Tractor test advise

[CaseMan895]

I'm 16 and will be sitting my tractor test soon, I'm looking some advise on what I need to prepare before the test and does normal tractor insurance cover me. Thank you

 

[deleted user 837354]

Your machine needs to be in tip top condition- [TAXED], clean, wipers, lights, tyres(!), brakes, everything needs to work: try doing the test in a tractor with no air con when the windows keep fogging up. Remove all tools, string and extraneous gubbinz from the cab as well.

Wear your seat belt at all times (make sure this is present and works) and insist the examiner wears his in the passenger seat.

Make sure you can actually read a number plate at the required distance, this is a legal requirement. If you have any long term health problems check you will be legally allowed to drive a vehicle on the road- not everyone can.

Examiner may well ask you the overall height of your tractor (measure it or check manual) and also the maximum legal speed limit and widths in your case.

Buy a theory driving test book and learn what all the road signs mean and what the rules of the road actually are.

Go steady- don't drive like a goon especially once you have passed your test and you will be fine.

Get someone to explain to you how to do an proper emergency stop- this may vary from machine to machine given the wide range of transmissions and braking systems etc on the average machine today.

 

[michael N123]

make sure the tractor you do your test on is narrow enough to be legal for a 16 year old sounds daft but most modern tractors arnt if they’ve got wideish tyres on

 

[Lazy Sod]

Sorry to be pedantic @CaseMan895, but what you are asking for is advice.

 

[Skintagain]

I would borrow a 60-100hp nice newish tractor from someone even hire one off a dealer nearby (so everything works) Practice for a day or two on it to get used to it before the test and then go for it. That’s unless you have something that matches the above description - I haven’t still to this day and I have been improving what I own for 17 years since buying my first wreck.

 

[Sir loin]

Son just done his and passed, everything above is necessary but he paid £30 for a lesson where an instructor came to farm and had an hour with him explaining everything he would need to know this was money well spent and invaluable. Being able to say you've had a lesson is a big tick for the examiner.

 

[Purli R]

Make sure your tractor has twin flashing tits- dont worry bout owt else!

 

[Highland Mule]

Get a tractor with only one seat and then the examiner can’t come along with you but has to watch from outside.

 

[CaseMan895]

I'm 16 and will be sitting my tractor test soon, I'm looking some advise on what I need to prepare before the test and does normal tractor insurance cover me. Thank you

And do in need becons?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Remember to cancel indicators if tractor doesn’t. When I passed mine some 20yrs ago they didn’t and it nearly caught me out!

 

[Enfoff]

My nephew passed his on Tuesday. I gave him a couple of half hour lessons on quiet roads practising junctions etc. He could drive the tractor (it was our new Kubota so everything spot on) no problem but lacked a bit in 'road craft' as he obviously hadn't been out in traffic. Remember to look in your mirrors and over your shoulder. My nephew got marked down for looking over the wrong shoulder when reversing round a corner. Make sure the examiner sees you looking. Study the highway code and as said before, drive as carefully as you can not as quickly. My farm insurance covered him for the test as he has a provisional licence. Our tractor had a beacon so it was used I do t think they are a requirement on all tractors.

 

[Exfarmer]

The examiner would not normally sit in the tractor even if it has a seat.
The beacons if fitted should only normally be used on a dual carriageway, where they must be lit.
know your highway code.
you must not drive on the highway at 16 until you have passed your test, or driving to and from it.
remember to check your mirrors constantly.
make sure the tractor has good working brakes , lights and indicators.
practice an emergency stop before the day, as some tractors are very fierce especially if they are CVT.
if an old tractor make sure brakes are balanced. Lock the brakes together!
good idea to give it a good clean too

 

[Robt]

Get a tractor with only one seat and then the examiner can’t come along with you but has to watch from outside.

Isn’t it the case, the seat is an instructor seat for off road use only? It always used to be so the examiner can’t legally sit in the cab with you

 

[Brisel]

And do in need becons?

You only need BEACONS on an unrestricted dual carriageway, which you're unlikely to go on during your test. I'd suggest you have one available and be able to explain why and where you'd need it.

 

[Simon Chiles]

You only need BEACONS on an unrestricted dual carriageway, which you're unlikely to go on during your test. I'd suggest you have one available and be able to explain why and where you'd need it.

Slight correction to this ( or maybe just clarification), you’re right that it is compulsory on unrestricted dual carriageways ( over 50 mph speed limit) but use in other situations is at the discretion of the driver.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Isn’t it the case, the seat is an instructor seat for off road use only? It always used to be so the examiner can’t legally sit in the cab with you

True, the examiner shouldn’t be in the cab even if it has an extra seat. Whether, as a 16 year old taking the test, you tell the examiner this or not is debatable.

 

[7610 super q]

Keep 'er lit.

 

[Simon Chiles]

My nephew passed his on Tuesday. I gave him a couple of half hour lessons on quiet roads practising junctions etc. He could drive the tractor (it was our new Kubota so everything spot on) no problem but lacked a bit in 'road craft' as he obviously hadn't been out in traffic. Remember to look in your mirrors and over your shoulder. My nephew got marked down for looking over the wrong shoulder when reversing round a corner. Make sure the examiner sees you looking. Study the highway code and as said before, drive as carefully as you can not as quickly. My farm insurance covered him for the test as he has a provisional licence. Our tractor had a beacon so it was used I do t think they are a requirement on all tractors.

Being pedantic, technically your nephew shouldn’t have practiced on the road at all if he wasn’t 17. It’s a bit outdated really when lots of tractors have instructor seats and a bit of experience probably did him good but the law says he shouldn’t and he’s technically not insured to be driving.

 

[jackp]

I'm 16 and will be sitting my tractor test soon, I'm looking some advise on what I need to prepare before the test and does normal tractor insurance cover me. Thank you

Make sure you know how how to dip the oil , where the dipstick is and what the level marks mean

 

[Brisel]

Make sure you know how how to dip the oil , where the dipstick is and what the level marks mean

Good advice, but that's not part of the test syllabus!