How fast does a big tractor go?

[newbury]

By big I mean probably 80HP plus.

Background - We were driving along RT24 in Alabama which is finishing construction. We were doing about 50mph along with the rest of traffic. In a steady stream of oncoming traffic (going about the same speed) came a big tractor doing about 50. I had difficulty seeing it because the sun angle was low and I was contending with traffic.

It almost looked like it might be a construction dedicated tractor single seat, no side-by-side.

I've seen tractors in Europe routinely going at fairly high speed, but not many around here (northeast Mississippi).

So how fast does your big tractor go?

 

[foreman Etexas]

My 100hp does around 25mph, the big 8 wheel tractors I have drove will do 37mph down hill on highway.

 

[LD1]

You happen to at least get a make of the machine?

Most do 20-25. Very few get into the 30's

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My loader tractor will go 22mph, my distant neighbor has several tractors they haul chit with, they go 33mph...

SR

 

[Soundguy]

My 100hp does around 25mph, the big 8 wheel tractors I have drove will do 37mph down hill on highway.

Same here, 8th gear in my nh 7610s @ ~95hp will make 25 near pto rpm.

Which is about right since a SMV plaque is good for 26mph

 

[motownbrowne]

I'm sure it's different on a bigger tractor, especially with a cab, but 17 feels plenty fast on my Kubota.

My 8N with a Sherman over-under was rated to do 23 in 4 hi at wot according to the sales literature. That would be absolutely terrifying!!

 

[oosik]

My neighbors big 550hp Versatile shows a max speed of 30mph on the speedometer. He will never go that fast because when he's out on these country roads - going from field to field - he always has some form of implement attached and he is usually almost as wide as the entire paved surface.

 

[LD1]

My 8N with a Sherman over-under was rated to do 23 in 4 hi at wot according to the sales literature. That would be absolutely terrifying!!

I can verify that they really do that.

Makes it nice hauling wood in the trailer from down the road a ways. Just gotta make sure the steering linkages and radius rods are well cared for and tight.

 

[smstonypoint]

Self-propelled sprayers seem to travel faster than tractors when I get behind one on a highway. It looks like the fastest JD sprayer has a max. transport speed of 35 mph: John Deere Self-Propelled Sprayers.

Steve

 

[Gary Fowler]

By big I mean probably 80HP plus.

Background - We were driving along RT24 in Alabama which is finishing construction. We were doing about 50mph along with the rest of traffic. In a steady stream of oncoming traffic (going about the same speed) came a big tractor doing about 50. I had difficulty seeing it because the sun angle was low and I was contending with traffic.

It almost looked like it might be a construction dedicated tractor single seat, no side-by-side.

I've seen tractors in Europe routinely going at fairly high speed, but not many around here (northeast Mississippi).

So how fast does your big tractor go?

Well my LS isn't 80+ HP but rated at 70 and it will do 25 in high gear which is plenty fast enough for me. It does handle very well at top speed though.

PS I have had it at 75 MPH but it was loaded on a trailer hooked behind my Chevy truck.

 

[JRobyn]

But tractors aren't usually set up with much caster to provide directional stability at any speed. They usually have near-zero caster to make turning the front wheels easier on soft surfaces (dirt). Getting mine much over 15-20 makes me nervous. A little too twitchy.

 

[LiveRoll]

Farm tractors are changing, a lot of the manufacturers are now adopting to go with the European design, with IVT transmissions, resulting in higher road speeds. In Europe, the cost of ownership of a farm having a bigger type truck, or tractor trailer unit are almost cost prohibitive with licensing, taxes, etc, so the tractor manufacturers have adapted the tractor to travel at near road speed, not only to improve turn-around times from field to farm, but to also help with traffic flow. Some of the JCB's ( fast-tracs) and Fendts etc have road speeds of 40 plus MPH. A lot of these tractors also have a front suspension system to help cope with the road surfaces. This is slowly transferring to North American models as well. I guess the biggest limitation would be in tire design, to build a tire that can handle the road and field surfaces, as well as the speed and the heat generated.

Cheers

Roger

 

[bigtiller]

My neighbor has a Fastrac that will go over 40 mph. I don't know which model he has though.

Agricultural Tractors

 

[MinnesotaEric]

JCB Fastracs fly insofar as tractors go.

 

[dickfoster]

Freekin krauts truly crave speed don't they?

 

[newbury]

My neighbor has a Fastrac that will go over 40 mph. I don't know which model he has though.

Agricultural Tractors

That's sort of what it looked like. I'd hate to get in it's way. Looked like the driver need to get someplace quick.

Freekin krauts truly crave speed don't they?

Do you need to dump on everything?

 

[JerryK]

You get up around 18 mph or so on an big old open station tractor with a little loosy goosy steering [ bouncing up and down thru the total range of your seat ], and that is plumb fast enough.....

 

[buickanddeere]

Europen depending has 50 and 60KM/hr tractor speed limits . Thier tractor trailers really do have "tractors" pulling them.

 

[PILOON]

If I'm not mistaken on many they have a highway gear option that is special order.
Same as creeper gear for snow blowing or tilling.

A friend used to drive 30-40 miles in all directions to collect hay and for sure they were moving at 40 or more, it was a ford.

 

[teejk]

Farm tractors are changing, a lot of the manufacturers are now adopting to go with the European design, with IVT transmissions, resulting in higher road speeds. In Europe, the cost of ownership of a farm having a bigger type truck, or tractor trailer unit are almost cost prohibitive with licensing, taxes, etc, so the tractor manufacturers have adapted the tractor to travel at near road speed, not only to improve turn-around times from field to farm, but to also help with traffic flow. Some of the JCB's ( fast-tracs) and Fendts etc have road speeds of 40 plus MPH. A lot of these tractors also have a front suspension system to help cope with the road surfaces. This is slowly transferring to North American models as well. I guess the biggest limitation would be in tire design, to build a tire that can handle the road and field surfaces, as well as the speed and the heat generated.

Cheers

Roger

My brother writes for several ag publications (free-lancer) and gets invited to a lot of machinery events...he said the primary goal in the industry now is "road speed". Figure with huge fields and expensive equipment, makes sense to be able to move quickly from one field to the next.