What size tractor

mtx.jag

Member
Location
pembs
Joskin rule of thumb for flat land is 10hp per 1000l plus 10hp for luck. At 23,000l you might need a little bit more luck although I would say their guide is not far out. I used to pull a 16,000l with a Fendt 939 because it is what I had for other jobs. When I no longer required the 939 I sold it and bought a Valtra T174 (190hp in transport) and noticed no change in output because the Valtra can pull the same tanker as fast as you would want to go safely on the road.

To all the naysayers worrying about having a tractor that can stop the tanker I say any trailer, whatever size it is, should have more than enough brakes to stop itself so the tractor brakes only have to stop the tractor. Also remember that braking force required increases in proportion to weight; speed however is the killer - braking force required to stop in the same distance increases by the square of speed. So to stop the same weight from 60km/hr in the same distance as from 30km/hr requires four times the braking the force. As ever driver attitude and skill will have more to with safe operation than anything else provided the tanker has brakes correctly specified for its weight.
You need a heavy tractor infront of it full stop. Regardless how quick the tanker will pull you up. You turn to quick on a bend and a tri axle tanker will push you straight before you have time to think about hitting the brake pedal.
 

Michael S

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Matching Green
You need a heavy tractor infront of it full stop. Regardless how quick the tanker will pull you up. You turn to quick on a bend and a tri axle tanker will push you straight before you have time to think about hitting the brake pedal.
That is why I put driver attitude ahead of skill in my post - I'm sure the driver of a low loader lorry carrying a 20 ton digger takes roundabouts more carefully and slowly than the average bulker driver, but you are right that a physically bigger tractor should improve handling as well as having steering axle(s) on the tanker. Every day on the road you can see risk takers in all sorts of vehicles - it is up to the driver of every vehicle to minimise the risk to other road users by driving within the capabilities of their vehicles and themselves.
 

Gerbert

Member
Location
Dutch biblebelt
There used to be lots of ex lorry tankers pulled by tractors overhere. Not so much anymore due to rising fuel costs as red diesel disapeared.
35 m3 tanks I think they where, locally there where jd 6810, 7810, 7530, fendt 724, 936, even a contractor with a claas xerion in front sometimes.
Getting upto speed might have been a problem for the smaller tractors but as the trailers where all ex lorry tanks the running gear and brakes where very much upto spec.
 

fiat 9090

Member
Location
co offaly eire
He’s always smart don’t mind him . He thinks he knows it all. (29)
True but the jibe about going to church and thanking God I wasn't near his family was very petty and unprofessional also there was another jibe about a ball and spoon hitch ,it's a pity a person can't ask a genuine question without some pr*ck being condescending
 

Speedstar

Member
Location
Scottish Borders
True but the jibe about going to church and thanking God I wasn't near his family was very petty and unprofessional also there was another jibe about a ball and spoon hitch ,it's a pity a person can't ask a genuine question without some pr*ck being condescending
Personally I think any one thing of buying a 5000 gallon tanker should know how heavy it is and if they are a knowledgeable person should not need to ask what to pull it with ,these are my views and a tanker that size should be pulled by a truck and under go 6 weekly checks to be safe on a public highway
 

fiat 9090

Member
Location
co offaly eire
Personally I think any one thing of buying a 5000 gallon tanker should know how heavy it is and if they are a knowledgeable person should not need to ask what to pull it with ,these are my views and a tanker that size should be pulled by a truck and under go 6 weekly checks to be safe on a public highway
Then why are more and more contractors buying them and the reason I asked the question was that I would also use the tractor to pull a forage wagon or should I buy a lorry to pull that aswell , I asked the question because I genuinely wasn't 100 % sure if 280 was enough but I did get some mature knowledgeable answers about power ,weight and type of tractor
 

40 series

Member
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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  • 50-75%

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  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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