Halloween Haulin'

[snpower]

Evening gents!

My neighbor proposed doing sort of a hay ride in our neighborhood with my BX2360 and my 6x12 trailer. I have hauled the trailer around some with the BX but wanted to make sure adding 8 or so 70 lb. kids wouldn't be an obvious bad idea? I was going to keep the loader on and maybe add a few sandbags for ballast in the bucket as well. My wife wants to add orange halloween lights so I think we'll get some good pictures out of the event.

 

[oldballs]

I suppose that it's against the law to be on a public street with such a set up...although one might get away with it (the police) if not noticed. Surely in a residential neighborhood that's not heavily traveled, it should be safe presuming one has adequate lighting. A real hilly street might be problem for breaking. The kids would have a fun ride to be sure. Maybe you could try a test run with a mock up load just for your peace of mind. If the trailer has four wheels, there shouldn't be much load on the back end. Secure the hitch too. Happy Halloween.

 

[AxleHub]

You didn't mention if your neighborhood is rural or suburban, that would make a difference to potential concerns IMO.

Hayrides are a fun thing, but have some kind of safety rail around the trailer so kids standing or horse play doesn't allow one to fall out( or under a wheel). Don't avoid fun activities like this, but don't avoid the reality that there are 9 times as many attornys today as 40 years ago.

Iassume the trailer and 8 pr so small kids is 1000 lbs or less - no big issue there.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Sadly in today's society one must always place liability first and foremost.

One glitch and your neighbor will own your property, you retirement fund, you kids college education, and the tractor your sitting on.

Sad isn't it. I wish my daughter could experience the Halloween I used to have, but that's long gone with all the sickies out there.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I have done hayrides with this tractor and trailer. I built the wooden sides just for this purose. I wired the tractor lights into the trailer so all running lights and flashers are on. With this size tractor, I did not see the need to hook up electric brakes, but it would not be too difficult to do. Keep a couple adults in the back to chaparone and all should have a good time. Philip.

 

[creekbend]

Sincere regrets-I failed to include this fact in my previous post. Although there are many cases of legitimate lawsuits, due largely to failure to provide a safe environment;etc, there are many many cases of "Frivolous " lawsuits that occur most frequently. Those are mainly due to the fact that people use these tactics to get so called fast and easy money. How many times in your life have you seen or heard of an individual wearing a Neck Brace in Public but taking it off as soon as no one is around. Just giving an example. I do wish you the best of luck and hope that your planned hayride is a success.

 

[Danner]

Those kids weigh about 600 pounds, that's not too much for your BX. Just get a handful of glow sticks and hang them around the trailer.

Enjoy

 

[repete]

Ask you local governing body for a parade permit as you have a parade float. Tell them you will have a pilot car front and back and see what they say.

Who knows, you may even get a PD or FD escort.

 

[snpower]

****! Well for starts, I am specifically excluding the one paranoid/hair-trigger neighbor who is most definitely in the frivolous lawsuit category. The rest of the kids are close friends which... means nothing if someone gets hurt. I hear what everyone is saying, and, it makes me sad.

Lighting has been thought of, and I was also going to do a test run with a JD lawnmower on the trailer. We do have a couple of steep hills.

The neighborhood is zoned agricultural; average lot size is 2 acres. It's somewhere between rural and suburban. I will contact the PD and see what they say. Thanks for all of the input. No wonder we can't win the war on terror... hands are always tied in one way or another

PS My trailer has sides and as long as the kids stay seated there should be no issues there.

 

[wrooster]

Those kids weigh about 600 pounds, that's not too much for your BX. Just get a handful of glow sticks and hang them around the trailer. Enjoy

I read right here on TBN that a BX can safely tow 6000 lbs: :confused2:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/217396-towing-bx24-25-a.html

Wrooster

 

[PapaPerk]

I see no reason to add weight in the loader bucket. The trailer will apply load to the hitch... Which is where u need it.

Have fun and be safe.

 

[creekbend]

I sincerely hope that everything works out. Just a thought? Perhaps after the hayride, if your backyard space will accommodate these activities, you can have the kids bob for apples; etc. Maybe provide some warm apple cider and refreshments. And to top it off, you can have everyone gather in a circle and tell or share "Ghost Stories". Just a thought. Good Luck.

 

[RaydaKub]

Sounds a lot like how Halloween is done around here. A trailer full of kids (sometimes almost 30). But here, they do it with ATV's. There is one to pull it and escorted by about 5 or 6 more. At least 2 ATV's are behind the trailer at all times just in case one of the kids is slow and misses the departure. And with their headlights on the trailer, it is never unseen.

It's a shame that this darn lawsuit discussion even has to come up. Sometimes I think if we could abolish every law ever written and start over it might be a good thing.

Good luck!

 

[Archer EV]

My son took his daughter to a pumpkin patch last weekend. They had a hay ride on site. The wagon had sides on it and there were actual bus seats mounted just as they would have been in the bus. I suppose it was more of a bus ride than a hay ride. The ride went around the patch and around the outside of a corn maze. From his photos, I think the had a very good time. Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[Volfandt]

Evening gents!

My neighbor proposed doing sort of a hay ride in our neighborhood with my BX2360 and my 6x12 trailer. I have hauled the trailer around some with the BX but wanted to make sure adding 8 or so 70 lb. kids wouldn't be an obvious bad idea? I was going to keep the loader on and maybe add a few sandbags for ballast in the bucket as well. My wife wants to add orange halloween lights so I think we'll get some good pictures out of the event.

Your BX2360 will handle it fine. I've been doing hayrides on my property for 3 seasons now and the kids love it. i pull a 6x12 single axle and I've had up to 18 men, women & children of all sies loaded and the trailer and BX nevr strained.
I had previously rigged up a power outlet and I plug in a small 300watt inverter that powers 2 strands of orange lights strung down the center. I also have a ROPS mounted sound system that plays spooky sounds during the ride. I think I enjoy it more than teh kids
A few things.
I have a 3ph mounted tow bracket that I've also mounted the 2" ball to. Instead of relying on the 3ph & hydraulics to hold the tongue steady (which it won't) I instead secure the vertical lift links to the static mounting eyes on the upper rear frameing. This give a good stout mounting for the 3ph and trailer tongue.
I leave the FEL on for front ballast and also to provide for a quick and fast emergency stop. I don't put anything additional in the bucket and haven't felt it needed any additional ballast. I've never had to use it for stopping either
I operate in low range & 4wd. I have a couple hills & inclines and that combination gives me the best control & brakeing.
My BX23 handles the weight so well that I need to slowly decrease speed when I plan to stop as the BX23 will stop quick enough to jerk the riders.
I haven't driven it on any public roads but if I were to operate in a low speed limit type neighborhood such as a subdivision, I'd HIGHLY recommend to have a large flashing caution light mounted about eye high facing the rear amnd probably wouldn't be out to late w/it. Too many partiers get out when it's late.
Be very care and Enjoy, I know I do.
Dave

 

[RoyJackson]

Evening gents!

My neighbor proposed doing sort of a hay ride in our neighborhood with my BX2360 and my 6x12 trailer. I have hauled the trailer around some with the BX but wanted to make sure adding 8 or so 70 lb. kids wouldn't be an obvious bad idea? I was going to keep the loader on and maybe add a few sandbags for ballast in the bucket as well. My wife wants to add orange halloween lights so I think we'll get some good pictures out of the event.

Just make sure you have one adult on the wagon to control those kids!

 

[AxleHub]

I'm surprised at the single axle trailer. Balancing your load would be more important i would think.

My wife's awd car is twice the weight of a bx25, and 50% more wheelbase,yet with my single axle trailer hooked to it and a centered axle - if i back locate my 500 # rider( motor over axle and back wheels at back of trailer) - there is definitely upward pressure on the hitch and back tires of the car are far lighter weighted.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm surprised at the single axle trailer. Balancing your load would be more important i would think.

My wife's awd car is twice the weight of a bx25, and 50% more wheelbase,yet with my single axle trailer hooked to it and a centered axle - if i back locate my 500 # rider( motor over axle and back wheels at back of trailer) - there is definitely upward pressure on the hitch and back tires of the car are far lighter weighted.

Good point!!

The hayrides around here are normally on those large 4 wheeled hay wagons (of course, this is a more rural area and plenty of farms around). That 4 wheeled wagon would be the safest for a load that can shift (like a bunch of kids jumping around).