BOBM25: Load it on a truck, but definitely find another trucker. This guy is trying make excessive dollars off you. Even with fuel prices where they are today, my guess is he's hauling most loads for half that much money. Find a guy that already has the annual Interstate load permits. On the other side of the coin, look at the real cost of roading a tractor. The fuel, lodging and meals are a mere pitance. Tractor power trains were not engineered for long haul-no load running. To start with the diesel at full throttle would be much better off under load. I remember once roading my 1066 at night, not excessively hot weather, (probably 55 F), close to 100 miles. At my destination I placed a thermometer against the transmission case just below operators platform. The reading I got at 6am was 150 F. I suspected the transmission and rear end were warmed up, as I could notice the heat in the cab, even with heather hoses shut off at engine. Now, I dare say one would often get a comparable reading working in the field, but remember the rear end and bull gears or planetaries will only be turning 30% as fast in a field situation. I never did that again, I bought a lowbed trailer, and I doubt if I ever roaded a tractor more than 5 miles after that. By the way, the 4,000 lb implement I was pulling 20" tires, hubs were warm, in fact we had to install new bearings in one of them before putting it to work.
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