Haul or drive?

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Story is, this guy is driving a W4 across Canada on a publicity trip to highlight how much farmers mean to Canadians. He started in BC, and last I heard he was in Ontario, 4 days ahead of schedule! :D

- Mind you, a vintage W4 is neither diesel, nor $25,000 - just to overhaul... :(

Now this is only nasty rumor at this point, but I have heard that running tractor diesel in a road vehicle will tear up the injector pump and injectors. The same may be true for running road diesel in a tractor.

Unless you bring your own supply of fuel, you may well spend well more than $1200 on fixing your new tractor after you've had it trucked to the local mechanic instead of to your homestead.

In April 2004 I drove a MM G-1000 Vista wheatland diesel 300 miles home from Minneapolis,KS.It ran 22 mph and got just over 5 mpg.We spent one night in a motel.The MM had almost bald 18.4x34 rear tires so wasnt much worried about them.They made it fine.

In April 2006 I drove a 6030 John Deere 270 miles home from Lindsborg,KS.We spent one night in a motel.It got nearly 5.5 mpg and ran around 20 mph.It had 30.5x32 rear tires and they showed practically no wear at all.

For me it was much cheaper to drive them than to hire them hauled.We took lesser traveled roads and had no problems at all except each tractor blew a front tire.The front tires werent much good anyways and I had nice spares with me.The MM did have to have a fuel filter change on the road and we had new ones with us.Both tractors were completely checked over and had engine oil changes.

I've also driven a couple of 715 IH combines 50 miles home.

On the other side of the coin, look at the real cost of roading a tractor. The fuel, lodging and meals are a mere pitance. Tractor power trains were not engineered for long haul-no load running. To start with the diesel at full throttle would be much better off under load. I remember once roading my 1066 at night, not excessively hot weather, (probably 55 F), close to 100 miles. At my destination I placed a thermometer against the transmission case just below operators platform. The reading I got at 6am was 150 F. I suspected the transmission and rear end were warmed up, as I could notice the heat in the cab, even with heather hoses shut off at engine. Now, I dare say one would often get a comparable reading working in the field, but remember the rear end and bull gears or planetaries will only be turning 30% as fast in a field situation. I never did that again, I bought a lowbed trailer, and I doubt if I ever roaded a tractor more than 5 miles after that.

By the way, the 4,000 lb implement I was pulling 20" tires, hubs were warm, in fact we had to install new bearings in one of them before putting it to work.

Bet that rear end is running more like 250 degrees in the field. Heck, yer car runs between 180 and 225 just rolling down the road. :>)

Allan

I think he said 400 miles, if on ashpalt, I'll bet that will peel somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 tread off those tires.

I wouldn't want to do it. The rear end is loaded, then unloaded so I wouldn't worry to much about that part.

Like ya say tho, I wouldn't want to have that engine screamin' for 400 miles not to mention the tires. Seems like needless wear and tear.

I'd get a freighter to just haul the thing and be done with it.

Allan

Five hundred and some miles, took him something like two weeks on that little guy at 12 mph. :>)

Allan

I would drive it.

Drove a combine 100 mi and friend drove a tractor 300 miles.

Good way to travel.

With loading time and unloading truck would take 8 to 10 hours.

Gary