My budy is giving me a garden tractor

[mcgill]

Hello to all on iboat



my budy is giving me a garden tractor. To pull a 18.6 foot bass boat 2000 pounds in and out of my yard. What size trackor will it have to be to do the job. Also what will i need to do to atach the trackor to the bass boat trialer need help first time.



Thank you

 

[Bondo]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Ayuh,... If yer Bud is giving you a tractor, I guess trying it will tell ya if it's Big enough...
You'll need to build a ball mount that's compatable with the height of the trailer...
Probably around 18" off the ground...

 

[Robbabob]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Basically what Bond-o says... Make sure it is rated to handle over 300 pounds tongue weight at the tow ball. You don't want it pivoting the front wheels off the ground or stauling the drive tires because it's not large enough.

If it's gonna be free, go large

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Could it be a subtle way to tell you to maintain your lawn

2000 lb boat....... have a 200 lb friend put their weight on the very back of the tractor with you sitting on it....... as stated above you will probably need to have a hitch built to accommodate the trailer tongue height.

 

[robert graham]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

If your yard/towing area is mostly smooth and level, this may work fine, but it's probably not going to be good or safe to try towing up or down hills. Can you imagine towing that boat down a hill and it gets away from you, it could be dangerous! Good Luck!

 

[DianneB]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

I use my 16 HP John Deere to move my 5000 pound boat around a relatively level yard frequently with no problem.

As everybody else says, you need to fabricate a solid hitch.

 

[scipper77]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

There is a tractor forum that I am a member of that is the I-boats of old garden tractors. I don't visit there much as I can't get excited about my riding mower like those guys do but they will give you more help than you could ever imagine. Seriously, these guys are insane with the tractor hobby.

I hope the mods don't mind me posting the name here but since it doesn't compete with I-boats or I-boats store I don't see any harm.

It's called "My Tractor Forum."

Mods feel free to edit if posting other forums is a no no.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

what would be cool is to build a weight rack on the front of the tractor like the tractor pull tractors have!!



Sorry let my inner redneck get out for a second

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

There is a tractor forum that I am a member of that is the I-boats of old garden tractors. I don't visit there much as I can't get excited about my riding mower like those guys do but they will give you more help than you could ever imagine. Seriously, these guys are insane with the tractor hobby.

I hope the mods don't mind me posting the name here but since it doesn't compete with I-boats or I-boats store I don't see any harm.

It's called "My Tractor Forum."

Mods feel free to edit if posting other forums is a no no.

I'm over there too ( same user name but no dashes ) usually in the Cub Cadet section. Plenty of good folks to help you there too.

Jeff

 

[jeeperman]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Maybe you will get lucky and it will be a vintage Cub Cadet.
Mine is 40 years old this year and moves my 4000lb rig around without effort.
And I can still steer too, LOL.

Make the ball hitch the same height as your tow vehicle.
That way you do not have to crank the jack any more than you have too.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

There is a tractor forum that I am a member of that is the I-boats of old garden tractors. I don't visit there much as I can't get excited about my riding mower like those guys do but they will give you more help than you could ever imagine. Seriously, these guys are insane with the tractor hobby.

I hope the mods don't mind me posting the name here but since it doesn't compete with I-boats or I-boats store I don't see any harm.

It's called "My Tractor Forum."

Mods feel free to edit if posting other forums is a no no.

We do not mind We know and received the warnings about your "insane tractor hobby"

No violation since the Tractor Forum is not (as far as I know) a direct competitor for boating supplies and accessories

 

[marlboro180]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

I tried moving my four winns with my 16 HP lawn mower, but it was way too weak, hard on the hydrostic drive,and did not steer well.

I moved it with a Mule 550 the other day, and it struggled.

I usually use the one with the front end loader. And it is only 18 HP Picture below.






Cheers!

 

[scipper77]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

18 HP can mean different things depending on the vintage and intended use of the tractor. A geared transmission is much stronger than the hydro units. Old garden tractors could do as much with 12 or 14 HP as new ones today do with 25 HP.

Then there is always the question of how strong is the frame of the tractor etc....

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Old garden tractors could do as much with 12 or 14 HP as new ones today do with 25 HP.

Thank you for saying what I have always thought....I grew up mowing 4 different properties with a couple of different 70's era 12 hp tractors, a Ford and a JD. They sure seemed to be stouter, both in power and frame strength than the ones that are 20+ today.

 

[64osby]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

I tried moving a 19' EZ Loader trailer to the back 40 the other day with my 18 hp 1970's Bolens. I have wheel weights on it. I got stuck on a little hill and had to put the chains on.

Of course there was also 8" of snow in the yard and my mower deck is still attached.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

We do not mind We know and received the warnings about your "insane tractor hobby"

No violation since the Tractor Forum is not (as far as I know) a direct competitor for boating supplies and accessories

"insane hobby"

It started with a 1968 Cub Cadet 125

But then you have to be able pick up your grass clippings

and move snow and dirt

then you realize you need weight to give the chains more "bite"

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

and need to buy headlights so you can see at night to remove snow

Works pretty good

Then you find out you can get other attachments like a rototiller rear lift, helper springs

You find out a friend will give you a real good deal on a 122 so you don't have to swap the mower deck for a snow blower

Oh, the 122 needs headlights too

I fail to find what part is "insane"

 

[NYBo]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Ah, memories! Last year, I gave my parents' 1968 Cub Cadet 125 to a guy at the local power equipment place. He got a gleam in his eye and asked me if I wanted to sell it the last time I went in for parts for it. Since I have a 5-year-old Craftsman that is in mint condition, I just told him to come and get it. Made his day/week/month.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

LOL, that is funny Jeff-in-PA because I am the boy on the back with my sister and brother back in 1969.
On Dad's 1968, 125, my butt has only sat on that one and two 127's when mowing grass.
Oh, no ugly external weights for Dad, he took the 125 to the Firestone dealer when new and they filled the rear tires with powdered lead.
I still remember us standing around while they scooped the stuff thru the sidewall. Betchya the EPA does not allow that anymore.

 

[BillP]

Re: My budy is giving me a garden tractor

Anyone remember the old 2 speed handlebar Gravely's with 8hp Robin engine? I had one that pulled my past 20' Proline around the yard without a problem. It would pull about 250' from the front yard to back yard and back down to launch off a rocky shore. It was nothing like today's lawn tractors but it had the gearing and durability to do the job.

My current lawn tractor is a Scotts "Made by John Deer" but its never towed any boats.

bp