Parade Tractors

[skyhightree1]

Does anyone in here participate by driving their tractors in parades in there county or surrounding areas? We have been doing it for years and I want to do something different. I think maybe this year I want to take the tractor we mostly use and put some strobe lights in the headlight and different parts of the tractor. I also thought about putting a big sound system in it that will definately stick out as well as a oooga horn. I may clean up my cub and let my son drive it behind me while he pulls a trailer with his sister throwing candy off. Any ideas of what to do different than just have a clean tractor driving down the road ?

 

[Bigfoot]

I have had several antique tractors over the years. Most I just admired in their work clothes. I have from time to time restored one. I usually end up selling it. I don't know why I do, I just do. My intent when I restore one is to make it as near OEM standards, as I possibly can. That's just the way I like to see them in my shed. With that said, my favorite antique tractors to look at, when I'm at a show is the really unique ones. A white IHC with red rims. Maybe a flat black JD. I wouldn't do it to mine, but I like looking at them.

I've got an 8n, that I bought to restore. It's became my go to tractor, so I doubt I ever restore it. It's my spray tractor for sure. I also use it to work my arena with. It's one back rim, away from being perfect. It's also got a little bushhog with it, that is perfect for clipping around barns etc. with. I know if I take it apart, and bring it back from the ground up, that I won't be using it anymore. I'm just going to use it the way it is, and drive it in tours.

 

[skyhightree1]

Yea the tractor I want to alter is a modern tractor I guess you would say. The cub wll remain the same even keep the 6v battery I like seeing them restored to better than show room condition. I remember the pics of your 8n very nice tractor.

 

[James T]

Have attended quite a few ag parades and the more interesting tractors have either been incredibly old, but restored, tractors or some of the giant ones. The newer standard size tractors usually stood out due to decorations and they always pulled some sort of trailer decked out with a band or some sort of theme.

 

[John SD]

I've got an 8n, that I bought to restore. It's became my go to tractor, so I doubt I ever restore it. It's my spray tractor for sure. I also use it to work my arena with. It's one back rim, away from being perfect. It's also got a little bushhog with it, that is perfect for clipping around barns etc. with. I know if I take it apart, and bring it back from the ground up, that I won't be using it anymore. I'm just going to use it the way it is, and drive it in tours.

About keeping things original .... to my knowledge, you can't buy a new OEM style rim for a 8N. 20 yrs ago CaCl ate a hole in the metal band inside the rim. So I bought a new rim and it was modern style.

Could probably repair the OEM rim to use a tube in the tire, or just patch any holes in the rim, clean up the beads, and go tubeless :idea:

 

[Quigly]

We have a couple old tractors that get pulled into service when there is a float that needs pulled in a parade, or for hay rack rides. I personally hate tractors with strobe lights, exhaust systems designed to be loud, or worst of all, horns that play dixie. Its supposed to be a farm implement, not a clown car, I dont want to follow that in a parade for two hours. That being said, I'm sure someone out there likes that kind of thing, all the kids would point at it. It's just too gaudy for me. If I wanted to stand out, I would hitch it to an old piece of machinery you dont see anymore. I would probably not stop to look at an old restored M because I have seen so many of them, but if it had a mounted two row picker on it, I would probably stop and take some pictures. The trick is drawing everyone's attention without looking like you are trying to draw everyone's attention.

 

[skyhightree1]

We have a couple old tractors that get pulled into service when there is a float that needs pulled in a parade, or for hay rack rides. I personally hate tractors with strobe lights, exhaust systems designed to be loud, or worst of all, horns that play dixie. Its supposed to be a farm implement, not a clown car, I dont want to follow that in a parade for two hours. That being said, I'm sure someone out there likes that kind of thing, all the kids would point at it. It's just too gaudy for me. If I wanted to stand out, I would hitch it to an old piece of machinery you dont see anymore. I would probably not stop to look at an old restored M because I have seen so many of them, but if it had a mounted two row picker on it, I would probably stop and take some pictures. The trick is drawing everyone's attention without looking like you are trying to draw everyone's attention.

No danger in me getting a horn that plays Dixie... My exhaust system is factory. Well if we are on the subject of it being farm equipment and not a clown car and you don't want to follow it in a parade for 2 hours... I gotta say that statement is humerous to me because you just said its supposed to be farm equipment... Farm equipment wasn't designed to be driven in a parade so you digging out those old tractors and driving them in a parade surely isn't its intended usage right :roll: :roll: :tiphat: Attaching an old piece of farm equipment good idea if you are in a farm equip parade however in a parade that is for kids mostly and some adults that would be pretty silly IMO to think you are standing out when the only way you are standing out is when most people are saying WTF is that ? When doing a parade you need to stop and think about who your audience is and who you are parading for. Are you parading for yourself or others enjoyment? Its also not about drawing attention but doing something not usual. Hopefully since I pointed out tractors are not intended to be parade items next time you did those old tractors out for a parade be sure to hook a turn plow to it and use it for its intended purpose and plow up the road. :tiphat:

 

[chippie]

I enjoy tractor parades and to me, much of the charm is hearing the old engines (especially the two-cylinder).
I am not a fan of loud music drowning everything out. You can hear that when you go to town.

 

[skyhightree1]

I enjoy tractor parades and to me, much of the charm is hearing the old engines (especially the two-cylinder).
I am not a fan of loud music drowning everything out. You can hear that when you go to town.

No doubt I enjoy that too but for a kid which is why I do the parade they enjoy noise and flashy things.

 

[Quigly]

So the actual goal is to attract and impress small children. I'm confident flashing lights and novelty horns would do that. You should fashion a stack that looks like a smoke breathing dragon, maybe mount a pirate flag to the three point, or pull a taffy crank that runs of the pto, that would actually be pretty awesome.

My tractors aren't made to be in a parade, that's a certainty. I'm probably not going to alter them to be a better fit for one either, other than a good bath. We usually have to unhook it from the mower or rake anyway if we want to use it. If I'm going to have a tractor, it has to have a use other than to drive around town and call it pretty. My tractors are like my cattle, they can look nice but they still have to earn a living.

 

[skyhightree1]

My tractors are like my cattle, they can look nice but they still have to earn a living.

I don't have any cattle... all my tractors are for show... they have never been on dirt actually.