What is needed for driving on the road?

Piston · Aug 20, 2013

I was scrounging up some free firewood the other day that was left on the side of the road by the utility company. I drove my tractor with trailer to the end of my dead end road, then removed the trailer, and drove down the road a ways to the Ash logs on the side of the road. I picked up a whole grapple full of them, and made a trip back to the trailer, it took about 4 trips or so. The road I was one is a pretty busy road, and often I had to stop and let vehicles pass.

I had my flashers on, and a slow moving vehicle sign on.

I have a guy about one mile away who wants some stumps ground down. Rather than trailer, I figured I'll just drive the tractor there.

I recently posted a thread on having a backhoe hauled 120 miles, in that thread, someone mentioned driving the backhoe the 120 miles. At first I thought they were crazy, but after thinking about it, I don't see too much wrong with that aside from tire wear.

All these things got me wondering about what I would legally need to drive on the road? Is it just a slow moving vehicle sign, or is there registration required? Does this vary by state? I live in MA and part time in NH.

Are there roads that are 'off limits' to tractors/backhoes? Obviously you can't be on the highway, but can you be on a 45mph road?

xring100 · Aug 20, 2013

Piston said:
I was scrounging up some free firewood the other day that was left on the side of the road by the utility company. I drove my tractor with trailer to the end of my dead end road, then removed the trailer, and drove down the road a ways to the Ash logs on the side of the road. I picked up a whole grapple full of them, and made a trip back to the trailer, it took about 4 trips or so. The road I was one is a pretty busy road, and often I had to stop and let vehicles pass.

I had my flashers on, and a slow moving vehicle sign on.

I have a guy about one mile away who wants some stumps ground down. Rather than trailer, I figured I'll just drive the tractor there.

I recently posted a thread on having a backhoe hauled 120 miles, in that thread, someone mentioned driving the backhoe the 120 miles. At first I thought they were crazy, but after thinking about it, I don't see too much wrong with that aside from tire wear.

All these things got me wondering about what I would legally need to drive on the road? Is it just a slow moving vehicle sign, or is there registration required? Does this vary by state? I live in MA and part time in NH.

Are there roads that are 'off limits' to tractors/backhoes? Obviously you can't be on the highway, but can you be on a 45mph road?

In Michigan its legit for ag equipment on non freeways unmarked roads like i live off of are 55mph its farm country so people are used to seeing tractors combines, sprayers etc on the roads city people get really upset though. if you have an SMV sign, Seat belt, I don't remember if flashers are required. I drive 5 -10 miles from my house on occasion. 120 miles with 20 mph top speed would be 6 hours with no stopping or slowing down.

MHarryE · Aug 20, 2013

Varies by state. Midwest tends to be very farmer friendly although you do need to watch out for cars because they often don't know they must yield to farm equipment on anything other than Interstates and private roads.verified with highway patrol. If I am towing a 24' piece of equipment with my tractor everyone must make room for me. Tow it behind my pickup and I am toast. My father-in-law in Missouri was injured when a car took off his left rear wheel and axle housing. The car driver was also was injured and got a ticket for his troubles but the tractor was totaled and my FIL was limping for several days.

creekbend · Aug 21, 2013

If it were me, I would contact the local Farm Bureau. Please don't drive on the roadway in 4-wd unless absolutely needed for adverse weather conditions.

paulharvey · Aug 21, 2013

In florida I believe you only need SMV sign and I do think you need flashers. I personally have road ran a rubber tired hoe abiut 12 miles on a 65 mph state road (US441) and a loader more like 18 miles on a mixed 45/55 mph road. Its a long bumpy ride, at 20 mph, they can get to bouncing. The county, state, and contractors often move motor graders a pretty good ways on road. Now, 120 miles on a back hoe... if I was saving $500, I would consider it, but it would be a LONG ride, and if a older hoe, I would be nervous keeping it at full throttle like that for hours at a time.

Oliver1655 · Aug 21, 2013

In Missouri have a SMV sign & all the lights your tractor was manufactured with working & on. (Except the rear field/spotlight) Make sure you observe the stop signs and stay off the interstates.

I drive back & forth on the roads frequently no problems. I wouldn't recommend waving folks to go around. If for some reason an accident were to occur & you had waved them around even a mile away, you could set yourself up for liability.

Guesseral · Aug 21, 2013

Not sure what the requirements are, I always use the SMV sign and my flashers. My older tractors don't have flashers and never did so all I use on them is the SMV sign and the headlights, I would assume if the tractors came with safety equipment like flashers that you would have to use them, and if not equipped them you wouldn't have to. I think it is pretty much universal that everyone everywhere needs the SMV sign I have seen then in every state I have been in. I remember a friend of mine was trailering his tractor and he got pulled over, for of all things because he had his SMV sign on the tractor and he was going 55 MPH, he got a warning and could have been ticketed I guess I always make sure my sign is off before loading on the trailer. I remember many years ago my uncle was spraying grapes and when he came out the end of the row he looked both ways before exiting but a car was coming around a corner and up a slight grade at an excessive speed and hit him broadside. Throw my uncle across the road and broke the ford 860 in two right at the bell housing, he was ok banged up but ok and he didn't have a sign on the tractor.

aczlan · Aug 21, 2013

Guesseral said:
I would assume if the tractors came with safety equipment like flashers that you would have to use them, and if not equipped them you wouldn't have to.

I suspect that that is the case in most states FOR AG USE. Commercial use is probbaly different. IMO, dropping $20 on a magnetic LED strobe (ie: Blazer C48AW LED Emergency Strobe Beacon-1 each : Amazon.com : Automotive or similar) is well worth it even if the tractor has flashers on it. When on the road with the tractor, I don't want someone who hit me to be able to say "I didn't see you" without the cop sending them in for an eye check.

Aaron Z

Tractor Seabee · Aug 22, 2013

The Sherriff here told me you can only travel on the road between agriculture plots I own, lease or otherwise control yourself. I guess legally I cannot cross the road to help my neighbor. Any other travel has to be trailered, like if I go to the church 2 miles down the road to clear snow from parking lot, I have to trailer.

Ron

Piston · Aug 22, 2013

Seems like I'd be pretty safe with the SMV sign and flashers, I also like the idea of a single strobe as well to aid in being seen. I tried calling the DMV to get their take on it "just in case" but god for bid you actually get to talk to a human! I gave up and instead found an email address on the website and sent a note asking the requirements. Ill let you all know if I hear back from them.

I wouldn't be surprised if MA has some crazy registration requirements though, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they don't!