How far would you drive a tractor?

[Fuddy1952]

I have a John Deere 3038. My 94 yo Mom lives 15 miles away, most of it is moderately heavy traffic (about 5-6m. heavy 4 lane traffic). I don't have a trailer (don't want to rent truck&trailer, rather pay someone to do the work). I have a bush hog, she has about 15 acres really needing cut. 3 ft. pines growing all over it).
Top speed is about 12-13mph. Would you drive it over there?
If all back roads or 5 miles I'd do it without question.

 

[RickB]

I'd put a rotary beacon and SMV on it, make sure the hazard lamps worked and have at it.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I wouldn't. Heavy 4 lanes of traffic? Nope. Not even 5 miles, but 15?

But hey, you asked.

I would trailer it over there. Rent or borrow, don't you have any buddy's with truck and trailer?

I've always thought that having a tractor without a truck/trailer to haul it is like having a boat but no boat trailer.

 

[two_bit_score]

Personally I would not if back streets or roads were not available, but that is just me.

You are in a much better position to evaluate the risk on that highway.

 

[pjbci]

I’m used to driving larger tractors and combines much longer distances and love the 4-lane stretches without worry because of the size. That being said, on such a small tractor I’d do what post#2 said plus a good rear view mirror and have at it.

 

[Darryle]

We used to drive them all over, we went about 50 miles from the farm once for a big sprigging job, IIRC, it was about a section of land. That was a huge tract for this area for someone not to own their own equipment.

 

[dirttoys]

I have a John Deere 3038. My 94 yo Mom lives 15 miles away, most of it is moderately heavy traffic (about 5-6m. heavy 4 lane traffic). I don't have a trailer (don't want to rent truck&trailer, rather pay someone to do the work). I have a bush hog, she has about 15 acres really needing cut. 3 ft. pines growing all over it).
Top speed is about 12-13mph. Would you drive it over there?
If all back roads or 5 miles I'd do it without question.

Yup, make sure you are legal, and there is no minimum speed limit. Stay out of the way as best you can, and have someone escort you in a car or truck if possible.

Best,

ed

 

[Nacademus]

At the very least I would have a chase car to act as a buffer on the busy stuff. Have your signage, 4 ways, and whatever beacon you can muster. 15 miles isn't really that bad but it could be nerve wracking. Most cagers are idiots.

 

[bdog]

About ten years ago I didn't have a trailer large enough and drove the tractor I bought home about 110 miles across state lines. I was on a fairly major highway and went through several towns.

 

[3Ts]

I don't think the chase car is a good idea. It blocks the view of the traffic coming upon you and they won't be able to see the SMV sign or the beacon. 5 miles I'd do, the 15 miles not so much and on 4 line highways, definitely not.

You're talking about over an hour on the road one way. I'd check to see if there is someone in her area that would do it. It might be cheaper and all around easier to hire someone.

 

[5030]

I’m used to driving larger tractors and combines much longer distances and love the 4-lane stretches without worry because of the size. That being said, on such a small tractor I’d do what post#2 said plus a good rear view mirror and have at it.

Post 2 must have been deleted.

Having said that, I drive on paved and dirt roads to get to my fields all the time, pulling various implements, some real wide, some not so wide. been doing that for years.

So long as you meet your state requirements for warning lights and SMV triangles, you are all good.

Often my trips are after the sun goes down and believe me, I'm all lit up. Just takes a little common sense on your part, allowing traffic to get around you when possible and a good attitude towards idiots.... and today, there are a lot of idiots.

I can run at 22 mph but usually I run 18-20 mph. I'm in no hurry anyway. I like to rubberneck.

Keep in mind that you cannot operate any tractor on a limited access highway or Interstate without express written permission from your state.

I've had a few 'incidents' in my years of going on paved and dirt secondary roads. It's usually someone who is in big hurry to get nowhere and they usually loose. One, I'm bigger than they are and two, I have the right of way as farm equipment.

One of my larger fields is 10 miles from the farm.

Remember one time, I had some kid attempt to pass me on a dirt 2 lane and I was pulling a 12 foot wide implement and had no where to pull over. He got in a big hurry and went in the ditch. I called the Sherriff and told him where he was and continued on as his cussing faded away... When I came back through I could see the wrecker tracks, that was it.

 

[bdog]

Heck now that I remember it I have driven a rubber tracked crawler that only goes 5 mph about 7 miles on a highway before. I drove it a couple miles down a busy 4 four lane road in the Houston city limits. Even went 1/4 mile or so down the tollway.

 

[CobyRupert]

Chase cars are horrible ideas.
Maybe not so bad on a 4 lane road, but on a 2 lane road they quadruple the amount of distance (and time) the passing cars need to be in the oncoming traffic lane.
They just create a dangerous situation.

 

[5030]

About ten years ago I didn't have a trailer large enough and drove the tractor I bought home about 110 miles across state lines. I was on a fairly major highway and went through several towns.




View attachment 699375

Best thing about that is you can swing through McDees for a burger and if you need fuel, just pull up to the fuel pump. I do both all the time of I don't have anything wide on the back that is...

 

[dirttoys]

I don't think the chase car is a good idea. It blocks the view of the traffic coming upon you and they won't be able to see the SMV sign or the beacon. 5 miles I'd do, the 15 miles not so much and on 4 line highways, definitely not.

You're talking about over an hour on the road one way. I'd check to see if there is someone in her area that would do it. It might be cheaper and all around easier to hire someone.

Always respect others opinions, and certainly if you don't drive the tractor there is a 100% chance nothing bad would happen.

I have driven well over 50 miles many times, the four lanes where people can pass were always the least of the challenge. On the two lanes, once we stacked up 5 cars, we would find a place to pull over and let them pass, then start up again.

I would again vote for an escort, following with hazards on. is about as safe as it gets. Should you have trouble, you will also have help (or a ride if you just want to abandon it!!)

Best,

ed

 

[5030]

Far as I'm concerned, the BEST thing about driving a tractor to and from is the ability to check out everything (rubberneck). I can look at crops, check out the neighbors and be nosey all while motoring along at a sedate speed.

 

[4570Man]

I wouldn’t be happy about driving a tractor 15 miles in any condition but through heavy traffic no way. Could you do it early in the morning/late at night and avoid the traffic?

 

[5030]

I don't even take into account traffic. One, I sit higher than they do (almost as high as a semi truck) and two, I weigh about 4 times as much as they do, maybe more. Finally, I have the right of way as an ag vehicle, something that people in cars forget.

Had an idiot tailgate me a year or so ago, was driving into town to get to one of my fields on the other side and had nothing on the back (was going to pick up an implement I had left there and this clown was about 3 " from my drawbar and I thought to myself if I powershifted down and the tractor speed dropped real quick, how his plastic grill would look impaled on my Class 3 drawbar...

Assured clear distance don't matter, tractor, car or whatever. No one needs to be in that big of a hurry.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I have a John Deere 3038. My 94 yo Mom lives 15 miles away, most of it is moderately heavy traffic (about 5-6m. heavy 4 lane traffic). I don't have a trailer (don't want to rent truck&trailer, rather pay someone to do the work). I have a bush hog, she has about 15 acres really needing cut. 3 ft. pines growing all over it).
Top speed is about 12-13mph. Would you drive it over there?
If all back roads or 5 miles I'd do it without question.

I would make sure the tractor was in 2 wheel drive and head that way. A bit over a hour or so it sounds like. If your nervous about the higher traffic area get someone to follow you for that section, they could hang back far enough to allow passing if thats a issue.

 

[DPSailor]

One other consideration is insurance. If the tractor is covered under a standard homeowners policy, then coverage only applies to incidents on your land. My agent told me
to keep it on my land so driving anywhere else is off the table for me. Yours may be different but wanted to bring it up.