Hayride with a 3320

[stevefromindiana]

I have researched the 3000 and 4000 Twenty series tractors. The 3000 series will be enough tractor for my needs as far as loader work, bushhogging, and other work. The one thing I do each October is have hayrides. I have previously used a WD-45 but it now has a cracked block and is not available.

Will a 3320 or 3520 be capable of pulling a wagon with around 20 people without any issues? There are some grades on grass/dirt of around 20%. I assume I would have to have some weight on the front end.

How do I figure this out before I buy one?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:
Shouldn't have any problem at all pulling a hay wagon with 20 people, in the way of hp. IF a grade is a problem, have some people get off. Wheel weights and/or fluid in the rear tires should be all you need. Don't see a reason for any weight on the front end if the wagon is hooked to the tractor drawbar. Only need front end weight, I believe, if you have a 3 pt attachment that has a lot of draw into the dirt.
Plan ahead and be safe.

 

[RollTideRam]

I have pulled an old cotton wagon with 20 kids and 10 adults on hay rides the last two years. I am pulling on a mostlly flat road with one small hill. I did have to go to "B" range on the hill once. Other wise it was fine and held 10 mph. JC

 

[davkir]

Sometimes stopping is a bigger concern. 20 people and a wagon might be 4 or 5 thousand lbs. and on some tractors the front axle brakes only in 4WD.

 

[RobertN]

No. Have them get off. Unless you think your tractor weighs more than the trailer and payload by a fair amount, do not try a hill.

That is a good way to wind up sliding down the hill, jack knifing, losing control.

I did that with a Farmall and a flatbed trailer. Once thru the parade, had to take a side route with a steep downhill. Tractor could not keep traction, even though on pavement. Made a controlled slide, with no injuries or anything. Had a load of kids and parents on the trailer. Was taking them back to the cars at the beginning of the parade route.

We did that route and parade five times; after the first time, EVERYONE got off the trailer when I went down the hill.

The kids won first place in that parade twice.

I would tow folks around, no problem. But keep off the slopes, especially grassy slopes. Especially 20 people, at an average of 150 lbs as example, that is 3000lbs of people...

 

[radman1]

A WD-45 weighs 4000-4300 lbs. A 3x20 series weigh 2900 lbs and 4x20 weighs 3700 lbs. Estimate 1000# for FEL with bucket for each. Now weight is 3900# for 3x20 and 4700# for 4x20. Now consider that a wd-45 was 2 wd and the JD's 4 WD. If you add any rear tire fluid or weights and your total even climbs higher. If pulling a 1000# trailer and 3000# of people was ok for the wd-45, the JDs with 4wd should do just fine.
I pull my dump trailer and flat bed trailer everywhere empty with my prior 3720 and current 4520. Had no issues and each of those trailers empty weigh 4000#. Even with additional weight of loaded trailers, I pulled them up and down hills in my pastures and fields.

Load up the trailer with weight before you try it with people. Just be reasonable with the size of hills. People won't enjoy the hay ride if they need to get off due to hills. Wet grass or mud would be your biggest worry.

My 23,000# tractor pulls grain carts weighing 55,000-60,000# in fields, through ditches, over terraces ect. Now that is some scarry weight.

 

[Nuru]

A WD-45 weighs 4000-4300 lbs. A 3x20 series weigh 2900 lbs and 4x20 weighs 3700 lbs. Estimate 1000# for FEL with bucket for each. Now weight is 3900# for 3x20 and 4700# for 4x20. Now consider that a wd-45 was 2 wd and the JD's 4 WD. If you add any rear tire fluid or weights and your total even climbs higher. If pulling a 1000# trailer and 3000# of people was ok for the wd-45, the JDs with 4wd should do just fine.
I pull my dump trailer and flat bed trailer everywhere empty with my prior 3720 and current 4520. Had no issues and each of those trailers empty weigh 4000#. Even with additional weight of loaded trailers, I pulled them up and down hills in my pastures and fields.

Load up the trailer with weight before you try it with people. Just be reasonable with the size of hills. People won't enjoy the hay ride if they need to get off due to hills. Wet grass or mud would be your biggest worry.

My 23,000# tractor pulls grain carts weighing 55,000-60,000# in fields, through ditches, over terraces ect. Now that is some scarry weight.

Add another 600 pounds for a cab, and make sure you have a wider stance than stock.

 

[stevefromindiana]

I appreciate all the replies! I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a definite "No" before buying one. If I have to, I can alter my route based on the conditions/load.

 

[stevefromindiana]

I ended up buying a 3520 with R4's. I loaded the rears with Rim Guard.

We had the big bonfire/hayride this past weekend and the tractor pulled the loaded hayride wagon just fine. I ended up taking the loader off so that we could make some sharp turns a little easier. (My son actually did the driving. I figured he was more qualified than me since he won the 4H tractor driving contest at the Indiana State Fair a couple of years ago! To win that you have to be able to back a 4 wheel wagon, not just pull it.)

We didn't have any wheel slippage despite the ground being hard as rock from the drought we have been having. I suppose hard as rock is better than muddy. From what I understand, you get the best traction when the tires are making some indentations into the soil.