Loader lighting

how do you deal with tractor lighting when there is a loader attatched? the non rops and non cabbed classics always seem to have their lights blocked by the loader somehow. And some of the newer not so classics with headlights in the grille definitely have the lights blocked by the loader. How are the 56 series IHs with flat top deluxe fenders for lighting the loader work area? None of ours has a loader on but that light location is inspiring an idea.

My idea would be road/work (headlamp) lights on the outside left and right loader frame uprights, and a work light (flood beam) or two on the front of the loader somewhere above the bucket. The work light would have to be switched seperately from the road lights for safety/regulations, but the location of the road lights would then allow you to _be seen_ and to see, regardless of the bucket height. Additionally, an extra flood near each of the headlights could aid field/work visibility beyond the narrow standard beams. Should use relays and good heavy wires with redundant grounds with all those lights.

Additionally, for road travel, legal reflectors/stick on reflectors of proper colors should be placed at the front, rear, left, and right extremeties of the unit. Visibility equals safety and covers your rear if something unexpected happens.

What do you think? What would or do you do?

thanks for your input

karl f

My loader frame has a crosspiece in front of the grill and higher. I mounted a cuple of lights on there, works pretty good, between the ones high and the ones lower in the grill.

has the tractor got fenders?i made a extension out of 2 inch square tubing to mount the lites outside the loader frame on my john deere,[ 301a] they work good, mine still has the "yuppie bar" and canopy, so i put 2 additional kc dayliters up there, so i can see whats out in front of me, as well as 2 work lites on the rear to watch inpliments at nite sometimes i get home from work and need to run until midnite or later, doing something, but these days i never ever road a tractor at nite, too many idiots have moved into the area in the last 15 or so years, some of these can't seem to see a 18 wheeler at nite, how would they ever see a farm tractor

I've got a pair mounted on top of the rollbars that can face forward or back depending on what I'm doing. There's also a pair mounted on the bucket cylinder flanges on the upper part of the loader arms. They got put there because the holes were there... If I was drilling holes I'd probably put a set on the upper part of the mast, just below the pivot pin. That should give good forward light independant of the arms.
Do use relays as most OEM circuits won't support the extra load of that many lights.
You'll probably want to stick a Delco 10si 63amp alt on there while you're at it if you still have a genny on the tractor because the genny won't run all those lights either...

Rod

Classic or not, if a tractor has a loader and your using it that much that you need work lights, and travel on the road it night, I would strongly consider some kind of ROPs frame or roll bar. You then have somewhere high to mount lights. I have a cab with the mid mounted headlights and they are worse than useless right behind the loader frame, so I have cab top mounted lights and use em on the road as well!

If your worried about road lights and safety regs, just put your lights on the fenders or front grill where they are not blocked by the bucket at your normal road height. I keep my bucket low when traveling on the road. Mine only has the standard reflectors on the back, but I guess you can stick’em where ever you think they need to be. I guess if you look hard enough you will find the lighting regs for agricultural vehicles, and it will tell you the correct lighting requirements

Chris

depending where you live, using it even a little will require lights, as in the winter time there are only a couple hours of daylight in some places. Chores and hay customers, for example do not seem to just occur during daylight, and in good weather.

for safety on the road, you pretty much need lights, even in daylight. It's about being seen by others, not so much for your own eyes' sake. strategically placed reflectors or reflective tape help oncoming traffic see just how big you are, as they highlight your extremeties when placed like they are on current production machines. Tractor lights are deceiving to oncoming traffic because they are not placed predictably like auto lights. It is easy for a car or pickup driver to mistake you being further away or smaller than you really are. Even I (been around farming for 28 years)have been confused as to what i'm approaching at night judging by the headlights in the distance until i approach closer within about 100 feet and can see the tractor outline. Fortunately I know to slow down, think, and be safe until i know i can resume. However, slow thinking, quick acting drivers might try unsafe maneuvers if they assume they are passing an ATV or UFO, like the unsafe passing of a motorcyclist in the center of the road. That is the auto driver's fault for sure, but if your shadows are visible, they may not consider such stupid driving. maybe...

Even if it is daylight, if the weather is bad, visibility is gonna be poor, and if you are fulltime farming or agricultural activities somehow are your business, you cannot wait on the weather; You'll be on the road to do what you need to do if it's at another location. There are only so many tasks that can stay in the yard. For some of us, staying on our homestead we still have to travel on the road because the road just happens to cross through. There is a saying about more vehicle accidents happen within a couple miles of home than away from home, so with those odds adequate visibility to traffic will be wise.

My original goal with this topic was to offer an idea about improving loader visibility and road safety and to promote discussion about safety and visibility. I think we're on track. It's a balancing act making a tractor's lights job focused and roadable as tractor lighting has traditionally been very marginal in design, location, and function. I also want others to consider protecting theirselves from a legal battle if you have a traffic mishap and the other guy's lawyer gets you on a technicallity because of a 20$ light or damaged reflector.

Tractor lighting and traffic safety is important, but often overlooked. It's hard to keep up on all the other activities and repairs going on and make sure the lights and reflective items are at 100% too.
I also hear gossip of the day coming where if you are on the road with light/visibility equipment failures on your farm equipment the officers will ticket. They've been hitting the pickup trucks with trailers pretty hard in more recent years.

stay safe

karl f

On our tractor we just have 4 lights on the front. Two in the grille and two above the grille on the grille gaurd. The M7040 that I have spent a few hours on has the lights on the side of the loader mounts
kubot aM7040 lights

Karl,
The daylight hours are pretty short up here during the winter and at this time of the year we are combining until midnight, so good lights are essential. To be honest, I don’t see many cab-less classics still working for their keep around here though. One thing I do see is tractors moving around with duals or triples, and no marker lights. IMO if you are using a loader tractor for anything other than occasional personal use, it needs ROPs as much as it needs lights.
Chris