what's the farthest you're comfortable driving on the road?

[Threepoint]

there won't be a load, just the bush hog on back. tractor has a SMV sign on it, and IF I was going to drive it on the road the flashers would be on as well. I've decided I'm just going to trailer it though. it's not that big a deal to load up

Papachaz, a related issue is liability insurance, which you may already have considered. Do you have a commercial policy for your tractor that will cover you against liability to third parties while roading off your property? If not, then this isn't even a close question. If you haul with your truck and trailer, your auto insurance policy will ordinarily cover you against liability, so long as you have designated business use for your tow vehicle (since you're doing the mowing for compensation).

 

[LouNY]

We have fields that we farm that are about 3 miles from the home farm, this week was chopping corn with 3 tractors hauling wagons back and forth several trip each day. routinely road haul with tractors 2-3 miles and don't give it a second thought.
Many of the big dairies around here move tractors and equipment 15 miles from the home places they haul with dump trucks and tractor trailers but the mowers and choppers and related equipment roads to the fields and in the spring all the tillage equipment and planters road to the fields.
Sometimes depending on the road and situations we will use a pickup to escort a tractor or equipment especially if its getting towards dusk or dark.

Some times I see vehicles behind me turn their flashers on even if they are not escorting me, some may not be in a hurry or they may have an idea of where I'm going and know it's not that far and aren't concerned about passing me, especially on a road with lots hills and knolls and blind curves to hide on coming traffic.

 

[strantor]

I drive the tractor occasionally into town (single stoplight town, and it's just a flashing red light) to fill up with diesel or grab something to bring home and work and work on. I don't like it. I feel safer going 120mph in a pickup than I do Going 18mph on the tractor. I only do it because I'm in a hurry or being lazy. I think I'm going to put some rear view mirrors on it. That would help a bunch. A couple of weeks ago I was coming home with a riding mower on my forks that someone had posted online for free, and out of nowhere Richard Petty came screaming past me in a dually with 12" exhaust stacks rolling coal and pulling 3-axle trailer overloaded with tree branches hanging over the side that nearly hit my ROPS. He was probably going 75mph in a 45mph zone. He probably had no idea how big of a loaf he almost caused in my seat.

 

[oosik]

Just about a year ago - coming home from down south - windy two lane country roads. My brand new BMW R1200GSA - it was pitch black. Came around a corner and there coming at me - more darn lights than I've seen in a long time. My neighbor coming home with his huge IH Case and a 24 bottom reversible moldboard plow. He was using the full width of the asphalt - we both came to a full stop - chuckled a little and I tippy-toed around him as he move over a bit.

I DO NOT like riding at night - deer, back-shine off my motorcycle windshield & big tractors.

 

[Ortimber]

We own two pieces of hay ground 10 miles apart. We road our tractors and hay equipment every summer. Been doing it for years. Never had any issues, in fact I enjoy the drive. The roads are rural with very little traffic.

Here’s my son pulling the mower home.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I drive 3 miles one way to bush hog a farm. Only 1/4 mile is on a busy major 2 lane highway. The rest is on secondary roads. The busy major highway is too dangerous for a tractor now but I get away with it by going during off peak hours. When I was a boy we used to drive the tractors from one farm to the other farm about 1.5 miles on the same highway. No way now.

Couple years ago I traveled 8 miles to my dad's place on a secondary road to bush hog a lot beside his house. Had to go right through a small town. No issues. Several farms are along the way and tractors are somewhat the norm.

 

[tractorshopper]

I have driven up to about 4 miles. Little traffic, country area. On my old L3800 with max speed about 13mph, this was definitely worth not loading everything up. 2 weekends ago, I did this with my BX to till some food plots and found that with the max speed of 9 mph, it's just not as good. The second day I trailered it. I will from now on for anything similar.

I have owned 3 different tractors over the last 8 years or so and have always driven them to the Loves travel station to fuel up, but it's less than a mile from my house. Much better than dealing with cans.

 

[CobyRupert]

....Some times I see vehicles behind me turn their flashers on even if they are not escorting me, some may not be in a hurry or they may have an idea of where I'm going and know it's not that far and aren't concerned about passing me, especially on a road with lots hills and knolls and blind curves to hide on coming traffic.

...so now when the fast, impatient drivers come up behind you they will pass the escort car, the space between you and the escort car, and then you, on those knolls and blind curves, spending about 5 times more distance in the oncoming lane than if it was just you they were passing.

Escort cars are dangerous.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Actually, it's the "people trying to pass" that are dangerous!

SR

 

[LouNY]

...so now when the fast, impatient drivers come up behind you they will pass the escort car, the space between you and the escort car, and then you, on those knolls and blind curves, spending about 5 times more distance in the oncoming lane than if it was just you they were passing.

Escort cars are dangerous.

Maybe they need to slow down and not pass when they can't see the distance that they need. Especially on local town roads.

 

[CobyRupert]

Actually, it's the "people trying to pass" that are dangerous!

SR

Maybe they need to slow down and not pass when they can't see the distance that they need. Especially on local town roads.

Yes, true, you're both right. ...but we all know "that ain't gonna happen".

Wish we didn't have to plan on people being idiots, but we do, especially when having an escort vehicle results in additional time passing in the wrong lane and being 5 times more likely to sideswipe you or take that innocent family head-on.

 

[cat fever]

My two cents is; trailer it. I have driven mine on the road. (6 miles) and hated every bit of it. The worry of someone running into me is just not worth it. I live in a very rural area of southeast Idaho where "everyone" drives their tractors and farm equipment on the road. But I'm not comfortable about it at all. Just to many stupid people out there. I drove it 1 time from my property to my brothers place, now I trailer it every time.

 

[wagne223]

Personally I would put it on the trailer just to save time. The safety is a bonus.

My tractor top travel speed is 12 mph. It would take 35 minutes to go 7 miles.

I can load the tractor in 10 minutes then enjoy the AC in the truck for the 10 minute ride.

 

[CADplans]

I just Googled the route, I drove my tractor home after I purchased it,,, 26 miles,,,

The tractor had the loader on the front, and a 6 foot blade on the back.

I stopped and filled it with fuel, total travel time including the fuel stop was just under 90 minutes.

Yes, my wife was following me in the Honda Accord.

The tractor has been used on more than a half dozen fall hay rides,,
I take it on the road plowing neighbors driveways during bad snow storms,, usually no more than a mile,,,

I have no concerns about traveling on any non-interstate road,,
if bikes can travel at under 10 MPH blocking traffic,, I can travel at over double that speed.
(we live on a rural road that has signs that say "designated bike route")

 

[goeduck]

I was planning a 7 mile jaunt I have done a dozen times or so, now you guys are freaking me out about it. ullinghair:

 

[Wagtail]

The farthest that I've 'roaded' my 4105 has been about 15km from where it's "garaged"... and, yes, it was through town to get to my destination which was the local rifle/pistol Shooters Club range. The town of St Helens doesn't even have STOP signs (let alone a STOP light); nothing but GIVE WAY signs, if any. Absolutely no problem whatsoever. Heck, I even passed by, in town, my minister on his MF tractor going the other way! :laughing:

I've also driven my tractor (flashers & amber whoop-whoop going) for about 6km on the 100kph Tasman Highway in order to get to another set of paddocks from Pyengana during haying season. If I could pull off to the side I would for traffic. If I couldn't pull off, I'd hand signal the vehicle(s) behind me as to whether it was safe to pass me or not. Always got a wave and/or a 'toot' of their horn.

In Tassie, our 80kph and 100kph signs have a second sign below them which reads "Drive To The Conditions". A tractor and/or livestock are one of those conditions.

Oh yeah, I specifically used the word "garaged"... you can legally drive a tractor on public roads, without having to have it 'road licenced' (plate) as long as it's within 15km of where it is garaged/based. So, yes, my tractor is transported (back of a lorry) to Pyengana where it then becomes based for the haying season = I've got a 15km radius from there.

 

[Katahdin]

I drive my Yanmar LX 7.4 miles across town once a year to work at my Mom's house. The roads are a mix of rural, 4-lane, and residential. I transport most of the implements separately on a flat bed truck, I don't think I'd want to do it with a bush hog hanging off the back. Occasionally I carry a box blade. It takes me about 45 minutes, top speed is 16mph.

I don't make a living farming, so I probably wouldn't qualify for the state exemptions that allow unregistered tractors on the road. To not attract unwanted LEO attention I travel early mornings on weekends so I don't backup heavy traffic. I have crossed paths with the local LE vehicles and haven't had any issues, I've even gotten a few waves.

Generally I enjoy the drive, and even stop to eat a donut along my way:

 

[CobyRupert]

I've driven about 5 miles, usually back roads, but also state roads, without an escort. Think nothing of it.
The only time I remember having an escort car follow behind is when I was a kid and my father needed one because the John Deere A had no headlights and he need the car's headlights to see where the road was.

 

[the old grind]

Takes me ~10 min to load a CUT or the Terramite if the trailer is already hitched and the ramps are in place, another 10-15 to properly secure it, and all of 10 to 'untie' and drive it off the trailer. 15 min to reload and retie for a return trip, and all of 20 min to unload, park the trailer, and put away the chains and binders. To me that's quite a bit of work time to go less than 10 mi.

I've loaded and hauled the TM twice in 10 years, and the NH or its comparable predecessor once each in that decade. IMO that's a lot of time investment to earn a few cups of coffee or an overcooked burger when someone's out of catsup. I plowed snow at a BILs house once some years ago (they were still paying on a loan then and they still knew me ) it was just <3 mi round trip, and I made it almost w/o incident until ditched by an impatient driver two houses from home.

My second place is 1/4 mi down the road and I've driven all 3 tractors, the TM, and the tree truck back & forth at least once this Summer. The golf cart and Mechron make the trip almost weekly. IMO, as bad as folks who can't wait to pass are the ones who hover behind you for whole minutes before passing and getting it over with when there are no otherson the road going in either direction. Roads in my nabe are arrow-straight and pancake-flat, and I can see either mailbox while standing at the other.

Lesson learned. Let folks pay someone vs doing favors. :laughing: Tractor part and other machine work are still pro bono, but I mention a $15/hr fee for customer to watch so I don't rush and botch the job. btw, I paid farm hands that rate until I could no longer find 16-25 YOs who could put their phones down or even show up.

 

[tractorshopper]

For me, hitching the trailer takes as much or more time than loading and chaining. I want a back up camera so bad....

Katahdin, I love the picture. Great stuff. I get some weird looks at the Love's truck stop every time I go fill up. So many people coming off I-85 and I'm guessing some have never seen a tractor before. I usually get asked a question or two while there.