towing a picker

Nick167 · Sep 7, 2016

I'm going to look at a new idea 323 picker Saturday and had some questions its a little over an hour away towing is the only way I have to haul it. Would 30 be to fast to tow it? How
far will it stick out past the pickup? Do they take a standard implement rim? I have an extra in the barn and will take it with me as a spare any other tips? Thanks and here's a link to
the ad

http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/5746081484.html

Farmall 656 · Sep 7, 2016

Nick167, I have done such a feat. I do not remember getting to 30mph. I took less traveled roads to keep away from too much traffic. You have to consider the condition of the roads you are going to be traveling. . Bumps, cracks, etc in the road surface will make the pick shake a bit so hopefully the picker has the locking bar on it to use to keep the snouts up in transport position. After looking at your picker, make sure you have a way to lock up the long bar that raises and lowers the snouts. Baling wire will not hold it. Mine didn't stick that far away from my truck you should be just fine traveling down the road. I don't know about the tires I would plan an on a nice day of traveling with that picker--take your time!!

jon f mn · Sep 7, 2016

Those pickers have 18" tires so you will need tall tires. I believe they are standard 6 bolt tho.

evilboweivel · Sep 7, 2016

an offset hitch to the left will help a lot as the picker is designed to hang over on the right side.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 7, 2016

Same rim as manure spreaders. 20" truck tire, or some had implement tires. So I think they are 8 hole rims?
I might still have the transport piece around here. It doesn't go in where the lift cylinder went, but used, I think, 1/2" pins and went down to a little bracket on the frame.

flying belgian · Sep 7, 2016

I would not be afraid to tow that picker at 30 mph. Be aware that right wheel will be running on shoulder when you move over to meet car so you might have to slow down during those times. If the tires are decent let some air out so it rides smoother. Tie the lever so it doesn't jump out at bumps. Gitter done.

onefarmer · Sep 7, 2016

Our NI picker has 28" rims and are 8bolt. When one went bad we used a 20" off our NH spreader. On the header side, had to rebend the sheet metal so it wouldn't rub since the spreader wheel was wider.

tomstractorsandtoys · Sep 7, 2016

The two row pickers are terrible to pull unless you get all the play out. I would take a come-a-long and hook it to the outside snoot underneath on the main part and then take the cable up to the hitch. When you tighten the cable all the slop will be gone and it pulls much better.Have pulled lots of them this way and it works great on Allis Chalmers corn planters as well. Tom

gene bender · Sep 7, 2016

Those tires whennew were not meant to pulled that fast and by now just what shape are they in.

gene bender · Sep 7, 2016

Bring it home with a tractor and SMV sign on the back. That way you are legal using a tractor have someone behind with flashing lites and you will be legal pulling with a truck is quite questionable in case of trouble. being smart can avoid trouble easy.

rick deere · Sep 7, 2016

I'd like to see you do 30mph towing a cotton picker,I pulled a one row home at 7 mph took me 3 hrs but I would have been nuts to go any faster. After you get it home get back to us and let us know how it went. I was 20 miles from my house and used a dolley. But 8 mph was toooo fast for me, to be safe as I could.

M Nut · Sep 7, 2016

Towed mine home about 100 miles at a speed of about 40mph. Went great, no issues at all.

farmerwithmutt · Sep 7, 2016

If you go over 25 m p h with a s m v sign you can get a ticket for speeding. The idea is if you see a sign like that you will know it's going under 25 .

2510Paul · Sep 7, 2016

I have done this several times with 324's, more than once some distance away. You got lots of good comments here. I find early Sunday mornings are a good time to pull equipment, less traffic and fewer impatient drivers. Put some of those LED flashers on the back also.

The comment about an offset hitch is really good if you can figure it out on your truck. Also, take a grease gun and grease the crap out of the hubs, they have zerks. Depending on the road condition you will be surprised how fast you can travel, I don't recall I had to use the diagonal chain trick either, but take one with you just in case. I am pretty sure that is an 8 bolt hub.
Paul

DoubleR · Sep 7, 2016

I can think of 4 occasions when I pulled a 323 picker over 25 miles. I went 25-30 mph with no problems and it tracked behind a pickup good. Your one wheel will be running on the shoulder of the road so you have to be careful with mail boxes and such.

Pick your route and your time. Wide roads with a good shoulder and early Saturday or Sunday with minimum traffic.

X-Y switch · Sep 7, 2016

My first concern would be, check the wheel bearing grease before
pulling an old implement several miles faster than they were ever designed to be pulled. Have seen some old implements leaving a sale by the side of the road with a locked up wheel and a blown out tire. Just my $2.00 worth, inflation you know.

01gentdc · Sep 7, 2016

my experience too , with a oliver piker ,,. some times they sashay like they are at the big dance ,,.a heavy chain worx good with a lot of slack and will not limit you on turning,,. I like to hook from around a 2x2 in the .last stake pocket of the pikup behind the driver and angle over to the far snout or something of strength, the heavy chain governs very well , you mite use a lite chain , thru a old tire and get same result

BarnyardEngineering · Sep 8, 2016

Get a set of those magnetic trailer lights to put on the back and run your 4-ways.

Ultimately, grease the hubs, hook on to it and hit the road. To some extent you are going to have to play it by ear here. Start slow, and work your way up to higher speeds.

Since you're only an hour from home, it won't be a huge deal if you have a crisis and need something.

Cops aren't going to bother you if you happen to be going 30 with an SMV symbol. Most of them don't even know about that law. If it was hitched with a ball hitch, all the trailer laws apply, but since it's just a pin, it's a farm implement so all you need is an SMV.

Those big 20" tires won't be turning very fast even at 30MPH, and they sure look like old truck tires to me, which means they were originally meant to run much faster and carry much more weight. Unless they are absolutely rotten there is no reason they would not hold up just fine.

JRSutton · Sep 8, 2016

I never thought about that before, kinda funny, but it does make sense.

Bill in IL · Sep 8, 2016

I pulled my picker home from 50 miles away and wish I had thought of that trick. I think 20 was all I could get, then a death wobble would start in the picker.

Rich'sToys · Sep 8, 2016

Can't add much to what's already been said. As mentioned grease the hubs good before you start out and if necessary stop and check them along the way. My older no. 7 has 20" tires, so I'm guessing that's what you have. I tried to stay around 15 mph or so when I towed it home, but you'll get a feel for how much it can handle once you start out.
A one row picker is nicer to tow because it doesn't stick out so far.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

rrlund · Sep 8, 2016

I had to do that with a disc one time. Hooked the come along to the outer end of a front gang and then to the draw pin. She pulled like a dream after that.

brutus49DC · Sep 8, 2016

Everyone I ever saw had 20 or 24 inch tires on them, a NI picker should tow just fine, they certainly did at 20mph with a wagon behind

01gentdc · Sep 8, 2016

the diagonal is the key ,.,. its all about slop in the hitch randy ,.. I suppose most will tow great new ,,. this spring I bought ihc 12 ft disc at auction ,. did not have a chain ,, hooked on to take home and sashayed all the way to my sisters house ,. just 3 miles away ..

Fordfarmer · Sep 8, 2016

Same here - all either 20" or 24", and 8-bolt pattern.

wilson ind · Sep 8, 2016

You said it's only an hour away, therefore no matter how fast you go it's only going to take you an hour. Why do folks say time when distance is much more important? Also ever notice how many non caring people will put slow moving signs at entrance to a driveway. That in my humble opinion should carry a fine of one hundred dollars a day per sign till removed. Back in the day when driving strange to me roads at night I have slammed on brakes rounding a curve thinking a true slow moving piece of farm equipment was in front of me.

Dave Sherburne, NY · Sep 8, 2016

Offset Hitch The real reason I built this hitch is because the origional bumper was junk. But an offset hitch is handy sometimes. I have a step that slides right in there and I can climb in the back of the truck with the tailgate down

flying belgian · Sep 8, 2016

You know I didn't even catch that. Yes, if it is only an hour tractor ride away then take the tractor. No problems, no worries.

rick deere · Sep 8, 2016

I thought he ment cotton picker. sorry

Nick167 · Sep 8, 2016

Thanks for all the input! I should have mentioned its an hour truck ride I have purchased it yet but will post back with how everything goes thanks again!

towing a picker

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