Tractor towing

Ford 2000; 3 cyl. diesel; 8/2 trans.....I have towed my tractor a couple of times on a UHaul car carrier behind my F150 with no problems. Tractor is all the way up on the carrier trailer and chained down. Relax, I don't plan on doing this but was wondering what the consequences would be if you were to tow your tractor on one of those two wheel car trailers where just the two front tires are up on the trailer and the rear tires trail on the pavement. What kind of potential damage would you do to the rear end or other parts towing this way? Just curious how a slow speed vehicle would react to highway speeds in this kind of towing condition. Take a deep breath before you respond because, as I said before, I have no plans to do this kind of towing. Thanks.

Would be better off with the rears on the
dolly. But as you said, I wouldn't either
way.

Would way overspeed the differential
gears at the very least.

So what does that mean in damage to the tractor? Blown seals?

The manual for my 7700 combine says if you plan to tow over
25 mph add extra oil to the final drives

Some tractor transmissions need pressurized lubrication when turning. If towed improperly transmission parts can weld together, very expensive to fix. Check you owners manual.

How far and how fast would have a lot to do with any issues. I used to help an older friend who would move his 2 cyl JD tractors by
running the front end up in back of his pickup truck and chaining it in so the rear wheels ran on the ground behind the truck.
Never knew of any issues resulting from that but it was for relatively short distance and slow speed.

I've towed a couple different H Farmalls on a tow bar and never gave it a thought.

But, I never went over 15 miles or 25 mph.

50 or 60 years ago just about every tractor repair shop had a dolly to tow tractors and used them to get tractor in to work on them. Then along came the new generation John Deeres and when they didn't put the gear shift in the Tow position they ruined the transmission. After that everyone was afraid to tow any tractor. Pre 1960 tractors can be towed with no issues if you keep the speed under 20 mph. I'd ask a mechanic if it could be safely towed.

The damage to the tractor would come from the transmission output shaft being spun way too fast. The bearings are splash lubricated on the old non pressurized tractors and the heavy transmission lube can't get carried up the gears and run into the bearings fast enough. If the output shaft is run at engine speed when in high gear it is spinning from 1000 to maybe 2000 RPM's at the fastest and the tractor is going 12-15 MPH. Bump the speed up to 25 or 30 MPH and that transmission shaft is turning possibly 2500-5000 RPM's depending on the tractor. At that kind of speed the oil gets slung off the gears before some of it can dribble into the bearings. Some tractors can take it, some can't. I was pulling an SC Case down the road with a hitch at 25 MPH back in my younger days. The transmission was in neutral. All of a sudden BANG the transmission shifted itself into two gears at once and the rear wheels were sliding. After I stopped I messed around with the shifter and got it back into neutral and away I went again only at 10 MPH like I should have been in the first place. I am still driving that tractor today and have never had the transmission apart.

The typical standard transmission, being a tractor, car, or truck relies on the
input shaft being turned by the engine, which in turn turns the counter shaft,
which slings oil up to the main shaft bearings and gears where they ride on the
shaft.

In neutral, being towed, only the output shaft is turning, which will eventually
starve for oil.

Short, low speed moves won't hurt if the engine had been recently run. If the
tractor, or whatever, has been stored long term, the trip will start out with
everything in the top of the transmission dry, so it could get ugly quicker.

A running tractor could be left idling, or started up occasionally, just to be safe.

I have seen backhoes moved this way. Keep her under 20
mph and wont hurt a thing. Be more worried pulling a
truck. Plus it was advised to remove driveshaft. Plus look
how many little cars are pulled behind motor homes. And
they are not going short distances

Pulled the 9N, 2N, NAA Ford and TO-30 Ferguson with all wheels many a time, never a problem and cept it to about 20 MPH. Did same with JD A & B tractors but then I got a dolly for front wheels. Pulled the 51A, then the 49B and the 41 9N and 44 2N to tractor show in string just driving the A. Had hitches made for the Fords and one on the B. Never tried pulling the 3 cylinder 4000 or the 5000. No way to put hitch on them.