Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

[mcgill]

Hello

can I use my lawn tractor, to pull my 3000 pound bass boat in and out of my garage. The yard is grassy . And if I did use a lawn tractor what size tractor would I need also how can I mount a hitch to it

I have a 21 hourse power Sears craftsman lawn tractor

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

Considering the relative light weight and large tire contact patch of most 'lawn' tractors, and considering you are on "grass very small hilly kind of yard ",I believe you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Cleated implement tires would help a lot as well as wheel weight, but, at a sacrifice to your lawn.
Personally, I would much perfer a front mounted hitch on the tow vehicle.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

If the hilly part requires the tractor to stop the load you are in big trouble. If the ground is level you might be ok. Just be aware that any towing requires both moving and stopping the load safely.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I used to tow twin engine airplanes with a John Deer lawn tractor.......

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

from another forum (not mine):

http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/59200-0-1.html

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

pictures!

how steep? I move boat around all the time with tractors, not a problem as long as it isn't too steep or wet grass. (as well as using a golf cart, and zero turn mower. You want a fun experience, try backing a trailer with a zero turn!) Craftsman tractors aren't exactly heavy duty, they are either made by AYP or MTD, either are roughly equal quality/weight. you most likely will need to fabricate your own hitch setup with a ball, if you haven't already.

Go around to any local boat yard, most probably have an older john deere garden tractor. I know of one local yard that has a JD 318 with a fabricated 3 point hitch. They can hydraulically raise/lower it, probably saves tons of time...

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

The only scary part is "hilly".
You do not want that 3000lbs pushing or pulling you and the tractor.
If it was pretty much flat, no problem.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I agree the "hill" part of the equasion is going to be your downfall. Lawn tractors do not have the tire grip or brakes to control a weight of that boat on a hill.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

+1 for the front mounted hitch on the tow vehicle.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I've moved boats around the yard and into and out of the garage but I have a 20 HP Craftsman with Hydrostatic tranny. Traction can still be an issue but I have a concrete drive and no hills so it works fine. Here is a picture of how I mounted the hitch ball. You need to have the ball much higher than the standard hitch location because the tongue jack would likely be dragging.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

i was in small engine repair class a few years ago and i learned something about tractors very few poeple look at. look at the back tires, are they bolted on like your car tires? or is it a shaft with 1 bolt in the center, or just a pin threw the axle?

if they are mounted like your cars tires with 4-5 bolts then it has a heavier rear end and could probably move the boat around the yard with no major issues. take in mind that 90% of tractors have a cheap rear end and you could blow your tranny because that is a lot of dead weight. you should get a bracket like the picture above putting the ball threw the hole where your pin goes for a trailer/roller/ext.. could bend it /break it.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I'm retired from a major tractor manufacturer, and have quite a bit of experience with lawn cutting equipment. There's a big difference between a Lawn and Garden Tractor and a Lawn Tractor--especially in pulling power and sheer weight.

For many years, lawn equipment manufacturers have been in a horsepower race--whether the frame, transmission and rear axle can handle the power. I attribute the horsepower race to the manufacturers being able to get Briggs, Kohler and Kawasaki engines at bargain basement prices. Sometimes you can get the whole riding mower cheaper than you can buy a new engine.

My neighbor has a big Sears 21 hp Lawn Tractor, and I see the Sears mechanic time after time at his house doing warranty work. His tractor's guts are not up to so much horsepower. I would not think about pulling my new boat with his Lawn Tractor.

It would be one thing to pull your boat around 20 or 30 feet on a flat concrete driveway--I might try it. But, I recently found myself pulling a load of firewood up a grassy hill on a 18 hp Lawn Tractor when I lost traction and started going backwards. It was frightening as I just about jack knifed and went into the lake.

On a grassy hill, I would want a real tractor under me--one with really good working brakes and 4 wheel drive.

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I would be very careful. The tires might spin!!!OM my!!!!! If you are pulling it down a hill and its behind you obviously its gonna run you over. Are you talking about just moving it on level ground. Of course you can. We use four wheelers to pull 18ft real fishing boats off the ramp all day,
But what do we know. We only boat 12 months a year.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

Get a Kubota compact tractor and eliminate the problem, lol.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

Get yourself an old JD, Ford, Cub, Grav. garden tractor $500. Manual transmission. Don't let the HP scare you. The old ones will only be 7 -10 HP. But these are powerhouses with tough rears. Mount a ball on the back and definitely one on the front. I have '65 JD. Use this set up on my 5000lb camper. Never a problem. I would not use a Hydro trans for pulling weight. They are not designed for heavy duty work just convenience. You may need to hang some weight off the frount ball of the tractor if your pulling anything with a 400lb tongue weight

 

[snwwlkr]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I moved my 16 ft Glastron fiberglass ski boat with 115 outboard around in the yard a little with my 21hp murray lawn tractor, yard is very gently sloping. It has the hydrostatic type belt tranny where the farther you push the foot pedal the faster it goes. It made some really strange jerky and whining sounds, generally didnt feel good so I decided it was a bad idea.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

Hydro transmissions don't do well for pulling loads. As the fluid heats under load, beyond normal, it causes shifting issues.

 

[ohioriverat]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I use my golf cart to pull my 19ft glastron 4.3 with no problems at all, my yard is sloped a little and i can back it right into place. I will say you could get into trouble if you get it moving to fast but if taking it slow i have no problems,YET!! It is still risky and i would not recommend a rookie try it, you could get hurt or damage both the boat and mower.. a large lawn tractor would be a better option.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

I would be very careful about sidehills. Tip the boat a bit and it'll take you and your tractor over.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Can I move my 3000 pound bass boat with a lawn tractor

it might get interesting when you try to slip the boat, but in and out of a garage i see no problems.