Transporting lawn tractor in pickup.

Hoosier_Daddy · Nov 7, 2003

I have hauled my 19 HP Simplicity in the truck using ramps. A buddy of mine had a ramp slip on him and ended with the tractor upside down in the driveway. (wooden Ramps).

I have a tri-fold aluminum ramp now. I don't use it much since I bought a trailer with drop down mesh gate.

I did learn one thing about hauling the ATV in the pick-up this summer. Rear slide windows cost 270.00 to replace. I didn't have the winch installed that last time I loaded the ATV.

Tom

keeney · Dec 19, 2003

A handy trick to remember for this kind of stuff if you live on a typical suburban street with a driveway that slopes slightly up from the street is that the gutter will be the perfect low spot to park the truck rear wheels with the back of the truck facing up the driveway.

The end of the tailgate will only be maybe 12-18 inches above the driveway. With the driveway going up it might only be 6 to 12 inches or so uphill from the lower ends of the ramps.

Rolling the mower down the driveway (pushing and steering in neutral from the side or rear, not riding) at a moderate speed will give you some momentum to easily get it up and into the truck bed.

For unloading, the uphill driveway quickly stops the machine from rolling too far as it comes down off the ramps.

I have used this technique numerous times with a pair of 6' long 2x12" ramps to load a Toro 12hp rider into my Dakota 4x4 by myself.

This trick works great for loading motorcycles as well.

- Rick

Chadtoolio · Feb 15, 2004

I got a jd165 and a 86 dodge d50 pickup(mitsubishi import) and have put it in my truck 10 times or so and have not had a problem.

Chad

Storm · Feb 20, 2004

if your truck has cables on the tailgate, use caution, i have seen 3 sets break during loading an unloading, garden tractors, i suggest you look to see if there is a heavy duty set available for you truck

BANDAMAN · Feb 21, 2004

I too have hauled my JD LT180 in the bed of my 01 Dodge Dakota. The JD weighs about 500 lbs. I have hauled my ATV much more often and drive it on. It is 520 lbs and I am an additional 250. I use Aluminum ATV ramps and use ratchet straps tied back to the truck, so the ramps don't slip out fun under the quad/tractor. I had not heard of the tailgate straps breaking, but thanks for the tip. I will be more cautious, although I do ride the ATV on with my helmet on.

Mike

AndyM · Feb 21, 2004

( A handy trick to remember for this kind of stuff if you live on a typical suburban street with a driveway that slopes slightly up from the street is that the gutter will be the perfect low spot to park the truck rear wheels with the back of the truck facing up the driveway. )

There was a bank at our old house where the property slopped down about two feet right before the road. I pulled sideways across the road and backed up to the bank and drove the mower right into the back of my truck. Out here at the new house, I wasn't so lucky, and I was usually by myself when I had to put it into the truck-- used lots of muscle on it!

yooperdave · Feb 22, 2004

I have a F150 4x4 off road which is up off the ground quite far. I bought the longest special curved aluminum ramps and I almost killed myself on numerous occasions trying to drive the mower into the bed of the truck.

My driveways are pitched, but I still needed to approach the ramps at a good clip to get the momentum needed to get into the bed of the truck. Some times, the ramp will skid when the mower touches it, and then I find myself in a vertical position while the tractor is thinking about falling off the ramps.

What I now do is to hook a come-along to the front of the mower and run a chain along the front of the bed and winch it into place.

What I really want is to have a loading dock at my multiple locations.

Yooper Dave

LBrown59 · Dec 16, 2004

( I got a jd165 and a 86 dodge d50 pickup(mitsubishi import) and have put it in my truck 10 times or so and have not had a problem.

Chad )
~~~~~~~~~~

I have a GRAY 1986 Dodge D-50 pick up too.
It has an automatic transmission power steering and is air-conditioned.
Just had the motor rebuilt at 96,000 miles in July of 2003
I have 105,000 miles on it now which isn't very many miles on an 18 year old truck.
I have it to where it's A1 mechanically.
The body and interior is good and solid but could use new paint.
I'm thinking of having it painted Harley Davidson Motorcycle ORANGE.

This truck is my toy at least that's what it say on my front vanity license plate.

johndeere2210 · Dec 17, 2004

Your pickup will handle the JD 150 with no problem if it is a full size pickup. Just don't make the mistake some of our customers have made. They back the mower in to make it easier to unload. This is okay as long as you remember to strap the hood down. Meeting one semi on the hiway without a strap on the hood will probably result in some one buying a new hood. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif