Using BX23 to move an 18 footer boat!

[Gunny]

B6100 with pontoon

 

[Gunny]

From this angle, the boat dwarfs my little tractor!

 

[AMR]

No problem. I used my BX23 to take out and put back into my garage my 18' hydra-sports CC with 150 evinrude, boat, motor, trailer gas where pushing 4,000 pounds. I did not use my 3 pt though because my bagger was always on, I used the clamp on ball in the bucket. The steering was a little mushy but it worked no problem. I can't imagine what the tongue weight was but I sure couldn't budge it by hand. My guess is that I did this evolution about 60 times.

I have a B3030 now with no bagger so I will use my 3 pt this year.

I also have a Polaris Sportsman 500 now, I may try that this year as well based on the comments here, I feel better starting that and running for only 4 or 5 minutes and not my tractor.

 

[drtydeed]

I used the clamp on ball in the bucket.

AMR, do you have a pic of that clamp on ball ...or tell me where I can get one?????

 

[bandit67]

OK, so here's what I did. It was fairly flat, and I really just wanted to see if the tractor could actually move the trailer, and it did, but I went very slow, and it isn't something I'd make a habit of doing with a subcompact.

How small is a subcompact? The 3rd pic is the real tow rig ready to take the subcompact in to the dealer for warranty service.

 

[CurlyDave]

AMR, do you have a pic of that clamp on ball ...or tell me where I can get one?????

It is called a "Payne's Hitch Receiver", and it can deliver up a pretty nasty surprise if you are not on level ground. Read about it here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/117762-paynes-hitch-receiver.html

Keep in mind I was moving a 2200 lb trailer with an 8000 lb tractor, and had a serious safety issue.

 

[AMR]

Yup, I have the Paynes. Oh yes you can find yourself in this situation where the device rotates some on the bucket. I haven't found this to be a really serious issue, but then I have never thought about it that much, I always accepted a little movement but didn't see that it was hurting anything. I have to thread my boat through my garage doors with about 6" on each side but it is relatively flat, maybe a 2% grade. One tip I can offer is that I attach my trailer chains to my bucket hooks, just a little extra security. Not real tight but enough that I don't lose my boat if the clamp slides off. It is a really handy gadget to have but I will pay more attention now to this thing moving around too much on me.

 

[easygo]

I moved my 22' boat with my B-7510. Trailer and boat weigh about 3000lbs but I had no problem going up a pretty good hill. I did use the designated tow-bar though and went slow.

Valleydweller1 what kind of a boat is that? Looks like it will keep you busy for a while.

 

[mswlogo]

This "Payne's Hitch Receiver" looks very tempting to try.

I really didn't want to remove the backhoe because I would lose so much weight for traction in the sand.

I would definitely bolt it through though.

What are the chances of the BX24 pulling a 4000-4500lb 20' boat/trailer out of the water, slight incline in the sand?

I only have move it like 50' a season.

Moving it around on the flat ground would be no problem, pulling it out of the water is another story.

I have to put my 200hp Jeep in 4WD Low and gun it to get it out now. If I could use the Tractor I could get rid of the gas guzzler jeep.

I don't understand why this boat weighs so much but it does.
The second photo (sorry for so big but you can't see trailer otherwise). But the trailer is sitting right in front of where it's launched.

 

[C6rider]

My bet would be it would get stuck in the sand. Call me, I'll launch it for you for a ride around the lake.