At what point does a tractor become a tractor?

[Varmintmist]

Main Entry: trac·tor
Pronunciation: 'trak-t&r
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin trahere
1 a : a 4-wheeled or tracklaying automotive vehicle used especially for drawing farm equipment b : a smaller 2-wheeled apparatus controlled through handlebars by a walking operator c : 3TRUCK 3f
2 : an airplane having the propeller forward of the main supporting surfaces

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=tractor&x=20&y=14

Clear as mud now /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Wannafish]

An "Airplane"?

Hmmm. Uh, dear, I think I need another "tractor"... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Freds]

After I spelled "Steiger" right I could do a proper search and find out what you were talking about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Of course that's a tractor, and a darn BIG one too! I took Ron's post to mean when does a "tractor" jump up in size or uses to what most of us refer to as a tractor, not talking about large, specialized equipment, but I could be wrong.
I don't see many folks talking about articulated tractors or combines or grape pickers under "Owning/Operating", but they are all tractors and without 3Pt. At least the ones I've seen around here...
I was working the other end of the tractor scale in his references to Yardman and Craftsman.

I stand corrected for not proofing my reply to cover the broad range of tractors more commonly discussed outside this forum.
/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Youare]

Several years ago a friend of mine made a tractor out of various truck and components. It kind of looked like a tractor with big wheels in the rear and smaller ones in the front. He made a 3PH arrangement for it and it had a cab with two seats. There was also a little cargo area where you could put stuff.

He decided to register it as a tractor so he could drive it on the road to get to his wood lot. It didn't meet the State of New Hampshire requirements as a tractor because it could seat two people and because of the cargo area it could carry a load. He could register it as a truck but then it had to meet all the truck inspection requirements, brakes and lights, defroster, wipers, horn, tire tread.

Can a Mule or the RTV's be registered as tractors and driven on the road or are they registered as ATV's? At what point does a lawn mower become a tractor?

Randy

 

[JayC]

I think I draw line at the real small riding mowers and ZTRs. They can do only one thing and that is mow. I guess I would consider the traditional lawn tractor, on up with the engine in the front of the operator a tractor.

 

[slowrev]

I agree with the no effect when shifting weight concept.
Ben

 

[Wannafish]

Ya Fred,

But then where would you be without me throwing a monkey wrench into yer thread? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(I think I spelled "Monkey" correct) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobS]

<font color="blue"> If it has a 3PH it's a tractor </font>

To make things even more confusing, Unimogs can be equipped with tph as could Jeep CJs in the old days. I wouldn't call either a tractor though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Mith]

i think its to do with what it looks like,
the engine out front, big wheels at the back, smaller ones at the front
i would say anything from a garden tractor upwards. naturally there are exceptions, but once you get past a stage.......
i would say its also to do with gear ratios, tractors have real low ratios for towing ect.

 

[keeney]

My two year-old knows the difference.

She routinely points out the difference between "tractors" that she sees alongside the road, and other things that are just "too loud", including the neighbors riding mower.

My definition would have to include the wheel size. If it has tractor wheels, especially on the back, then its a tractor.

What is a tratcor wheel? Well, its bigger than a normal truck tire/wheel, and it has a lugged tread (unless its a turf tractor wheel), then its just a big version of a lawn mower turf tire.

What would the size threeshold be? Somewhere near or above 30 inches, I'd say.

- Rick