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replace those faded SMV signs

D

Don-Wi

Well-known Member
I was driving home tonight and came up on a tractor pulling a chopper wagon. Extremely faded SMV sign that didn't reflect at all any more, and had no business being in use any more. The wagon was made by a local manufacturer who for a while painted their stuff black, so very hard to see at night.

I managed to see it before I was underneath it, but it was definitely hard to see and I should have been able to spot it much farther back on a long straight stretch of road.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
Good reminder and as harvest season is on
us watch how fast were going down the road.
Also a good time to check the lights I
almost hit a honey wagon just caught a
glimpse of his headlight almost ended in
deep well you know.
 
Don I have also started to put DOT tape on the backs of the forage boxes and gravity wagons. That really LIGHTS them up at night.
 
It also doesn"t help with them being used as driveway markers! On a trip thru western MO last year, we went for many miles seeing them used that way. I even posted here about that, suggesting that local FFA chapters could use a project getting the word out as how to use them not only properly, but legally.
 

Anyone know of a source of CHEAP SMV signs? The only ones I ever see are anywhere from $12-25.00 each. And some of those are just stick on decals. I'm starting to travel the roads more and would like to get some.

I agree with the idea of DOT marker tape, but that stuff is crazy expensive. I used to see red or yellow reflectors for sale for 50 cents a pop or so. Haven't seen them in years.
 
Forgot, also should install those silver/red stick-on 12" long decals for trailers. Those are EXCELLENT.
 
Here in Ontario it is illegal to use an SMV sign as a driveway marker but it isn't enforced that much.
By law we must also cover or remove any SMV signs from machines that are being transported on a truck. Again the police don't get on this one too much but the MTO certainly does.
I agree that there are a lot of us (myself included) that are using SMV signs that are well past their best before date (lol)
 
What's disturbing to me is reading this and seeing comments about something safety related being expensive, and looking for cheaper alternatives.

Yes, quality safety products can be relatively expensive. On the other hand, taking the chance of having some one run into the rear of one of your implements, or your tractor, and potentially killing you, or the other driver, and definitely screwing up a machine worth a lot of money also, is just plain stupid.

On the other hand, the cost of a $25 SMV sign, or a $75 roll of reflective tape, to (potentially) prevent that from happening, is cheap insurance.
 
I don't know what MTO is but the laws sound like here in Ohio. I just never could see the value of them when they first came out as if I would meet a piece I would know make and model of what I was meeting and after past wonder did he have an SMV? Does it do any good when that is the last thing you notice about what you are comming up in back of? Reflectors at night yes but unless the sun shines just right to blind you off a new SMV you never notice if they have one on or not. And yes I did use them when I was on the road with machinery, now don't need as no longer on road with any machinery.
 
I have put that DOT tape on ramps that stand up on trailer and stick out back of trailer. If I lost lights they should be able to see it.
a237927.jpg
 
Bret - If you're talking cheap, you can clip mount them. Buy a couple of good SMV signs and move them from one machine to another, as needed. I keep good ones permanently bolted to the tractors and baler, but have a few extra that I can slip on the rake or the hay trailer. It just takes a minute. We've had several highway tractor mishaps, including a couple of fatalities, in our neighborhood. In our state, I believe that you're legally required to have the correct emblems, or you're automatically at fault in an accident.
 
(quoted from post at 10:18:08 09/19/16) What's disturbing to me is reading this and seeing comments about something safety related being expensive, and looking for cheaper alternatives.

Yes, quality safety products can be relatively expensive. On the other hand, taking the chance of having some one run into the rear of one of your implements, or your tractor, and potentially killing you, or the other driver, and definitely screwing up a machine worth a lot of money also, is just plain stupid.

On the other hand, the cost of a $25 SMV sign, or a $75 roll of reflective tape, to (potentially) prevent that from happening, is cheap insurance.
Click to expand...

Look guy, I'm just trying to find a cheaper alternative to what are, to me anyway, ridiculously expensive SMV signs. Maybe you have the bucks to plaster every piece of equipment with signs and tape and flashing lights. I don't. I don't see the sense in spending any more than I have to. I can buy one sign and hope I remember to switch it between implements, of I can find reasonably priced signs and permanently mount them. Which one do you think is more likely to get done by stupid old me?
 
(quoted from post at 08:26:36 09/19/16)
(quoted from post at 10:18:08 09/19/16) What's disturbing to me is reading this and seeing comments about something safety related being expensive, and looking for cheaper alternatives.

Yes, quality safety products can be relatively expensive. On the other hand, taking the chance of having some one run into the rear of one of your implements, or your tractor, and potentially killing you, or the other driver, and definitely screwing up a machine worth a lot of money also, is just plain stupid.

On the other hand, the cost of a $25 SMV sign, or a $75 roll of reflective tape, to (potentially) prevent that from happening, is cheap insurance.
Click to expand...

Look guy, I'm just trying to find a cheaper alternative to what are, to me anyway, ridiculously expensive SMV signs. Maybe you have the bucks to plaster every piece of equipment with signs and tape and flashing lights. I don't. I don't see the sense in spending any more than I have to. I can buy one sign and hope I remember to switch it between implements, of I can find reasonably priced signs and permanently mount them. Which one do you think is more likely to get done by stupid old me?
Click to expand...

$9.99 for metal backed & $7.99 for the stickers at farmandfleet.com. Hope that doesn't break the bank for you.
 
Can't win - I put a nice new SMV sign on my small loader tractor and the very next time I hauled it to the hay field a DOT officer warned me I'd get a ticket if I didn't remove it before hauling it on the trailer. I said really? People can't figure out it is on a trailer? Problem solved I just loaded it backwards for the trip home.
 
(quoted from post at 12:47:43 09/19/16) You must be the only person on the road who even knows what they're for.
Click to expand...

That's possible, but I still want to be able to see it from 1/4-1/2 mile away, not when I'm right up on it. This one didn't reflect anything until I was maybe 100 ft. away, and it was still not much. Right at dusk too, which is probably one of the worst times. The black on the top and bottom of the wagon, and galvanized steel in the center, it matched pretty well with the road and the trees in the background...

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
(quoted from post at 12:50:51 09/19/16)
(quoted from post at 08:26:36 09/19/16)
(quoted from post at 10:18:08 09/19/16) What's disturbing to me is reading this and seeing comments about something safety related being expensive, and looking for cheaper alternatives.

Yes, quality safety products can be relatively expensive. On the other hand, taking the chance of having some one run into the rear of one of your implements, or your tractor, and potentially killing you, or the other driver, and definitely screwing up a machine worth a lot of money also, is just plain stupid.

On the other hand, the cost of a $25 SMV sign, or a $75 roll of reflective tape, to (potentially) prevent that from happening, is cheap insurance.
Click to expand...

Look guy, I'm just trying to find a cheaper alternative to what are, to me anyway, ridiculously expensive SMV signs. Maybe you have the bucks to plaster every piece of equipment with signs and tape and flashing lights. I don't. I don't see the sense in spending any more than I have to. I can buy one sign and hope I remember to switch it between implements, of I can find reasonably priced signs and permanently mount them. Which one do you think is more likely to get done by stupid old me?
Click to expand...

$9.99 for metal backed & $7.99 for the stickers at farmandfleet.com. Hope that doesn't break the bank for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's a lot better the the $24.99 and $12.99 respectively we are offered locally.
 
Anything over 25 with a s.m.v sign is speeding the idea is if a person sees that sign he will know it's going less than 25. It's not a bad idea I come up on guys with them on figuring they were going slow and they weren't especially embarrassing if you pull out to pass and it's a guy going faster and you run out of room passing
 
Ok now the SMV is for farm eq doing less then 25 mph. what about the new tractor that do 40+ and are still using the SMV sign are they all braking the law?. had a new Massey on the road today doing 42 MPH and had a SMV on the back
 
Great post Don-WI and Great comment NCWayne. We all should be doing all we can for Safety.

I posted recently about making left hand turns with haylage wagons (bale wagons would have the same problem) off a busy highway and how the cars kept passing me even as I eeeeaaaaassssssed over. I have been reading the Wisconsin State Statutes. They are easily found on line. The are pretty clear for automobiles, trucks, trailers, school busses, but I felt got a little vague for implements of husbandry. Yes, there is the SMV sign and 25 mph criteria. Yes, tractors have gotten faster and those statutes need to catch up.

The red and silver reflective stickers apply to trucks and trailers. Just take a notice when traveling down the road.

It seems there is requirement for red, orange (rear) and yellow (front) reflectors on equipment but it was a little unclear to me how strong and where applied these requirements are. I was in the Kinze Innovation Center recently in Iowa. I took note of the planter displays, all had the reflective stickers as above including lights.

Anyway, I have been collecting reflective stickers, a sign regarding left had turns on implements, tractor mirrors, and wireless rear lights. I plan to get with my farmer friend and talk about implementing some of this stuff on his equipment.

It is important to note laws follow the need, they don't lead. So get out in front and do all you can to be safe, and keep your fellow American safe.

Paul
a237983.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 12:32:01 09/19/16)
Anyone know of a source of CHEAP SMV signs? The only ones I ever see are anywhere from $12-25.00 each. And some of those are just stick on decals. I'm starting to travel the roads more and would like to get some.

I agree with the idea of DOT marker tape, but that stuff is crazy expensive. I used to see red or yellow reflectors for sale for 50 cents a pop or so. Haven't seen them in years.
Click to expand...

The local Farm Bureau has the metal ones for $5.00 and the decals for $3.00.
 
As a KUBOTA dealer we used to give the kits with sign and mount away at fairs and shows. Found that most were ending up a driveway markers so stopped doing that. For years it was a big deal at the dealership that all tractors on the lot had the sign now a new one is not even furnished at the point of sale.
 
So does this wagon need a SMV sign? In the few times I've pulled it on the road I've never encountered a cop, but if one ever questions it he will undoubtedly meet some resistance.

40608.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 21:11:23 09/19/16)
(quoted from post at 12:32:01 09/19/16)
Anyone know of a source of CHEAP SMV signs? The only ones I ever see are anywhere from $12-25.00 each. And some of those are just stick on decals. I'm starting to travel the roads more and would like to get some.

I agree with the idea of DOT marker tape, but that stuff is crazy expensive. I used to see red or yellow reflectors for sale for 50 cents a pop or so. Haven't seen them in years.
Click to expand...

The local Farm Bureau has the metal ones for $5.00 and the decals for $3.00.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! I'll look into it.
 
(quoted from post at 01:21:29 09/20/16) So does this wagon need a SMV sign? In the few times I've pulled it on the road I've never encountered a cop, but if one ever questions it he will undoubtedly meet some resistance.

40608.jpg
Click to expand...

In my state, yes, by the letter of the law it needs an SMV sign and lights if traveling on the road after dusk.
 
(quoted from post at 19:10:22 09/19/16) Ok now the SMV is for farm eq doing less then 25 mph. what about the new tractor that do 40+ and are still using the SMV sign are they all braking the law?. had a new Massey on the road today doing 42 MPH and had a SMV on the back
Click to expand...

These new tractors that exceed 25 mph, especially the ones going more than 40mph, will be the reason we'll have to license and register that type of tractor, or maybe all tractors in the future. It's just a matter of time.
 
(quoted from post at 21:21:29 09/19/16) So does this wagon need a SMV sign? In the few times I've pulled it on the road I've never encountered a cop, but if one ever questions it he will undoubtedly meet some resistance.

40608.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes, you do. I doubt a cop will ever pull you over, other than to give you a verbal warning. You'll get by with it for a while, but then someone will pile into you from behind & you'll be at fault for not having proper markings.

The Amish and Mennonites fought against putting them on their buggies for years until enough of them were killed for not having them. Now, Amish buggies are the best marked equipment on the road.... Sign, lights, reflecters, the works.
 
I do believe in SMV signs. The reason I showed this particular wagon is that orange tailgate is larger than 4 SMV signs! If people can't see that they're not going to see an SMV sign! And I'm talking daytime. It's never out at night. I realize the letter of the law and all that. Unfortunately it doesn't leave a lot of room for common sense sometimes.

I just threw this out there to stir the pot a little! :D
 
Actually, more people would see the SMV sign than your solid-painted orange talgate, though that's not saying much.

People aren't paying attention and won't notice large swatches of solid color nearly as quickly as a broken-up pattern like on an SMV.

Again, that's not saying much because many people won't even see the SMV. Heck, many people don't even see the flashing lights on an emergency vehicle.
 
You can get a ticket for a faded smv sign. The new one?s are fade proof. The new thing with high speed tractors ?over 25 mph? is what
they call a SIS sign ?Speed Identification Sign?. The new SIS, a black circle on white with the tractor?s speed rating printed inside
needs to be next to the SMV sign.
When I was at Empire Farm Day?s, I ask the DOT officer that was there, why they were putting driveway markers on all the farm
equipment. He got a chuckle out of it, he says they can?t go door to door handing out tickets. It?s too far out of control?
Fun fact: If a tractor is capable of speeds over 25 mph, you have to have a drivers license in order to drive it on the road.
 
(quoted from post at 21:05:57 09/18/16) It also doesn"t help with them being used as driveway markers! On a trip thru western MO last year, we went for many miles seeing them used that way. I even posted here about that, suggesting that local FFA chapters could use a project getting the word out as how to use them not only properly, but legally.
Click to expand...
ere in Illinois it's a $75.00 fine if they catch you using them as driveway markers. That is if they inforce it.
 
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