Second experience roading tractor

[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.