Re: Moving a boat aroud the garage?
My tractor is only a low end 12 hp Dynamark, made by Noma, the same people that make Sears tractors. I trash picked mine years ago and it's absolutely amazed me at what it will move. Forget the front hitch, you will not only overload the front tires but the steering on most garden tractors won't take it for long and you will have no traction. I just sit sideways and maneuver as needed. I've actually considered turning the seat sideways but just never bothered. I also use it to pull a small yard cart around. I've used that tractor to move triaxle equipment trailers. I've been most amazed that I haven't yet broken the rear axle with all the weight I've had on it. The back of my seat if pretty banged up from it rearing up trying to move stuck trailers, but it's always got it done, even if I've had to stack weight up on the hood to keep the front end down. Mine even had those small rear tires, maybe 10" overall. I just bolted the smallest ball in the rear hitch hole, the tongue weight has always held the trailers down. Don't be too picky in finding a tractor if all you plan to do is move trailers. Pretty much anything that runs and starts and moves under it's own power will work. I've even used rear engine mowers before with no problems. If your running on soft dirt or have steep inclines, a larger tire machine would be better. None of them have much for brakes, but they don't go very fast. Hydrostat solves that problem as well. I have four garden tractors here, with two being converted for doing odd jobs like moving trailers and pulling things around. One is a huge MTD with a 20hp twin cylinder and hydrostat drive, the problem with that one is that it don't turn as sharp or fit into tight spaces as does the smaller, lesser quality belt drive tractor. Even when wet, I've never had a problem with belt slippage and the belt is over 15 years old. The only thing I wish it had was manual recoil start, that way I wouldn't have to buy a new battery for it every few years. Mine has sat outdoors since I got it back in the late 80's, it's held up fine other than faded paint and a trashed seat. If I ever get around to it, I will fill the rear tires with antifreeze to add some rear weight too. I also tossed the decks on both pulling machines. They tend to get hung up on roots and stumps in my yard. (The first machine came to me with a slightly damaged deck, after a few dates with some roots and stumps, it was a ball of scrap tin dragging underneath).