Aircraft/Tow Adaptor

[PTBill]

Looking to move a trailer with the PT425 using the Aircraft/Tow Adaptor. Any ideas how much weight the PT425 could move a short distance? Tandem trailer probably weighs between 5000 - 6500 lbs. I know little to nothing about towing. Thanks Bill

 

[grsthegreat]

Looking to move a trailer with the PT425 using the Aircraft/Tow Adaptor. Any ideas how much weight the PT425 could move a short distance? Tandem trailer probably weighs between 5000 - 6500 lbs. I know little to nothing about towing. Thanks Bill

Hauling on flat ground, hills, do you know the weight at the tow hitch point?

 

[PTBill]

Hauling on flat ground, hills, do you know the weight at the tow hitch point?

Pretty flat ground but a little bumpy. I don't know the weight at the tow hitch point. I want to move the trailer about 100ft out of a barn and be able to put it back when I'm done.

 

[grsthegreat]

According to the link below, that unit has a rated 800# lifting capacity.

But this is the weight its actually lifting. Ie…..the weight of the trailer tongue.

The majority of the weight is carried by the wheels of the trailer. If you dont know what this weight is, im not sure how to answer this.

PT425 lift capacity

And now a question from someone who is only in the very early early stages of the PT purchase process... Is the 800lb lift capacity of a PT425 considered to be a lot? What would be the lift capacity of something like a small Kubota or John Deere with a front-end loader? Also, what limits the...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[PTBill]

According to the link below, that unit has a rated 800# lifting capacity.

But this is the weight its actually lifting. Ie…..the weight of the trailer tongue.

The majority of the weight is carried by the wheels of the trailer. If you dont know what this weight is, im not sure how to answer this.

PT425 lift capacity

And now a question from someone who is only in the very early early stages of the PT purchase process... Is the 800lb lift capacity of a PT425 considered to be a lot? What would be the lift capacity of something like a small Kubota or John Deere with a front-end loader? Also, what limits the...

www.tractorbynet.com

Thanks for the replies - I will have to try to find a way to estimate the tongue weight of the trailer.

 

[ponytug]

Looking to move a trailer with the PT425 using the Aircraft/Tow Adaptor. Any ideas how much weight the PT425 could move a short distance? Tandem trailer probably weighs between 5000 - 6500 lbs. I know little to nothing about towing. Thanks Bill

As @grsthegreat was alluding to, the weight of the trailer is one thing, how the weight is distributed makes all the difference.

In principle, a properly built and loaded 6,500lb trailer should have 10% on the hitch, I.e. 650lbs. If the the trailer is empty, it should be a piece of cake. Even if it is loaded, I think you will be ok if the load is centered at the axles.

TIP #1: make sure that you latch the hitch onto the ball, and use the safety chains. It gets to be so easy moving trailers with a PT that it is easy to get complacent.

TIP #2: Take your time until you get the hang of it, especially backing the trailer. Due to the articulation of the PT, it is like trying to back a double hay wagon, and trailer angles can get skew-whiff quickly.

If things do get sideways, don't forget, it is easy to drop the trailer, back the PT up to get a better angle, and start again.

I once turned a long gooseneck around in a tight T-intersection with the PT, and being able to quickly drop the trailer and pick it up from the opposite side made it a quick, little job.

All the best,

Peter

 

[PTBill]

As @grsthegreat was alluding to, the weight of the trailer is one thing, how the weight is distributed makes all the difference.

In principle, a properly built and loaded 6,500lb trailer should have 10% on the hitch, I.e. 650lbs. If the the trailer is empty, it should be a piece of cake. Even if it is loaded, I think you will be ok if the load is centered at the axles.

TIP #1: make sure that you latch the hitch onto the ball, and use the safety chains. It gets to be so easy moving trailers with a PT that it is easy to get complacent.

TIP #2: Take your time until you get the hang of it, especially backing the trailer. Due to the articulation of the PT, it is like trying to back a double hay wagon, and trailer angles can get skew-whiff quickly.

If things do get sideways, don't forget, it is easy to drop the trailer, back the PT up to get a better angle, and start again.

I once turned a long gooseneck around in a tight T-intersection with the PT, and being able to quickly drop the trailer and pick it up from the opposite side made it a quick, little job.

All the best,

Peter

Thanks much for the advice Peter.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I recall a time when a person would just back up to the trailer and hitch it up and then see if the tractor would lift it or not. Just like grabbing hold of a load with your hands to see if you can handle it. Should be pretty easy to determine if the machine will handle the load. On flat ground, it doesn't take a lot of machine to move a rolling load 100'.

 

[ponytug]

@PTBill I love mine for reparking trailers. I can stash/park them in places that I couldn't get my truck into. I think you will enjoy it. I do hop off to check clearances when reparking high trailers, like horse trailers. I hate dinging things.

All the best,

Peter

 

[PTBill]

I recall a time when a person would just back up to the trailer and hitch it up and then see if the tractor would lift it or not. Just like grabbing hold of a load with your hands to see if you can handle it. Should be pretty easy to determine if the machine will handle the load. On flat ground, it doesn't take a lot of machine to move a rolling load 100'.

I recall a time when a person would just back up to the trailer and hitch it up and then see if the tractor would lift it or not. Just like grabbing hold of a load with your hands to see if you can handle it. Should be pretty easy to determine if the machine will handle the load. On flat ground, it doesn't take a lot of machine to move a rolling load 100'.

Thanks, I'm going to try to lift it just an inch very slowly with the trailer jack still down to see how it goes.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a spare PT QA plate that I've welded several things to. One is a 2" receiver tube. I slip a ball hitch in there to move my 18' car hauler trailer several times a year. I never raise the trailer jack. I just drive up, put the ball under it, lift and go.

I'm on flat ground. Would never do that on a hill.

The trailer is 1500# empty. I've had it loaded with firewood to easily 7000# total. It's fine on the paved driveway and flat grass, but even the slightest of hills and/or the trailer tires sink bit into the grass and then it's a struggle.

Also, as others have mentioned, how the weight is distributed on the trailer makes a huge difference. Sometimes I can't lift the trailer jack off the ground. Then I throw the firewood from as far forward on the trailer to behind the axles until I can lift it. Then off I go.

But again, ON FLAT GROUND. I could see a trailer hopping off or just plain dragging a little PT down a hill. Be safe.

 

[Tchamp]

I am not sure how much the power trac trailer with attachments weigh but i move mine in my yard all the time, it is heavy enough that i cant turn all the way without lifting my rear end of my 2425, but it will move it all over the yard even with gentle the slopes i have. On the trailer is the auger unit 12,19 and 24 inch auger bits , power rake, 4 foot tiller , smooth bucket, grappler bucket, ditch wich and stump grinder. It lets me know its there but moves it ok. I dont have a ball mount to hook into the trailer so i utilize the safety chains and hook them on the Quick attach and away i go. If the trailer trys to get away from me i can tilt the quick attach and drop the chains as a last resort putting tounge on the ground or just dropping the trailer toungue to the ground to controll the situation .

 

[PTBill]

I have a spare PT QA plate that I've welded several things to. One is a 2" receiver tube. I slip a ball hitch in there to move my 18' car hauler trailer several times a year. I never raise the trailer jack. I just drive up, put the ball under it, lift and go.

I'm on flat ground. Would never do that on a hill.

The trailer is 1500# empty. I've had it loaded with firewood to easily 7000# total. It's fine on the paved driveway and flat grass, but even the slightest of hills and/or the trailer tires sink bit into the grass and then it's a struggle.

Also, as others have mentioned, how the weight is distributed on the trailer makes a huge difference. Sometimes I can't lift the trailer jack off the ground. Then I throw the firewood from as far forward on the trailer to behind the axles until I can lift it. Then off I go.

But again, ON FLAT GROUND. I could see a trailer hopping off or just plain dragging a little PT down a hill. Be safe.

Thanks so much for this reply - will make sure I try this on flat ground. Bill

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks so much for this reply - will make sure I try this on flat ground. Bill

Yep!

Also, I and many others have found several good uses for a quick attack plate with a 2" receiver tube welded to it. Pretty handy. I use mine for the mentioned trailer ball hitch and a ring hitch that I use chains on to drag/lift things like firewood. Others have made small boom poles and such. Pretty handy.

 

[PTBill]

I am not sure how much the power trac trailer with attachments weigh but i move mine in my yard all the time, it is heavy enough that i cant turn all the way without lifting my rear end of my 2425, but it will move it all over the yard even with gentle the slopes i have. On the trailer is the auger unit 12,19 and 24 inch auger bits , power rake, 4 foot tiller , smooth bucket, grappler bucket, ditch wich and stump grinder. It lets me know its there but moves it ok. I dont have a ball mount to hook into the trailer so i utilize the safety chains and hook them on the Quick attach and away i go. If the trailer trys to get away from me i can tilt the quick attach and drop the chains as a last resort putting tounge on the ground or just dropping the trailer toungue to the ground to controll the situation .

Very useful information! I just bought this site unseen and it is on it's way to Tazewell to be checked out today. Hope it turns out well. It's 2003 with 650 hrs.

 

[MossRoad]

Dang! All the toys!

Congrats. Hope it works out well for you.

 

[PTBill]

Dang! All the toys!

Congrats. Hope it works out well for you.

Thanks, fingers crossed. Bill