You "Road" Your Tractor?

[oldnslo]

I thought asphalt was horrible to tractor tires? I've taken my compact tractor to a friends about a half mile each way a couple times, and didn't know if that would wear my R4s substantially more. I guess it really isn't an issue on occasion?

Yes asphalt is hard on tractor tires but It takes more than a couple of miles to show any wear or tractor tires.

Hard to calculate but would guess we put 70 - 80 highway miles on each year and it shows a little on the lugs but nothing like lugs half gone or major must replace tires every year type wear. Last tractor had around 3,000 hrs when we bought it and had over 9,000 when we sold it. Was on 2nd set of tires when sold.

 

[5030]

Some do and some don't.

I have to admit that roading my tractors to a place up to 40 miles away is probably easier, less time consuming, and safer than driving a big tractor and shredder up on a deckover gooseneck trailer and trailering it to the place.

By the time I hook up the trailer, chain it all down, drive to the destination, take the chains off, and back it off the trailer, and get going, I find it easier to just drive it down the road.

Tractors today can run faster than you want to run one. I know both mine will run about 30mph, but I seldom exceed 22 mph or so.

So I can be at a destination 40 miles away in less than 2 hours drive time. Might get there a tad quicker with trailering it, but trailering is much more work. Besides, a casual drive down a farm road is good for the soul.. Turn the A/C and stereo on and enjoy the ride.

How do you get your tractor from one place to the next?

Same as you but... I like to 'rubberneck while tractoring along. Great way to be nosey and see what is happening in the neighborhood. I own a tri axle Kauffman GN but I rarely use it. In fact, I'm selling it.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have roaded mine around the neighborhood to friends house a couple times. It's slow, but as long as it's just a few miles no biggie. Have road ran a JD 310 back hoe probably 12 miles down Us411, but had a follow truck. Contractors road run motor graders upto 40 miles routinely.

Funny story; past the statue of limitations; me (an assistant superintendent at the time), an other assistant superintendent, and a project manager where working on friends barn to house conversion on a Saturday, kicking carpet. He took us to get lunch, and on drive mentioned needing to dig a septic tank, and needing to rent a back hoe. On way back, we passed a county JD 544H front end loader on side of the road. Project manager and me ran back up, (I had keys for about everything), and took it. PM told me, if we get stopped by cops, leave it in gear and bail, they will have to stop the loader before they chase us. Anyways, ran it 15 miles to friends house and hogged out a hole for his septic, and returned the loader unharmed. Anyways, anything over 18 mph on heavy equipment, without any type of suspension, gets sketchy. If we got busted that afternoon, it would have been close to 1/3rd of the company....

 

[CliffordK]

Yes asphalt is hard on tractor tires but It takes more than a couple of miles to show any wear or tractor tires.

I need to try that a bit more. My biggest problem is the tires dry rotting long before they wear down.

If one has a 4x4, make sure the front axle (and differential) is unlocked before substantial driving on dry pavement.

 

[CADplans]

When I bought my 584IH,, the guys wife said;
"How you going to get it home!??"
I told her,, Right down your driveway!!
I'm gonna drive it.

I thought she was gonna have a conniption!! LOL!!

You can Google it,, Stewartsville VA to Fincastle VA,, ~24 miles,

It took under 1.5 hours,, I doubt a truck could move it much faster than 1.5 hours,
considering load, and unload.

SEVERAL people from work saw me,, the next day, the factory was a BUZZ,, discussing my road trip!!

(I had done that MANY times when younger, and working on a farm,,,)

 

[TractorTYMe]

I haul mine when going on mowing jobs, so it's second nature for me. I can load it and secure it in less than 15 minutes now.

 

[milkman636]

This thread brings up some memories from my youth. We had an old neighbor down the road that was a WWII combat vet. He had his share of driving problems with a truck, and ultimately lost the right to drive one. He could still drive a tractor though, and I'd routinely see his small one parked at bars and stores up to about 10 miles away. He managed to get everywhere he wanted to go and kept doing it that way for about 2 decades.

The PTSD and alcohol made him a bit of a legendary character to those of us that grew up nearby. I'll always remember the warnings about where "they like to hide and shoot from". He still lived on his family farm with no indoor plumbing when he passed away around Y2K.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve had a few times where the dealer (35 miles away) has had to fix my tractor and when they are done, I will have one of my kids drive me up and drop me off when its done.
I drive the tractor home.
Did it a few times at night, too.
No big deal with a cab. 4 ways and beacons on.

 

[JasperFrank]

My zone is in the transition from Ag to high end housing. I will wait for a tractor to get to its next field. Other people do not.

 

[J&K]

We have some hay fields about 3 miles away so I do road some. Most of the way is dirt and now having a cab tractor for most of my hay sure makes reading better also.