l4600 three point capicaty question

[bad69bird]

The owners manual states that the draw bar has a 6k lb towing capacity. I can not find a spec for pulling capacity using the 3pt. only lift capacity, wondering how much I can safely load my dump trailer and move it around using a 2in receiver mounted on the 3pt

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Just think about how much pulling force is on lift arms when pulling an implement such as a plow. I know it may not be the right thing to do but if my tractor would pull it safely with out raising front wheels off I would pull it.

 

[Grandad4]

Just my opinion, but towing a trailer around using a 3 point mounted hitch should not by itself put a great amount of stress on the 3 point arms unless you need to pull it through a mud pit or something. The greater issues are:
1) keeping a poorly balanced load from raising the 3 point arms since with most tractors there is no down-force on the lift arms from the hydraulics to prevent it from lifting. Something to think about when emptying a dump trailer also.
2) keeping the trailer + payload weight in line with the size of the tractor, particularly if any hills or slopes are involved. To state the obvious, you don't want to be towing 10,000 lbs of trailer down a steep gravel road with a 3,000 lb tractor.
3) keeping to a safe travel speed. Many tractor towing accidents seem to result from roading at too high a speed, probably from complacency and being in a hurry.
If you've got those matters covered, starting, stopping and travelling shouldn't be a hard task for your tractor, even using one of those 3pt setups. I have one and it is handy and safe if used with proper care.

 

[OVRxNxOUT]

Thats a very open ended question. This all depends on how long is the trailer? How much does the trailer empty weight? How far are you really needing to transport your material? Over level ground or up/down a slope?

I understand what your wanting to do here, as i know many people move trailers and things around using the 3pt instead of drawbar, its so much easier, i get it. Your 3pt is rated i think around 2300lbs @ 24" beyond where the lift cam/shaft is. I think this is the spec you are going to be limited by, i wouldnt worry so much as to the weight you can tow vs if you are able to raise your 3pt. Or not. If it raises, it should pull it, if it dont raise then adjust what your carrying. Im still interested in answers to my questions though.

And iut of curiosity, If I said you can tow 6,000 pounds safely with your tractor how do you know when your loaded to 6000lbs ?

 

[bad69bird]

Thats a very open ended question. This all depends on how long is the trailer? How much does the trailer empty weight? How far are you really needing to transport your material? Over level ground or up/down a slope?

I understand what your wanting to do here, as i know many people move trailers and things around using the 3pt instead of drawbar, its so much easier, i get it. Your 3pt is rated i think around 2300lbs @ 24" beyond where the lift cam/shaft is. I think this is the spec you are going to be limited by, i wouldnt worry so much as to the weight you can tow vs if you are able to raise your 3pt. Or not. If it raises, it should pull it, if it dont raise then adjust what your carrying. Im still interested in answers to my questions though.

And iut of curiosity, If I said you can tow 6,000 pounds safely with your tractor how do you know when your loaded to 6000lbs ?

empty 2050lbs, 10ft trailer. looking to transport it around my yard and about 1 1/2 miles down a flat road. I am not opposed to using the draw bar however i dont see a very good way to get a 2 5/16 ball on it and then be able to hook up the trailer and still be able to turn it. obvisouly I cant load the trailer and say yep thats 6k but i have crossed the scales enough time at the land fill to get a pretty good idea of load weight and can play it conservative from there thanks for the replies, I guess the other option is to buy a trailer ment for the draw bar but I need other stuff higher on the priortiy list first

 

[s219]

I have pulled my 1600# 7x16 trailer with a couple thousand pounds of logs on it with my L3200 using a 3-pt A-frame hitch, and no issues. And a boat/trailer worth about 3000#. Before that I towed a lot of similar stuff with my smaller B2920. I don't think pulling capacity is an issue since trailers roll pretty easily under proper operating conditions and ground-engaging implements surely have a lot more resistance.

Braking would be my concern. Start off going slow and easy, and in 4WD if on slopes.

 

[TexasBoy]

s219 is right, braking is the main issue. Inertia can be a bear to deal with if you arent ready for it. I was talking with a tech-guy from Rhino about thier pull-type rotary cutters, he said PTO-horsepower is certainly an issue when looking at a cutter, but also the weight of the tractor towing vs the cutter behind you.

 

[David Devuono]

The draw bar is located below the axle centre line and thus any pulling loads on the draw bar will not lift the front axle unless of course your tongue weight is anywhere near the tractor weight forward of the Axle. Drawbar trailer weight doesn't typically reflect the capacity of a tractor to pull as much as to stop a load. Lots of videos of 5,000 lb tractors pulling 30,000 lb trucks.

 

[David Devuono]

I meant to add, that when using the 3PTH to tow adds the risk of moving the towing point above the Axle and creating a wheelie situation. I do my logging with a box blade. Like to keep much of the log raises as to not pick up much dirt but sometimes have to drop the box blade when the front axle looses steering or lifts.

 

[MHarryE]

I pull my dump trailer with my L5740 attached to an A-frame hitch. Mine is a smaller trailer that holds about 1.5 yards. One reason is the drawbar hole is 25mm and 2 5/16 balls come with 1 inch studs but it is convenient to pull the trailer, unhook, load it, hook back up all without needing to crank on the jack. But when I dump I know the hitch will raise up so I always raise the 3 point to its limit. Towing I keep the hitch rather low so under braking the weight of the trailer won't raise the hitch (receiver below the lower arm front pivot points).

 

[Baby Grand]

When towing a trailer with the 3pt, I add a chain connecting the draw bar on the transmission to the top link on the implement.
This prevents the 3pt from rising if the load center shifts aft:

 

[newbury]

When towing a trailer with the 3pt, I add a chain connecting the draw bar on the transmission to the top link on the implement.
This prevents the 3pt from rising if the load center shifts aft:
View attachment 393933

Great idea!

 

[s219]

I meant to add, that when using the 3PTH to tow adds the risk of moving the towing point above the Axle and creating a wheelie situation. I do my logging with a box blade. Like to keep much of the log raises as to not pick up much dirt but sometimes have to drop the box blade when the front axle looses steering or lifts.

Box blade is part of the problem. If you get a skid plate, you can elevate the log with the plate, which is closer to the back of the tractor than a box blade so the lift load doesn't have as much tendency to lighten the front wheels. Then attach another short chain to the drawbar to transfer the pull load down low. That avoids wheelies if the log butt hangs up. I only do that for larger logs. For smaller stuff I lift and pull with the skid plate alone.

 

[OVRxNxOUT]

empty 2050lbs, 10ft trailer. looking to transport it around my yard and about 1 1/2 miles down a flat road. I am not opposed to using the draw bar however i dont see a very good way to get a 2 5/16 ball on it and then be able to hook up the trailer and still be able to turn it. obvisouly I cant load the trailer and say yep thats 6k but i have crossed the scales enough time at the land fill to get a pretty good idea of load weight and can play it conservative from there thanks for the replies, I guess the other option is to buy a trailer ment for the draw bar but I need other stuff higher on the priortiy list first

Sorry, I haven't been on here to a minute. Ok I'm going to say you have your specs turned around, I don't think your 10' trailer weighs more than 1,000lbs unless it's built to the hilt. I'm going to assume you have at least 24" sides encasing the bed somewhat to allow it to hold material. I believe that the 2,050lbs is the carrying capacity of the trailer, in which case your L4600 wil have ZERO ISSUES pulling this trailer up a 90 degree wall while at idle. Ok OK maybe exaggerated a little, point is, your tractor won't be the limiting factor here, I think your trailer will come to max ends long before your tractor will.

You can pick up decent 3point ball hitch kits from Portable Generators, Pressure Washers, Power Tools, Welders | Northern Tool + Equipment. For cheap! Or if you do decide to go drawbar direction then what you need to prevent the trailer binding up with the tires on sharp turns is a "swinging draw-bar" ask your dealer about it. It allows room for the bar to swing left & right making pulling trailers and turn much easier.

 

[OVRxNxOUT]

When towing a trailer with the 3pt, I add a chain connecting the draw bar on the transmission to the top link on the implement.
This prevents the 3pt from rising if the load center shifts aft:
View attachment 393933

Great idea for sure. I have not seen this before. However, may I caution anyone to at least give the chain a couple inches of slack, if your weight distribution is more towards the back causing the 3pt to lift, your going to want a way to know your load is unbalanced. Knowing this may effect how brave some may get in tough terrain or what have you just by knowing that you won't have X amount of weight on the rear tires. Seriously though that's a good i-dear Baby Grand.

I use the general rule of thumb of a 60/40 weight distribution when loading trailers, 40% to the rear of the axle(s) center & 60% foreward. Not that there is any way to measure this perfectly but most can get a fairly good idea where their load sits. ...unless your moving marbles of course.

 

[bad69bird]

TRAILER HAS A 7K GVW