. They give me good grip for field work but also don’t tear my lawn up when mowing.

[@JohnMarsing]

Thanks good advice.

[@kickyourfacification]

My great grand father died from a tractor 🚜 roll over while farming in PA. I have heard this story my whole life and wondered how come he didn’t just jump off. Good video. I never knew it was this technical. Ty

[@jaybarnacles4846]

Im rather new to driving tractors i use a kioti similar to what you have and i find that i already was going by most of what you said but you still taught me things good video thanks man

[@CalfandCloverCreamery]

Really appreciate this video thank you for sharing 🙏🤙

[@joshuawaldner5551]

I love your videos man great videos

[@timothylambert6234]

I have a 54 model ford tractor and take it to the top of mountain for food Plot work. 1.5 miles up and down a black top road to get there. I always tether to a truck going up and coming down the steep slopes. If it jumps out of gear those tractor tire slide on black top. Good video.

[@johnwoody4905]

most of my tractors are so old the don't have seat bolts or rop. we do have 2 cab tractors with seat belts but a rarely wear them. only thing you left out is if you have tractor in 4 wheei drive you have 4 wheel braking also. we have had people killed and hurt on tractors here too. but most that get killed are riding 4 wheeler or utv's you may want to do video on them. kelly did a good job training you and videoing . take care, be safe and well.

[@chrism.2231]

We do not have much of a grade here on our small farm in Wisc. but that does not mean issues can not occur. I operate vintage 2wd tractors. My first was an old (redundant) '41 Allis C. I tried too often to do too much with it and having the front raise up was not uncommon. I added some front wheel weights to it to help, but you still needed to be prepared to dump the clutch if it reared up on you. What finally convinced me it was time to move on was the front came up on me and it had been a couple of months at that point since I had used it and putting the clutch in took me that little extra moment to do. Got my attention. In fact, that tractor almost killed the guy that bought it. He had left the choke on as he was trying to go up a fairly good grade on our road as he was driving it home and it stalled. His reaction was to push the clutch in and it free-wheeled backwards and spun around, ending up about 12" from a pretty steep ditch edge. They came back to get me and I sorted out what they had done with the clutch and drove it for them over those hills before turning the reigns back over. That guy was still almost translucent still when I did. I have since moved on to state-of-the-art 8n's and NAA's and even on those I have experienced moments. One was digging a ditch with a rear scoop with the 8n. You had to essentially traverse the ditch to get back over it to keep extending it and as I went along, I was not slowing down as much doing it as the day went on and I was getting a little more reckless and had an awkward moment when it got a little tippy. Just this last summer, bush hogging on the NAA, I was trying to get as close as I could to a stump I had purposely left at about 18" and I caught it with the side of my rear tire. It easily could have tripped the tractor if I had turned into it. I raced sports cars for decades and a big part of doing it successfully is the ability to mentally slow things down around you as you process things quickly. That all comes with practice, however. You can have all the best intentions on what you will do when "X" happens, but most people simply are not processing things quickly enough to do it. And moments are going to happen... Even here in "flat country".

[@JoseOrtiz-zb7gq]

Lmao. Thanks for the laugh, Kelly. I was multi tasking when I heard taking this barrel of mercury and dumping it .......... I stopped in a new York minute looked at my phone, then I heard you laugh and I realized he was joking. Too funny.

[@jamesmanley9521]

Good tips always use your roll bar seat belt when needed and watch your bucket

[@Evan165]

Great video and I liked. I hope people put thumbs up/down in the comments and don’t dislike the video accidentally if voting thumbs down.

[@johnk.3593]

All great tips. I'm a flatlander and not to bright, so the seatbelt hardly ever gets used, but the rops are always up.

[@user-dn6mj2no7q]

Very good tips. The👍

[@albiggers9348]

My tractor has a permanent ROPS so that is always there. However, the seat belt is nowhere to be found. I also have a backhoe and when on a steep side slope I put the down hill stabilizer down close to the ground. All good advice, especially... slow down.

[@SeaPro360]

Rattling ass diesel tractor. I LOVE IT!

[@darinbarfield8738]

I live in a fairly flat area in Georgia, But noted today as I was moving & spreading several loads of dirt I had delivered with my Old Massey Ferguson 165 tractor that as I backed up to the large dirt pile, if my left or right front dipped into a previous tire depression , the other tire was off the ground, as the rear tires were rotated up on the mound of dirt, It was enough to get my attention a few times. Didn’t flip but I monitored carefully & would drop the box blade and move forward once I felt the center of gravity shift. Mine is a 2WD, not sure how much front weights would help, but I’m sure they wouldn’t hurt. But I could tell, if I was careless & proceeded or continued in the direction, It had a great potential to flip. I know safety is not to be taken lightly, There’s a home around the corner from me, with a small irrigation pond, and I’m reminded every time as pass it, how the old man that used to live there was killed as he was cutting grass around the pond and his tractor flipped & penned him under it in the pond.😢

[@nealsparks4187]

I used to mow with the Highway department. ROPS and seatbelts a must on slopes.

[@markboettcher9443]

I second the requirement for 4x4 on hilly ground!

[@georgeschneider3245]

new tractor guy in hilly Kentucky, Great video thanks for all the tips, Mercury weighs over 100lb a gallon, That's a damn strong tractor ha ha

[@bradjenkins932]

Keep the loader low to the ground.

[@TwiztidPain]

I would love to see a video on land reclamation for homesteading.

[@ThePaul190865]

Cab and seat belt for me. All of your ideas as well. Wombat holes are our biggest threat in Australia.

[@palanivelunachiappan8658]

Yes Point CG very important for any thing including buildings otherwise will topple to reston ground by nature.

[@JohnSmith-tv5ep]

TROY, you ask, ..my comment is good stuff good information! AND,... Yinz guys look like you're enjoying life! (least on camera!!)

[@MrMharley]

Another great video you’ve presented for those that haven’t used a tractor or that are going to 👍🏻🇺🇸 what hp is your tractor ? Thanks for the video !

[@Kolob_Canyons_Ranch]

I have a Cat 430 backhoe in the Utah mountains. Roll-over is my biggest concern. Got chains for plowing snow because my 2nd biggest concern is sliding off the mountain. Its a full enclosure cab so a bit top heavy. The backhoe tool is a giant rear weight, so backing up hills in many cases.

[@effthegop]

Watch out for holes !! Even a small hole from a rock that has been removed or even a spinning tire in soft ground can sneak up on you. If you are already moving out of level a bit, that extra few inches can kick your ass, especially if you panic :)

[@2013CarGuy]

Great topic, thank you for this. I have sloped land in the north GA mountains and this has given me some anxiety. I can see some parallels with driving a 4x4 side by side up and down too. Would love any specific tips there as I feel like I'd do that more than on a tractor.

[@sergecormier330]

hi i lived in WV x 30 years now with 360 acres and 100 new acres farm coming from Quebec where we had 3 inches of slope over 1and half mile of farm land i greatly appreciate your tips and i agree 100% i am 68 now when i was 15 my dad rent our farm a boy my age rolled over a tricycle tractor and died crushed i am always very prudent on my hills but i do not always wear the seat belt shame on me

[@edwardromero7412]

I have loaded tires but I’m also going to add 310 pounds per tire to the rears. That should help on the slope plus give more ballast. This on a mX5400 Kubota

[@gilbertboffa860]

yes seat belt and rops always

[@joerarey8496]

I've got a slopey property. I'm terrified on my tractor! Lol

[@sfh422]

Yes, ROPS and seatbelt

[@newtonscloset8207]

Yes

[@denislosieroutdoors]

Thanks for the tractor advice and the stories there eh! Was making me cringe the whole time... I have had that feeling of one of my tractor tires lifting while on slope very scary... my tractor is only small 26hp 4x4 Kubota when I skid logs up or down slope or across the frozen lake I like to chain my log to the side of front loader bucked it gives me more traction and keeps my front wheels down last year did I video explaining this... thanks for sharing

[@laserjock509]

The only time I've nearly flipped my machine is when my ROPS snagged a low hanging tree branch. Ever since then, I've run with my ROPS down and seat belt off. My property is a wooded, modestly sloped hill side. I play it safe, and there are certain areas I just don't go.

[@kevinjensen539]

Not a regular viewer, but some good info there. I have to admit that I always have my ROPS up, but don't wear my seat belt. It's a restrictive comfort thing. I'm a mowing contractor. You didn't mention that there is no advantage widening the front wheel track, as it pivots from the center of the axle.

[@Panama-Red1969]

Great video, having tried an old 2wd case 530ck on our mountain in Maine it quickly became apparent that 4wd was needed. Our property is just under 3 acres and is in like 3 teirs. I could not get the 2wd up from the bottom flat level. Problem is all the billfish is being done on 2nd and 3rd levels. I tried several times getting up my chainsaw cut in driveway to the 2nd level nearly flipping it the 3rd time, I really wanted it up lol. It's there a piece of equipment better suited for our types of terrain? Maybe a skid steer? We have been on this land 4+ yrs homesteading. Been going about it all by hand and at 54 this is getting tiresome. I need a piece of machinery to help. This spring my search for a4wd tractor is starting. My first experience on a tractor was the case. I do hope it gets better.

[@deborrahdutra5599]

Very interesting Labs are the best dogs

[@stephenmathewes5159]

Definitely ROPS and seatbelt.

[@smileydavis73]

MG. Bet Il be remembering that story too. Sorry about your friend. and thanks.

[@MrSprintcat]

I think it was a good video thank you for your time.I just thinking maybe you rolled your tractor over because you haven't answered anybody's questions on the comment board