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DAE ever try a 'gentle' approach with a full bucket on a steep grade and end up in a ditch?
I was hauling a full load of fill dirt down a 15% slope in a 988K last week and eased off the pedal to be smooth, but the whole rig started to slide sideways and I had to drop the bucket to stop from tipping.
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the_sean6mo ago
Gentle" on a grade is asking for trouble, gotta stay in the gear.
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cooper.nathan6mo ago
That 15% grade with a full bucket is no joke. Sean is right, gentle throttle on a slope like that breaks traction. You need the engine's pull to keep the tires planted and steering straight. Easing off just lets gravity take over, and then you're along for the ride. Dropping the bucket was the only move left to make. Always keep a solid bite in the gear on those hills.
2
sarah_hart4mo ago
Gentle throttle can work if you're reading the grade right. Flatten out the bucket just a hair to shift weight back, then ease into the pedal instead of letting off. I've brought a 988K loaded with wet clay down a 16%er near Blue Ridge by keeping the rpms steady and using the brake to scrub speed before the bucket even starts to drift. The trick is anticipating the slide before it starts, not reacting after. Easing off completely is what kills you, not the gentle touch itself.
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