Farm Equipment - Does wheelbase matter

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Does wheelbase matter

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=168154
Printed Date: 15 Aug 2025 at 9:38am
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Topic: Does wheelbase matter

Posted By: BrianC
Subject: Does wheelbase matter
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 4:45pm

What is the effect of wheelbase when 3pt plowing or disking?

Maybe a D15 (87") vs. a Ford 3000 (76") both about 4000 pounds and 40HP.

Replies:

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2020 at 4:56pm

Longer wheelbase GENERALLY rides smoother. As far as plowing, you need enough WEIGHT on the nose (regardless of length) to keep it down on the ground and enough weight for proper traction on the rear.

Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2020 at 11:09pm

Having the same weight, but at a further distance from center of the rear hubs, will move the center of gravity forward, AND increase the polar inertia, which will be seen as 1) a greater propensity to keep the front wheels on the ground, and 2) a slower rate of pitch (nose up and down) and yaw (swing right to left) under change of traction circumstances.

A longer wheelbase doesn't necessarily mean the center of gravity is farther forward, but it often does, simply because the whole machine is longer.

While a longer wheelbase tractor may be able to turn within the same minimum radius, the outer circle that it swings will be greater, so end-of-row direction change will be more forgiving of the shorter-wheelbase machine.

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Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2020 at 7:56am

The one thing my uncle had observed on his ground, was the longer wheel base, as in the front wheels being set farther forward from the weight/engine meant that there was not as much weight carried on them as if the front wheels were set back under the engine. Which meant when on soft ground, you got stuck quicker. That was one of the criterias he wanted when he bought a new tractor, a long wheel base... and bigger front tires than factory issue.

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