(Newswire.net — August 5, 2019) — Farmers have used tractors to work more efficiently for decades. Tractors have a significant role to play in today’s agricultural industry and it’s rare to find a farm that doesn’t utilize one. These heavy-duty vehicles allow you to tow heavy machinery and trailers, thanks to their high level of torque. Many road drivers have also experienced the not so pleasant aspects of tractors, especially if you end up behind one on a long and winding road. Nonetheless, these remarkable vehicles are built for a purpose. Here are some fun facts about tractors that will make them even more interesting.
Fun Facts About Tractors
Some fun facts about tractors include that the fastest one can exceed 100 km/h, they have metal wheels and many more.
The Fastest Tractor Can Exceed 100km/h
Tractors are widely known for being super slow. They’re designed to be slow and trying to push them over the limit can tip the vehicle over or lead to issues such as an unstable frame. This makes it interesting that the land speed record for a tractor is 121km/h.
This feat was achieved back in 2012 by a Russian driver named Sergey Sukhovenko. However, he had customized and upgraded a 25-year-old Belarus Tractor, tweaking the engine and fuel injection capacities.
Metal Wheels
Instead of those characteristic tires we see on tractors today, early tractors that were used in the 1930’s feature metal wheels. Thanks to advancements in technology, tractors have some extremely effective tires. Tractors from this earlier era were fully dedicated to farmland use. The metal wheels were laden with metal spikes and plates to achieve the level of traction required to make them useful. It goes without saying that these tractors couldn’t be used on the road.
These tractors were huge, heavy and powered by steam. They were very difficult to use and maintain. Steam-powered tractors were also cumbersome and unsuitable for use on the rough and muddy life on the farm. They soon gave way to the internal combustion engine in the early 1900s. Soon after, manufacturers started to compete on creating a more user-friendly tractor and transmission that would be efficient in all the harsh conditions in the field.
Millions of Tractors
There are as many as 16 million tractors in operation, which shows how influential these heavy-duty vehicles have become. That’s many vehicles dedicated to a specific purpose.
Because of the sheer volume of tractors used today, it is believed that as much as a third of the energy used in agricultural production and farming today comes from tractors. This demonstrates how valuable they are to modern farming and on the road. This is also another reason why it’s important to maintain your tractor accordingly.
Origins of The Word
The word tractor, like many other words in the English language, originates from a Latin word which literally means to pull. Other words that share the same etymology include the word traction.
Bottom Line
Did you also know that automobile companies were the first companies to dominate the tractor market and that affordable tractors in the early 20th century helped launch the agricultural revolution? Those are just some of the fun facts about tractors and their powerful transmissions.