Mmmm, farm vehicles...

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 06/09/2016 at 17:22 • Filed to: None

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No idea why, but farm vehicles just look fun to drive. Maybe I’m just simple and amused easily. Maybe it’s maybeline. I have no idea, but that just looks fun to drive.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:26

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Enjoy!

Bought it in a Steam sale for the laughs, but it turned out to be quite a lot of fun.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:27

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They’re fun to drive for about the first five minutes. And then the first five minutes of playing with each gadget. They get boring fast. They’re super cool cause they’re massive and awkward looking, but soooooo slow. I mean, it’s kinda cool sitting on the tractor and just having it go (no throttle spring, every gear is a good one) but that doesn’t make for exciting driving.

zeontestpilot > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 06/09/2016 at 17:28

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Hopefully with first person perspective, right?

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:29

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Portal axles!

zeontestpilot > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 06/09/2016 at 17:31

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I drove a tractor around once, it was a blast and a cool experience. No acceleration pedal, just brakes for each rear tire, different gears, etc. it was an auto though.

Dad-in-law has an old farmall that's a stick; that looks fun to drive too, but it's so old and not in working condition.

zeontestpilot > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 06/09/2016 at 17:31

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Portal axles?

xyzabc > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:31

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Best farm vehicle ever.

Mr. Haney’s 1923/1924 Dodge Touring Sedan converted to a Stake Truck.

StingrayJake > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:32

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It’s really not. I’ve spent a lot of time in spray rigs. You’re usually going a bit faster than you would if you were say, plowing, planting or harvesting, and fields tend to be awfully bumpy.

I did like the mid-engine, front-boom versions better though. You could see exactly what you were doing. With the rear booms you have to be extremely aware of your butt’s susbstantial width anytime your turn.

StingrayJake > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 06/09/2016 at 17:33

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Spray rigs are pretty quick, relatively speaking.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 17:34

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I’ll admit, I’ve never driven a sprayer.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:35

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Of course. You can even get simulation controls if you want to go full-on farm geek.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:36

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_ax…

Ash78, voting early and often > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:37

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Yep, the axle doesn't connect directly to the hub, but above it — and then drives the wheel through a chain or subset of gears (IIRC...I first learned about these with the Hummer H1)

Niko's Work Account > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:37

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Portal Axles

StingrayJake > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 06/09/2016 at 17:37

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I’ve ridden in a few. Never driven. They’re kind of designed to be driven quicker, but they’re not especially comfortable.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 06/09/2016 at 17:38

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Dad, is that you?

zeontestpilot > xyzabc 06/09/2016 at 17:38

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That looks awesome, and fun to drive.

Die-Trying > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:38

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what MOREGO said. they are fun for the first hour, but after you are driving day in and day out, and everytime you wander out of the row youre running your crop under. it gets old. other than the cruise between fields, the scenery doesnt change much. up the row.........turn.......back down the row........turn......... up the ro................... ALL DAY LONG............

Urambo Tauro > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:39

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I remember seeing one of those in the oncoming lane a few years ago, and knowing that it was tall enough for my car to fit underneath, I fantasized about slipping underneath, just for fun.

Bad idea for several reasons, not the least of which is that you’d have to be able to trust the other driver to hold steady...

RyanFrew > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 06/09/2016 at 17:39

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Way effing cool. Thanks.

zeontestpilot > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 17:40

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I hear these things are pricey too.

DasWauto > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 17:41

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Yeah, a few of those running around here are definitely doing 40+ mph on the road, which always looks funny/a bit scary with the gangly looking chassis.

zeontestpilot > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 06/09/2016 at 17:41

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In ended my day researching live axles on wiki. Surprised I didn’t see a link to this on the page.

DasWauto > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 06/09/2016 at 17:43

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Pretty accurate description. They’re fun when you’re actually doing stuff (usually involving the loader in my case) but boring as hell when you have to drive them somewhere. A top speed short of 30mph gets tiresome pretty quickly.

zeontestpilot > Ash78, voting early and often 06/09/2016 at 17:44

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That's a pretty cool and genius setup, imho.

zeontestpilot > Niko's Work Account 06/09/2016 at 17:44

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Ah, portal axles.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:46

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Only tractors I’ve driven have been sticks. Couple ranges, whole whack of gears, but pretty much any one you stick it in is good from a standstill. Throttle is usually adjustable, but it’s a hand throttle and stays where you put it, a bit like a boat.

zeontestpilot > Die-Trying 06/09/2016 at 17:46

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Then all I need is an hour or two in one to be happy.

DasWauto > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:47

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Tractors are pretty fun when you’ve got something to use the hydraulics for (eg. Using the loader or 3 pt. hitch to pick up, grab or move stuff) but boring if you’re plowing, hauling or just plain driving somewhere. Sub 30 mph top speeds suck.

zeontestpilot > Urambo Tauro 06/09/2016 at 17:47

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I've been seeing different tractors of varying degrees as of late. I mean, I am taking the backroads home....

StingrayJake > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:51

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Very. Like new Ferrari pricey.

Xyl0c41n3 > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:51

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I got to ride in a combine once as it was harvesting grain. It was pretty damned cool. Air conditioned, super high tech with a GPS-guided system telling the operator where to go, etc. It was pretty fun seeing all the heads of grain disappear underneath the front of it and then get spit out into a hopper that was being driven alongside it.

Urambo Tauro > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 17:56

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Yeah, it’s good that they usually stay away from main roads. But the one I saw was over on Rochester Rd, not far from Lakeville. I wonder if they ever imagine the same thing, to just let cars pass by underneath instead of pulling over every mile or so to let them by. LOL

Speed > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 18:00

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I mow 7.5 acres with our old Ford 2N once a week. It takes all day, but I love this old thing. It fires up every time and chugs along like a boss.

Any Jalop worth there salt has got to dig anything with an engine and wheels.

zeontestpilot > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 18:06

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That’s roughly the price tag I've heard too.

zeontestpilot > Xyl0c41n3 06/09/2016 at 18:07

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That sounds really fun actually.

zeontestpilot > Urambo Tauro 06/09/2016 at 18:08

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By my in-laws, the farmers use old buses with the top chopped off to haul straw. It's very amusing to watch.

zeontestpilot > Speed 06/09/2016 at 18:09

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That looks really low. Is it low?

StingrayJake > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 18:16

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Yeah the amount of money changing hands in farming is amazing. Thing is you’re not really making bank as a farmer. Almost everything gets invested right back into the farm... or pays your obscene debts.

I grew up on a farm and the last few years always had scary moments when we weren't sure if the bank was going to loan us money again for seed. One year they finally said no.

Opposite Locksmith > Niko's Work Account 06/09/2016 at 18:37

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Oh you

DasWauto > Xyl0c41n3 06/09/2016 at 18:48

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Some of the technology in farming is pretty neat, isn’t it? They’re getting into autonomous tractors now too; those GPS guidance systems have turned into autosteer where the driver just kind of monitors what’s going on. Won’t be too long before it can be reliably be left alone entirely.

The GPS drives other improvements as well. Combines and harvesters can gather yield data for every spot on the field and use that information to decide how much manure and/or fertiliser to spread and where to improve efficiency and reduce water usage/waste.

TheRealBicycleBuck > zeontestpilot 06/09/2016 at 18:57

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Farm vehicles are fun to drive! I like to provide experiences for my kids instead of things. The last trip back home, we went out to visit my friend who owns a small farm and a site prep/dirt business. The kids learned how to drive a tractor, a bulldozer, and a front-end loader. We even took rides in his 6-wheel army truck and his jeep. Good times!

zeontestpilot > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 19:10

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:(

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 21:14

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My dad works at a grain elevator, and he would spray fields on occasion. Sometimes he would take me out with him when I was little. Usually one just like this:

The foam coming out of the hoses always mesmerized me and I loved how enormous they are.

StingrayJake > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 06/09/2016 at 21:35

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That’s an interesting one. Most of them these days are just like the John Deere in ZTP’s post: skinny wheels and sitting up high to drive down planting rows without damaging tall crops. I think the one my dad drives now has a joystick instead of a steering wheel. Crazy technology in these things.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > StingrayJake 06/09/2016 at 23:26

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No kidding. The one my dad did was meant more for before the crops were really sprouting I think.

zeontestpilot > TheRealBicycleBuck 06/10/2016 at 05:49

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Yeah, I figure driving it once would be fun. Every day as a job (like many others said), not so much.

Ztp Jr loves getting on the riding lawn mower seat. Lol.

Speed > zeontestpilot 06/10/2016 at 06:13

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Maybe it looks kinda low in the other shot? It’s not a big tractor.

zeontestpilot > Speed 06/10/2016 at 06:18

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It's a decent size, but it does seem low. It might be its wide stance too. Still, it's pretty looking.

Speed > zeontestpilot 06/10/2016 at 06:24

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Okay okay I’m whoring now. Thanks though! It’s a turtle compared to a new zero turn mower, but I love the old flathead four and it’s simplicity. These old Fords never die and you see them in use everywhere.

Hammerdown > StingrayJake 06/10/2016 at 11:32

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My buddy is operating a custom harvest crew right now. He’s in charge of 6 combines, two tractors with grain carts, and 6 trucks with grain trailers. Combines are $300,000 a piece. So he’s working with over $2 million worth of equipment every day. The numbers are insane.

StingrayJake > Hammerdown 06/10/2016 at 11:35

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Yeah after we got out of farming my dad started working for a spray company (commercial chemical applicator is the fancy title) and I did summer work there until I graduated from college. My first summer there I was struck by a bit of wisdom: It’s better to be paid by the farmer than to be the farmer.

Hammerdown > zeontestpilot 06/10/2016 at 11:36

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I found running the grain cart to be more fun. Drive under the auger at speed (2-3 mph in wheat, 5-6 in corn) and unload on the go. Then shuttle back and fill the trucks. The goal is to make it to the truck, dump, and get back to combine before it gets full again. Which in corn generally meant going 15-18 mph loaded across the field. Sounds slow, but feels like you’re flying.

Hammerdown > DasWauto 06/10/2016 at 11:39

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Stacking/lining up haybales with the loader was always my favorite job. We always kept track of how long it took to get a stack and tried to beat each others times. Hauling ass across the field. We had one of these:

With this on the front

DasWauto > Hammerdown 06/10/2016 at 12:52

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I always enjoy snowblowing and cleaning out or rotating/re-piling our composter, especially if I have a reason to use low range for unstoppable pushing/pulling power. We’ve for a Deutz Agrotron 90 like this:

Though ours doesn’t have the front PTO or hitch.