moving trailer with lawn tractor

[Bayou Dave]

Has anyone actually put a hitch on a lawn tractor to move their boat and trailer around? I have a new Craftsman yard tractor with 24 h.p. I can attach a scoop or snow plow on it so it should be pretty rugged. I am concerned about moving my 19' boat and trailer around my hot top driveway and ruining my brand new yard tractor. A blown transmission comes to mind. The boat weighs around 2350 lbs. empty. Would a front or rear hitch be best?

 

[briangcc]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Yeah. It's ok on flat pavement. Gets real dicey and downright dangerous on ANY kind of incline....especially trying to stop.

The used lawn tractor that was purposed for moving the boats about in the storage building had the hitch on the rear that way the driving wheels were always in contact with the pavement. Steering got interesting though... This was one of the annual chores I got to do with the car club as they stored boats in the winter in their building.


**Don't take this as an endorsement to go out and do it. Having witnessed one too many close calls with that tractor, I'll use my Tundra to move the boat around.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Tried it with my Wheel Horse 520H and it would do it on the flat pavement, but not the grass and on inclines, just dug holes.. But my boat / trailer is over 6300 lbs and the steering got a "little light". LOL

They make a hitch that goes on the front of a truck that makes moving stuff around a breeze. Those that have them, swear by them.

 

[emilsr]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I tried that with my 13hp Murray a few years ago with a 20' bowrider.....didn't work so well.

They used bigger Craftsman tractors with hydrostatic drive to move planes around our local FBO (airport) but nothing too big; probably not more than 4k lbs. Without hydrostatic drive it was very jerky and hard on the nose gear. They were simply towing though; no weight on the toungue.

The other thing is your 2,350lb boat probably weighs closer to 4,000 lbs on the trailer with gear in it. You might get away with it on perfectly flat ground but I sure wouldn't suggest it. If you try it, make sure someone has the video camera ready.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I think you guys convinced me to forget the idea. Will probably get a hitch for the front of my Tahoe. Thanks for the comments. I knew someone here had some experience doing weird things..

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I knew someone here had some experience doing weird things..

You have no idea.....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I have one of these guys to move the boat in my sig. No way woudl I move it on hills unless I controlled my electric/hydraulic brakes with a switch.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

It looks like that thing would really do the trick. What is the brand name? Will I go broke buying one?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Yes you will go broke! Mine was $900+ and now is $1175

Power Caster,electric trailer mover dolly, boat dolly, toy hauler

These guys copied power caster
http://www.powermoverinc.net/

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Ouch!! Since I am only moving it about 75' a couple to times a week I will pass on that. Back to getting a hitch for the front of my truck.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I am actually going to sell mine. I was using it to get it into its current parking space but the real plan was moving the boat to the side of my house which I am not going to do.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I routinely moved my 17 foot Alumacraft Navigator and pontoon into and out of the garage with my Craftsman 20 HP and Hydrostatic tranny. As long as you stay on pavement it will work just fine. Here's a picture of my hitch.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Here's my little JD 110 in action, similar hitch to Silvertip there. Gravel drive, inclines, ice, mud, no sweat...

 

[matt167]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Depends on the transmission. If your Yard tractor has a Vari-drive type transaxle, then I wouldn't. It's an MTD transaxle that might as well have wooden gears. If it's a Hydro- Gear or tufftorq, then it should be fine, but a Hydro gear K5x or better would be best. The budget minded K46 common in HOP built Craftsmens doesn't take abuse well. Not even designed to mow on hills.

 

[emilsr]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Depends on the transmission. If your Yard tractor has a Vari-drive type transaxle, then I wouldn't. It's an MTD transaxle that might as well have wooden gears. If it's a Hydro- Gear or tufftorq, then it should be fine, but a Hydro gear K5x or better would be best. The budget minded K46 common in HOP built Craftsmens doesn't take abuse well. Not even designed to mow on hills.

Gears made of wood? Try plastic. Mine (1995 model Murray) lasted 10 years (with no towing) before it left me stuck halfway through the yard, but it was quite a shock to find that the transaxle didn't have metal (or even wooden) gears in it. Replaced the gear and kept mowing....gave it away finally and it's on plow duty now in northeastern Kansas. Long live Tecumseh engines!

 

[coolbri70]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

i tried my 12hp murry, and was going fine until my trailer tire hit a low spot, the tires on the mower would just spin, so i unhooked it and got the 4 wheeler out of the shedView attachment 179870 it works great in 4 low

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I've moved up to 5000 lbs with my CASE 444 hydro but it doesn't like it very much over 4000 (hard to keep front wheels on the ground)... I can handle slight grades but I avoid em... This machine has 265 75 16 rear tires with snow chains year round.
a little belt drive craftsman would likely be ok for a 12' tinny on flat ground only

 

[matt167]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

Gears made of wood? Try plastic. Mine (1995 model Murray) lasted 10 years (with no towing) before it left me stuck halfway through the yard, but it was quite a shock to find that the transaxle didn't have metal (or even wooden) gears in it. Replaced the gear and kept mowing....gave it away finally and it's on plow duty now in northeastern Kansas. Long live Tecumseh engines!

Yep. The current models actually have ABS plastic housings. MTD went as far as put the old transaxles behind 20hp Onan powered tractors spinning 50" decks. The mower mechanic I used to use ( closed up ), put the transaxle from a 990A ( Full size garden tractor ) in one

 

[mrdancer]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

If your tractor cost less than $2500 or so, then it likely has the K46 transmission. It will usually tell you on the placard underneath the seat, or at least give you a number to cross-reference. As mentioned, the K46 is not designed for towing, or mowing on hills! However, if you're on level smooth pavement, you "should" be OK - just don't run it hard for more than a few minutes, especially when it's hot outside.

As an aside, make sure the housing around the tranny stays clean so that it stays cool. Heat is what kills these trannies. They are designed to be non-serviceable, but if you are handy, you can do some maintenance on them (search the lawn tractor forums).

If you need a small tractor to do heavy work, and you are on a budget, it is usually better to buy a 10-year-old used tractor (that cost $4-$5k when new) for the same price as that new $2000 tractor.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: moving trailer with lawn tractor

I looked in my books and it has a Peerless Transaxle 206-565. Not sure it that is good or bad, but at least it is not an MTD.
Now I am leaning towards the hitch that Silvertip has. Worse case is that I get the hitch, the boat won't move and I have to buy attachments for the mower to justify buying the hitch.