Ballast LB1914 drawbar tongue weight

gladehound · Oct 9, 2007

Basic question - what is the max rated tongue weight for a swinging drawbar on an LB1914 (not in the manual)? Second, at what distance from the mounting plate does this rating apply?

I'm trying to figure out how much tonque weight I can have with out risking breaking the case iron differential housing that the swinging drawbar mount bolts to.

My situation is a little different. I don't have a swining drawbar but I can use the information and apply it to my setup. I bought a used LB1914 and it didn't have a swinging drawbar (this would come standard on a new model). Being as financially responsible as I am (a.k.a. cheap!!) I took a piece of 2.5" x 2.5" channel, 1 foot long of about the same thickness of a typical Class 5 receiver and bolted it to the top of the swinging draw bar mounting area with two 3/4" thick bolts. I was going to use this to accept truck style draw bars but decided to bolt a convertable ball directly to the top of the channel because this minimizes leverage against the tractor by minimizing the distance from the hitch point to the rear axle. I like my set up very much but don't want to risk the tractor.

What do I pull? Well, I only have 1 trailer that I use for everything. It is 10,000 GVW 14' equipment trailer with 3 foot wooden sides. Tongue weight empty is around 400 pounds and about the same if I'm only filling it with leaves, sticks etc. while doing general clean up. However, sometimes I load it with wood and the tongue weight will exceed 1000 pounds. I have not pulled it with the ball at this tongue weight and am hessitant to do so. My ground is completely flat so the trailer pushing me is not much of an issue. i have moved it fully loaded by attaching the tailer safety chains to the carry all and lifting it with the 3-point.

So - Any dealers out there know the tongue weight rating for that drawbar?

Similar size tractors seem to be around 400-700 pounds.

Thanks.

gladehound · Oct 13, 2007

Since nobody could answer this question, I designed my own fixed ball mount hitch that is somewhat of a combination between a fixed drawbar and a 3 pt hitch. It is basically a fixed drawbar with a top link to take the stress of high tongue weight off of the stock swinging drawbar mount. I think this will handle any tongue weight I want. It's short, so it would take about 5000 pounds of down force on the ball to lift the front end. Check out the picks.

Trac-Tech · Oct 13, 2007

I think the best way to get an official answer will be for one of the dealers to ask Kioti what the factory stance is on this. I dont recall seeing any info on this for any of the models before.
Best of luck.

gladehound · Oct 15, 2007

I called a dealer and they said Kioti doesn't publish it. I then wrote Kioti and havn't received at response (it's been about at week). For me personally, it's a mute point since I now have 12 bolts holding my drawbar to the tractor's rear and a setup that is engineered for tongue weight. However, I'd love to see this info provide by Kioti for all their tractors. After all, I do expect to trade up someday! And whatever I trade up to will need to hold at least 1,500 pounds of tongue weight.

crabjoe · Oct 15, 2007

gladehound said:
And whatever I trade up to will need to hold at least 1,500 pounds of tongue weight.

Good Lord man, what do you plan on towing with it? 1500lbs would mean you're looking to pull 10-15K lbs; based on recommended tongue weight for a vehicle of 10-15%.