Inconsiderate drivers and tractor operators, bad mix...

[Alan W.]

That's simply impossible.

Let's go back to my pictures. The farmer needs to move his 18' wide combine a mile down the road. What do you suggest? Think a bit before answering.

I have moved a lot of over width equipment and every time it was on a truck flagged and bannered accordingly with the appropriate pre and or post vehicles. And yes sometimes I had to load a dozer just to move it 500 feet.
If your over width you at the very least need a vehicle in front warning approaching traffic. If thats too much of a burden then you need to hang it up.

 

[5030]

Met a tractor pulling a baler early yesterday morning. Newer tractor with extended axles for duals. The black axles were all but impossible to see in the early morning light.

When it comes to over width farmers should be held to the same laws as any other business would.

Bet if you hooked one it would give you a quick wake up call. It all distills down to common sense on the part of the automobile driver and common sense is sorely lacking today.

I get to partake in the'wide implement rodeo' this week myself. Why I prefer roading through the week. On weekends, all the 'idiots' are out, through the week, the percentage of idiots is much less, especially now that school is in session. The young ones are worse than the older ones.

You cannot apply 'overwidth' regs to farm equipment. Overwidth regs only apply to vehicles that are capable of travelling over 45 mph. Farm tractors and implements have a maximum road speed of 30 mph.

 

[5030]

I have moved a lot of over width equipment and every time it was on a truck flagged and bannered accordingly with the appropriate pre and or post vehicles. And yes sometimes I had to load a dozer just to move it 500 feet.
If your over width you at the very least need a vehicle in front warning approaching traffic. If thats too much of a burden then you need to hang it up.

Gee, in my pre retirement life I too moved over width - over height - over weight loads but none of them or the parameters apply to ag equipment and never will. Without sounding sarcastic or being such, I suggest you be more cognizant of what is going on around you and drive pro-actively.

 

[LouNY]

I am certainly glad that those who seem to believe that farm equipment needs permits and loading and being hauled are in a minority.
Fortunately we are in a farming area with Right to Farm laws which protect normal and established practices,
and roading farm equipment has been done since the days of horse drawn equipment and many of the roads were farm to farm and farm to town.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I agree with Johno829 in post 281 about knowing when it's time to give up your driving privilege, I had a retinal artery occlusion about 6 years ago which left me blind in my right eye. This condition really messes up your depth perception as well as your vision to the affected side. After all the doctors tests it was determined that there was nothing that could be done about it though there are research groups working on it. My main ophthalmologist said that with glasses I could still pass the drivers test and I did. It didn't take me long to realize that, with all things considered, I wasn't safe to be driving on the crazy freeways of Southern Ca. so I stopped. This puts an additional burden on my wife as she has to drive me to most of my Dr,'s appointments which are out of town, but I could not live with the thought of killing or injuring a family in a mini van if I hit them with my Dodge diesel powered 3/4 ton pickup. I still drive in to our little town on occasion with my little mini truck but the speed limits where I drive are 25-35 mph and there is very little traffic.

I'm still un decided as to whether to get my license renewed in 2 years when it expires.I know I won't drive on the freeways but it's nice to run into the local hardware store or garden center when I need a small item.That and the fact that many times you have to have a photo I.D. when checking into a medical facility. There is a state issued I.D. card available but it's hard to give up all the driving privileges.

 

[John0829]

The "big" farmer that has land on our road picked corn day before yesterday and runs tractor trailers to haul it out which is fine except no one else can use the road since it is so narrow unless you put it in the ditch almost into the fence row, if the ditch isn't to deep or your going to get hit. Last year I made the mistake of leaving home before I knew he was going to be taking over the road and upon return met one of the trucks forcing me to backup about a 1/2 mile so I could get out of HIS way with him almost pushing the whole way. My vehicle was smaller and it made sense but still.

Our road is a loop that connects from one state highway to another, his trucks come in one end and leave out the other so they won't have to pass one another which again is OK with me and I understand time is money however his trucks travel way to fast for the narrow road that as I stated before is barely wide enough for two normal sized vehicles to pass. I have seen them pass the house going 50+ into one of the blind curves many times and you definitely don't want to be at the bottom of one of the steep hills with the one lane culverts at the bottom.

Being inconsiderate, selfish, distracted and what I do is more important than anyone else attitudes, not only on the road, is not going to change no matter how much we complain or fuss about it here or anywhere else, in fact in this day and age it will probably only get worse.

 

[/pine]

I am certainly glad that those who seem to believe that farm equipment needs permits and loading and being hauled are in a minority.
Fortunately we are in a farming area with Right to Farm laws which protect normal and established practices,
and roading farm equipment has been done since the days of horse drawn equipment and many of the roads were farm to farm and farm to town.

LoL...Did you poll all the licensed drivers of particular geographic region or just a few mostly rural living members of a tractor message board...?? :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

I have moved a lot of over width equipment and every time it was on a truck flagged and bannered accordingly with the appropriate pre and or post vehicles. And yes sometimes I had to load a dozer just to move it 500 feet.
If your over width you at the very least need a vehicle in front warning approaching traffic. If thats too much of a burden then you need to hang it up.

Kinda changed the subject a bit didn't ya? Would you load and haul that piece of equipment 500 ft if it were on rubber tires?

Even an escort vehicle wouldn't make it okay to road your dozer would it?

 

[ovrszd]

Bet if you hooked one it would give you a quick wake up call. It all distills down to common sense on the part of the automobile driver and common sense is sorely lacking today.

I get to partake in the'wide implement rodeo' this week myself. Why I prefer roading through the week. On weekends, all the 'idiots' are out, through the week, the percentage of idiots is much less, especially now that school is in session. The young ones are worse than the older ones.

You cannot apply 'overwidth' regs to farm equipment. Overwidth regs only apply to vehicles that are capable of travelling over 45 mph. Farm tractors and implements have a maximum road speed of 30 mph.

If you pass a tractor close enough to hit his extended axle shafts you are much, much too close!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

I am certainly glad that those who seem to believe that farm equipment needs permits and loading and being hauled are in a minority.
Fortunately we are in a farming area with Right to Farm laws which protect normal and established practices,
and roading farm equipment has been done since the days of horse drawn equipment and many of the roads were farm to farm and farm to town.

In that regard. Which is more dangerous? A large bright green combine, 18ft wide, with flashing lights, going 20mph? Or a black horse and buggy with no markings going 10mph?