You got a lot of good input below, maybe more than you bargained for given your question. Not knowing how steep your hills are (I have been on hills all my life.) I would add this:
1. Since this land is new to you, can you still talk to the previous owner? What tractor did he use and how was it outfitted? Since he knows this ground what advice can he offer. 2. Keep in mind your land is not a flat plane albeit sloped. There will be pot holes, stones, gopher mounds, washouts, etc., maybe even stumps, that could get the side momentum of your tractor moving in the wrong direction. Therefore leave margin in your strategy to handle those situations. A neighbor spraying on a slope he thought he was safe on died when the upper wheel rolled over a stump (hidden in the grass) and tossed the tractor over. 3. Given your equipment there may be areas you want to stay off of and just pasture. 4. Your ability to stick to the hill will also be influenced by wetness, frost, frozen ground, etc. Tires were already mentioned. Again, leave yourself some margin. 5. I also like the ROPS comment. All my tractors have them. 6. Going up hills can be a good strategy if you have sufficient power to not have to stop and shift, traction to not dig holes, and front weight to hold the front end down. 6a. Then there is the whole experience of jack-knifing, usually experienced when either going down hill with a load behind or turning while going downhill with a load behind. Hopefully you just slide and bend your machinery and not roll. 7. I also have been on a tractor that slid sideways when cutting hay on a side hill. My Dad told me to turn down hill if I felt the tractor tipping. That sounds good in theory, luckily I never had to test it. Good luck. Paul
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