Second experience roading tractor

[SmallChange]

I posted several years ago about my first experience roading my tractor. It was unnerving. I didn't account for how underpowered the machine was, trying to climb hills at a speed that motorists behind me might find a little more tolerable.

Yesterday I roaded it to a job my son-in-law was doing, 2.1 miles away. The goals included helping dig a trench, moving a big concrete well cover, and pulling a concrete ring out of the ground. Trying to be ready for anything, in addition to FEL bucket I brought my FEL forks and my 3pt counterweight, and chains and sledges and digging bars etc etc. With the rears filled, all this weighs a good 5,000 lbs, and the motor is only 25 horsepower. By way of comparison, my not-very-racy station wagon weighs 3,500 lbs and has a 182 hp motor, so the tractor should have a small fraction of the pep the station wagon has. We are talking seriously weak performance on the road. For ground engagement it's a fine little tractor, but it's amazing how going, say, 35 mph in a car really sucks up the power.

In top gear (12th) this tractor can do about 14 mph, but with only a slight uphill grade it grinds to a stall. I've driven this route countless times, but there were some uphill grades small enough I'd never noticed them, and the tractor couldn't climb them. I kept having to stop, choose a gear from 9 to 12 that I thought would work, and go up the hill. 9th gear worked on the worst climbs.

But it worked. I don't see doing it often, or far. People drive too fast on these narrow curving hilly country roads. However in the intervening years I had looked up the worst grades, and measured the grade on my driveway so I could compare, and I had some idea how tall a gear would work in each of the worst spots. I do have lights, including flashers, a well placed SMV placard, and insurance. I tried hard to drive safely, accounting for all the issues I could think of.

I completely get why bigger farm tractors that sometimes pull trailers on the road have to be so powerful.

 

[JTKub]

It it amazing how well ~25hp does when crawling along and doing general work. Putting them in road gear is a different matter it seems.

 

[ptsg]

I would have expected that 12x12 transmission to be like most of the 12x12 transmissions in the market, where both the shuttle shift and main shift gears are synchronized. Meaning you could change main gears (1st to 4th) on the go. However, reading the manual, they do say to not shift on the move for some reason. Kinda defeats the purpose.

You still managed to keep it in High range though. An HST would most likely go veeery slow in medium range, possibly low range in steeper inclines.

Honestly and while I understand the emissions thing, 30/35 HP is about the least horsepower I would want on a compact tractor this size. 25HP is just too little for the weight it has to deal with. It's great for a sub compact though.

For comparison, here is my 35HP tractor, also in the 5000 lbs range, pulling a trailer loaded with logs weighting about 3000 lbs or so. Starting in 1st gear, high range on a very steep incline, then up-shifting in the main road and back to downshift.

 

[Sportsman762]

Roading tractors on public roads can be a lesson in how dumb people are. I am not like @Hay Dude who spends a ton of time on the road but do a fair bit of it. 2 miles is not a long drive. I frequently have a 2 mile drive to a property I own, with a 18 and 12 percent slope with a 100' elevation change, and a 10 percent slope with a 40' elevation change. Luckily only half a mile is on a state highway.

I have a 6 speed sliding gear (non synchronized) transmission on my Massey 20C 45hp 6670 lb tractor (8022 lbs gross) so I have a little more power than you per lb (.0056 hp lb to your .005). You can shift on the fly, it just takes practice. My transmission is a 2 range 3 speed with 6th being 22mph, vs your 3 range 4 speed. Every machine is different but on my Massey I downshift when the engine rpm's reach 500 but have to pause slightly to let the engine spool back up, for up shifting I just max the rpm's out then shift quick and let the clutch out medium speed. It took me a few tries to get a feel for it. On the two bigger hills I have to shift 6-5-4 while climbing. 4th is max 8.2 mph, but I am closer to 5 mph when hill climbing.

I suspect your RPM's will be close to double mine as the Perkins engine is a low reving engine compared to most compact tractors. Practice the shifting, once you can shift on hills then your experience will be much better. The biggest issue I have besides folks cutting me off is when making a left hand turn, they seem to think that its time to pass me... If you want scary, lets talk about roading skidsteers, slow slow slow and no visibility to the rear.

I do not have the road time @Hay Dude has or many other members, but have driven lots of equipment on the road between fields or jobs. Each one takes a little bit to figure out how to drive it most efficiently as the tricks for a skidsteer are different from a backhoe, or a 400 hp articulated tractor.

 

[Hay Dude]

The biggest problems I run into are:

1. People in cars who have NO CLUE how to drive: Sorry to say, but most women do not possess the spatial awareness to cooperatively drive past a wide tractor. They simply STOP, in the middle of the lane, and will give no room, as if the own that part of the road. I’m like “just move over 2 feet and you’ll be fine”. Men are usually better, they just swerve a little towards their shoulder and we pass without blinking an eye.


2. Pennsylvania pays no attention to limbs, brush and fallen trees, or boulders just 1” outside the white stripe on the road. On large trucks or tractors, they break $500-$1,500 mirrors, rip off cab turn signals, even break cab corners. They do not care. Yet they charge .75 cents a gallon tax for diesel, allegedly to “maintain roads”.

3. Tractor width. My largest tractor is about 10’ wide. It barely fits on some of out crappy, poorly maintained, overgrown “roads”.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have no problem roading my tractor. But roading a Kubota U17 mini ex a mile to my buddies, now that was painful!

 

[paulsharvey]

They put out a guidance here, for farmers moving tractors; and told them, once in the road, do not pull over for vehicles to pass. You have every right to be there, and once safely on the road, dont yield.

Next county over, the agricultural crimes arm of the sheriff's office will escort potatoes harvesters from field to field when moving on the 65mph hwy. Our county sheriff also has an agricultural crimes group, but im not sure if they do it. Im also not sure if this is a free scheduled service, or if you pay for the escort, like we do for traffic control officers.

Edit: my county its called Natural Resources/Agricultural, just a special unit i. sheriff's office. As a note, the last 2 or 3 times I've called the sheriff's office, it's been to report live stock in the state road...

 

[nyone]

I have no problem roading my tractor. But roading a Kubota U17 mini ex a mile to my buddies, now that was painful!

I have done this but only 1/2mi just to dig a quick hole for a neighbor. Painfully slow. I did grab a nice flat/big rock on the ride home for a step. Must have been some sight seeing that at dusk.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I would have expected that 12x12 transmission to be like most of the 12x12 transmissions in the market, where both the shuttle shift and main shift gears are synchronized. Meaning you could change main gears (1st to 4th) on the go. [[[[[[However, reading the manual, they do say to not shift on the move for some reason. Kinda defeats the purpose.]]]]]]

You still managed to keep it in High range though. An HST would most likely go veeery slow in medium range, possibly low range in steeper inclines.

Honestly and while I understand the emissions thing, 30/35 HP is about the least horsepower I would want on a compact tractor this size. 25HP is just too little for the weight it has to deal with. It's great for a sub compact though.

For comparison, here is my 35HP tractor, also in the 5000 lbs range, pulling a trailer loaded with logs weighting about 3000 lbs or so. Starting in 1st gear, high range on a very steep incline, then up-shifting in the main road and back to downshift.

Very efficient words, those:

Sells lots more clutches.
And Brakes.​

 

[chim]

Most often the roading I do is to get to town and plow the parking lots at church and the gun club. While that means traffic is light it also means that some drivers are marginally in control of their vehicle. I have good flashers, SMV sign and try to travel on the shoulder as best I can. These roads are mostly through residential areas with max speed limits of 35MPH.

 

[paulsharvey]

All this said, I dont like roading a machine. Its really easy for people to come up behind you and you dont notice, between engine noise, tire noise, the bouncing, ect.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

It is not ideal but is a lot easier than loading it and unloading it 4 times to do a simple task. A Furthest I have driven on the road is about 5 miles. Not ideal but not awful on reasonably low traffic roads. I drive the mile from my property to my house often, but those road are not busy at all.

 

[greenie]

I've mowed a section of roadside on US 1. I'd do it Sunday morning when traffic was light. The paved areas was at least 25' wide (2 lane) and even when 1 vehicle came up behind me and nothing was coming the other direction many drivers didn't cross the center line to give a little more clearance. It was like they were on railroad tracks. Some came very close. Very few slowed.

 

[oldnslo]

Around here in the spring and fall a traffic jam is two tractors or combines meeting on the township or county roads. Combines with duals are around 13 - 14 ft wide. Articulating 4 WD with duals are 15 - 17 ft wide. Most township roads are 16 - 18 ft so someone or both go in the ditch to pass. I have had citidiots challenge me when moving through narrow area with guard rails on both sides. I am at 16 1/2 ft, 570 HP, approx 70,000 lbs with implements so should be visible with flashing lights front and rear. Country folk pull off and wave with there whole hand while citidiots wave with one finger.

Farthest fields are around 15 miles from home so really don’t think much about driving from field to field. Been doing for 50+ years.

 

[Farmer495]

I put a few hundred miles a year on paved roads towing wagons including through town.

I'm running a 71 HP tractor with 25 MPH gearbox, have to downshift on the hills with empty wagon, drop 5 gears when loaded on steepest climb I have, 7 MPH or so loaded uphill. Pulling several ton on wagon.

I really don't care if people pass me as long as it's clear.

Worst thing is people passing you when turning left. I have full signals including turn signals on wagons. Those mean nothing to some drivers.

 

[LHF2019]

I put a few hundred miles a year on paved roads towing wagons including through town.

I'm running a 71 HP tractor with 25 MPH gearbox, have to downshift on the hills with empty wagon, drop 5 gears when loaded on steepest climb I have, 7 MPH or so loaded uphill. Pulling several ton on wagon.

I really don't care if people pass me as long as it's clear.

Worst thing is people passing you when turning left. I have full signals including turn signals on wagons. Those mean nothing to some drivers.

Don't let them pass left. If you are making a turn get centered on that yellow line. I've cut people off that thought they could pass when making a turn and have got them close to rubbing guard rails when they insist they will make it.

I don't give. Each year it gets worse and worse and now there is more traffic on my road due to a school closure and moving the kids to the school that borders the farm. People always in a hurry. Blind corners, hills, Amish, it doesn't matter they don't let off. Someday...........

We have a lot of dirt roads and due to lack of maintenance have narrowed while equipment have grew larger. People drive on them like it is pavement. This year I met someone going way to fast and thought he was going in the ditch trying to get his vehicle under control. Dirt road is barely lane half wide I take up over a lane and the edges are rutted up with water that leaves the ditch because ditches are full. He bounced his vehicle bad trying to get slowed down. Then there is the sxs issue. Someday they are going to crest a hill and have a second to take in what happens before meeting their maker. It is not if just a matter of when.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Seems like most people don't understand flashers, SMV triangle signs and fail to realize the speed difference between their automobile and a tractor, I have had people run right up on top of me to the point that you couldn't have slid a cigarette paper between us, and then them start blowing their horn and throwing their hands up in the air, the horn blowing pisses me off. Another thing that gets me is the total lack of respect when people see you trying to make a wide swing with a loaded gooseneck trailer to get in a narrow driveway and they insist on passing you on your blind side, I'm like really what do you think I'm doing here straddle of the center line with my turn signal on. Most people seem to be in such a hurry these days to the point that they have lost sight of showing respect and a little patience with their fellow man.

 

[Hay Dude]

You can see we have little room on back roads. No shoulder and TP’s on the one side.
I have my rear tires on the double yellow lines. The pickup doesn’t have any trouble here, but there’s not an excessive amount of room, either.

4 lane highways with a paved shoulder much easier. This contractor swooshed right in front of me, like most of the a-hole version drivers in my area. People all want to move from the city to “farm country”, but they don’t want the hassles of farmers on the road.
Some will lay on the horn, or poke the middle finger just becuase you slowed them down for a short distance.

Here’s a typical PA state 4 lane highway with trees overhanging the outer lanes for miles. This is actually one of the better spots along this highway. Most have 4” branches that will smack your mirrors or cab.

Sometimes the choices are limited. Loose your outer mirror or play chicken with a Peterbilt. Fortunately, this 2-lane road has shoulders, but overhanging trees, too.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve got some back roads that would make you crap your pants if you rode along with me. I will grab some pics in the next few days as I will be doing some roading today and tomorrow. Roading tractors is a way of life for me-probably every other day during farming season, I’m transporting a 38,000LB baler and 28,000LB tractor

Here’s a Railroad crossing I have to cross 8-10 times per hay cutting. There’s very little time to get across the tracks. Trees block the view of oncoming train on the left. The right is pretty decent. So you have at least a 50/50 chance.
Why even build a RR crossing if you can’t see if a train is coming? lol

A few weeks ago, I was roading my hay cutting tractor (12’ high) and pulled down a Comcast cable TV wire sagging across the middle of a road. According to my knowledge, all wires are required minimum 14’ above all road surfaces.

 

[RjCorazza]

In my previous life I was required to stop at all railroad crossings regardless of control signals being present. I still stop in my personal vehicles, and it never ceases to amaze me how this simple precaution infuriates other drivers.
Roading my tractor is not my favorite activity.