How to Prevent Tractor Rollover Accidents 

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Good info Brock. Yep those pucker moments are not fun!!! Glad them 2 guys survived!

An added note on older "big wheel" tractors...if it's parked outside in freezing weather, always back up a little bit first. It's possible for the tires to freeze to the ground and if you have nothing on the hitch, they will come right up and over on you before you know it happened.

That’s some good info Brock, a lot of folks don’t understand the center of gravity and just put on weight, when it really matters where that weight goes. Crazy train stories too.

Anyone that has flipped a tractor shouldn't try to start the engine after returning upright or they will destroy the engine. All the oil is in the wrong places at that point. Nice video 👍

❇️Going slow is the ticket for a tractor in any setup.! I think it's the #1 thing to do.!❇️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍

Tractor tipping is an important topic. We need to hear about it, so we don't forget about it. Accidents usually aren't accidents, they are mistakes. Let's all pay attention and eliminate those mistakes! Thanks, Brock!

That is some great info Brock thanks for sharing! One thing we never want to do is get complacent or think you (not you specifically, the collective 'you') know it all. Never stop learning! And the more I watch videos on RU-vid, the more I realize how much more I need to learn. Understanding the center of gravity on a tractor is paramount for safe operation. The good news is there are plenty of people willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Thanks again!

This is a great video for those looking to buy a tractor and for seasoned owners alike. Good job Brock!

It's always good to keep the subject of rollovers in peoples' thoughts. Since you asked for additional input, here goes with some subject matter that I haven't yet seen in a video, but you do touch on here. The stability of a tractor essentially depends on the center of gravity staying inside a "stability zone" which would seemingly be a rectangle created by the contact points of the four tires. But the oscillating front axle doesn't help much, so the stability zone is actually a triangle formed by the rear tires and the center of the front axle. The front of this triangle is the pivot axis of the front axle, and so is up off the ground. So the stability of a tractor mostly depends on the rear tires. Ballasting the rear of the tractor helps to shift the center of gravity aft to the stability of the rear tires, and is the underlying reason that recommended amounts of ballast may seem excessive. A loaded bucket shifts the CG forward. Raising the bucket also raises the CG. Being on a sidehill with the bucket raised can result in the CG shifting outside the stability triangle and one's day getting ruined. Another misconception is that ballast reduces the amount of weight and stress on the front axle. This is somewhat true for ballast carried on the three point hitch, but wheel weights and liquid ballast do not. Wheel weights and liquid ballast do help lower the CG which will provide more stability on sidehills, while weight on the three point, carried as low as practical, more effectively shifts the CG aft. Something else to keep in mind, especially with an open-station tractor, is to try not to let the ROPS become out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Snagging a low branch of building roof can backflip a tractor much quickly than the operator can react.

Glad you're ok, good advice. Awesome job as always!

Brock, really glad to see you made this video. We've all seen videos of some popular youtubers carrying the loader to high or crossing a slope and saying "it doesn't feel tippy". I think that's a bad example for new tractor owners. Your story of the near tip over is a perfect example of how it's not tippy until it is. Then it may be too late.

Almost flipped my Ford 640 (no ROPS in 1956 models) over backwards once (15 +/- years ago - I had just purchased it) when I crossed a previously flooded area of gravel where a creek changed it's channel and the rear wheels sunk in two feet. I tried to back-out and the nose lifted. Happily I had a carry-all on the back that acted like a wheelie bar. Learned a lesson in torque that day!

Great video, Brock. I have to say, my biggest fear while operating my tractor is rolling over. But, I've heard people say, if you don't have some fear than you're probably not operating safely. 🤷‍♂️

Great info Brock, I learned really quick 10yrs ago to keep the bucket down and to quit being in a hurry it just about went over with the bucket full of dirt and in high gear....

When the pucker factor activates, slam the bucket into the ground. Also with a backhoe, run with the landing gear just above the ground if doing something sketchy.

There's a million ways to flip tractors that the typical homeowner should know. This has a ton of information, but I'm pretty sure you could launch a new channel dedicated to safety and still could cover it enough. Common sense is the best "safety" measure you can have. If it doesn't look safe, don't do it. You get that pucker feeling, stop and rethink it. Good information man, but you should touch on loader accidents and tipping forward a little more.

All good advice. Thanks for putting these videos up!

Great info. It is always wise to go slow on unknown land, even on known ones especially if you carry a heavy load. Tractors were never engineered to go fast. Anyway, like they say' "Drive like hell, you'll get there..."

Hey buddy, the day after I saw this video I started to slide down a little hill (was ice under the snow) sideways and your tip of turning down slope on a 45 probably saved me from tipping. When you explained the center of gravity using the box analogy, I completely understood that. Thanks!

Good info!

Great info! Thank you for posting!

I have a friend who is a backhoe operator with 30 years experience. He’s super cautious but experienced a rollover. He was totally surprised by how easy and quickly it can happen. All ended well but many are not so fortunate.

As a first time tractor owner this is probably the best knowledge on how to avoid a tractor tipper or being hit by a train due to blindspots. I am going to save this video and make a habit of reviewing it again down the road just to keep myself and others safe while operating on the farm.

Great video! I’ve had two “tippy” moments on my tractor before, but, luckily, never flipped it completely over.

Excellent video sir. Just purchased my first tractor and am definitely concerned about rolling over. I've driven skid steers for over 20 years and never went over. Hope to continue that trend with the tractor. These videos are very useful information. Thanks 👍

I grew up using old Ford farm tractors both on construction sites and for farm use. They are probably the best education you can get as far as how dangerous tractors can be. Compared to those old machines, my JD 3043D is rock solid. Still, I run it pretty much just like the old Fords. I don't think I could ever feel comfortable going forward up a steep hill. I'll always go up it backwards! I watched a homesteader channel the other day. He was running his brand new tractor, mowing with the bucket all the way up in the air. Hopefully, he survived the learning curve.

I learned another surprising way to flip a tractor: Tractor was on mild downward slope. I was using the loader bucket to reach into a tree and dislodge large limb that had broken in storm. Got over the limb with my bucket and then dropped the bucket to break the limb free and have it drop to the ground. Next thing I know both my rear tires are 2’ in the air and I’m starting to roll over left and forward. It threw me out of the seat and I was suddenly standing and my chest was bent over the steering wheel. (Didn’t have my seatbelt on) What had happened is my loader arms had caught a 3” vine and when I dropped the loader arms the vine was strong enough to not break and the downward force of the loader was transferred to the rear lifting the entire rear of the tractor. A forward flip was narrowly avoided by me raising the loader (took tension off vine) and the rear tires came back down. Never thought a 3” vine would have been strong enough to lift the entire rear end of a 50hp 4wd tractor. Hope this helps someone be safe. Good to learn from the mistakes of others.

Great safety tips, Brock.

Yep was clearing brush with grapple on 2025r with Mauser cab.brush was covering dip in the ground. It was a slow tip over, just couldn’t stop it. Thankfully no injuries and only a broken mirror. However a year later and my nerves are still rattled. I feel the slightest tip and have to stop. Ordered some spacer and now have about 1000 lbs of ballast on the back. Still love the tractor just puts me on edge.

Great video 😁👍 Lots of great information and turning down hill was great advice😁👍🚜💨💡

Thank you

If you feel you are tipping to the side and you are in motion, turn into the tip. It's the same concept as driving a rear wheel drive car that skid out on the rear wheels-you steer into the skid.

I know a farmer who was killed crossing a track with his tractor, he crossed that track thousands of times over 40yrs

Keep your plan and yaw in mind

Good info...

Another thought about ground speed is if you are running along a slope and the upper tire goes into a rut or over an object and causes the tire to bounce it will act like a spring to push upwards and that spring action (rebound) will be amplified with ground speed. These videos are just as good for the experienced as the beginner

You provided a very good video... yes even us experienced operators have our moments. Backing up with a log on the grapple, that basketball size rock was sticking up out of the weeds just enough to bring on the pucker factor. Another reason not to let others use your tractor. I still believe there should be a required introduction class for first time tractor owners... again IMO.

Glad you brought up the rocks and holes. Drop a tire in a hole and flat and level turns to a big scary quick.

I have to cross a pond embankment to get from my barn to most of my property and it makes me nervous every time. My tractor is two wheel drive and I don’t have a bucket, just a brush hog on the back. I’m looking for ways to put more weight on the front.

I live in Eastern Washington. We have some of the best farm land in the country. Alot of the land is rolling steep hills...This is the land where the Hill Sider Combines were invented by RA Hansen. My son in law is a 3rd generation farmer. When I get a chance I go seat in the buddy seat and he usually scares the hell out of me. His Huge John equipment is massive. Some of the hills are so steep the tractor will barely pull the planter up it. And when you get to the top you Can't even see over the hood of this Monster John Deere and over the top you go down the other side....I glance over at my Son in law to see if he looks worried and he's drinking from his morning coffee cup. He smiles and says no worries I got this.... Come harvest time there are places the Combines can only be half full of wheat or stability becomes an issue. My land is no different, there are places I just don't take my small tractors. The risk just isn't worth it.

Had the hidden hole/front tire experience. Luckily my loader was down far enough that it caught the ground before I dropped too far. I was also moving extremely slow at the time. It was my property so I immediately filled it in so that wouldn't happen again.

I nearly flopped my 5045e last year. I was moving an IBC tote about 2/3 full of water and my rear tire went up on a nice sized rock. That causes the water to shift because it wasn't full, and that caused the tote shift on the forks and next thing I know I was driving with my rear tire lifted. Crazy feeling! Loaded tries and box blade we're on, definitely the only thing that saved me. Be careful y'all. And if you're hauling water make sure it's full. Know someone else that flipped their trailer going around a corner with a half filled water tank.

You also have to remember that your pivoting front axle give you no stability. So the rear tires make the stability but when you have a heavy load in the bucket removes some of that.

Brock, great info. What degrees becomes dangerous?

Ya know... I wonder how much would be added to the sticker if manufacturers added hydraulic stabilization to a tractor. Like if you wanna not loose a digit, SawStop saws are about $2k more expensive (so like $4k for the high end models). $2k to a tractor by comparison is not much.

As far a 3point mowers. I think ppl assume that a 4-500 lb mower adds weight, thus stability. Forgetting that its a ground contact implement that adds 0 weight while on the ground mowing. Great weight while carrying. My brother almost flipped my tractor because of this sudden weight loss on part of my steep and twisty yard. He said it took nearly 2 weeks to remove the seat cushion 💀💨👀

I'm kind of surprised that a ROPS was not a part of the video. The tractor that I operate doesn't have one, and it is worrisome.

Hit by a train in a tractor?! Welp, now I’ve heard it all.

your tractor is only as safe as you are.

Live on an Ozarks mountain. Keep the center of gravity as low as possible. The terrain dictates.

What are the odds of knowing 2 people that have been hit by trains on their tractors!

great info, but I think you need a cup of coffee so you can relax man. :)

Rolling Casino

45 is a death sentence low and slow

Not much info out there about doing a front flip on a tractor. Mostly side tips and back flips.

People please stop and Look P.S. Case IH