If you are here because you are wondering about using an Avant on a very steep slope here's my experience: I have a 635 and have been building at the top of a slope that I have measured to be in excess of 1 in 3 grade and, with a real steep banking turn at the top. The surface is concrete and coarse sharp (no fines) aggregate and there are horizontal inverted depressions 20mm deep. Because of this surface traction is very good although I skidded once at the top gong down in wet conditions (scary) so I now always lock the (standard) hydraulics: I always flip the lock off to save tyre scrub at top and bottom once on more or less level ground. Having skidded I don't forget to use the lock!. First rule: if traversing without a load go up backwards unless you are really sure your forks or bucket will prevent the front wheels coming off the ground: I have rear end weights and tele full out. If traversing without an implement I definitely have to reverse up or else the front wheels come up and I loose directional control (also scary). Of course don't do anything sudden or 'attack', keep it steady . Thats it. Apart from that I have carried up full bulk bags of sand and aggregates (800kg+) no problem,. I have a telescopic jib and again no problem carrying up large bundles of 4.8m timber. Going down: carrying full heavy buckets of muck to load a skip, no problem although overload and material can fall out due to the angle of thae machine and roll to the bottom (public road). Its one of those slopes where a brick once moving will roll to the bottom. As its a fairly new machine, electric handbrake is solid. As ever keep the load as low as possible. I simply don't think we could have done this job without an avant given all the materials, tons and tons of it, that has either gone up or come down. Absolutely brilliant piece of kit. Remember weight to the back unless you are 100% certain. Stay safe.
orla lordan I believe they would but maybe depending on country? In Australia most machines have reverse beepers and some like excavators have forward and reverse, I have disconnected machine beepers before that have become to annoying and I know there is no one around to alert.
