Getting a 14ft disc home?

I went with a friend to an estate auction. He bought a 14ft disc after the auction we raised it and hooked it to the truck. we were an hour down the rd and got pulled over. Officer said it was to wide to pull with a truck. He said we should have trailered it. But it's 14ft wide and has non adjustable gangs even if we got the tounge off the frame is still wide to pull legally on a trailer. So the sheriff had no instructions on what to do but gave us a 300$ ticket. We had flags on it and magnet lights but really? How do you legally haul something like that ?????
 
Should have had an OVERSIZE LOAD sign on it. Sheriff was probably a city idiot and don't know anything about farm equipment.
 
I bought a 12 JD BWA in Indiana about 4 or 5 years ago, wish I still had it. I put it on a trailer sideways, pulled the tongue and boomed it down. If the gangs are not moveable on your friends it sounds like it wouldnt shave much off if you would have had it sideways on a trailer. I would fight that ticket if I were you guys. I would be very upset (in light terms) if that happened to me. Just my $.02
 
That idiot would last about one day in our part of the country. Agriculture in this area pays everyones wages and the so called law officers know that. If they wrote a ticket like that here they would be gone the next day. This guy must be a want-a-be like most of them are. Our local government here knows where the bread and butter comes from and they leave the farmers, big or small alone. Except for the state D.O.T pricks and they are brainless.
 
He was a very young guy. My friend is goons fight it. We were on a back county gravel rd. we were avoiding the hard ball the best we could. But oh we'll. We got it to his place and we are home now but sure got me thinking on how else we could have done it.
 
I would contest it in traffic court. In Indiana farm equipment has right of way and no oversized signage is required. This of course would vary from state to state.
 
It wouldn't have been any narrower on a trailer. I think you did more than most would by having flags and even lights on it. I think I'd fight the ticket, especially considering the guy had no alternative for you other than a trailer. Were you driving under 30 MPH? That would help you as well.
 
He's full of it. Unless you were pulling it in the dark. You should have had a triangle SMV sign on it and drive SLOW...just like a tractor. If you trailered it, you need to get down to 8'6" if you can break it down. If you can't, then you need an over width permit, flags, signs, etc. and when its all said and done your still overwidth but the public is protected somehow because you have a slip of paper and the governor has your money. And this happened on a gravel back road???
 
Fight it, check your State laws. In MN, over width farm equipment is legal, as long as you are not on the interstate. You had flags and lights? OMG- LEO was wrong!
 
I put a disc like that on a truck, rotated it 90 degrees, hung the tongue off the right side and the back gang off the left as far as was reasonable. Moved it right close to 200 mile, stayed in the right as much as possible. Went through a radar trap without a single issue. The tongue was out there at lease 4 feet or more.
 
he was full of crap with SMV,flags,and flashing lights you are good to go. take photos of what you have on take it to court. another power grabing cop
 
As everyone else said, that ticket won"t fly in court. Farm machinery is exempt as long as the operator has made an attempt to haul/pull in a way that minimizes risk to others on the road.
I have hauled pulled many oversize implements in Il. without any problems.
Larry NEIL
 
I'm surprised the law hassled you in an ag state like indiana. Cop must have been a city slicker.

Did you pull it with a real truck or a pickup? The laws might be different between the two. I agree that most farm equipment is exempt but is it exempt only when transported to and from the field or any time it's on the road? If it was purchased at a sale and is being pulled home by a truck that's commercially licensed for over 26000 pounds it might have to follow commercial laws. I think the cop was following the book to closely, or interpreting the book wrong. Jim
 
What state? Did the truck have farm tags? Were you in state where truck is licensed? Were you in a town (potentially with local ordinance's prohibiting certain situations) Too many variables to give anything other than a knee jerk reactionary editorial comment. Gotta know all the facts.
 
In NY, Dealers have to comply with all overwidth laws such as "certified escort car", flags, lights, etc. Just the same as a modular home hauler, or comercial hauler. That being said, farmers are exempt, from these laws during daylight hrs.
Loren, the Acg.
 
That is thw way in Ohio if pulled, loaded you need the overwidth on things, at least with a company truck
 
What the heck became of common sense?

I was faced with just that situation a month ago, only from the wrong end. I came over a hill at the legal 60mph on a paved road and was faced with a pickup pulling a disc that covered a good 3/4 of the road. I stood on the brakes, he headed for the ditch, and I somehow got past without hitting the disc. I'm not sure if he got out of the ditch and back on the road, 'cause I was over another hill.

If you got home without killing somebody, you got off easy.
 
You take it apart then haul or get a permit. Pulling a 14ft disc behind a pickup is a flag. It helps to know the law. A simple phone call would have saved 300
 
Your problem was that you put flags and lights on it.

That makes it a trailer.

Without flags and lights, it's farm equipment.
 
Just because its OK in your state doesent mean the same in other states. Farmers are theur own worst enemies over wt over width no lites ect. "I didnt know' doesent work. We have some here in IOWA that think a 8row head on a combine is fine going down a blacktop marked road just looking for alawsuit.
 
Many areas you would be in the right unless its at night or on a main highway. I pulled a non-folding 14 ft'er home a couple of years ago and had to sneak onto a 4 lane for an hour or so. Luckily no traffic.

The 2 land road from the owners house was a problem, no shoulders and mailboxes at the pavement edge. We had to pull into driveways when we met people coming the other way.
 
It appears everyone on this board is an expert on Indiana laws. The laws differ from state to state and they will also have different limitations on farm to farm versus machinery delivery.

I would bet you got off luckier than if the DOT caught up with you.
 

Everyone on here has a different answer. Would you post the out come of the court hearing, and what they say is the legal way to transport it? Thanks.
 
I have hauled lot of oversize equip in NE, and CO. Can go 12' wide with flags, and try to get the 4' hanging over the right side. Disk I would try and set them on their backend and get the hitch up in the air. More than once I was stopped and the cop said he would follow me for as long as he could. CSP have always worked with us farmers and tractor nuts. We have even had them come to our meeting. Go to court with your Bib coveralls on, and several friends.
 
In NY farmers are supposed to have working lights if even towed by a tractor. I am willing to bet the implement was towed on a local road where the over width was not just going to slide by. There are a few towns around where it is asking for trouble to move equipment through. For that matter cars or trucks better not show any visible signs of aging or again they may be stopped in the same towns. Basically the approach of these towns is they do not want anybody there they consider riff-raff.
 
I went to the source.
I think you are okay.
Quote: There are certain exemptions from oversize/overweight permits. When traveling on
any road other than an interstate highway, certain vehicles are exempt from the permitting
requirements. They include:
1) A vehicle engaged in the construction of highways, when the movement of the vehicle
is confined to highways, roads, or sections that are under construction and not yet open
to the public. The only exception to this would be if the authority having jurisdiction
over the construction of a public highway gives notice that a permit is needed.
2) Machinery or equipment used in highway construction or maintenance by the Indiana
Department of Transportation, or by Indiana counties or municipalities.
[b:2ff34f65a2]3) Implements of agriculture when used during farming operations or when so constructed [/b:2ff34f65a2]
that the implements can be moved without material damage to highways.
4) The width or height of a farm vehicle loaded with a farm product. This includes a
truck hauling unprocessed tobacco leaf.
5) Fire-fighting apparatus owned or operated by a political subdivision or volunteer fire
company.
6) The movement of a disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles for a distance that
does not exceed fifty (50) highway miles by a registered recovery vehicle or by a
vehicle described in IC 9-18-13-5 is exempt from the dimension and weight limits
under this article.[/url]http://www.in.gov/dor/files/osowhandbook.pdf
 
No matter what you are moving state and federal laws apply. This includes farm equipment and farm supplies. There is a 76 page publication called Transporting Farm Equipment By Fred Whitford and it is down loadable.
 
In Va., farmers AND farm equipment dealers are exempt from the permit requirements. If we can pull it, or load it, we are legal on width. Still can"t go over 13.5 ft. on height. Weight laws still apply.
 
Well......it ain't no phun when someone like Dalet goes and posts the rules; we kinda divided ourselves into 3 categories, according to the responses.........pharmers, non-pharmers, play pharmers.
 
If you purchased it at a farm auction, took the most direct, safe way home, and intend to use it then you are allowed to pull it home. If you bought it to scrap then the answer would be no. I would take this one to court and make sure you bring plenty of pictures and proof of where and how you got it.
 
gene I disagree. A simple phone call would have saved a $300 fine but would have created a $300 transport cost. Turns out the same in the end.
 
You were just too unlucky in the end. I pulled a pulltype combine with no flags, signs or anything else 375 miles through Wisconsin, Illinois, & into central, Indiana. Was 1.5 feet over the legal width, was seen by probably 20 - 30 police cars, & never stopped. Young guy trying to make a name for himself interupted your day it sounds like.

One thing You could have done; but wouldnt be my first choice; possibly remove the gangs, & load them in the truck, Or strap them to the top of the disk frame. Depends on the disk though!
 
"They" don't care how you transport it as long as its not overwidth.Fellow up the road from me was
pulling a hayrake about 10ft wide he hit a car because he was over the center of the road,trooper said he was legal to transport the rake BUT since the rake was in the opposite lane
he was in the wrong. Fellow with the rake had to pay repairs on the car.I always have someone in front of me with the flashers on when transporting something overwidth and hope I don't have an accident.
 
Many lawyers will provide an initial visit F.O.C. to see if you have a case. It is worth a few calls and a F.O.C. visit if you can get one.
A lawyer might be able to get the ticket thrown out with a few phone calls for a nominal fee.
 
This is how you move a 16ft JD 210 disc with a 3 bar harrow 230 miles and do it and be legal. BTDT! I have even had to cut the toung off to be able to haul something home then weld it back on when its unloaded. Its a pain for sure to do it this way but its better to be safe than go to court and pay a lawer! Bandit
a91752.jpg
 
For years I've pulled or hauled over width stuff all over MO and KS with no problems..I seldom go down major hiways unless its absolutely necessary...


Once I even took a 16 ft wide grain drill down an interstate hiway at 60 mph with no problems..I had an escort behind me..There was no other way to get it out of where it was.


Just about all farm machinery now days is 14-18 ft wide even folded up..The new large tractors and combines with duals are 16-18 ft wide or more with no platform..People drive them all over everywhere around here..

I think the ticket can be beat..Whats the difference between pulling something 14 ft wide at 25 mph with a tractor or 25 mph with a pickup? I have had several tractors that would run 23-25 mph..

To haul it you would need a wide load permit and an escort..A wide load permit doesnt make the load any narrower..
 
Just about all of todays farm machinery is 16-18 ft wide when on the road..The black top road close to me is only 24 ft wide..Farmers have to move from field to field..They dont always have an escort..We watch out for them..

This guy was on a gravel road with a 14 ft disk..
 
(quoted from post at 12:03:24 12/06/12) You were just too unlucky in the end. I pulled a pulltype combine with no flags, signs or anything else 375 miles through Wisconsin, Illinois, & into central, Indiana. Was 1.5 feet over the legal width, was seen by probably 20 - 30 police cars, & never stopped. Young guy trying to make a name for himself interupted your day it sounds like.

One thing You could have done; but wouldnt be my first choice; possibly remove the gangs, & load them in the truck, Or strap them to the top of the disk frame. Depends on the disk though!

Not unlucky, just not thinking about observing the law.
 
(quoted from post at 11:46:53 12/06/12) gene I disagree. A simple phone call would have saved a $300 fine but would have created a $300 transport cost. Turns out the same in the end.

As I posted before, I got permits when I did it. But then I don't really care for drama. and a permit is all of about $12.00 unless you go through some service.
 
you will need a truck with a relatively tall bumper/reciever on it. slap a smv emblem on the disc and take the back roads home nice and easy during the day. take a spare tire and handyman with you.
 
If the cop let you continue on, he must not have seen any inherent danger and that in and of itself should be enough to get you off. If he made you take it apart and put it on a trailer, then the ticket would stand.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
(quoted from post at 20:21:29 12/06/12) you will need a truck with a relatively tall bumper/reciever on it. slap a smv emblem on the disc and take the back roads home nice and easy during the day. take a spare tire and handyman with you.

Bobby, do you think that it is responsible to advise illegal behavior on an open forum?
 
(quoted from post at 06:31:18 12/06/12) In NY, Dealers have to comply with all overwidth laws such as "certified escort car", flags, lights, etc. Just the same as a modular home hauler, or comercial hauler. That being said, farmers are exempt, from these laws during daylight hrs.
Loren, the Acg.

Actually , in NY it depends on on exactly what they are doing. IIRC, farm dealers have an exemption up to 14 foot wide. It has to be flagged and you need the signs, but no Special Hauling Permit. Something like that. Farmers aren't exempt altogether hauling with a truck, they get the same treatment as the dealer, but with a tractor it's different. It's been almost 4 years since I retired now and the memory is getting foggy.

As far as most of this goes, you need to look at your specific states rules for hauling oversized loads. What goes in NY may not go in Va or Ut, or Ill. And what goes in those states might be completely illegal in another. And then there's the Federal DOT rules once you get out side the farm exemption distance.

Looking at Dalets post I think the OP probably can get the ticket dismissed. All it should take is showing the proper sections to the ADA of Judge. It has little to do with "cops trying to make a name for themselves" and everything to do with a lack of training. I don;t know how many times I had to jump on young Troopers that wanted to go write a farmer on an ATV for no tags and helmet. Had to refer them to the correct section that ID's a farmers ATV as an "implement of husbandry" when he was doing farm work with it. Or when they'd try an write someone up for an Hours of Service violation when they didn't even need a log book. The common misconception is that they are out to make a name for themselves when in actuality it makes them look like flaming retards, especially to the other cops that looked further than the obvious and the to the judge who he has to go to and request a ticket be dismissed. It's not TV folks.
 
IC 9-20-2-2... there is no length, width, or height restrictions for implements of agriculture pulled by a truck or tractor.
i believe this to be accurate and up to date. show me a link or something to prove otherwise.
 
(quoted from post at 15:04:26 12/07/12) IC 9-20-2-2... there is no length, width, or height restrictions for implements of agriculture pulled by a truck or tractor.
i believe this to be accurate and up to date. show me a link or something to prove otherwise.

WOW!!!! That is really getting out there!!!!!!
 
(quoted from post at 15:04:26 12/07/12) IC 9-20-2-2... there is no length, width, or height restrictions for implements of agriculture pulled by a truck or tractor.
i believe this to be accurate and up to date. show me a link or something to prove otherwise.

So pretty much do anything you want...
 
in mine and OP's state. try googling that code. it took a few minutes for me to sift thru some pages before i found it.
 
just to keep up the excitement, let me say law or not, that's how i do it. i sure wouldn't get a permit to move a 14ft disc. that's downright laughable.
 
(quoted from post at 16:54:22 12/07/12) just to keep up the excitement, let me say law or not, that's how i do it. i sure wouldn't get a permit to move a 14ft disc. that's downright laughable.

He was an hour away, got a $300.00 ticket, he is not laughing.
 
good question. the guy pulling the disc that you bout hit didn't have any. he should have been on his half going up a hill. and if for some reason he couldn't get over, then he should've taken a different route altogether.
 
Well, instead of playing the guessing game I did a bit of searching and found what is needed. http://www.in.gov /dor/files /osowhandbook.pdf This site won't let links post normally so you'll have to remove the spaces I put in. Thats the State of Indiana Oversize Overweight handbook in PDF form. Look at page 5 and it gives the farm exemptions. The one issue I see is the requirement that the equipment "can be moved without material damage to highways". What exactly they define as material damage to highways is key. I don't think a 14 foot disc would be damaging, but if you cut a corner and put a divot in the pavement that might give you problems. I'd still be careful and look in there and elsewhere for additional information. Maybe your state farm bureau does like NY and publishes an informational book that is so good it's even issued to the NYSP.

Just remember, this information is SPECIFIC TO INDIANA, it doesn't apply once you cross a state line.

Something else to consider, if it were me and I was hauling an oversized farm equipment item, I'd flag it as well as I could, SMV sign, flashing lights if you think it'd help. As I used to tell the guys hauling oversized loads here, " It's not me and a ticket you really need to worry about, it's Great Aunt Hester creaming your trailer and putting in a call to her nephew Seymour Goldfarb, Esq, the ambulance chasing attorney. THAT is why you take every precaution you can. A $300.00 ticket is nothing compared to the $3 million dollar lawsuit that will cost you $30K to defend yourself against.
 
(quoted from post at 05:47:36 12/08/12) Well, instead of playing the guessing game I did a bit of searching and found what is needed. http://www.in.gov /dor/files /osowhandbook.pdf This site won't let links post normally so you'll have to remove the spaces I put in. Thats the State of Indiana Oversize Overweight handbook in PDF form. Look at page 5 and it gives the farm exemptions. The one issue I see is the requirement that the equipment "can be moved without material damage to highways". What exactly they define as material damage to highways is key. I don't think a 14 foot disc would be damaging, but if you cut a corner and put a divot in the pavement that might give you problems. I'd still be careful and look in there and elsewhere for additional information. Maybe your state farm bureau does like NY and publishes an informational book that is so good it's even issued to the NYSP.

Just remember, this information is SPECIFIC TO INDIANA, it doesn't apply

once you cross a state line.

I opened this Indiana Doc. and to me it takes us right back to the beginning where the question was not in using the disc but in getting it home. The exemption states when being used for agriculture, and I doubt if the DOT on the highway,

Something else to consider, if it were me and I was hauling an oversized farm equipment item, I'd flag it as well as I could, SMV sign, flashing lights if you think it'd help. As I used to tell the guys hauling oversized loads here, " It's not me and a ticket you really need to worry about, it's Great Aunt Hester creaming your trailer and putting in a call to her nephew Seymour Goldfarb, Esq, the ambulance chasing attorney. THAT is why you take every precaution you can. A $300.00 ticket is nothing compared to the $3 million dollar lawsuit that will cost you $30K to defend yourself against.


I opened this Indiana Doc. and to me it takes us right back to the beginning where the question was not about USING the disc but in getting it home. The exemption states "when being used for agriculture", and I doubt if the DOT on the highway, or great aunt Hester or her nephew Seymour or any judge is going to believe it when you tell them that you pull the disc in the field with the truck also. Granted, most officers are going to allow some leeway, and probably would not ticket some one pulling five miles down the road, behind a truck. Myself, I don't take on ground that is over five miles away, and when I buy a piece of equipment used and it is over ten miles, I'm getting a permit because I just have this thing about living my life the easy way without the drama that you see many people getting involved in.
 
It's going to depend on the definition of being used for agriculture. If you have a combine and need to have it repaired and go down the road with it, that's not actually being used in an agricultural operation, but I'm pretty sure it would be considered that way. I agree avoiding trouble is worth it, but where do you draw the line?
 

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