How far is too far for driving tractor on the road?

[paulsharvey]

A DK45 weights the same as a medium sized SUV, even with a loader, water in tires and a 7 ft disc, he should be no more than 6000#, or a regular pick up.

 

[akadave]

Nope. You'll spend the money for tires that could have bought a used trailer to do the job much more efficiently and enjoyable. Roads are hard on tractor tires. Maybe I missed why you don't have a trailer??

I bought a car hauler two weeks after buying my first tractor many years ago. I never wanted to be in a situation where I couldn't move the tractor. Still have both. I can't move everything I own but I can move a tractor big enough to do any jobs that come up at my other properties.

 

[CalG]

It would be interesting to track the fuel burn.

I never think of mpg when I fill a tractor tank ;-)

 

[paulsharvey]

It would be interesting to track the fuel burn.

I never think of mpg when I fill a tractor tank ;-)

Most machines hold between 6 and 12 hours of fuel at operating RPM, so after 4 hours on the road, our OP would most likely want to fill up before doing the food plot work, and coming back home. So, maybe 6 gallons per trip? Don't think thar really changes the equation. Wear on front tires and front axle seals would worry me; that's a Lot of vibrations

 

[ning]

Nope. You'll spend the money for tires that could have bought a used trailer to do the job much more efficiently and enjoyable. Roads are hard on tractor tires. Maybe I missed why you don't have a trailer??

I bought a car hauler two weeks after buying my first tractor many years ago. I never wanted to be in a situation where I couldn't move the tractor. Still have both. I can't move everything I own but I can move a tractor big enough to do any jobs that come up at my other properties.

I've been "needing" a trailer for the past 8 years, with that "need" increasing similarly to you with added concern once I got the tractor.

Still haven't needed to trailer it anywhere, though I could've used a flatbed for other reasons exactly twice in the meantime (rented one once - $100 for the day - and "borrowed" one once by using it the day I picked it up for a friend who was buying it before delivering it to her (yes she knew lol)). Pretty sure I've come out ahead by not having one yet, but I'm still on the lookout for as good a deal as my friend got for hers ($1500 for a 16' 7000# with really nice ramps and great condition - though I'd probably "need" a 10k).

However if I had a need to move my tractor twice a year 43 miles each way, I'd be buying the first decently priced one I found.

 

[ning]

It would be interesting to track the fuel burn.

I never think of mpg when I fill a tractor tank ;-)

My tractor get a bit over an hour of work done per gallon, best I can tell, though I've never used a whole tank doing max-hp work. So, I'd say at least a gallon per hour.
My guess is that 43 miles would take at least 4 hours - probably 5 including a break or two, possibly 5.5, but let's say 4 hours of tractor-equivalent. The 45 is probably a little more thirsty than my 35, but I'll leave it at 1 gallon per hour. So that 43 miles, in 4 hours, is about 10mpg.

At $3.50/gal, the trip would be ~$14 each way in fuel.
Also the trip would be nearly 1/10 each way of an engine oil change, count that in the time & expense cost of the trip.
It's quite possible that the extra tire wear wouldn't be the most expensive part of the trip, to be honest.

 

[paulsharvey]

My tractor get a bit over an hour of work done per gallon, best I can tell, though I've never used a whole tank doing max-hp work. So, I'd say at least a gallon per hour.
My guess is that 43 miles would take at least 4 hours - probably 5 including a break or two, possibly 5.5, but let's say 4 hours of tractor-equivalent. The 45 is probably a little more thirsty than my 35, but I'll leave it at 1 gallon per hour. So that 43 miles, in 4 hours, is about 10mpg.

At $3.50/gal, the trip would be ~$14 each way in fuel.
Also the trip would be nearly 1/10 each way of an engine oil change, count that in the time & expense cost of the trip.
It's quite possible that the extra tire wear wouldn't be the most expensive part of the trip, to be honest.

Time is the most expensive part of the trip. If you just spent 4 hours roading your machine, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say your probably not going to get any productive work done that day. So, if we road day 1, work day 2, and return day 3; we have spent 3 days to do 1 day of work.

Anyone really road machines that much, your back is not gonna be happy. The constant bouncing on the seat, kinda jams your lower back, and there is a reason old farmers and old equipment operators walk weird, cause their back hurts.

 

[RayIN]

If that's the MF listed on your bio that 31 must be kph you would be lucky to get 17-18 miles per hour on flat ground.
Also I do believe that the must pull over is only when safe to do so, with adequate room.

Good catch! I fat-fingered that; should be 21 MPH @ 2,200 RPM per the operators manual.
In actuality, that is theoretical, as the operators manual also states not to operate the engine at maximum throttle unless under a load, which road driving would be-unloaded.

 

[newbury]

17.8 mph seems about right at WOT. I run slightly less than that so I'd guess about 15 mph. The route I take to the property crosses #1 on 96 highway a two lane there. Lots of traffic but fairly well traffic lighted up. A few small towns along the way but the bulk of it is pretty rural. Mine isn't the HST but a geared model.

As for the JD F1445 its a front commercial grade mower. No 3pt on it. Its a beast when mowing. I can mow our 19.+ acre farm in about 4.5 hrs when I'm motivated and hadn't let it get too tall. Much of that is dodging fruit trees/bushes, vineyards.

Just make sure you've got all flashers, SMV signs etc. are there and DO IT on a nice day. Then report back with pictures.
If it is possible to leave it there SAFE AND SECURE overnight get an alternative mode of transportation to return home and come back the next day to work more on your plots (to minimize tractor road trip). Maybe put a Harley in the FEL

 

[CalG]

My tractor get a bit over an hour of work done per gallon, best I can tell, though I've never used a whole tank doing max-hp work. So, I'd say at least a gallon per hour.
My guess is that 43 miles would take at least 4 hours - probably 5 including a break or two, possibly 5.5, but let's say 4 hours of tractor-equivalent. The 45 is probably a little more thirsty than my 35, but I'll leave it at 1 gallon per hour. So that 43 miles, in 4 hours, is about 10mpg.

At $3.50/gal, the trip would be ~$14 each way in fuel.
Also the trip would be nearly 1/10 each way of an engine oil change, count that in the time & expense cost of the trip.
It's quite possible that the extra tire wear wouldn't be the most expensive part of the trip, to be honest.

My bet would be "road work" is little more than a fast idle as far as power requirements. After all. No wind resistance! ;-)

 

[dieselscout80]

You guys saying you can drive a tractor 40 miles on the road with untaxed diesel, must be leaving out some details. I imagine you need to be a registered farmer, and/or get some type of special plate and exemption. Doesn’t make sense that anyone can simply drive their machine on public roads at will, and avoid federal and state road taxes

If it’s not got a dmv tag it isn’t taxed for fuel use.

 

[DarkBlack]

My bet would be "road work" is little more than a fast idle as far as power requirements. After all. No wind resistance! ;-)

Liquid ballasted tires are not rolling efficient at all.

 

[DarkBlack]

If it’s not got a dmv tag it isn’t taxed for fuel use.

That doesn’t sound right. Do you have a link that states that?

 

[Deere Dude]

I saved a bunch of money roading my tractor 13 miles to a dealer with my bicycle in the bucket. The problem was it was all uphill on the return trip home. I thought I was going to die in the first 1/2 mile. It was trailered after that unless it was a quick recall job.

 

[newbury]

In Alexandria, Va. I used to road my B7610 the 4 miles from my house near Ft. Belvoir to the house I own near Beacon Mall. That was about 2009-2012. Maybe once or twice a year. Then about 2015 traffic got just too darn heavy and crazy at most times of day.

 

[arrow]

There seems to be a lot of folks that think you need a F250 to pull a 3500# bass boat, or a 5000# tractor. That's just not the case

If one is carting a 5000 lb load regularly, l wouldn’t consider anything less than a 3/4 ton.
Here’s why: l tow on a regular basis with a 5 ton trailer 20’ long and carrying 5 to 8000 lb tractors. You cannot believe the inconsiderations of surrounding drivers where you have to jamb on the brakes or maneuver suddenly, I want every bit of weight on the pulling machine to be able to handle the forces generatd by sudden maneuvers sometimes necessary to avoid catastrophe. 3/4 tons have the extra weight, larger brake size and more powerful engines to aid when the indeterminate arises.
Now granted, I am on the road quite abit and 98% of my trips are trouble free.
When trouble does arise, l am glad to have a 3/4 ton under me to withstand and control the forces generated by sudden maneuvers.
As l stated earlier, there is more to consider than simple tow weights in my experience.

 

[tjandrews]

Most amusing. I live on US 20 in Central NY. US 20 is a major highway that goes all the way across the US, from sea to shining sea. My place is just south of Syracuse, but it is definitely rural - dairy country for the most part. I see farmers driving farm equipment by my house all the time, guys that I know are hauling at least 10 miles one way regularly. Not just tractors, either. I also see, in season, combines, self-propelled choppers, highboy sprayers, and the like, much of it looking gigantic.
State Troopers patrol this road, as well as the County Sheriff. As long as it is folded up not to be too wide, they pretty much ignore the farm equipment, unless, of course, there's an accident. And the infrequent accidents are almost always not caused by the farm equipment.
That said, I have driven a tractor with a 3-point sprayer on the back as far as 5 miles a couple of times, and I was nervous about it every minute. While I have no problem driving the half-mile to my brother's house in the winter to clear his driveway with the snowblower (He bought it, after all...), I don't care for going much farther than that.
43 miles? NO WAY!

 

[Hard Knocks IV]

I've driven that far many times on the road,amazing how much I missed buzzing down the road real fast in a vehicle.Heck I'm sure I put that many miles on a tractor some days in the hay field doing things like mowing and raking.Just make sure you have all your fluids in the tractor up to snuff and carry some food and water.With the sight seeing you'll be amazed how fast the time will pass.

 

[boatmoter]

I have some hunting property here in central NC I really want to build up/fix up a few food plots. A few years ago had a forestry mulcher dude come in and make me a 1 acre plot 2 - 1/4 acre each food plots and shooting lanes in the pin planted cutover. It has proven to work pretty well for deer hunting so far.

So far I have been taking my John Deere 1445 front mower up there on a trailer mowing it a few times a year. It has been cleared off a few years now. I am thinking that in 2025 I can take my Kioti dk45se on there with a disc and run through the mowed areas a few times. Then sow some food plot seeds on it to attract turkey and deer. Then use the mower for maint going forward. I said a few times a year, I have missed the window for this year to plant clover. So I thought I would start out with some beans in spring of some sort, then in the fall disc it back up and plant a clover ish blend.

This fall I broadcasted some oats and wheat in it after mowing. Did "ok" but not great. Hard to tell exactly as after it was mowed lots of grass seeds fell to the earth too. This is my second year doing this and the deer love to come around so the idea is working, just want to make it even more productive. My goal it to plant perennial seeds of some sort long term.

So my question is, the trip is about 43 miles one way from home and I am thinking maybe doing this twice a year for 2025. I figure I should be able to make it up there in about 3-4 ish hours. Even if I had to leave it over night and drove it back the next day is ok. This is a 2012 model with about 500 hrs and I want it to last me the rest of my life if possible.

I usually only run it up to about 2500 rpm doing anything and plan to stay at that rpm/speed for the duration of the trip. Tires are R4's with plenty of life on em.

To rent a truck and trailer to haul it will cost for a single day approx $4-500. I don't have anything tough enough to haul that kinda load.

Planning to retire next year so how long it takes isn't a problem for me.

Suggestions?

depends upon how often you want to buy tires. the roads wear the tires out quickly

 

[Mini Baler Guy]

I have some hunting property here in central NC I really want to build up/fix up a few food plots. A few years ago had a forestry mulcher dude come in and make me a 1 acre plot 2 - 1/4 acre each food plots and shooting lanes in the pin planted cutover. It has proven to work pretty well for deer hunting so far.

So far I have been taking my John Deere 1445 front mower up there on a trailer mowing it a few times a year. It has been cleared off a few years now. I am thinking that in 2025 I can take my Kioti dk45se on there with a disc and run through the mowed areas a few times. Then sow some food plot seeds on it to attract turkey and deer. Then use the mower for maint going forward. I said a few times a year, I have missed the window for this year to plant clover. So I thought I would start out with some beans in spring of some sort, then in the fall disc it back up and plant a clover ish blend.

This fall I broadcasted some oats and wheat in it after mowing. Did "ok" but not great. Hard to tell exactly as after it was mowed lots of grass seeds fell to the earth too. This is my second year doing this and the deer love to come around so the idea is working, just want to make it even more productive. My goal it to plant perennial seeds of some sort long term.

So my question is, the trip is about 43 miles one way from home and I am thinking maybe doing this twice a year for 2025. I figure I should be able to make it up there in about 3-4 ish hours. Even if I had to leave it over night and drove it back the next day is ok. This is a 2012 model with about 500 hrs and I want it to last me the rest of my life if possible.

I usually only run it up to about 2500 rpm doing anything and plan to stay at that rpm/speed for the duration of the trip. Tires are R4's with plenty of life on em.

To rent a truck and trailer to haul it will cost for a single day approx $4-500. I don't have anything tough enough to haul that kinda load.

Planning to retire next year so how long it takes isn't a problem for me.

Suggestions?

The tires will wear much faster. make sure your tractor is in 2WD if it's 4WD if you go down the highway. It will be a 4 hour drive. I would rent or buy a trailer.