(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Kids want to ride

D

Dan MD

Member
Is there a way to SAFELY take either of my 4/5 year olds or both on my SMD? I have a Saginaw 3 pt. hitch and was wondering if anyone has fabbed up some kind of carrier. I can't really think of anything I'd feel comfortable with short of a steel roll cage with a car seat inside.lol I have pretty much given up on this idea, but keep wondering if anybody has figured out something SAFE? After watching the movie Faith Like Potatoes, I feel I should probably make the boys wait another 15 years or more before they can ride.

Dan
 
I had a seat bolted to the fender.There was a seatbelt that was "required".The kid was on to stay...
 
(quoted from post at 15:24:34 08/04/12) Is there a way to SAFELY take either of my 4/5 year olds or both on my SMD? I have a Saginaw 3 pt. hitch and was wondering if anyone has fabbed up some kind of carrier. I can't really think of anything I'd feel comfortable with short of a steel roll cage with a car seat inside.lol I have pretty much given up on this idea, but keep wondering if anybody has figured out something SAFE? After watching the movie Faith Like Potatoes, I feel I should probably make the boys wait another 15 years or more before they can ride.

Dan
Click to expand...

Set 'em on the seat right between your legs. That's how I learned to drive the H about 56 years ago.
 
We.used to get 4 boys on Dad's A, 2 on the drawbar, one driving and one riding the gas tank like a horse. Sure beat walking, but that was the day before seat belts, bike helmets and padded dashboards. Somehow we all survived. The safety police would haul you to jail for doing that nowadays!
 
Just build a seat like the Demo 56os had with steps going up left of the driver. See more of that type all the time that way you can have a wide bench type seat with backrest and guard rail on the side by the tire.
 
If I had two kids that size I'd get a pair of flat top fenders and mounts seats to them with a rail around so the kid wouldn't have to fall out if I stopped quick or hit some obstruction. Then at least you could watch the kids and they could watch you. They should be as safe there as they would be left at home. People die at home every day.
 
If you let kids that young ride with you, they will come running toward you every time you start the tractor. It greatly increases your chances of not seeing them and ...

Happens with cars all the time, too. Mom tries to go to town without kids. They hear the car start and run to get in.
 
Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
 
(quoted from post at 20:13:19 08/04/12) Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
Click to expand...

I disagree completely. I was holding my grandkids on my lap and taking them for rides when they were as young as 2. Even let 'em take hold of the steering wheel and get that experience. A few of them got the hang of it quickly and were able to guide that tractor all around the yard safely with only an occasional "correction" from grandpa. There just isn't much chance of any real mishaps when the tractor is moving at only 2 mph or less. Start those kids out when they're young and they'll be much better drivers when they're old enough to drive the car.
 
(quoted from post at 20:13:19 08/04/12) Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well. It may have been acceptable 50 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. There is a big difference between a 5 year old farm kid that grew up around a tractor and farming than a city kid.
 
big tractors, little tractors, 4-wheelers, motorcycles..
when my son, then grandson were little,
they all wanted a ride.
sitting on the seat between my legs with my arm around them,
letting them 'steer' always felt safest.(and they felt safer, less scared)
I don't want them anywhere where I have to 'reach' for them if they get in trouble.
 
while most of us older types grew up riding the drawbars, that will probably get you thrown in the clink today, for safety, i would want something like a seat with seatbelts, [ picture old war 2 style jeep seats] mounted on the fenders so you can see the kids out of the corner of your eye when under power, that would keep them safe and close to you , i rode the drawbar of a M and a C as a kid,[hanging on to the seat for dear life] but nothing to a kid beats the view from the operators platform! as a plus the seat mounted to the fender would make a great place to strap your ice cooler when the kids arnt there, and your in for a long hot day, and if you get the urge to go on a tractor ride, you know the better half is going to want to go too...
 
let my niece ride when she was one been hooked ever since she meets people at town that have john deere's and she tells them tractors are red not green
 
Photo of husband giving our daughter a ride at a friend's place.

My husband always gave our kids a ride sitting on his lap and had one arm securely around them... one child at a time, driving SLOW on FLAT ground. *If more than one child, he put them inside a hog mover he had built for the back of our JD B... it had solid platform and 4 sides made of hog panel with angle iron framing.

We always taught our children that a tractor can do to a person, what a car does to a gopher on the road. Also that they should NEVER EVER go near a running machine of any type... not in front of it, not in back of it, nor approach it from the side because the operator may not see them and they could get run over.

You would teach your kids to swim at a young age, right? People drown everyday. You let them ride in your car or truck, right? People die in accidents or kids get backed over by vehicles coming out of the garage. Tractors are no different, you do the same thing... teach them young -- but teach them a healthy dose of repect for dangerous machines.
a78305.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 05:30:29 08/05/12)
(quoted from post at 20:13:19 08/04/12) Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well. It may have been acceptable 50 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. There is a big difference between a 5 year old farm kid that grew up around a tractor and farming than a city kid.
Click to expand...

Our grandkids are ALL city kids. If WE don't teach them about farm tractors, and farm equipment, WHO WILL??
 
I added a second seat on my "B" Farmall and steering wheel also that was hooked up with sprocket and chain to work. Grand kids had their own seat, could drive but not work brakes or clutch. They loved it, also had a seat belt for them.
 
I have a 2 and a 4 year old and I like them enough to NOT put them on the tractor with me. Things are fine when everything goes fine, but what if you have a problem?
I'm not sure the grandparents that say that we have to teach a 4 year old to ride the tractor with us remember what it is like to have a 4 year old. Their attention span isn't very big and they can be gone and out of sight in a blink of an eye. You are sure going to regret teaching them about tractor rides when they sneak out of the house and you back over their head because "they weren't supposed to be there."
 
I give my grandsons rides any time they are around and want to go for a tractor ride. They stand/sit between my legs and they have a ball. I have done that more times with my dad when I was younger and I am still here and alive. They also know that they don't come close to my tractors unless they are shut off, after they get up on the tractor with me, then I start it and off we go....
 
(quoted from post at 06:55:35 08/05/12) Photo of husband giving our daughter a ride at a friend's place.

My husband always gave our kids a ride sitting on his lap and had one arm securely around them... one child at a time, driving SLOW on FLAT ground. *If more than one child, he put them inside a hog mover he had built for the back of our JD B... it had solid platform and 4 sides made of hog panel with angle iron framing.

We always taught our children that a tractor can do to a person, what a car does to a gopher on the road. Also that they should NEVER EVER go near a running machine of any type... not in front of it, not in back of it, nor approach it from the side because the operator may not see them and they could get run over.

You would teach your kids to swim at a young age, right? People drown everyday. You let them ride in your car or truck, right? People die in accidents or kids get backed over by vehicles coming out of the garage. Tractors are no different, you do the same thing... teach them young -- but teach them a healthy dose of repect for dangerous machines.
a78305.jpg
Click to expand...
I dunno... that's an awfully tender looking priceless little girl there and an awful lot of mean looking old iron around her. In between 180 lbs of man an an ugly looking steering wheel. ... And a sickle bar mower behind. Can you really be sure that maybe that whole 80 year old front wheel assembly won't just break off? Do you really know it won't?

... You just don't know what might happen. Is it really worth the risk? I dunno. I used to always have bad thoughts that my kids might hide in the tall hay beside where someone was mowing, and think it was fun. I told them never to do that and to make sure any one driving a tractor around them knew where they were.

I know it's fun, and I know that probably nothing will happen, but good Lord, what if it did?
 
i have bought a few tractors from older men that
there dad's had them on the tractor working it and
couldn't reach the petals just the switch if
something went wrong its all and how you teach the
kids
 
(quoted from post at 17:36:14 08/05/12) i have bought a few tractors from older men that
there dad's had them on the tractor working it and
couldn't reach the petals just the switch if
something went wrong its all and how you teach the
kids
Click to expand...

Do you think that is the right thing to do to your child?
 
Looking back I can't believe some of the stuff I did when I was a kid or a young adult.


I think we have a responsibility to protect our youngsters to the extent we are able. I have come to be able to recognize a whole lot of things that can go wrong that I would not have been able to recognize when I was young.

I know grandpa wants to take grandkid for a tractor ride. I hope to be able to take my grandkid someday. I also hope that I recognize all the potential hazards, and make good decisions on what to do and what not to do.
 
I've given my grandkids rides numerous times. One at a time, they sit on my lap or ahead of me on the seat, and I have 1 arm around them. We're not doing any type of field work, just going up and down the driveway in a lower gear. Grandpa is in complete control at all times.

The kids also know not to run towards the tractor when it is coming. One problem these days is too many kids ignore the parents when they holler at them, and the adults have no control. In that regard, I'm the meanest SOB on the planet!! I love the kids dearly, and they all know it. But when I holler, they stop--NOW!
 
(quoted from post at 20:13:19 08/04/12) Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
Click to expand...

I also disagree.

If you tell kids things are too dangerous enough times one of two things will happen:

1. They will sneak off while you're not looking to play with the "dangerous" thing.
2. They will be AFRAID OF EVERYTHING for their entire lives.

We've been giving my nephews tractor rides since they were ONE. You hold them between your knees and putter around on level ground in first gear. Short of you having a sudden seizure, there is very little that can go wrong in that situation, and the memories of the joy and excitement you brought to that child's life will last a lifetime.

There's a risk in EVERYTHING we do. The only "safe" activity these days is sitting in front of the TV playing video games. We won't let the kids do anything else because it's "too dangerous" and then we complain because all the kids do is sit around playing video games!!!
 
(quoted from post at 05:18:28 08/06/12)
...There's a risk in EVERYTHING we do. The only "safe" activity these days is sitting in front of the TV playing video games. We won't let the kids do anything else because it's "too dangerous" and then we complain because all the kids do is sit around playing video games!!!
Click to expand...

Not true. Carpal tunnel :lol:
 
(quoted from post at 05:18:28 08/06/12)
(quoted from post at 20:13:19 08/04/12) Honestly - I think it's best to wait a few years. Tell them it's too dangerous.

That'll instill a little rsspect for the machine.

It's so tempting to want to include young kids with old tractors, but the reality is that that machine can kill them in so many ways it's really not worth the risk.

Give them wagon rides till they get older. They'll enjoy it just as much.

If you make the tractor "something for older people" thay'll get more of a sense of importance when they ARE old enough to sit on it.
Click to expand...

I also disagree.

If you tell kids things are too dangerous enough times one of two things will happen:

1. They will sneak off while you're not looking to play with the "dangerous" thing.
2. They will be AFRAID OF EVERYTHING for their entire lives.

We've been giving my nephews tractor rides since they were ONE. You hold them between your knees and putter around on level ground in first gear. Short of you having a sudden seizure, there is very little that can go wrong in that situation, and the memories of the joy and excitement you brothat child's life will last a lifetime.ught to

There's a risk in EVERYTHING we do. The only "safe" activity these days is sitting in front of the TV playing video games. We won't let the kids do anything else because it's "too dangerous" and then we complain because all the kids do is sit around playing video games!!!
Click to expand...

Sitting in front of the TV playing video games has risks also. More than one person has been killed or wounded while doing just that. Victims of drive by shootings.
 
realolman,

Wow, did not realize how that photo looked. He would NEVER mow with a child on there. He was just moving the tractor... and very slowly at that.

Geez, for sure - nobody should ever mow, plow, or anything with a child on board! One should never allow them to ride in the bucket either!
 
(quoted from post at 07:26:32 08/06/12) realolman,

Wow, did not realize how that photo looked. He would NEVER mow with a child on there. He was just moving the tractor... and very slowly at that...
Click to expand...

I know...to get your picture taken on a Deere!!! What was he thinking!?!
 
Paul, that looks pretty sharp. Do you have plans or can you give some details on the construction? I guess I'm most interested in how this is attached.
Kiley
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Drones, guns, and nukes
2
Replies
20
Views
3K
ditchwitch
D
J
Daddy's Poem !! This is about a father that gave his all!
Replies
11
Views
2K
JD Seller
J
J
Close call bush hogging
2 3
Replies
41
Views
6K
Aaron Ford
A
J
Last Cab ride!!! You all need to read this!!!
Replies
12
Views
4K
DiggerDick
D
M
Great story from the previous owner
Replies
11
Views
3K
sammy the RED
S
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top