I got this hairbrained idea............

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

Found a very nice tractor that would like to have my big a$$ holding the seat down. Problem is, it's 400 miles away. Person had it for a hobby, so the cab is extra tight and insulated (decent stereo), inspection is good and it still has good license plates on it. Located in a real boonie part of the country next to poland. Got this brainstorm of taking a train to pick it up and driving it home with a video camera set up and a camera to record the trip and sites along the way. Thinking someone would pay enough for the video to cover the cost of the tractor and the trip. Might even get me on oprah :shock: 400 miles at 15mph would be a long trip though. Is the idea completely out there, or is it worth considering?

Dave

larry mills · Jan 19, 2011

400 miles at 15 miles per hour - 26.66 hours. 10 hrs on the road - sleep 8 to 10 - in a little less than 3 days your home - not sure how much rubber would be left on the tractor tires running on pavement like that!!! It would be a fun ride though!! Gas mileage would probably suck!

Bill(Wis) · Jan 19, 2011

Werden Sie unter der Autobahn? (;>))

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:34:34 01/19/11) Werden Sie unter der Autobahn? (;&gt)

Not aloud...I'd be a nervous wreck after a couple hours of folks zipin by at those speeds. Secondary roads are as good as or better than some of the highways in the States. Wife has this thing about bridges the last few years so we drive mostly back roads to get anywhere. Some beautiful. wide open country in that direction.

Dave

BDT in Minnesota · Jan 19, 2011

If you decide to drive it, you could put a tow bar on a car or pickup before leaving home. Then you could drive to get the tractor; and tow your vehicle back with you... This way, if you have problems on the road; you are not stranded. Car may be a little more comfortable for a cat nap also.. just remember to leave a window slightly open for fresh air..

Sid · Jan 19, 2011

GO for it.

Gene Dotson · Jan 19, 2011

Since you have train service, why not bring the tractor back on the train... Gene

Goose · Jan 19, 2011

Go for it. Might be a fun trip. Might want to rig some flashing lights, though if it's allowed.

I once heard of someone driving an H Farmall a couple hundred miles from Salina, Kansas to Douglas, Nebraska.

I once drove an 856 Farmall 60 miles. Only took about 4 hours, and that included a pit stop.

Drove a combine with a 16' header on it 50 miles once, but that was trickier. I went across country and scouted the route for narrow bridges, etc. ahead of time.

sotxbill · Jan 19, 2011

air the tires up a bit more than normal. put in injector cleaner, and new oil and filter. good flashing lights and smv sign. a ipod with a couple of ebooks and or old time radio stories will help. hope the cab is not full of exhaust or you will be a vegtable by the time you get home. hope there are no square tiresand the brakes work well. you can also put a tow bar on the truck and tow the truck back.

Spook · Jan 19, 2011

I don't have enough hair for ideas.... Sounds like a trip of a lifetime. Go for it, you aren't getting any younger.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

Go for it!Sounds like the trip of a lifetime.We expect pictures!good luck.

Fordfarmer · Jan 19, 2011

If it's a diesel, I bet he'd get somewhere around 12-15 m.p.g.
I'd say go for it, if you have the time. Guy bought a tractor near here, and drove it to his farm in MN, a little over 200 miles away.

Michael Soldan · Jan 19, 2011

A chap I know drove a tractor a little over two hundred miles. He mapped out his route,calculated where and when he would need fuel and had his wife rendevous with him at various points. Everything went smooth and he made it in in just over twelve hours.

old harv · Jan 19, 2011

I once drove a cockshutt 30 120 miles home. Left home at 5 in the morning, drove a chevette down to the tractor, tied an old trailer hitch to the bumper of the car, hooked the car to the tractor, left the car idling with the flashers on for lights, and drove the tractor home. it went 10 miles an hour, got home at 9 that night. It was a blast, and very scary all at the same time. Fist big hill I thought I would make some time and pushed in the clutch. As the old thing with about 1/3 of a turn of play in the steering wheel picked up speed past 30 miles an hour, it occured to me that my hitch wasn't the best, and if I tried what little brakes a cockshutt 30 has, the hitch would likely let go, and the car would hit the back wheel of the tractor, ride up the wheel, and kill me, so I had to let it go. I was nearly doing 50 miles an hour by the bottom of the hill, steering like crazy trying not to let the slop in the steering throw me into a ditch. I did make up quite a bit of time, but the damage to my underwear wasn't worth it. Good thing I was only 27 at the time, now I would likely have had a heart attack. It makes a great story though, wish I had pictures.

1970-1655 · Jan 19, 2011

That would be a fun trip, if you have the time. People are in such a hurry to get from point A to point B that most never enjoy the ride.

Heard of someone driving a 2 cylinder John Deere from somewhere in the states to Alaska and filmed it. He stopped at several places along the way and gave talks about the trip as well.

Mike (WA) · Jan 19, 2011

Sure seems like somebody over there would have a trailer. . .

A neighbor of ours, when I was a kid, made a couple trips from Washington to Nort' Dakota to pick up tractors. N Fords were worth about twice as much here as in the midwest- so he'd take the bus back, buy 3 tractors and a trailer- pull the loaded trailer with the best of the tractors. He was an alcoholic, and had lost his license years before, so this worked, because you didn't have to be licensed to drive tractors in those days.

He usually camped along the road at night- gave up the project after the second trip. I never got the whole story, but he did it in winter, and overimbibed one night and nearly froze to death- would have, if somebody hadn't found him passed out in the snow, and rescued him. He sort of lost his enthusiasm for it, after that.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

The Oprah part will not work out, I heard she quit doing her show.

RN · Jan 19, 2011

Straight Story movie had a JD lawnmower used as transport for guy without license traveling half way across Iowa into Wisconsin. Sears and Kohler sponsored a new garden tractor trip across US last year- took 99 days at 7.5mph normal top speed. And you're going only 400 miles with a cab available at 15 mph- you've got it easy.(Teasing Alert!) Take 2 cameras with extra chips, water bottle, coffee thermos, candy bars and some toilet paper, have fun. RN

730d se · Jan 19, 2011

She did cease the "OPRAH SHOW", but now has her own network.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Jan 19, 2011

I remember the Tractorcade days of decades past.

Seems to me that a lot of farmers were getting less than 400 miles out of a set of tires as the asphalt chewed the rubber and caused early failure.

Tire replacement costs and fuel costs combined might not equal what a video would be worth. You can always ask around though for sponsorship.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Jan 19, 2011

"overimbibed one night and nearly froze to death- would have, if somebody hadn't found him passed out in the snow, and rescued him."

Reminds me of the local fellow that parked in a field driveway in the winter and got stuck in the mud.

In an attempt to stay warm after running out of vehicle fuel he proceeded to put a lit weed burner torch in the cab with him.

I understand he was so pickled that he could feel the pain from the burns he was getting on his legs.

If I'd had his wife I expect I might have tried the same.

bison · Jan 19, 2011

When i bought my present farm i drove my tractors with an implement behind it to the new place(200 km round trip)then made return trips with one to get the rest of the implements i couldn't pull with the truck.I made 4 or 5 trips in all.The first trip was fun,the others a PITA.
I used to drive a swather 100 km one way to cut some hay,then drive back.PITA every time.
I'm glad all my land is now in one block and my tractors never see the road again.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

Got an extra $1000 to $1500 for the fuel... and tires you'll need when you finally get home? Who's going to pay for a video looking out a tractor window for days? Dave

James Howell · Jan 19, 2011

As long as there's no foul language or personal nudity, the video should be a hit on YouTube.

Be sure to let your wife know your plan.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:59:08 01/19/11) As long as there's no foul language or personal nudity, the video should be a hit on YouTube.

Be sure to let your wife know your plan.

She's being a little hard headed about it.... But she'll come on line and remember who the boss is soon enough :shock:

If it gets too expensive, I won't get this one. The driving idea is a keeper though. Located a couple other nice ones that are a little closer to the price I'm willing to give up. People just want too much money for these things here.

Dave

super99 · Jan 19, 2011

Go for it!! I have way over 400 miles highway miles on my 1850 from tractor rides and driving it to our club's annual show(73 miles one way). Rear tires show some wear, but still have many years left in them. I did 68 miles pulling a Oliver 73 picker-sheller in 3 hours and 55 minutes. Doubt I could do 400 miles tho, I'd be so stiff I couldn't get out of the cab. Pulling your car sounds like a good idea, wouldn't have to worry about getting stranded. Post pictures when you finish. Good luck, Chris

Paul from MI · Jan 19, 2011

Sounds like a great trip! I'd start planning right now!!

I got this hairbrained idea............

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