4 Safety Practices to Engage In When Using a Tractor
If you are in the market to purchase a tractor to use around your property, it is vitally important that you know how to safely use your tractor so that no one is injured while you are using your tractor.
#1: Don't Track Riders with You
Most tractors are designed to carry only one person at a time. You should not take extra passengers with you if your tractor was only designed for one person. They will not have a safe place to sit, and if you hit a bump, they could get hurt or injured.
Even if your passenger is a child, you shouldn't allow them to sit on your lap in order to get a tractor ride. This is unsafe, and even a small passenger, such as a child, will not be adequately protected.
Tractors are not for giving rides and are not for transporting multiple people; stick to a single person in the operating seat.
#2: Keep Away from Embankments and Ditches
Try to keep your tractor away from embankments as well as ditches. Ideally, give these types of structures at least a few feet of clearance. Oftentimes, the dirt near embankments and ditches are weak and prone to crumbling. There is a good chance that they may not be able to handle the weight of your tractor, resulting in your tractor sliding into the ditch or embankment even though you had some clearance. This presents an entirely new problem that you will have to deal with. You'll have to get your tractor towed, and your tractor could have sustained damage to its parts by sliding down an embankment.
#3: Keep Your Balance
When you have to go uphill, make sure that you keep your balance. It can be easy to tip over when you are climbing a hill. To avoid tipping over, make sure that you spread your wheels out as widely as possible to help keep your tractor balanced. Also, try to keep any load that you are hauling as centered and balanced as possible. Doing these two things should help your tractor keep its balance as it navigates uphill.
#4: Watch Where You Hitch
When you need to use your hitch, you should only attach it to your drawbar. You should not attach your hitch to your seat bracket, nor should you attach it to your axle. Attaching your hitch to either the axle or the seat bracket could cause your tractor to lose its balance and increase the chance that your tractor may tip backward.
Employ the four tips below to ensure the safe operation of your new tractor. Talk to a company such as Chenango Supply Co Inc to learn more.