Towing a disk home on highway

Fullers Farmalls · Mar 25, 2013

I am looking at a disk that is near me at school but about 60 miles from home. I don't have a trailer that could haul it, but might be able to get one. Could I just tow it home? I know towing doesn't have nearly the DOT implications that hauling does. I can take some back roads but i will have to go through a few larger towns and I-70 for a part of it. Thoughts?

SweetFeet · Mar 25, 2013

I would check it out...as I would think one cannot pull/tow an implement on the interstate. Since the minimum posted speed limit is 40 (I think) on interstates - I would think it would have to be trailered so you would have the ability to drive at least 40 m.p.h.

Roger in Iowa · Mar 25, 2013

Don't think you want to try the interstate. Minimum speed limit of 40 or 45.

Sparktrician · Mar 25, 2013

I was on board with pulling it home untill you said I70.......that, in my opinion.......is a no no. Why would you have to be on I70, is there a river to cross?

What size of disk are we talking here? I have had good luck with taking a cable comealong from the hitch to one of the front corners of the disk to take the slack out of the hitch.....helps it pull a lot better down the road at higher than "tractor" speeds.

tractormiallis · Mar 25, 2013

You dont say what it is as far as a disk- disk tandem, what tires etc? You might want to know that disks, at least tandems have a tendency to fishtail bad when pulled behind a pickup. I-70 has speed restrictions on it I believe also. I would find a way around taking I-70.

sd pete · Mar 25, 2013

Disks won't trail the best. You can pull them ok on county and back roads at a slower speed. State hiways and interstates will be a no no.

Tx Jim · Mar 25, 2013

My friend just towed a 27' fold up 250 miles from DFW area to middle of Arkansas. Just have wheel brgs geased and some spare tires. Magnetic flashing lights on the plow also.

paul · Mar 25, 2013

What kind of disk? I pulled an old JD with the rear end heavier than the front. That was the most miserable 9 miles of my life driving.

Disks are short wheelbase, and often have a sloppy linkage allowing a lot of sway. Add in nearly balanced weight, and they are about the worse thing to tow there is.

If this is a big heavy disk that isn't wore down sloppy and has a lot of tongue weight and has a longer hitch. Might be ok.

But I'd think about it, this is one of the worser things to tow...

Paul

rrlund · Mar 25, 2013

Like SD and TMA said,they sway. The best way I found to remedy that though is to hook a comalong to one side,then hook it right to the draw pin and tighten it up. I pulled a BWA Deere right down the a two lane state highway a pretty good speed after I did that. The first several miles before I did it,it was all over the road.

Larry NEIL · Mar 25, 2013

I pulled an IH 24.5" 490 hyd fold about 35 miles. Checked with the IL st police and said it was no problem as long as I stayed off any interstate hwys or 4 lane state hwys with high speed traffic.
I think iot was about 12" to 13 " wide when folded.
Better take the wheels off and repack the bearings before you go and if it folds, make sure it"s pinned up.

Fullers Farmalls · Mar 25, 2013

It's an older 8 foot Ford disk. I can probably avoid the interstate and I think that I can make it on the back roads but might take a few hours to get home. I may also be able to get a trailer and get it home. I'm going to work on it and let you guys know what happens.

aFORDable · Mar 25, 2013

To give a good answer we need more information to give sound advice. Such as, disk size and style and what you are towing it with. For sure, I'd stay off the interstate and even on back roads I'd have an escort vehicle ahead of me on two lane roads If I had to go 60 miles if the disk is anything over 8 ft. Too many legal risk these days without covering your tail.

tomstractorsandtoys1 · Mar 25, 2013

To help with the slop in towed implements I put a come-a-long betwen the outside corner and hook it up at the hitch,when tightened it takes the slop out and makes pulling much better.I just pulled a BWF Deere 75 miles in Dec(We won't talk about the flat tire)LOL. This idea works great on New Idea pull type pickers which are a bear to pull because of the slop.AC notill corn planters also come to mind as well.

D beatty · Mar 25, 2013

If its a 8 footer put it on a trailer chain it down and you can run on any road.

S2710 · Mar 25, 2013

What I have found is weld the hitch so it don't sway and when you get home take a grinder and cut the welds off. It works. BTDT

Bob

Anonymous-0 · Mar 25, 2013

If you think one was bad, try pulling two. Had Just 25 miles to go, but was the worst 25 miles I have ever driven. 10 mph. max., didn't want to make the second trip.

dhermesc · Mar 25, 2013

If its 8' put a SMV sign on the back and maybe some magnetic trailer lights and use the back roads. A couple hours at 35/40 MPH is no big deal.

I have to move an old square baler in two weeks (8' wide). I pulled the tires and hubs on Saturday to grease before it hits the road and boy am I glad I did that. One side was fine, but the other was over tightened and outside bearing was going bad - even though it was well greased. Probably would have made it 20 miles before it fell apart.

NY 986 · Mar 25, 2013

If you do a spare wheel, lug wrench, jack, a few blocks, grease gun, air tank, and magnetic trailing lights would be in order. The Mid West guys are lucky. Over width is over width to NY's finest whether it be a farm implement or otherwise. 60 miles or 80 miles here may mean skirting Rochester or Syracuse and the suburbs, The Finger Lakes which has two lakes in excess of 30 miles and a couple close to 20 miles of length, the Genesee River with limited points to cross including 17 miles of Letchworth Park, steep drumlins from Rte 104 to the Pennsylvanian state line. Depending on the item it can get interesting moving equipment. I am pretty bold if I am within 20 miles of home.

Nebraska Cowman · Mar 25, 2013

Read the sign on the on-ramp next time you travel the Interstate. "No livestock, No farm implements, No hitch hiking"

RLA · Mar 25, 2013

1 SMV sign

2 chain & rachet binder to lock the hitch so it
won't sway.

3 Air tank & grease gun with wheel wrench...

4 Don't forget a Jack.......

FarmerZeb · Mar 25, 2013

I would say OK except for the I-70 part. Here Missouri DOT is pretty explicit in their Farm guide booklet that over dimensions exemptions DO NOT work on the interstate system. Like Nebraska Cowman said read the sign when you get on the interstate.
MODOT AG Rules Booklet

Mike (WA) · Mar 25, 2013

If its only 8', I'd sure try to find a trailer to beg, borrow or steal- they're a real PITA to tow, as others have said, especially that far. At the very minimum, you'll need to repack the wheel bearings, and it would sure be a lot easier if you have any way to get a trailer.

kyhayman · Mar 25, 2013

I"ve pulled and hauled a lot of things a lot of places. 8" wheel disc doesn"t really matter. 8 feet is 8 feet. I"d probably haul it as they are awkward to pull sometimes.

But, I just pulled a round baler 125 miles home. They are more awkward to haul than tow. Never really thought anything about it other than got a little worried when it started getting dark. Called for an escort vehicle to follow me the last 15 miles in just to be safe.

tg in VA · Mar 25, 2013

That's a lot of miles to drag a disc, especially one you're buying. What kind of plans do you have for when you're stranded about half way between where you buy it and home?

Absent a trailer, I would leave well enough alone.

Rollie NE PA · Mar 25, 2013

I towed a 10 ft disk 35 miles last year. I stayed on the back roads and didn"t have any trouble. Like others said wheel bearings greased, jack,chains/binders and patience.

Dick2 · Mar 25, 2013

Make sure that you have it locked in the up position. If that disc would settle down on an asphalt road, you would have a big road repair bill!

David G · Mar 25, 2013

I70, no.

You can pull it on secondary roads if wheel bearings are good and take up the slack between corner and tongue with come along.

fixerupper · Mar 25, 2013

How much tongue weight does it have and how loose is the tongue? If you can pick the tongue up real easy and if it has a lot of side slop it might be squirrely at any speed above 15 MPH. If it trails nice you shouldn't have any problems but you'll have to stay off the interstate. Jim

1206SWMO · Mar 25, 2013

Call me stupid but in 1997 I pulled a 21 ft IH 470 disk 100 miles home from eastern Kansas with a 1991 Ford Ranger...I was only on level lightly traveled blacktop and gravel roads at 20-25 mph..I blew a couple of disk tires as they were rotten but made it OK as it had 4 tires..

In 2001 I pulled a 21 ft Krause 1904 disk 100 miles home with a 1967 Ford Ranger F-100 with some weight in it...Went all blacktop roads with a friend following with the flashers on..Ran about 25-30 miles per hour...Did have one hill that was pretty tough to pull but made it OK..

Try to pull a disk too fast and they will whip on you..If you live in a hilly and heavy populated area I wouldnt try it..

I once pulled a 20x8 IH 5100 drill down I-44 for a stretch as there was no good roads out of where I bought it..It trailed good and I was running 60 mph with an escort behind me..Came up on a Smokie writing a ticket and had to stop for traffic to clear..He walked back and said that he might have wrote me a ticket if I didnt have an escort following with a strobe light..

wolfman · Mar 25, 2013

It's a ticketable offense to be under 45 mph on an Interstate road, and you probably don't want to roll those disc axle bearings very long at 45 mph.

donjr · Mar 25, 2013

BTDT. Slop in the hitch is one thing, but if it is a winged disc, make sure you chain the wings up. I bought one at a sale about thirty miles from home, and was towing it back. Going over a drain at an intersection where I made a left turn, the disk rocked to the right side and the whole right wing unfolded. It was now about eighteen or so feet wide. I pulled over into a field and called my daughter to go find some jacks and com-a-longs and run them out to me. I got really lucky when a local farmer passed with a big square baler in tow. He pulled over, helped me rearrange some plumbing on the disk and raised it with his hydraulic system on the tractor. Wouldn't take anything other than my thanks, and I haven't seen him since. But it also makes you proud to be a farmer with brothers like that.....

showcrop · Mar 26, 2013

You are correct in that there are fewer restrictions with it on the ground than on a trailer. When I towed an over width mower 140 miles, I got a permit and they told me that they wanted me on the interstate and not on the back roads. As others have said have chains and straps with you to secure the gangs to keep it from dancing.

mkirsch · Mar 26, 2013

It's an 8' disk. Get a trailer.

The only reason to tow a larger disk is because it's wider than 8' in either direction, so there's no way to put it on a trailer because it would be overwidth no matter what.

Towing a disk home on highway

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