Kids Tractor License Test??

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

My 5 year old son was asking me today "dad... where can I get my tractor license?" I told him he has to take a test. So.... it got me thinking of posting here to ask for a series of challenges/tasks he will need to do on one of his tractors as a test in order to PASS the test. Post up what you think he should be able to do on the tractor... This should be fun..... :)

[AMC RULES 37,127]

Definitely...smooth clutch operation, means no poppin' wheelies son.

Edited December 26, 2012 by DUAL AGS RULE

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

Back when my kid was just learning to drive on an MTD rear engine rider I made panic/emergency stops the top priority. He had to be able to stop the tractor as fast as possible with the brakes and turn the key to "off".

Mike..........

[Kelly 1,029]

Taking off safely, stopping safe and maybe even at a given point, driving around a few cones or like objects and not touch them, backing up, how to properly start and shut off the machine, you know like car stuff we have to learn.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

I know this is a bit but its amazing that no one has been injured at the WH show by a young-un. There are kids of all ages and skill levels tooling around the show grounds weaving thru the crowds and displays with little to no adult supervision.

Hopefully no one ever gets run over or injured as that will change the whole show.

Mike.........

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Mike,

I am not sure of the particulars however they shut down the see-saw last year because a kid got hurt.

[fireman 1,021]

A woman also flipped last year. WHCC was told one more incident and it's all over. I don't think you will see the teeter toter at the show this year!

Edited December 27, 2012 by fireman

[Iggy68 28]

Start off with an inspection of the tractor first. Maybe let some air out of tire. Things like that.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Maybe start off with some type of maintenance check list....doesn't have to be too detailed, but just enough so the youngster realizes these "toys" will last several life-times with proper/routine maintenance.

This will be embedded into his mind and he will be ready to do it to his very own car, truck or GT.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Like it ! keep them coming. I just reviewed your replies with him between playing slap jack and go fish....

[Kelly 1,029]

And when he passes you have to print out a official looking licence and laminate it for him, if he hangs on to it in 20+ years it will be a memory of the times spent with Dad and the tractors.

[GlenPettit 1,716]

I like the "Chain Drop" game" (as a part of the test):

A 2 or 5 gal empty bucket is buried to level with the ground, a hole.

A 10' or 20' chain is hooked to the back (or front) of the tractor,

then the tractor is slowly driven forward and back to gradually

drop the whole length of the chain into the bucket.

A lot of motor & visual skills, plus good judgement & patience.

A year or two ago, someone had Wheel Horse Licenses or Certificates for sale on eBay - would be easy to make up a nice one.

[wallfish 16,980]

What a great idea!

All the stuff mentioned already with an emphases on safety and being able to stop in an emergency,

I guess if he can back up a trailer, he would be a better driver than most.

[sscotsman 148]

Tractors can be dangerous! even for adults!

IMO there should be a "minimum age" for a kid to drive a tractor..

(not that it needs to a law or anything like that..but just common sense)

I would place it at 10 years old.

thats old enough to fully understand all the rules, and old enough to *implement* those rules quickly in a tricky situation!

anything younger IMO is simply too young..a danger to themselves and others, just because the maturity, comprehension,

and physical (coordination, and safe body size) levels simply aren't there yet.

Scot

[roscoemi 245]

I will disagree with Scot on this. P'Chop started on a battery tractor at 2yrs old, on slow speed. I put out jugs for him to aim for and around and talked him thru the coridination to operate it. He quickly figured it out. When he was about 4, we started on the danger situations and how to avoid them and how to react. He learned to maneuver by the drop off out back safely, watch for traffic by the street, dodge around the dogs and kids in the yard, and back his little trailer around to help Mom with yard work. He has been driving with me on my tractors since about the same time. At nine, he has his own tractor. He knows it is not a toy, how to operate it and how to take care of it from fluid changes to knowing the brakes need adjusting. I have taken the time to teach him, and feel very comfortable letting him operate it.

I think a test of basic operation and some what if situations would cover it, like having him driving in the yard and you and mabe a helper toss jugs out to simulate people or dogs in his path. Nothing too complicated. If they drive with their head on a swivel and know what's around them, then they will be fine.

[fireman 1,021]

Tractors can be dangerous! even for adults!

IMO there should be a "minimum age" for a kid to drive a tractor..

(not that it needs to a law or anything like that..but just common sense)

I would place it at 10 years old.

thats old enough to fully understand all the rules, and old enough to *implement* those rules quickly in a tricky situation!

anything younger IMO is simply too young..a danger to themselves and others, just because the maturity, comprehension,

and physical (coordination, and safe body size) levels simply aren't there yet.

Scot

I second what Scot said. My 10 Y/O last year drove into the side of one of the buildings at the show. Good thing he was only like a foot away when he slipped off of the pedal and it was still in gear. No damage to the building or the tractor! That's also why we have a minimum driving age. I don't even feel that todays kids are responsible to start driving at even 16. To many persons and property can get hurt.

Just want to add that my 10 Y/O has been driving tractors since he was 4 and in my opinion is a very safety conscious driver. He also has been shooting since he was 5 and is a marksman with my AR15, M1 Garand and M1 Carbine and always practices safe shooting skills. I consider him very mature for his age.

Edited December 27, 2012 by fireman

[baerpath 517]

I don't know about that one Scot, We do a run through in the pulling club for kids to pull, 5yrs and up can pull with supervision (someone walks beside the tractor) They pull in the 8hp stock class starting the pull, pulling and clutching at the end and drive back to the trailer some of them really get the hang of it and drive better than their parents.

Depends on what there brought up doing. I think Stevebo's doing a good thing I know his son's been around the tractors and he'll be fine once he gets his license

Duane

[Kelly 1,029]

My kids have grown up around my race cars all their lives, and know what a 3000lb car can do, and they respect them, the tractors are no different, they respect them, and know how to drive them, and have been since they were big enough to operate them, my kids this year started pulling farm tractors, and at one show a guy there told me and my son he was to small, then the president of the club stepped up and told him he has watched my son at other pulls and can drive the tractor as well as most of the adults there, he got to pull and took a trophy home that day, even against the guy that said he was to small, my son was 12 at the time, and was pulling a MM in the 5000lb class, I'm not saying ALL kids can or should drive tractors but some are brought up from the beginning around machinery and know the dangers and how to use the machinery, I know adults that should not be allowed to drive a tractor.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Good comments all. Here is my son on his tractor driving it for the very first time a few years ago. I believe he was 2. And another one now at 5 years old ..

[Martin 2,131]

just read through this whole thread, have to agree, different situations for different kids. some grow up in an environment where they are around farm machinery/gt's from a very young age and i think it the minimum age thing is going to be a lot less for some than others. maturity level is going to vary. just like that of adults................

one thing that hasnt been addressed is this.....

i think they should have to pay for their own gas, i could easily end up broke from a weekend of kent burning that stuff like theres no tomorrow............. :twocents-02cents:

Edited December 27, 2012 by Martin

[SousaKerry 501]

My 8 year old son who has been driving since 3 is safer then my 17 year old step son who has only been driving for the last 3 years. Just ask Kelly

So it really depends on the kid...

I was mowing lawn at 7 and plowing fields by 10 or 11 and only ran over Mom's foot once with the wagon. But as a farm kid it was more of a necessity.

Edited December 27, 2012 by Sousakerry2

[6wheeler 603]

I agree, Maturity level has alot to do with it. When I was young we had to learn to run equipment on the farm and we all started very young. I was operating tractors and milking cows at 8 years old. More out of necessity than anything else. But here is a thought for you. Check with your local 4H club. They have a tractor safety training class that covers riding mowers all the way up to the largest machinery out there. And they work with various age levels. Plus, as a side note. This may just interest your children into joining and learning alot of different things and experiences. Good Luck

[Duff 206]

I'm with 6wheeler above. I don't know how active 4H is in your area, but I went through the program as a kid along with Cub and Boy Scouts and it was one of the best learning experiences I ever had. Made a lot of life-long friendships as well. Our local 4H Club had an Auto Mechanics program taught by a salty old wrench who had a one-bay garage in town back in the day. 50 years later, I still use many of the skills he taught us kids!

On a side note, I'll be picking up your 310-8 from Will this Saturday!

Duff :thumbs:

Edited December 27, 2012 by Duff

[JC 1965 1,530]

I think It's ok for the kids to drive the tractors. I do believe that safety should really be discussed with them so they will know what to do if something breaks or malfunctions. When my daughter was small she wanted to help me cut the grass but I didn't like the idea of her driving the tractor with the mower deck running so I told her she would have to wait a little longer for that. So when I would get done cutting grass I would let her drive the tractor around the yard. I would not let her use third gear. I also had a kill switch rigged up with a strap that hooked to her shirt so if she fell off the engine would shut down. she never had any close calls and just the other day she was telling my grand daughter about how she use to drive my tractor when she was a little girl. My daughter just turned 44 on the 7th.

[baerpath 517]

"I second what Scot said. My 10 Y/O last year drove into the side of one of the buildings at the show. Good thing he was only like a foot away when he slipped off of the pedal and it was still in gear. No damage to the building or the tractor! That's also why we have a minimum driving age. I don't even feel that todays kids are responsible to start driving at even 16. To many persons and property can get hurt."

Last year at one of the pulls an adult puller, (he's pulled for years) got off his running puller and hit the shifter with his foot putting it in gear,ran him over bounced off another puller's tractor then ran into a chain link fence.

Accidents happen no matter how old you are.