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

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

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?

 

[JeepHead]

I would think you should be able to find someone who would haul it for you for a couple hundred bucks. That's what I would do. I wouldn't want to put that kind of wear and tear on my tractor tires or the hours on my tractor.

 

[jyoutz]

It’s not going to hurt the tractor if your butt can stand sitting on it for a couple of days.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

As for the truck and trailer I didn't/don't think no mare than I am doing I need to buy truck/trailer. Most of my farm land is within a mile of me. I drive that no problem. I did look at the rental of a truck and trailer (hence the 4-500 rate). Driving it would only require fuel, and enduring butt pain, plus snacks.

There have been a few tractor "Marches" to DC and I suspected many drove them. So my thoughts are it shouldn't hurt anything. Not too sure how much wear and tear on the tires it would use.

 

[BackRoad]

If you do run it, do it in 2WD - not 4WD. Lock in your brakes so both wheels are braking to prevent emergency braking turning you into the ditch, or worse into traffic.

I've roaded for 20 miles for a paying job. And anything less than 10 miles, you can almost be there faster driving the tractor rather than hook up the trailer, load tractor, bind, travel and unload...

That said, 45 miles would be haul it on a trailer for me. If you're rural, I can only imagine there's somebody around that has a trailer and truck who wants to make $200 bucks. Maybe advertise for someone in your local Pennysaver. It's 2 round trips for them, one to drop you off, then go home and another RT to pick you up the next day to take your tractor home; so ~200 miles, ~10mpg would be 20g of fuel, so $80 in expenses, plus 5 or 6 hours of their time. $200 would be a bargain if you could get it agreed.

Part of the decision to drive it depends on the roads and traffic volume. Secondary roads which allow room for traffic to pass are easier than narrow farm roads with limited width, which are a PITA when you encounter traffic.

 

[arrow]

Nope. Not in a million years would l consider driving a tractor for 86 miles on the road and the safety issue is only part of it.
Find someone who would do the job for you up there or rent a machine in that neighborhood.
It isn’t worth doing it any other way even if it costs you $500-$800 per year.
Situations should not always be using just time and money lay out as a metric.

 

[RjCorazza]

I road my tractor a lot, but about 10 miles is my limit and that is a rare trip. I would not ever consider a 43 mile trip.

 

[scootr]

No way would I road a tractor that distance. Buy or find transport or rent locally.

 

[jonsstihl]

Have you tried calling a towing company they may move it for cheaper, or maybe try with AAA atleast on the trip home. might be worth the membership.

 

[WranglerX]

43 mile in 3-4 hours ... Means that you will have average of about 10-12 mile an hour .... That is miserable...


Buy or rent trailer...... Seat time is horrible and think of all the road rage you will generate from people trying to commute down the road.....