How Steep is 30 Degrees?

[BMONEY]

Just sayin, but thats was a really smooth video overlay.

[ellentennis]

Thank you for this video. My friend and I are planning some hikes and were looking at the % grade on AllTrails, but didn't have a good idea of what that looked like in real life. Your demonstration shows us that we need poles for sure!

[ventrac]

You are correct that the machines are designed not to chew up the turf. The area he is driving up had already been mowed and was somewhat damp, so what you see kicking up was clumped grass clippings.

[iamthemovie]

Well if you didn't wear dress shoes with the traction of an ice cube that would have helped

[therealRustyShackleford]

Roundup works on all slopes up to and including 90 degrees.

[ventrac]

To convert degrees into percentage: tan(degrees)*100%= % grade. So tan(30 degrees)*100=57.7% grade. % grade = rise over run. So 58% grade means if you have a horizontal run of 100 feet, the grade will rise 58 feet. A 45 degree angle would be a 100% grade (run of 100 feet, rise of 100 feet).

[ventrac]

Yes, Trig is involved to do the conversion since you are dealing with angles. In this case you are converting an angle to opposite/adjacent or rise/run = slope %.
% grade vs degree are just two ways to represent measurement of a slope.

[ventrac]

The reason for making this video clip was to illustrate how steep a 30 degree hill is. We have seen comments from people claiming their Zero Turn Mower can go up 45 degree hills, etc. They may be confusing % grade with degrees or misjudging how steep their hill actually is. A Ventrac with duals is rated for up to a 30 degree hill, and we wanted to show how extreme of slope that is to even walk up.

[bitcools]

I have a 150 foot long, 40 foot wide 30 degree slope against a busy boulevard (2 way street with curbed grass in the middle) that I have been mowing with a front drive self propelled 21 inch mower for 15 years. I mow side to side with soccer cleats and sometimes put the mower at a slight upward angle vs. straight across. I wouldn't say it was easy, but it is doable. I had a service and one guy slid down the hill across the sidewalk into the street and hit a car. His 40+ inch blade wasn't all that helpful and I went back to doing it myself. I'm sure yours wouldn't slide, but $10K vs. $400? Sorry to burst your bubble. I'm in my late 50s and was in a car accident resulting in lower back disc problems. This is part of my exercise regimen but I wouldn't say I'm anything remarkable and somewhat compromised physically.

[observer]

the most exciting video i have seen all week

[speedfinder]

I've recently learned that in the United Kingdom, across the pond from you guys, there's country road in the lake district, (Northern England.) called "The Hardknott pass." It goes up with a long series of hairpin bends at 30 degrees grade for a mile or two up into the mountains. If you can believe it, Brits actually cycle up this route for fun!

[ompminc.]

you won't make a ventrac salesman feel bad, these machines are the best in all applications.

[neonsloth]

Excellent. I am using this information to decide on some mechanics for my physics engine. Any other game developers stumble upon this?

[jimmyt]

Thanks for this, great video . Wonder if a 450 dingo with tracks can make it up a hill like that with gravel in the bucket?

[christalball_]

Thanks I have to drive up some roads with 30 degree 57% slope do you think my rav 4 can make it

[aw]

I think a lot of people are guesstimating the degree of slope on their hill when they talk about their tractors easily mowing it. I have 11 acres, about 3 of which is 32-35 degrees and anything less than 18hp with really good tires will not pull it going vertically. I've tried numerous tractors over the years. Cub Cadet, 2 Craftsmans, Simplicity, MTD, and 3 Deeres. I'm currently using a 03 585 Deere with 25hp diesel, and an old 93 445 22hp Deere for a back-up. It strains them creeping around on the steepest part.


I used mow it with an old 318 Deere. It was bulletproof but after about 3000hrs it started to lose some compression I guess and I had to start going horizontally. You had to lean against the hill basically sitting beside the seat on the fender, and it would still have your palms sweating. On my second season of pulling that trick I got caught in a rain shower and rather than quit I picked up the speed to quickly knock it out. You can guess how that ended. A couple of weeks in the hospital and 2 surgeries later...I no longer get cute with under-powered tractors. (That story is for those bragging about how they are easily conquering hills with their zero turns, 14hp Murrays, top heavy ancient Cubs, etc, etc. You're playing Russian roulette, all it takes is one blown tire, gopher hole, whatever, and you're hurt.)


I'd love to have one of these Ventrac, they look great. If I could afford a new tractor that is most likely the one I'd get. Sadly the way my work is going I doubt I could get a used one any time soon. It's definitely at the top of my list if things ever turn around.

[RuneNightmare]

Thank you for making this video. It is very helpful.

[stephenhenderson]

have no use for a ventrac but I want one now

[ettawing]

3% grade incline is my Heart break hill. . . The boston matathon.

[andrele]

I had actually drove a Kubota 1121 zeroturn on like a 40 degrees angle slopes