Subcut Maximum Towing Capacity

Soundguy · Jan 10, 2011

willfick said:
So when you're pulling something heavy and precious you have to take extra precautions.
Wm

yep.. i have a harness made up for my ford 5000 to use a spare hoppy brake controller on my trailer as well. min mounts to the fender. i one time toyed with making up a pin switch so it was auto magic with the rakes.. but now I just use the panic switch if needed.

soundguy

jinman · Jan 10, 2011

I would expect to be able to tow about 2x the lift capacity of the 3PH. For example, my tractor could safely tow 4800 lb. I don't mean this as a hard and fast rule, but only a rule of thumb.

jimmer2880 · Jan 11, 2011

To add to this. It's not just the brakes that limit SCUT towing capacity.

I know my little 1830 has enough braking to tow an 8000 lb camper down a slight hill. The problem, is that the wheelbase is so short, and it's weight is so small, that that camper will jack-knife the SCUT in the blink of an eye.

I can tow that same camper around all day long, on flat surface no problem. For me - it's the wheelbase that is the limiting factor.

VitaBene · Jan 11, 2011

willfick said:
So when you're pulling something heavy and precious you have to take extra precautions.
Wm

That is real nice, great job!!

Farmerford · Jan 11, 2011

Milkman: M? I think a C would do it.
Wm: That's a beautiful H. I am trying to locate the one my father bought on the black market in 1946 when he returned from the Army Air Corps. Daddy loaned it to a down-on-his-luck neighbor in the 1960's and would not let us kids ask for it back.

MARKMILES77 · Jan 13, 2011

Found this while browsing the new John Deere Sub-Compact Tractor Operator's Manual. There is no maximum towable mass specified but it does give pretty clear guidelines:
1.5 X tractor weight for unbraked load and 4.5X tractor weight for braked load. Sounds pretty sensible to me and I imagine pretty much the same guidelines would apply to other subcut tractors.

John Deere 1023E/1026R Sub-Compact Tractor.

Stopping distance increases with speed and weight of towed load, and on slopes. Towed loads with or without brakes that are too heavy for the machine or are towed too fast can cause loss of control. Consider the weight of the equipment and its load.

If towed equipment does not have brakes........... do not tow loads more than 1.5 times the tractor weight.

If towed equipment has brakes........... do not tow loads more than 4.5 times the machine weight.

Ensure the load does not exceed the recommended weight ratio. Add ballast to recommended maximum for machine, lighten the load, or get a heavier towing unit. The machine must be heavy and powerful enough with adequate braking power for the towed load. Use additional caution when towing loads under adverse surface conditions, when turning, and on inclines

Diamondpilot · Jan 13, 2011

Towing down the road and moving something around you property is a totally different thing. For example my uncle has a 25,000# boat that when he first bought it I moved it to and from the lake with my F-350 diesel but he moved it in and out of his shop numerous times with his V6 Toyota Tacoma. With my 25HP tractor I move boats and trailers in excess of 25,000# around the boat lot, not every day but I do it. I do move 10,000# to 16,000# boats weekly but this is all at slow speed on level ground in a controlled environment.

Chris

MARKMILES77 · Apr 4, 2011

Finally purchased my Yanmar EA 2400 which is identical to the Cub Cadet SC 2400 and was able to resolve my towing question for the 2400. The Yanmar manual, although almost word for word identical to the Cub Cadet manual, does have some information regarding towing for the 2400 which IS DIFFERENT from that in the Cub Cadet manual even though they are IDENTICAL tractors.

Interestingly it recommends only towing with the 3 point hitch.

Yanmar EA 2400 Manual

Do not attach or use towed equipment by a drawbar or a drawing device/Attachment. Use of the drawbar.... is not allowed in this tractor.

It does also list a much higher maximum towable mass: