PT Lights and Road Safety Requirements & Order

[catsco]

Thanks to everyone in the PT Forum, as well as the thoughtful ones in the Chinese Tractor Forum who steered me this way because of slopes & no agricultural (plowing, mowing, etc.) needs.

By the end of today I will have taken advantage of a 0% until July 2005 credit card to order a PT425 with 4-in-1 bucket and mini-hoe.

As the budget permits, I'll add a blade for gravel and loose dirt grading with steel edge.

Shipping to Colorado is 'only' $674.91. This seems reasonable given other companies costs. I still have to drive about 80 miles to pick it up, though.

Since Colorado Springs metro area is only about 700,000 people, we're called 'rural' by the shipping company. We're still a cow town, I guess; although I think that cattle have to feed the parking meters downtown. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So--it should arrive in about 10 days to two weeks. Scott at PT tells me they don't have mini-hoes right now, but should have some manufactured by next week or the following. That's the reason for delay. Sounds like sales are brisk this spring. About 5 or so 425's in stock. The price increase discussed in the forum seems like it will happen in May.

Anyway--I'm wondering if anyone out there knows what requirements must be met for lighting regarding tramming on public roads.

I see that some CUTs have flashers, etc., but that many, including PT, do not.

State of Colorado doesn't have any requirements that I can find after checking with DMV and the Colorado State Patrol.

Thanks!
Mark H.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

If there's no requirement then you just need to do whatever would be the right thing to do. Fourteen added a gumball on the back of his PT425. Not sure if its a strobe. You could also add a triangle. Do what's necessary to warn others and, more importantly, not get hit by some maniac in a hurry.

 

[Rip]

Mark,

Congratulations of the PT-425 order with 4-in-1 and hoe. I think you made a good choice.

It may be even less expensive to pick up the tractor at the OverNight (PTs prefered shipper) freight terminal on E 56th Ave in north Denver.

As for warning devices when on a road, I would get a SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) triangle (at a farm store) to mount on the back of the engine cover.

If you expect to be on a road in low light or nite such as for snow plowing, add a cigarette lighter receptacle and an inexpensive magnetic base yellow flashing or rotating light to stick on the canopy as needed.

Good luck with your new PT and projects. In spite of our welcome spring moisture, keep your fire mitigation tasks high on your priority list, as it is still going to be a very dry year.

Rip

 

[MossRoad]

As soon as I can find one, I plan on adding an SMV sign with strong magnets. I have the magnets from computer hard drives. It is hard to find a SMV sign in our town, as agriculture is on the way out. Have to get one in a more rural town.

 

[catsco]

Rip--

Thanks for the reply.

You wrote:

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It may be even less expensive to pick up the tractor
at the OverNight (PTs prefered shipper) freight terminal on E 56th Ave in north Denver.
)</font>

The delivery charge I mentioned IS to the Overnight terminal in C-City. But, that seems to be the most inexpensive method. I'll be renting or borrowing a larger vehicle to haul it to our current house, learn about it, check it out, and then haul it up to the foothills of Larkspur.

Regarding lights, I've decided to put some amber flashing lights on the ROPS canopy to be visible from behind. On 115 down to Palmer Lake, the posted speed limit seems to be 80% of the required minimum speed based upon years of personal experience.

The really great news, that you probably already know unless you've been working underground today, is that there is actual water falling from the sky right now! I've forgotten what that looks like.
That will help fire mitigation more than anything!

I can only assume that the rain and coming snow is due to my tractor order and washing both cars on Tuesday.

A current song says 'Rain can ruin your weekend, rain can save your life, depending on who you are and what your thirst is like'.

Nothing like a day without sunshine to make Coloradans morose! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

At least this one!
Mark H.

 

[Rip]

Mark,

Yes the wet & sloppy snow is most welcome, but the tree moisture is still at almost an all time low, so unless this turns out like last March 5 ft + dump, we are still in for a bad fire season.

The shipping cost does sound reasonable, I assumed from your original post that it was arriving in C Springs.

I know what you mean about the typical speed of traffic down there.... I would avoid driving any tractor on such roads as much as possible.

The idea of the magnetic mount warning light was so that you could only stick it up there when needed, and not get it knocked off by tree limbs otherwise. If you mount them under the canopy, they should be pretty safe. I have one for my plow truck when I am down at the end of my mile driveway by the county road.

How often do you expect to be out on a public road?

Rip

 

[catsco]

Rip--

I agree about being on public roads; pretty scary sometimes.

Mostly I'll be tramming in and out of Palmer Lake, about 1.5 miles. Route 105 is a 2-lane road, and only traveled heavily on weekends by bikers & bicyclists.

That's why I'm leaning toward 'permanent' flashing amber under the canopy.

How's the snow this AM up there? Only an inch or two in northern COS, but about 10"-12" at Palmer divide/County Line Road.

I mention that to say that I SHOULD have ordered the tractor two weeks ago instead of being overly concerned about a few issues I've seen in the PT forum.

Then, I'd be out playing in the snow in Larkspur instead of working this AM.

Wait, that's not right....I'd be out WORKING in the snow instead of PLAYING at design this AM. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark H.

 

[Rip]

Mark,

Hard to figure the total snow we have gotten in the past 36 hrs or so 'cause the early stuff melted quite a bit, but I would guess about 14 + inches. We need one of these about every 10 days well into June though.

Understand your warning light situation if you will regularly have to travel a public road such as 105 or side roads in the Palmer Lake region. The reflective red and white tape strips like big trucks use would also be helpful on back and sides.

Good Luck and let me know if I can help out in any way.

Rip

 

[FOURTEEN]

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As tools not toyz mentioned I added a $5 magnetic Amber (not blue, unless you're a fireman, or red, unless you're a cop!) Rotating Light to the engine cover of my PT-425. Ran a feed back from the headlight switch.
Also installed Tractor Lights with 65W Ice-Blue bulbs.
Works good night or day!

.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pajoube]

Looking very sharp. Don't you do any work with that tractor? Never see any dirt /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PJ