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

[paulsharvey]

I have run my baby Kioti about 1.5 miles several times on the county road, no big deal. I have ran a JD-310 back hoe probably 10 miles down a 65mph US Hwy, and I have ran a JD-544H front-end loader probably 15 miles down a 45/55mph county road. Many contractor (and your local county) run motor graders 25+ miles routinely. Peanut harvest caravans run all over. Even with a top speed of say 25mph, every peice of equipment I've been on gets squirrelly around 18mph, and bounce you to death.

 

[RayIN]

In my state-Indiana, any vehicle displaying a SMV sign or backing up traffic where there are 7 vehicles following; must pull off the road and allow backed up traffic to pass.
How would that figure into driving your tractor 43 miles?
Heck, I'd never try that, and my tractors top speed is 31MPH according the chart on the fender.

 

[rockinbbar]

Rural farm areas should be relatively safe to road your tractor on.

Here, it's very common, as lots of folks are on the road with tractors.

I road my tractors just about everywhere. That said, both of mine will run faster than I feel comfortable running them... They will run 30mph down the road, but it better be very smooth. (I usually run 23-24mph on a smooth topped paved road.)

Can get my tractor to the next location faster that way than loading it on a trailer and messing with that whole process.

 

[mark in portugal]

The original question does not define what is meant by "tractor".
Some are made to be road legal and some are not; some even have suspension to allow higher transport speeds.

Tractors are driving down the road past my rural house all the time.

My tractor is road legal and I have insurance for that too. Still, the farthest I've gone is around 10 miles to the tractor repair shop.

Usually there are different rules for highways than for local roads; bicycles, horses, tractors, etc.

 

[Yander]

If we are talking country roads with moderate to light traffic try it once, the only way to know.

If it isn't a cab tractor, make sure you have plenty of clothing if you're going to do it when it's cool.

The farthest I've done is 20 miles on my tractor at about 15 mph. It wasn't that bad. Kind of enjoyed it. But that's country roads with light traffic.

No way would I do it in heavy traffic or a busy state route.

 

[LouNY]

In my state-Indiana, any vehicle displaying a SMV sign or backing up traffic where there are 7 vehicles following; must pull off the road and allow backed up traffic to pass.
How would that figure into driving your tractor 43 miles?
Heck, I'd never try that, and my tractors top speed is 31MPH according the chart on the fender.

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.

 

[dieselscout80]

I drove a new IH 1480 combine about 40 miles to deliver it (no header) it would not do 14 mph unless going downhill. It took about 3hrs as I recall.

The 1480’s tires were wider than the wings on our drop deck trailer. The trailer was used to deliver its 30’ header.

 

[DarkBlack]

Where I live folks generally give wide berth to tractors, joggers, walkers, bicycles, etc. It's apparently just a thing here. At the same time some folks don't. But what does the state say about driving that far? I called the Washington State Patrol about driving my tractor on the road. I was told that if I was driving from one gate to another that goes to my property, and that if the property was contiguous along the road, that I would be OK. But driving from one property that I own to another that I own but that are not connected, was illegal. I remarked that I see tractors driving on the county roads on a regular basis that I know are not going from one end of their property to another. The WSP guy said that they are breaking the law and are subject to traffic fines. But I wonder how often this really happens, a tractor getting a ticket. I suppose if a WSP officer saw a tractor making regular long trips they might ask questions. Different states have different rules so it might be good to check.
Eric

You also need to have the more expensive on-road diesel fuel in your tractor to “road” it

 

[bigtiller]

You also need to have the more expensive on-road diesel fuel in your tractor to “road” it

Maybe in your state but not in Iowa.

 

[paulsharvey]

Ok, back to the main point, 43 miles at 12 mph is gonna be a Long ride, 4 times. Uhaul, a car trailer is only like $80 for the day. His machine should be sub 5000 lbs, and he can tow it with a RAV4 or a Crown Vic. Just don't bring "tractor" up when they ask what you are towing, just tell them a 1993 GEO tracker, if the sales guy asks.

Also, it's a rental, so weight rating is a very vague, general suggestion, it says 5280 lbs, but I wouldn't be afraid to put 7500# on it.

 

[paulsharvey]

I dont know what vehicle you have, but even something like a Toyota Highkander, Durango, Ford Exploerer, Ranger, ect can easily pull your machine. Failing that, figure $2.80/mile to dead head haul it, for a guy with a trailer and a 1/2T or 3/4T or roll back; or about $240 should take you up and back. Now, you might enjoy the ride foe the 1st hour, but hours 2/3/4, your gonna be wishing it was done; your going to show up at the hunting property tired, beat up, and not wanting to get a lot of work done.

 

[sandman2234]

I stopped a state trooper one day and asked him about doing tractor roading in Florida. Only if less than 10 miles and only if you are going between two properties that you are the registered owner of, and they are both agricultural fields.
So much for Florida!
I would seriously consider asking someone to haul it on a regular basis, in exchange for a single day of hunting each year. Tell them it is the cost of their dues.
David from jax

 

[paulsharvey]

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

 

[dieselscout80]

You also need to have the more expensive on-road diesel fuel in your tractor to “road” it

Nope

 

[paulsharvey]

I stopped a state trooper one day and asked him about doing tractor roading in Florida. Only if less than 10 miles and only if you are going between two properties that you are the registered owner of, and they are both agricultural fields.
So much for Florida!
I would seriously consider asking someone to haul it on a regular basis, in exchange for a single day of hunting each year. Tell them it is the cost of their dues.
David from jax

Per Motor Carrier Compliance


Day time hours, 50 miles of your farm operation, and have the required lights, flashers, and SMV emblem.

You don't have to own the property for it to be part of your farm operation.

You can Not operate a crawler machine, Derrick, or Any equipment (or structure, lol) not capable of driving 10 mph.

 

[DarkBlack]

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

 

[paulsharvey]

So, if our OP was in FLa, and the hunt club is part of his agricultural operation, with DK45 can run 10 mph, he had the required lights, SMV, and flasher, and only drives during daylight hours, and stays off limited access roadways (that primarily interstate, turn pike, but also Arlington Expressway, Sr202 Butler Blvd, Sr312, and certain others), he Could do it. I dont think it's smart, or productive

 

[paulsharvey]

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

Not sure where you are, but the peanut harvest convoys move through out like 12 counties at harvest time, and road run everything. They don't transport, and of coarse they run off road.

St John's Co Sheriff's office will provide LEOs for escort on potatoe planters/harvesters in Hastings/Elkton

 

[arrow]

I dont know what vehicle you have, but even something like a Toyota Highkander, Durango, Ford Exploerer, Ranger, ect can easily pull your machine. Failing that, figure $2.80/mile to dead head haul it, for a guy with a trailer and a 1/2T or 3/4T or roll back; or about $240 should take you up and back. Now, you might enjoy the ride foe the 1st hour, but hours 2/3/4, your gonna be wishing it was done; your going to show up at the hunting property tired, beat up, and not wanting to get a lot of work done.

The old Durangos were rated at 7500 lb towing capacity set up with the tow package which included the hitch, additional radiator and tranny cooling and the 5.7 hemi or the 5.9 v8.
It also included a higher capacity alternator.
There is more to towing than weight considerations.

 

[paulsharvey]

The old Durangos were rated at 7500 lb towing capacity set up with the tow package which included the hitch, additional radiator and tranny cooling and the 5.7 hemi or the 5.9 v8.
It also included a higher capacity alternator.
There is more to towing than weight considerations.

It's a DK45, not a 10,000 SS. Those car haulers distribute weight well. Don't drag race off the stop light. Don't tail gate, and keep a respectable follow distance. We don't know what roads he has, but I would absolutely tow that with a 3.6L V6 durango on 60 mph roads, I'd just stay off the interstate. I trailed a Kubota L39 TLB with the 2012 3.6L Durango, and you almost didn't know it was back there, and that's without a brake controller or anything special.

Now, if he's taking mountain passes at 80mph, maybe not. Even still, 45mph in a 60, sure beats 10-12 mph