Wondering if I could hook a towbar to a wide front tract

Crashfarmer · Apr 20, 2023

Wondering if I could hook up a towbar to the wide front end of a M Farmall and pull it down the road instead of trailering it?

Anybody done this before? Going about 60 miles.

DoubleO7 · Apr 20, 2023

I would think so.
Might get a death wobble if you go too fast.
There is no steering wheel lock.

rustred · Apr 20, 2023

why not just drive it. in 4 hrs u be home. how fast did you plan on pulling it? sure u could use a tow bar but u wont save time. trailering is the best option and fastest.

Goose · Apr 20, 2023

I don't see why not.

I was in a situation once where we pulled a 971 Ford between two towns on a tow bar regularly. I might suggest not going faster than the tractor would go in top gear.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 20, 2023

Sure you could. Most here will tell you that you shouldn't, that you'll kill yourself, kill busloads of orphans and nuns, destroy small towns, etc..

If you're going to do a towbar, it has to be a rigid towbar like you see on a small car behind a motorhome. Those tow bars are rigidly attached to the frame so the car follows behind the motorhome instead of swaying around.

On an old tractor like an M it may not work well if the steering is at all loose or out of alignment.

You won't be able to go much faster than the tractor can go by itself.

ss55 · Apr 20, 2023

What would you use to tow it? An M weights 5000 to 6000 pounds, that is a very heavy trailer not to have any brakes. Even an unballasted one ton truck would be limited to under 25 MPH.

Road gear on the M is around 16 MPH. If the tractor runs good you could easily drive it the 60 miles in half a day. Pick a nice day, stay on side roads and enjoy the ride.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 20, 2023

(quoted from post at 08:09:04 04/20/23)
I would think so.
Might get a death wobble if you go too fast.
There is no steering wheel lock.

You don't WANT a steering wheel lock. The wheels need to turn with you as you go around corners.

The geometry of the steering is what keeps it straight, along with the rigidity of the towbar.

ss55 · Apr 20, 2023

A tow dolly would work better than a tow bar.

rusty6 · Apr 20, 2023

It was over 40 years ago I towed a Cockshutt 40 home a good 20 miles but I used a 930 Case to tow it. Worked fine. I used a long V hitch borrowed from the Red River Special threshing machine. Towing with a pickup I'd be scared to go any speed in case the tractor wheels steered off course suddenly and threw the truck out of control.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 20, 2023

I have a tow dolly I use to move tractors around sometimes,works pretty good.

Leroy · Apr 20, 2023

Get that tow dolly. The steering will not be good enough to keep from wabling. I have towed 9N, 2N, NAA Fords and TO30 Ferguson but that steering is a differnt setuup. And when tractor had the orignal size 4x19 tire wanted to shimmy, put 6:00x16 on no problem. So tires will make a big difference. Had my 2 tow bars stollen when I had to move about 5 years ago.

John M · Apr 20, 2023

15 - 18mph, just load it and haul it.

dlbuck · Apr 20, 2023

If the rear wheels have fluid in them you can only pull it so fast without the tractor bouncing.

DoubleO7 · Apr 20, 2023

I see I shoulda added a < to worry about > to the end of that.

Janicholson · Apr 20, 2023

In neutral, the transmission countershaft is not turning. This could result in a fried intermediate pilot bearing. I would stop every 10 miles and either run the engine in neutral clutch out, or pull it slowly in gear for 100 ft with it in 4th with the clutch blocked down. Maybe 7 mph. Jim

flying belgian · Apr 20, 2023

Some have said if you can only tow it at the tractors top speed, why not drive it? The difference is if you drive it you have no way home.

13fx · Apr 20, 2023

20ish years ago, pulls a MH44 behind a truck w a buck bar. Anything over 15-20 and it would bounce like heck.
Going down hill, that picked up a sway to it that shook the truck pulling it and worked the motor a bit. Never going to do that one again. I'll either drive a machine home or tailer it.

chcase · Apr 20, 2023

I have towed a M once.I would drive it or put it on a trailer. I drove a H home over 60 miles, Took a new cushion for the seat and enjoyed the ride down back roads.

Tony in SD · Apr 20, 2023

I would drive it and enjoy the ride, haul it on a trailer of sufficient size and save time and wear on everything or hire it hauled. I would not tow it for fear of transmission problems, wobble factor of the steering. Besides as others have said if you can only achieve tractor speeds. What is the point of towing it. Just my $2.00 (inflation you know)

DoubleO7 · Apr 20, 2023

(reply to post at 12:03:11 04/20/23)

A lot of <just drive it> suggestions.

Does it run at all??

Wondering if I could hook a towbar to a wide front tract

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