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What's your favorite backing tractor

F

fixerupper

Well-known Member
I was jockeying some small wagons around in the shed today and I got to thinking about this.

On your farm what tractor is the one you are the most comfortable with for backing wagons and trailers using the rear drawbar? On this farm the SC Case is the easiest for me. My neck doesn't turn the best so with the SC I can pivot my body around to the left somewhat, lean right hip and back against the right fender with the left hand on the steering knob and the right hand on the clutch. As long as I can back the wagon straight or to the left I can put it anywhere I want. The Oliver 88 is good too but the Case is still on the top of the list. I almost choke when I say this, but the two banger Deeres, the ones I grew up on, are last on the list.

A couple of years ago I was watching a guy on a super M with power steering back wagons with impeccable precision. What is your favorite one? Jim
 
Favorite: NF Super M with power steering....no contest!

Least favorite: Any 2 cylinder Deere w/ manual steering. Also MM U and G, and Case 900 (all hand-clutched).
 
I really like my 3020 diesel narrow front, but I know guys who have hitches on the front of their farmall h(i think anyway). Put a hitch on the front and drive it in..easiest way.
 
Early one was Case sc--dc second--due to easy one hand steering an always used foot to push clutch while backing.Later tractor was Case 830 with COM an of course p steering an foot throttle on both right an left side.Could use one hand on steering-left foot on throttle -right foot free for using brakes.Torque converter was greatest thing going for backing an drawbar work in that area of time.
 
On our old H's & M's we always used the front pull plate bolted to the bolster and pushed with the front. Could put a wagon anywhere first time with out backing up and then having to pull up, then back to reverse. A lot easier than backing with the back drawbar.
 
When I was a kid on the farm,we ground cattle feed every Saturday morning.used to push feed wagon in the cattle shed with a JD 730 diesel with a hitch on the front.
 
Don't do much backing but I can tell you my worst. My Allis CA. Reverse is waaay too fast for practical use.
 
Narrow front Oliver S77 was always the best. My uncle added power steering before we got it....

However, the 4wd little Ford 1720 compact is amazingly nimble, if I would take the loader off I think that would win. With the loader on, it's a little klutzy up front to manuver in tight area, but backs very well.
 
My favorite is my JD 4010 narrow front tractor. It is a joy to use when backing anything. My second would be my Oliver 1655. Even with a wide front end it still turns short. It is nice handling tractor too.

Worst tractor was the first I owned. A JD "G". High reverse speed, hand clutch and strong arm steering. Hated to back anything with that tractor.
 
Anything with a narrow front and a front hitch. Neck don't turn so good anymore, lots easier for an old guy this way. You know the saying old vs. smart!
 
I do agree the front hitch is the handiest, once the wagon is hooked to it. Extension tongues help a lot in that category. And a front hitch does help avoid 'backing incidents' or collisions with other machinery, or the machine shed door.

A lot of times I'll pull a wagon from one farm to the other, back it in the shed real quick and leave without messing around with unhooking, turning around and re-hitching to the front hitch. Getting on and off the tractor isn't as easy as it used to be either. Jim
 
I always did very good with a JD2940 with mfwd. Set up nice to see and didn't over steer so bad. Had a 2630 and it turned too short I always seemed to get in a bind too fast.
 
CASE 210b. It has power, steering shuttle shift for forward and reverse and dual range transmission. Also easy to get off and on.
 
My Ford 231 industrial with swept back front axle would literally turn on a dime, I would bet almost as tight as a tri-cycle front end.

Never tried backing with my AC WC.

BUT, I have to admit I am the worst at backing a wagon. Absolute worst period. Am I the only that has to pull back forward a few times??

Rick
 
Of all of'em I've got around here,the 1550 Oliver is about the best for that. The power steering is super fast since there's no weight on the front and it turns short too.
 
Hands down, my 2520 with a narrow front. Next in line is my 4240, even with a wide front.
 
Ford 4110 - low and easy to get on/off- power steering , hi and low reverse speeds . I also have a front hitch on it and often back loads of hay in with the front hitch - works even better than backing up.
 
1850 Oliver, Narrow front. I'd never used a narrow front to back anything before I bought the 1850. I can just barely get everything I use to farm 60 acres in a 60x40 pole barn using it. Otherwise it would be impossible.
 
The open station 4020 JD is pretty good.

I need to back things like wagons, header trailers and trailer sprayers in a narrow shed lean, 20ft X 140ft. The best thing I ever did for that job was to install a front hitch on the 4020 JD and 856 IH. Use the front hitch to push them in there, and the rear hitch to pull them out. :)
 
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