Drive it or trailer it?

[Magicman]

I have a "remote" pasture about 2 miles from my property. We always have a "chase" vehicle with flashers following the tractor.

 

[Geezer3d]

I have a "remote" pasture about 2 miles from my property. We always have a "chase" vehicle with flashers following the tractor.

That is a good idea. I notice that when the town or county are driving a tractor on the road they always have a truck following with the flashers on.

 

[torch]

Here, tractors are allowed on the road as long as a slow moving placard is on the back.

Here it can't just have the SMV placard on the back -- the SMV must be between 2' and 6' from the ground, centered (wihin reason) and most importantly, the speed may not exceed 40kph (about 25mph). The placard must be removed, covered or obscured when trailered over 40 kph.

And for some reason, lawmakers felt it necessary to prohibit attaching an SMV placard to stationary objects such as mailbox posts. I'd love to know the story behind that one. Was there a traffic jam somewhere while drivers waited for the mailbox to complete it's journey?

 

[D2Cat]

Here it can't just have the SMV placard on the back -- the SMV must be between 2' and 6' from the ground, centered (wihin reason) and most importantly, the speed may not exceed 40kph (about 25mph). The placard must be removed, covered or obscured when trailered over 40 kph.

And for some reason, lawmakers felt it necessary to prohibit attaching an SMV placard to stationary objects such as mailbox posts. I'd love to know the story behind that one. Was there a traffic jam somewhere while drivers waited for the mailbox to complete it's journey?

We have similar laws, but often overlooked.

The placement of the SMV emblem is critical. The emblem is required to be displayed in the rear and as close to the center of the vehicle or implement as possible. It must be mounted with the point up, at a right angle or perpendicular to the direction of travel so that it can be seen by motorists approaching from the rear. The lower edge of the emblem must be at least 2 feet and not more than 10 feet above the ground.

file:///C:/Users/len/AppData/Local/Temp/AE3507.pdf

 

[Bmyers]

If you in Illinois the Farm Bureau puts out a nice resource for farmers concerning laws around farm equipment and the roadway.

21-81-2021-rules-for-the-road-booklet-interactive.pdf (ilfb.org)

 

[Daylight]

And if you take to the road, apart from the SMV placard, mount an orange flashing or rotating light on top of your ROPS. In several European countries that's compulsory, and it increases visibility a lot.

 

[GeoHorn]

.
And for some reason, lawmakers felt it necessary to prohibit attaching an SMV placard to stationary objects such as mailbox posts. I'd love to know the story behind that one. Was there a traffic jam somewhere while drivers waited for the mailbox to complete it's journey?

For the same reason that in FOg…. stopping on the shoulder of the road with your taillights ON will get you involved in a potentially fatal rear-end-accident. If you must pull over in FOg…. park such that you are well CLEAR of the road OR are 90-degrees/perpendicular to the road, so that following-traffic will not ”steer” toward what is thought to be the vehicle ahead.

If you place a SMV sign on a mailbox or other stationary object… in times of low-visibility it may confuse traffic as to the location of the travelling-lane.

 

[Bmyers]

 

[NHSleddog]

For the same reason that in FOg…. stopping on the shoulder of the road with your taillights ON will get you involved in a potentially fatal rear-end-accident. If you must pull over in FOg…. park such that you are well CLEAR of the road OR are 90-degrees/perpendicular to the road, so that following-traffic will not ”steer” toward what is thought to be the vehicle ahead.

If you place a SMV sign on a mailbox or other stationary object… in times of low-visibility it may confuse traffic as to the location of the travelling-lane.

Or if you get a flat tire or break down when it is FOGGY out. Put on your directional or hazards.

 

[NHSleddog]

I have a challenge with the local PD. One of them was giving me a hard time one day for not having a plate. He gave me a ticket and everything. I went to court with it because I had gone out of my way to obtain a plate for it but was unable to.

It does not qualify for a "farm" plate, and it does not qualify for a "construction" plate, so in court I simply asked the officer "what kind of plate do I get for it, I will run right down and do it".

I think the cop actually tried to prepare for it because he had all kinds of information about the farm plate that HE thought I should have.

So I asked him, what is the first qualifying item on the farm tag list? He hemmed and hawed and then said he did not know all the qualifications - I answered - well it is that it is involved in farming, which mine is not, so should I lie about it? The judge reviewed the RSA and asked the cop if that is what hes proposing, that I lie about the plate classification.

The cop said no of coarse not, so then the judge asked him what type of plate I should get. The cop didn't know. The judge threw it out and I have been driving without a plate for the last 10 years with it. I have had one cop since give me a hard time, after telling him the story, he left me alone (he didn't know what plate I should have either).

 

[torch]

If you place a SMV sign on a mailbox or other stationary object… in times of low-visibility it may confuse traffic as to the location of the travelling-lane.

I suppose that's as good an explanation as any. Although considering a slow moving vehicle is supposed to travel as far to the right as practicable in any weather and considering that drivers are not supposed to hit any sort of sign, moving or not, I still think the back story would be entertaining.

And now, thanks to you, I have this mental image of a string of cars following a tractor round and round as a farmer plows his field in the fog... <lol>

 

[NCL4701]

When I was a kid I didn’t mind driving on the road when necessary. It was a farming community at the time so everybody did it routinely. When I was about 16 one of our neighbors was driving his tractor with his son following in a single axle dump with hazards on in the middle of a clear day. A Pepsi tractor trailer rear ended the dump and the trailer spun around wrapping around the dump and smacking the tractor sideways. Killed the guy on the tractor. I thought at the time I would felt a lot safer being followed by a dump truck escort but even that wasn’t enough. I haven’t much liked driving on the road since then.

Did it once last year to help a friend with storm cleanup. It was only about 3 miles of low traffic backroads. At my insistence he provided a rear escort in his pickup, but it still wasn’t a comfortable experience. If I was to do it again I probably would have taken the time and trouble to trailer it.

 

[GeoHorn]

I have a challenge with the local PD. One of them was giving me a hard time one day for not having a plate. He gave me a ticket and everything. I went to court with it because I had gone out of my way to obtain a plate for it but was unable to.

It does not qualify for a "farm" plate, and it does not qualify for a "construction" plate, so in court I simply asked the officer "what kind of plate do I get for it, I will run right down and do it".

I think the cop actually tried to prepare for it because he had all kinds of information about the farm plate that HE thought I should have.

So I asked him, what is the first qualifying item on the farm tag list? He hemmed and hawed and then said he did not know all the qualifications - I answered - well it is that it is involved in farming, which mine is not, so should I lie about it? The judge reviewed the RSA and asked the cop if that is what hes proposing, that I lie about the plate classification.

The cop said no of coarse not, so then the judge asked him what type of plate I should get. The cop didn't know. The judge threw it out and I have been driving without a plate for the last 10 years with it. I have had one cop since give me a hard time, after telling him the story, he left me alone (he didn't know what plate I should have either).

This reminds me of the lesson I was taught by my training-partner in the ‘70s (before I realized I wasn’t suited for being a police officer)…. When I asked my partner Ray why he issued a citation for an “offense” which Ray KNEW was not capable of being prosecuted…he winked at me and said, “He can beat the RAP… but he can’t beat the “Ride!”. (I.E. it’s going to cost a day out of the subjects‘ life to go to court …even to win… meanwhile, Ray got a days’ ”court pay” just for showing up for an hour in the airconditioning instead of out on the street.)

IMO, Don’t challenge the cops’ knowlege of the law no matter how “right” you think you are. Contrary to popular belief not all cops are thoroughly knowlegeable of the law… but they are trained to stop what they perceive to be unlawful or dangerous behavior taking as little risk as possible.
Even if you disagree…It’s better to respectfully apologize for not having seen it as the officer explained it and thank the officer. Your actions were …”inadvertent” or “unintentional”. No matter how the officer takes that apology, say no more than minimally-necessary, wish him a safe day and get yourself on down the road. IMO

 

[Creature Meadow]

I need to move my tractor to a job about five miles down the paved road, and of course back again after I'm done with the job. I have a LX2610SU with R14 tires if any of that matters. I am trying to decide if it is OK to drive it that far or should I take the time and trouble to load it on the trailer for the short trip. Any advice is appreciated.

I enjoy watching YouTube videos of a farmer in Canada and the other night he posted one of them moving 60 miles to a field.

it was 3 tractors with planters and seed wagons. The drills ranged from 68 to 80 feet wide unfolded, he said folded his outfit was 14' wide so he took up much of 2 lanes. They had a guide in the front and rear. I don't like to drive 60 miles in my truck much less in a tractor.

Good luck.

Jay

 

[Bark]

We always have a "chase" vehicle with flashers following the tractor.

Ditto. We have never had a problem while using a chase vehicle and Walkie-Talkies. Our MO when a vehicle approaches from the rear is to pull over more, and slow way down. If the chase vehicle feels its safe they will wave the approaching vehicle around us.
However, more and more we are having idiots from town coming out to hot rod down the "country" roads. Same mentality as the people who dump dogs and cats out here thinking they are doing the animals a favor.
Hey! I totally got off subject and have begun to rant.... Sorry, back to driving or towing.

 

[Steve92]

I mentioned this thread to one of my staff, and she brought up something I'd forgotten. She's from Western Kansas, In either late '78 or early '79 her Dad was one of the farmers that drove his tractor to Washington D.C. from their home as a protest for ag policies. That was a brutal winter as I recall. Heck of a road trip. I routinely drive 8-10 miles between farms with my old Ford and Oliver. Just bought an MX5200 this week so looking forward to a bit more comfortable road trips!

 

[torch]

I enjoy watching YouTube videos of a farmer in Canada and the other night he posted one of them moving 60 miles to a field.

If the farm is in Saskatchewan, you could watch the tractor depart from home and watch it arrive at the final destination without leaving your porch.

 

[Nodlenor]

No way would I drive my tractor over 2 miles or so. That is the reason I spent many dollars on a new trailer. I feel a lot safer in my truck.

 

[Geezer3d]

First, thank you all for your helpful comments. Today I drove my tractor the five miles to my daughters house to do some landscaping work for her. Several of you suggested that I have an escort vehicle follow me, and I thought that was a good idea, but I didn't have a convenient escort so I went without one. Overall the trip was uneventful and mostly just boring. I did enjoy doing the work that was asked of me and it was a pleasant day.

 

[thirdroc17]

Drive it.

You can always find of example to "prove" an opposite. Bottom line is, you run a risk getting out of bed, and do you know how many die in bed?!?!

Cops are taught to CONTROL a situation, courts will largely back them up. Being right won't keep you out of jail, much less a court appearance.