Driving tractor 20 miles on road

[BizDoc]

What are ya going to do if they take 6 hours to do the service? That's an awful lot of tractor browsing!

Like Roy said, I'll have a vehicle follow me, then take me home, and repeat the process on the return trip later when I have the time.

 

[patrick_g]

There are a lot of folks roading tractors around here (South Central Oklahoma) and my observation is that mostly they get friendly waves. I frequently get on a state highway and have NEVER received a single digit salute while on my tractor.

I NEVER offer the cars a half of a lane which encourages them to pass unsafely, endangering them, any oncoming driver, and myself UNLESS I can see that there is PLENTY of clear highway ahead. I prefer to pull all the way off the highway if there is shoulder to permit it to let traffic pass.

I have this thing about 18 wheelers: Sorry but I do! If an 18 wheeler tailgates me I slow down in car, truck, tractor, whatever I am driving. The more I am tailgated the more I slow down. If the truck backs off I speed right back up. I truly am annoyed by truck drivers who make lots of air brake, Jake brake, or other noise to try to intimidate me as well as super close tailgating. I am ordinarily driving at least the speed limit (in a car or truck) or as fast as is practical with a tractor and always try to let traffic pass when safe.

In Oklahoma there is no need for a tag, registration, inspection, or other bureaucratic BS when driving a tractor on a public road in the conduct of your business including going for maint. I'm not sure and haven't read anything about what the law might be regarding stopping at the Sonic for a burger and fries or doing a Mickey D's drive through but I have seen folks stop at the market to pick up a few items for the little lady and my opinion is "no harm, no foul."

Pat

 

[D7E]

Back in 1988, I bought a used combine at an auction and drove it home. The cost of having it hauled would have been more than I paid for the combine.

55 miles

20 miles of rural roads on a fall day while driving a tractor sounds like a FUN drive to me. Make sure you have that SMV emblem, turn on your flashers, and keep your eyes peeled for bad drivers.

I drive any auction buy home within 150 miles ,I drove a fordson major with a bad engine in the dark once that was interesting (50miles) adding water every 1/2 hour with no rad cap ?
But we move tractors 10-20 miles daily ,A nice road run is better than a day in a dusty field ,The tyres are the only issue but ,Running 20 miles every day between farms tyres still last 10 years or so ?

 

[D7E]

I have this thing about 18 wheelers: Sorry but I do! If an 18 wheeler tailgates me I slow down in car, truck, tractor, whatever I am driving. The more I am tailgated the more I slow down. If the truck backs off I speed right back up. I truly am annoyed by truck drivers who make lots of air brake, Jake brake, or other noise to try to intimidate me

Pat

This is exactly why truckers hate car drivers ,Trucks tailgate because they are set at optimum speed and to overtake would be breaking the limit or lack power to do so and changing lanes is a bigger deal for a truck, to slow down is annoying and takes a while to get back up there ,so hitting the jakes occasionally is easier ,Car drivers should be more aware of trucks ?

 

[Jack Squat]

Trucks tailgate because they are set at optimum speed .......

My rear end - - -

40 MPH 2 inches away from the bumper or 20 feet from it is the same. It won't make anything more optimum, except my anger.

I drive a very hilly with lots of curves highway and the truckers are idiots to the point of regular accidents.

When I moved here from FL I was hoping to get away from driving frustration but unfortunately I do not think 90 percent of the people here know what the words speed limit mean.

 

[JerryG]

This is exactly why truckers hate car drivers ,Trucks tailgate because they are set at optimum speed and to overtake would be breaking the limit or lack power to do so and changing lanes is a bigger deal for a truck, to slow down is annoying and takes a while to get back up there ,so hitting the jakes occasionally is easier ,Car drivers should be more aware of trucks ?

Plus they try to get a run at hills so that they won't slow down as much. Slowing them down like that is only going to make it worse for other motorists.

 

[patrick_g]

This is exactly why truckers hate car drivers ,Trucks tailgate because they are set at optimum speed and to overtake would be breaking the limit or lack power to do so and changing lanes is a bigger deal for a truck, to slow down is annoying and takes a while to get back up there ,so hitting the jakes occasionally is easier ,Car drivers should be more aware of trucks ?

You might have to break it down for me in SIMPLE terms. Are you telling me truckers hate cars because they refuse to be intimidated or forced to break the speed limit to avoid being dangerously tailgated. Speeding up 5 over the limit will not stop a tailgating truck in my CONSIDERABLE experience, it will just get you tailgated while driving 5 over. It doesn't stop tailgating it encourages it by rewarding it.

I never pull in front of a truck and slow down but they do it to me. I never pull in front of a truck at a stop because I respect the fact that trucks needs the space to make a controlled (non-panic) stop. I give trucks their space and NEVER do any of the things that typically irritate truckers and contribute to hard feelings EXCEPT REFUSE TO SPEED at their convenience because they run up on my bumper and try to intimidate me. The truckers who do this are in a small minority. I think the vast majority of interstate truckers are very professional and safe in their operations.

If the posted speed limit isn't fast enough to permit a trucker to maintain his sanity perhaps he should consider alternate employment (if serious professional counseling doesn't help. Anger management?)

Are you telling me that a mismatch between equipment and speed limits is at fault and not a small dangerous minority of drivers? The problem I report happens where the posted speed limit is 65 and where it is 70 but doesn't seem to happen where the speed limit is 45 or less. Maybe you could give me a little more detail about the mechanical situation with an 18 wheeler that prevents maintaining either 65 or 70. My cruise control, speedometer, and GPS agree on my speed and I have tested them against accurately measured distances so it isn't as if I was driving 62 in a 65 zone but then that is perfectly legal and not justification for assault with a deadly weapon.

Remember, assault isn't hitting someone, that is battery. Assault is giving the indication that you are going to hit someone. Attempting to intimidate someone by running up on them intentionally with a motor vehicle is assault with a deadly weapon. Do you condone irresponsible bullying that is assault with a deadly weapon as appropriate actiion because other wise you'd have to drive the speed limit for a while?

Now, for all you REAL Knights of the Road out there, I admire and respect your profession and appreciate the service you perform for all of us. Too bad that a few JERKS spoil the image.

Pat

 

[patrick_g]

Plus they try to get a run at hills so that they won't slow down as much. Slowing them down like that is only going to make it worse for other motorists.

So, assaulting drivers who are driving the posted speed limit, thereby risking a deadly accident is actually A SELFLESS PUBLIC SERVICE!!! They risk killing the few to selflessly serve the needs of the many.

What sort of truck are you MOST familiar with, a manure hauler?

Pat

 

[beersngars]

I was glad to see this thread and have read all the safety concerns and potential liabilities. That said, I needed to give my tractor a bath from all the rain and mud I ran it through during construction of my pole barn. I have no running water at my cabin so off to the self car wash in town. Yesterday was a great fall day here in Ohio and the car wash is about 4 miles on smooth road. What a nice ride. I could see things I never noticed before being higher up and going slow. I did keep an eye behind me and tried to pull over and not hold anyone up. Told the wife to wait about 20 minutes after I left and drive on in and meet me with the towels, bucket and soap. The cool part is, around here a tractor with a FEL driving up Main Street is no big deal. I think they might try and have me arrested for doing this where we live in the city. Well we got the Kubota all shined up and I headed back. Very nice day. Now I need to find some more mud.

 

[6sunset6]

You don't have to go 20 miles to get into trouble. 300 feet will do it. Remember before turn signals there were hand signals? My property is on each side of a creek. I pulled out of the far side with a load of firewood. 300 feet later I stuck out my left hand to signal a left turn and some lady thought I was signaling her to pass. I used up one of my heart attacks right then. Now I have turn signals but I do the 300 ft facing traffic on the left side anyway. The notes about left turns are right on. Best to stop completly and look.