At what age did you let your son drive/operate?

[IslandManMitch]

I am one of four sons. My father started each one of us out on a Wheelhorse garden tractor that looked and acted a lot like a full size tractor. We were moved up the tractor ladder with age, experience, and size. I was running a Ford 4000 at 11. On the down side I want to say my cousin at age 14 turned their red belly Ford over on himself pulling stumps unsupervised. He was in the hospital for 3 months. Train them well. Supervise them and turn them loose when you feel comfortable. Mitch

 

[AlanB]

Something I have been working with lately a lot.

My 15 year old daughter never had much interest. She can operate the tractor, but it is a means to an end for her.

My 10 year old son loves everything mechanical and with wheels. If it has at least one wheel, he wants on it.

He spent a month in Germany this summer with the inlaws, and got a fair amount of tractor time.

Came back and was ready to operate ours.

Last night he loaded the box blade on the trailer, I disconnected it, then we went and hooked up the PHD with him operating and we loaded and chained it on the trailer together.

I am very glad we have an HST. I am not sure if I would be comfortable with him on a clutch tractor, with the HST he just creeps in tight spots.

I think it depends on you and the child. I think every parent, and every child is a bit different and you just have to go with your gut after thinking about it quite a bit.

 

[Ford960]

I helped a family friend that had a herd of horses across from our house in S Fl back in the early 60's. He was into Polo and I served as his groom at the games every Sunday. He also had a big spead out west of town where he had cattle and I spent many long hours out there mowing with a bush hog on the back of an 8N. I was 10 at the time and I really don't remember how it came about that I operated this tractor. My dad had always allowed us to sit on his lap and drive the car so it was just natural to me to drive the tractor. Not being farm people we didn't have access to tractors and such even though we were from Iowa. My grandparents and uncles however lived on farms and there was always wheeled goodies to play with up there. The grandparents have long since passed on but I still like to visit my uncle who has a wide range of toys that I still like to play with. Many times I'd have to go fill a gas can to play more.

 

[MDM]

I would say when they are old enough to reach the controls. I was on a riding mower at probably 9 or so. Then mowing hay with a disc mower and round baling with a Ford 6600 a few years later. My dad and his friends got to the point where they would sit in the shade and drink beer while us kids did the work. My dad didn't make me go on terrain that was unsafe or made me uneasy. I do remember this - I don't think I ever made a round bale or raked a windrow he was happy with.

 

[Charolais]

I started on an 8n when I was 6. I ran the tractor through the corn fields while the grown folks pulled ear corn, shucked it by hand and threw it in the trailer. Had to stand up to push the clutch in when I needed to pull forward. Couldn't reach it from the seat.

Was cultivating corn when I was 10 with a MH Pacer.It was a borrowed tractor. By 12 I was breaking land with a 3 bottom plow with a MF135.

Bought my first tractor in 1968. 140 Farmall. Bought the tractor before I had a car. Paid $3,050 cash for the tractor new with all the cultivator feet and 2 hopper fertilizer applicator. By that time I was tired of walking behind a mule in the 20 acres of tobacco.

Started my son at 7 on the 140. He was running the rotary cutter at 12. At 15 he started running hay equipment. He's the best I've ever seen with a rotary rake now. I can depend on him to take care of the equipment when he's in the seat. He's working on mastering the FEL loading and stacking round bales of hay. I tried to teach him well and it's paying off. I can depend on him when I'm not aorund now.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Age 8.. Flatlands of NW Wyoming. Also "drove"the beat truck at the same time. Essentially idled it down the rows along side the harvester, then put the clutch in and brake. Old man would jump off the tractor, turn the truck around and repeat. I am sure I was younger when I "drove" stuff, but 8 was when it was part of a task.

But, it was never really about age but more about responsability. I think a child raised on a farm, with farm duties as chores from the beginning is in a far better place than a child, from the city, being put in that position.

Carl

 

[AndyMA]

Personlly I can't see how most (if not all 4 years olds) can drive themself. sitting in a lap yes, but theyare just too small to operate the contrls and would have a very hard time in an emergency. I was alone on an 8N with a York rake at 8 on jobs at my fathers nursery. My kids, started on their own at about 8. I have 3, son 20, son 18 and daughter 18- twins. They are now all over 6' so they could reach the pedals easily.

Andy

 

[coachrusty]

To the original poster, Coachrusty: Where are you lacated? I saw 30 minutes west of Indy. Is that near Mooresville? (I have a friend who lives there.)

First, I want to thank you all for your posts here. This has been a really interesting thread for me and I have learned a bunch from you folks.

Farmwithjunk, I am only about 15 minutes northwest of Mooresville on US 40.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

First, I want to thank you all for your posts here. This has been a really interesting thread for me and I have learned a bunch from you folks.

Farmwithjunk, I am only about 15 minutes northwest of Mooresville on US 40.

Pittsburro?

 

[MossRoad]

I am only about 15 minutes northwest of Mooresville on US 40.

Ah, a west-sider!