Running Long Distances

[Inno]

I am getting a 3rd function kit and grapple installed on my L4060HST next week. The dealer is about 20 miles away. My two options are to haul it with a trailer or drive it out there. By the time I get a trailer (from the dealer), get it home, load and secure the tractor, and tow it to the dealer, I could have already driven it there.
Is there any harm in driving it that far in one shot?

 

[beex]

IMO it wouldn’t hurt it at all, just wear on the tires on the road. The specs say it runs 16.8 mph. I wouldn’t run it WOT with not much load that long, maybe run it at 12-13 mph, get there in 1 hour 40 min. That’s not bad, and way easier than messing around with a trailer.


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[old and tired]

Tractor can do it. I would worry about someone running into me on the road. If your area is more tractor friendly, go for it. Our area, roads are twisting and bending and they are driving @ 65 mph (105 kph) and I'm not sure they are even paying attention to the road.

Personally, I would trailer it.... but that's my area.

 

[mcfarmall]

I'd trailer it too.

 

[D2Cat]

My vote--trailer it. Save the wear, tear and risk.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmmm 4 FAST trips( 1 hr ?) with trailer, or 3 HOURS on the tractor ???

unless the tractor has A/C and a radio....

yeah, my vote's for the trailer....
maybe make a deal with THEM picking up tractor, works well if they're dropping off anotehr tractor local to you....
it boils down to $$$ vs time...

 

[beex]

Not sure why everyone here is recommending the trailer. If the OP lives in a low traffic area it’s not risky, people road tractors in rural areas all the time, high school kids drive them to school. I see the OP’s point. 20 miles way, 1/2 hour drive to dealer in truck to get trailer, stand around how long for dealer to find trailer, 15 min hook up, 30 min back, 15 to load and tie down, if your experienced at hauling, more if not, 30 back to dealer at least, maybe more. At least 2.5 hours via trailer, he can beat that by a long shot just roading the tractor. And trailering is not risk free either. In rural areas roading a tractor is safer. The OP can assess his situation on safety of roading vs trailering. He is asking would roading hurt the tractor, not weather everyone else would do it or not.


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[SidecarFlip]

I road both of mine all the time. Only thing suffers is the R1 tires.

 

[ccoon520]

Driving the tractor 20 miles won't hurt it at all. Your tractor has plenty of cooling capacity to run all day at a crawl so full tilt on the roads will keep it cool. Also the motor can run through a whole tank of fuel in one shot without ever stopping. I do believe it is recommended to take the tractor out of 4wd (if you leave it on) because asphalt or concrete can be hard on the tractor if left in 4wd.

Just make sure you have you SMV sign on the tractor, your flashers on, headlights on, and headphones with some tunage.

 

[Freeheeler]

I wouldn't mind driving it to the dealer, but I'm not so sure I'd like driving it back home with a grapple hung out front. Depends on the size of grapple and visibility over/around it.

 

[Thunder chicken]

i drive (m7060) 5 miles each way into town 2-3-4 times a day some days. WFO.
(short for.. pedal to the metal)
make sure the flashers are on, SMV sign is on the trailer and visible, some days the pallet forks with log grapple are on the loader.....
just drive defensively, pull over and stop to let idiots pass if you need to, take up the lane so people don't pass you 1/2 over the yellow and force u into the shoulder.
some days i want to put a 2x4 in the bucket sticking forward a few feet to whack the idiots who swerve back in too quick..

Can the dealership not send someone to you to do the work? it can't be that complicated to need a full shop?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

One reason to have it trailered is that I can't be on a tractor in hot sun for 1 1/2hrs. Anyone who'se suffered heat stroke will know WHY...
then there's the 20 mile walk home......X2 , gotta get tractor when ready...
Sure if you're young, healthy and have nothing else to do... drive tractor to dealer and walk home... only us old guys with health issues who have 7 other things to do at the same time will haul a tractor....
Should only take 5-10 minutes to load, 1 minute to uncouple trailer at dealer( their trailer after all...)

 

[SidecarFlip]

Don't quite understand how come the dealer won't pick it up. My dealer comes out here with his roll back and gets mine when I need it to go in.

 

[Inno]

Tractor has both A/C and a radio so that's not an issue. Road is mainly straight and fairly flat and it's a farming area so tractors are common along the road, often much larger than mine.
I have also just recently installed a bracket for a magnetic flashing light which I have wired in to a switch inside. I also have a slow moving vehicle sign and would run the flashers.
I was more concerned about mechanical issues with running at a sustained higher than normal speed. I would take it out of 4x4 for sure.
I didn't ask the dealer for pickup but I believe they have a trailer they would loan for such purposes. I didn't buy the tractor from the local guys because they had nothing in stock when I was looking. Can't ask too much of them....

 

[old and tired]

Tractor has both A/C and a radio...

Sit back and enjoy the ride!!!!

 

[SidecarFlip]

Tractor has both A/C and a radio so that's not an issue. Road is mainly straight and fairly flat and it's a farming area so tractors are common along the road, often much larger than mine.
I have also just recently installed a bracket for a magnetic flashing light which I have wired in to a switch inside. I also have a slow moving vehicle sign and would run the flashers.
I was more concerned about mechanical issues with running at a sustained higher than normal speed. I would take it out of 4x4 for sure.
I didn't ask the dealer for pickup but I believe they have a trailer they would loan for such purposes. I didn't buy the tractor from the local guys because they had nothing in stock when I was looking. Can't ask too much of them....

capital idea. In fact if you don't need it, I'd be running in 2wd as much as possible. I hardly ever out either of my M's in FWA. One, it;s hard on tire, 2 hard on the driveline and 3, hard to steer.

To be road legal (least here in Michigan), all yo need is flashers, amber forward and red or amber rearward, an SMV triangle. I ruin after sunset too. My big LED beams really light up the night. That amber flashing beacon totally optional. Kind of an European thing that hatched here too.

I've put more than one idiot in a 4 wheeler in the ditch before, I pull wide implements on the road and I'm all about yielding the right of way but here in Michigan at least, powered farm equipment HAS the right of way on secondary roads. In a hurry, leave earlier.

I'm pedaling as fast as I can. 22 mph in high at rated rpm.

 

[Russell King]

Also if you have two brake pedals they need to be locked together to act as one pedal when on the road.


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[SidecarFlip]

Mine are always locked. I have no need to brake steer my units.

 

[Inno]

After I had convinced myself to road it, after talking to the dealer today, he advised that I trailer it and offered up a trailer for me to use.
Maybe I'm overthinking it..........not sure what I hate more, trailering things or holding up traffic with the potential of causing an accident if some idiot gets impatient.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: I have no need to brake steer my units.

You've obviously never hauled a 3600# log on the back of a tractor....

THAT's when you appreciate 2 brakes for steering !!

re: trailering....
always better.. if the impatient guy hits you, he has to go through the trialer, tractor and THEN the pickup.....