I need to transport a bumper-pulled grain cart from Boerne to South Texas and want to know the law(s) regarding this. I pulled it up here on the Interstate (15 or so years ago,) but forgot the route I took through (or around) San Antonio. It's 7-8' wide and 10' tall, and tu orange, so it's easily "seen", and I can pull it 60+ mph.
I'd just like to get through SA before the traffic gets real heavy, but sunup isn't until 7:49 (thanks LBJ!).

I have a call in to DPS for the "official word", but wanted to give the OB experts a chance to chime in... TIA

Edit to add: it has NO lights.

I'm in Dallas County, therefore Boerne IS in South Texas. You have arrived at your destination.

normaleagle05 said:

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I'm in Dallas County Canada, therefore Boerne IS in South Texas. You have arrived at your destination.

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FIFY

That was a good laugh!

can you put some temporary lights on it?

Measure it. If under 8' wide - you are fine.

https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits

It felt like it by the time I was done driving back from Medina yesterday.

"Implements of husbandry" are usually exempt from light and license requirements, as long as it's transported during daylight.

Sunday morning at sunrise is your friend

JSKolache said:

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Measure it. If under 8' wide - you are fine.

https://www.txdmv.gov/motor-carriers/oversize-overweight-permits/texas-size-weight-limits

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Ag implements are exempt for the most part...

https://www.txdmv.gov/component/docman/doc_download/1733-guide-to-moving-farm-equipment-and-agricultural-products-in-texas?Itemid=237

Width and Length Exceptions
Texas Transportation Code includes two exceptions for farm tractors and implements of husbandry (as defined by Texas Transportation Code, Section 541.201); a width exception and a length exception. A permit is not required if the vehicle used to haul the tractor or implement is being moved by the owner of the item, an agent, or owner's employee, and:

The implement is a harvest machine and the overall vehicle/vehicle combination transporting it does not exceed 75 feet long if traveling on Interstate highways, or not longer than 81 feet6 inches, excluding the truck tractor, if traveling in county with population less than 300,000 and not traveling on Interstate highways,

or; Vehicle is overwidth only and is being delivered to a new owner, moving to/ from a mechanic for repair/maintenance, or moving in the course of agricultural operations. Travel may not exceed 50 miles on Interstate highways.

Pull it down the Interstate or any 4 lane state highway and take your chances. I pulled a 750 bushel grain cart behind my pickup from Edna to Taft a few years ago. I made the mistake of taking the backroads thinking that dealing with less traffic would be the better option. The only problem with that is if the grain cart is large enough, you can't pull off the road into a ditch to make way for oncoming traffic. Also learned the hard way that if you get caught on a narrow bridge, it's a lot easier to make a bus back up than you trying to back up a grain cart you can't see behind. I should have just driven that sucker on the shoulder and outside lane of 59 and saved myself a lot of stress.

Bleck! How far do you have to go on I 10 with the bumper pool barriers?

From experience:
1. If the auger tube folds back, fold it back before transporting.
2. Check all of the lug nuts on both wheels to make sure they are tight.
3. If possible, use a large bolt for a pull pin with a flat washer on top and bottom and double nuts.
4. Put a slow moving vehicle placard on the back and drive down the highway.
5. As mentioned, Sunday morning will be best.

Back in the day it was under 8' wide and under 16' tall and you didn't need a special permit, though you would have to plan your route to ensure that it didn't hit lower overpasses or bridges.

Ag equipment usually gets a pass on most requirements as well.

Take at least 1 extra tire and wheel, cordless impact and 2 jacks

Pack your bearings.

BoerneGator said:

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I need to transport a bumper-pulled grain cart from Boerne to South Texas and want to know the law(s) regarding this. I pulled it up here on the Interstate (15 or so years ago,) but forgot the route I took through (or around) San Antonio. It's 7-8' wide and 10' tall, and tu orange, so it's easily "seen", and I can pull it 60+ mph.
I'd just like to get through SA before the traffic gets real heavy, but sunup isn't until 7:49 (thanks LBJ!).

I have a call in to DPS for the "official word", but wanted to give the OB experts a chance to chime in... TIA

Edit to add: it has NO lights.

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Where in STX are you going and when?

bmc13 said:

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can you put some temporary lights on it?

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I picked up some at Tractor Supply today after I "pulled my head out" and remembered they even exist.

Thanks for all the feedback. Forgot to make it clear my plan was to leave early tomorrow morning, but that got nixed when I discovered my truck needs a brake job. At this point, I may well opt to take it down Sunday morning after all, if I'm unable to get my truck ready to go tomorrow.

Good advice to pack the bearings, but that's a bigger job than I wanna mess with. So, I'll plan to check the hubs after a few miles at speed to determine if they are even heating up and go from there. As far as the suggested to take a spare tire, these are ~ 40" tall airplane tires, which can make that run with no air unloaded as it is. Bottom line, I don't have a spare - never did.

Quote:

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Where in STX are you going and when?

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I'm going to lower Live Oak County, between Dinero and Lagarto, just north of Mathis Lake. (I refuse to call it Lake CC). Gonna be going tomorrow afternoon, or likely Sunday. Wanna ride along? I could sure use a swamper...

BoerneGator said:

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north of Mathis Lake. (I refuse to call it Lake CC).

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Blue star just for this. I hated the name change.

Safe travels.

My ranch is between San Diego and Benavides, I'm headed there Thursday. I would be willing to follow you, just in case you have any problems or need any help.

AnScAggie said:

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My ranch is between San Diego and Benavides, I'm headed there Thursday. I would be willing to follow you, just in case you have any problems or need any help.

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Appreciate the kind gesture, but if I don't make it tomorrow, I'll hafta wait until Sunday because the buyer is leaving "town".

Special thanks to txyaloo for posting those links and quotes. I felt like I was good to go as is since I'd made the same trip 15 or so years ago, but in the reverse direction.

BoerneGator said:

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Good advice to pack the bearings, but that's a bigger job than I wanna mess with. So, I'll plan to check the hubs after a few miles at speed to determine if they are even heating up and go from there. As far as the suggested to take a spare tire, these are ~ 40" tall airplane tires, which can make that run with no air unloaded as it is. Bottom line, I don't have a spare - never did.

Quote:

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Where in STX are you going and when?

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I'm going to lower Live Oak County, between Dinero and Lagarto, just north of Mathis Lake. (I refuse to call it Lake CC). Gonna be going tomorrow afternoon, or likely Sunday. Wanna ride along? I could sure use a swamper...

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You have more guts than me. Ask the buyer to pay you a little extra to check the bearings, or at least make sure he understands that when you said you would deliver it, he knows you plan to pull it. I would hate to have to do the repairs on the side of the road. Have had some friends try your approach with an auger and they spent a lot of time looking for parts in BFE.

And be careful with the airplane tires, when they come off the bead or have flat spots from not being moved in a while, it can make for a very rough ride or worse.

How big of truck are you using? Have you considered renting or borrowing a trailer to haul it? If I was 100 miles closer to you I'd let you borrow one.

I've got friends that farm near your destination if you get in a bind.

I was a rancher/farmer most of my life. That's the definition of a risk taker. I am NOT risk averse! And remember, I pulled it 130 miles "up here" 15-20 years ago without incident. And it's been mostly idle since. No reason to suspect they need to be packed. That said, I'm not overly concerned about the bearings, but I shall pull it a few miles at hiway speed, then pull over and check to see if the hub is getting warm. I'll check it again after 15-20 miles, and if the hubs remain cool, I'll be golden.

Thanks again OB for all your concerns/suggestions, and offers to help! They are much appreciated!

schmellba99 said:

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Back in the day it was under 8' wide and under 16' tall and you didn't need a special permit, though you would have to plan your route to ensure that it didn't hit lower overpasses or bridges.

Ag equipment usually gets a pass on most requirements as well.

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I believe now its 14 feet tall and 8 1/2 feet wide and under don't need a permit.

Something else to check on in major cities if you have a wide load is a "curfew". For example Houston only allows wide loads between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. (I believe this only applies to weekdays). I imagine this probably opens up again at night, but we never dealt with that. They don't want wide loads slowing traffic even more than normal during rush hour.

You're definitely right about farmers taking on risk.

If you can actually get to 60mph, you'll have much better luck than I ever had pulling equipment that has sat around more than its been used.

Let us know how it goes, and safe travels.

I got your implements of husbandry right here

BoerneGator said:

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AnScAggie said:

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My ranch is between San Diego and Benavides, I'm headed there Thursday. I would be willing to follow you, just in case you have any problems or need any help.

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Appreciate the kind gesture, but if I don't make it tomorrow, I'll hafta wait until Sunday because the buyer is leaving "town".

Special thanks to txyaloo for posting those links and quotes. I felt like I was good to go as is since I'd made the same trip 15 or so years ago, but in the reverse direction.

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Did you take it already? I'll be down in that area over the weekend in case you get in bind and need some help.

Not yet. My plan is to move it Sunday. Thanks for the offer.

So how did it go? Where you able to get near 60mph?

I took it down today. Left Comfort ~ 5:45 am, and stopped in Boerne to check my wheel bearings. They were as cool as I was (okay, mebbe cooler), and I went through SA at 60 mph and 1,600 rpms on my little Dodge Ram between 6:15-6:30 in fairly light traffic, and with NO lights on the cart. I pulled it at about 65 mph most of the way South of SA. Only encountered a Boerne cop and a DPS trooper along the route, and both were occupied and paid me no mind. Made the 130 mile trip in 2 1/2 hours without a hitch!

Thanks again for the concerns and well wishes! I may move a 6 row disc plow (folded up) next. It'll" be a bigger challenge.

You have all the luck! What kind of plow are you selling?

It's an IH model 485, 20' tandem disc harrow. Bought it new 30 + years ago. Requires a 140+ HP tractor.

BoerneGator said:

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It's an IH model 485, 20' tandem disc harrow. Bought it new 30 + years ago. Requires a 140+ HP tractor.

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Take it apart and make discadas with the discs, scrap the rest, you'll make more money.

BoerneGator said:

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It's an IH model 485, 20' tandem disc harrow. Bought it new 30 + years ago. Requires a 140+ HP tractor.

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You don't happen to have an old school, manually adjustable, drag tooth harrow by chance? I have been looking for a 10-12' for quite some time.