3-Point Hitch Towing a RV with a John Deere 2320

[Timb2828]

I am considering purchasing a 27' airstream that weights 6000 lbs, and I was looking for thoughts on using my John Deere 2320 to move the trailer around in my yard. The hitch weight is 791 lbs for the trailer and the specs on the JD is 1150 lbs. The lawn is flat, and I would have to tow it about 200'. I do have 165 lbs of font weight I can add to the tractor. The biggest issue is stopping I know but has anyone successfully towed something 3.5 times its weight? Thanks.

 

[plowhog]

I wouldn't do it. But if you do, please post pictures. :laughing:

 

[Timb2828]

ok, thanks!

 

[bcp]

I would do it, flat, hard ground only, after I wired an off-on switch to turn on the trailer brakes if needed.

I would use a fixed drawbar, not the 3pt hitch.

Dealers move them around their lot with "tractors" like this.

High Quality Heavy Duty Powered Motorized Trailer Dolly - 5000lb Capacity

Bruce

 

[Code54]

Think you would be pushing your luck. I have pulled 7-8k with my tractor that weighs around triple what yours does and it is a LOT of weight. I would not try it with a small machine. One little thing goes wrong and it could create a very bad outcome very quickly.

 

[bigdeano]

I see the rear lift is rated at 1433lbs at the pins. If the ground is level it shouldn't be a problem. What could go wrong except getting stuck? I would go for it.

 

[Fallon]

I see the rear lift is rated at 1433lbs at the pins. If the ground is level it shouldn't be a problem. What could go wrong except getting stuck? I would go for it.

Ya, I wouldn't be worried in the slightest on level ground (very different equation if hills are involved). I've moved heavier tongue weight loads on a ball on the end of pallet forks on the loader on my old L3200 (admittedly a bit bigger of a machine). Your tongue weight is about half of what the 3pt is rated for.

Be warned a 3pt doesnt have any down pressure. Sudden stops or going downhill can cause negative tongue weight & the trailer causing the 3pt to lift. Lots of rollovers happen in situations like that. Hitching a trailer to the drawbar is safer as it can't lift like a 3pt. Personally I've moved a handful of trailers on my 3pt knowing the risks. 2mph, flat ground, no sharp turns at anything but a crawl & being aware of the physics involved mitigate most of the risks. I stopped because my 3pt trailer moved was harder to mount than my SSQA pallet forks & sticking a ball in the hole in the fork.

 

[Bird]

My wife and I worked a part of one summer in a big RV park. They had a storage lot for customers to leave their travel trailers in. Such customers would call to tell us when they were coming and we'd pull their rig out of the storage lot and park it in one of the regular RV sites. And when the customer left, we'd pull that travel trailer back to the storage lot. That was all done with a John Deere but I don't remember the model.

 

[KennyG]

On flat ground or gentle slope, I wouldn't hesitate to do it with my 2320. Unless you are dealing with real slopes, I don't see the problem.

 

[Oldoak]

I moved my 8000#+ Arctic Fox trailer around using a ball mount on the 3Pt hitch on my Kubota L4200 without any problems. It was about twice the weight of my tractor.

 

[s219]

Easy job for a tractor and I'd have no concerns on flat ground. I ferry around my flatbed trailer loaded with gravel all the time and it weighs more than that. Go slow.

 

[dannoGT]

My little MF 1010 was a "yard mule" at an RV dealer apparently it did a great job of shuffling trailers around on flat yard and in and out of shop! Sorry no pictures!

 

[Lowcountry Rebel]

I have moved my 3000 lb boat on a double axel trailer around with my Honda rancher 420 ATV- pulls it just fine

 

[Timb2828]

Can you send me a link or info on wiring an off-on trailer brake switch I could use with my tractor? Thanks

 

[Fallon]

Can you send me a link or info on wiring an off-on trailer brake switch I could use with my tractor? Thanks

Etrailer has good trailer wiring diagrams & documentation. Probably best getting a cheap brake controller & using the manual engagement lever/switch on it.

 

[Deere Dude]

If the ground is flat I wouldn't worry about brakes.

 

[bcp]

I would buy a socket that matches the trailer plug, then wire it like this.



Bruce

 

[ChiefBodie]

You could wire a dead man switch so the trailer brakes are applied if it breaks away from the tractor towing it. The batteries on board the trailer could be the power source for this emergency breakaway option.

 

[bcp]

There should already be a breakaway cable at the hitch. Just fasten it to the tractor.

Bruce

 

[kevinwak]

I pull my 6000 pound 27’ camper all the time with my John Deere 2520. No problem. I love the ability to just pick it up with the 3pt and not have to use the jack.
My yard is also flat.
As mentioned there is no down pressure on the 3pt and you can do damage if the trailer tongue lifts up on the 3pt arms. I have a small trailer with a 500 gallon water tank that likes to do this when in reverse. Easiest way to prevent this from doing damage is to have a chain down from the 3pt trailer mover to the draw bar of the tractor that will limit the height from going to the top extreme,

If you wanted brakes for emergency rig a rope to the camper breakaway cable and give it a pull out if needed. I find that I am moving so slow around the yard that I don’t even use the tractor brakes.

One thing I have found is it is extremely difficult to back up as i don’t have mirrors on the tractor that reach passed the trailer and you are sitting centered on the trailer.