3 point weight capacity

[Sweats62]

My wife want's me to call my tractor rep to solve this problem but I work at a job where off-duty phone calls are frowned upon so I'll use this forum against her better judgement.

I own a CUT with a 3 pt hitch capacity of 1,860 lbs at 24" behind the link arms. I just bought a 300 gal pull behind sprayer. The framework on the trailer looks pretty substantial. The axle is near the rear end of the tank. If I'm doing basic math right just the weight of a full tank will be very close to 2,500 lbs. I know for certain the tongue won't handle this kind of weight regardless of where the axle is placed. I'm looking at attaching the sprayer to the 3 point via a drawbar.

Beyond this I'm not even sure what questions to ask. Anybody got any experience in this area?

 

[wkpoor]

Yep Sure Do.... get a bigger tractor LOLOLOL

 

[RoyJackson]

First, what does the sprayer's manual say about tongue weight? Once you determine that you can determine if the tractor can handle it.
Second, what tongue weight can your tractor handle? That will be in your manual. (Hint: it's 882 pounds maximum)

As far as making a phone call...don't you have breaks or a lunch break?

If all else fails, just fill the sprayer ½-¾ way.

Here's a link that may be of interest to you:
Trailer Towing, Page 1 of 2

While you're reading your tractor manual, pay particular attention to the hazards of towing a heavy load.

 

[JRP]

If you can put 1800 lb 24" behind the 3pt then the load capacity for a drawbay on the 3pt will be much more. The 1800 lb is safe lifting capacity. If you are pulling a trailer then you won't have to lift it, only support the toung weight. Toung weight won't be more than 25-35% of the trailer weight. You should be fine.

Suggestions:

1. Pull with the 3pt low to the ground. If it is higher than your axle then you risk the tractor pulling over backwards if the trailer stops.

2. The most obvious one - start with the tank less than full and see how well it pulls and handles. 300 gallons is a lot. If you only fill the tank 1/2 full you probably could carry the tank on the 3pt, which eliminates the difficulty of backing a trailer up.

I carry this 300 gallon tank behind my Kubota M6800, but it is pretty big and I
have an FEL for ballast.


Tractors cal pull a very loaded trailer.

Hope this helps

 

[JRP]

The tank

 

[Sweats62]

wkpoor, the bigger tractor joke never gets old. Thanks for the levity, you got a chuckle

Roy, I should have mentioned I picked up the sprayer used and no paperwork came with it. I'm not sure how to translate tongue weight otherwise but will learn. I know I was looking at a tractor that had a tongue weight capacity of 675 lbs but am glad to have opted for the specs offered on my purchase.

As far as the phone call, time management, task assignment and I have been bedfellows since 1984 when I left Bloomsburg, PA for a 20 year stint with Uncle Sam. My wife of 18 years (a military brat) is a trooper and can handle a jab or two. She pokes me back as hard as any PA girls I've known. No, I shouldn't make the calls while I'm on the clock. Thanks for the advice just the same.

 

[john_bud]

I'm looking at attaching the sprayer to the 3 point via a drawbar.

Beyond this I'm not even sure what questions to ask. Anybody got any experience in this area?

First of all, we're much better than the dealer! Right guys? (at least we think we are, we are free and worth every penny)

Next, there is a difference between the 3 point and the drawbar. In fact, they don't interact normally. You don't pull a trailer with the 3pt. It doesn't have any resistance to upward motion, so the trailer can go up when you don't want it to and then you have the trailer tongue popping off the ball and ramming into the back of the seat. (ouch)

The drawbar is where you attach a ball and tow from. The drawbar can handle the tongue weight of the trailer. No problem.


Attached is a picture of the 3 ways to discuss the back of the tractor. First is W0 - the 3pt lift capacity at the ends. W1 is the implement weight (usually 24" back) and W2 is the draw bar tongue weight. W2 is the spec you need for your machine. Kubota calls them "W" for weight, may be called something else by a different company. HTH

jb

 

[George2615]

1860# is your 3 pt. lift cap. You should have no problem towing the 2500#sprayer behind you since it has its own axle. You say the sprayer axle is toward the rear so the tongue weight on your 3 pt. drawbar will depend on how long the pipe or bar is that will attach to your drawbar. Even if the sprayer axle is all the way behind the sprayer tank then it stands to reason that axle and your 3 pt. will equally share the weight of about 1200-1300# which shouldn't be a problem.

 

[RoyJackson]

John Bud has a very good point about the 3PH can rise quite easily. That's something to beware of...but as long as the tractor is going slow, I don't see this as an issue.
I also think the draw bar would work My calculations show a 350 to 450 lb tongue weight...but I'm assuming the 2500 lbs is correct and the sprayer weighs 500 lbs empty.
It's quite important to use the correct size ball to fit the trailer to reduce the potential of the tongue jumping off. I did not use the correct sized ball when towing an empty trailer (small flatbed) with a pick up. Fortunately, I wasn't going fast and had check chains rigged. This incident was more embarassing then dangerous.

Sweats62 will also have to consider the inertia of the sprayer. In this case, inertia would be the momentum as he's driving. That weight behind his tractor (a 3203 Deere) could push his machine when trying to stop.

 

[wushaw]

John Bud, I did that just a few weeks ago with a 4X9 trailer I use for hauling deadfall and fresh cut stuff to the brush pile...it did pop off the ball and ran right into the back of the seat...I was behind the trailer just loading her up so I was out of the way
I do have a saftey chain that attaches to the drawbar to keep this kind of thing from happening.