Can <40hp compact tractor tow a trailer?

[makey98]

Hello. I have small property, only 8 acres with severs acres of grass and creek and then 4 acres of pasture. My land is this Miami loam clay in the Midwest and my stupid truck f-250 is always getting stuck if it is wet at all. Would be interested in compact tractor like the Yanmar yt series or kioti or other modes. Just for some various land uses, moving firewood around and random projects. The question I have is could a small tractor like this pull a 14k bumper pull equipment trailer just around the property? I assume it could empty but with anything in it? I am limited on when I can do any work based on how hard the ground is, either in the middle of the summer or dead of winter. Keep getting my truck stuck and or tearing up the place. Any suggestions? No companies that I have seen ever really talk about how much a tractor could pull.

 

[Will S]

I can't answer your exact question, but when my 9000 lb trailer being towed by 4wd drive pickup, got stuck in the mud on my property, I took my 32hp JD out of the barn, raised the trailer off the hitch with the pallet forks, then pulled it to the side, connected it to my hitch receiver in the ballast box, and pulled it out of the mud. No chains, and not even AG tires. My tractor has the newer R3 radials, and it worked like a charm.

 

[ptsg]

Hello there, of course it can. Tractors were made to pull things after all. A tractor is far better suited at pull things than to have a loader on for instance, but I've noticed people in the US seem a bit reluctant at pulling trailers for some reason.

You just need to be conscious how much you load the trailer, depending on the tractor you get and the tire choice as well, but you get a feeling for it after using for a while.

As an example, my 35HP Branson gets 7700 lbs tow rating with a braked trailer here in Europe. This is just the legal ratings, in reality, these tractors end up seeing quite a bit more than what's rated, specially if it won't be going on the public road.

Here is a couple other examples.

Kubota B2261 pulling a trailer full of logs. No idea on the weight though.

Kioti DK5010 with a 1050 gallon liquid manure spreader on the left and an excavator on the right, weighting right at 12000 lbs (excavator + trailer)

 

[orezok]

I move my 7000# empty RV trailer around all the time with my B7800 (30 HP). BUT the area I move it in is absolutely flat. I wouldn’t do it if there was any kind of slope.

 

[Jstpssng]

Pulling it is one thing. Stopping is another altogether. Remember that a tractor the size you mention is going to weigh <4000 lbs, and only has brakes on the rear tires. So depending on how heavy you load the trailer, it could end up pushing the tractor, or as they say; "the tail might wag the dog."

 

[LouNY]

I'll agree with the pulling may be easy, but it may not be.
Most likely those trailer tires are quite narrow for the load and that tandem axle is likely to cut a good rut,
and maybe stop your tractor, all depending on the load.
But the tractor should tow more then the pickup off road.

 

[strantor]

Search youtube for "india tractor pulling trailer" for a bottomless bucket of videos that will illustrate just how much weight a given size tractor can pull without popping wheelies, with popping wheelies, without splitting in half, with splitting in half, without flipping over, with flipping over, etc. As well as give you some ideas of some super cool aesthetic mods for your tractor (hint: did someone say tassles?)

Edit: just found this.

 

[Have tractor did travel]

I pull a dual axle dump with 2 yards of dirt or millings - so 4500 lb payload and about 1500 in trailer weight. Pull it with a 30 hp with manual transmission.
Weight needs to be centered over the dual axles. If the weight is too far back on the trailer, it lifts the 3 pt hitch to the maximum. If the weight is too far front on the trailer, then the weight on the rear axle of the tractor raises the front steering axle.
When I have loaded the trailer with more weight, I can easily get bogged down in wet grass or loose millings.
Others have written about going down hills and stopping. I have transported 5 adults, 3 children and 8 bales of hay so lets say 1100 lbs, and a 1200 lb trailer, down some hills of consequence. I put tractor in low range and first gear and let the engine do the work of braking. All works fine and no scary moments. I did "test" the descent with just the trailer and hay, before adding the humans.

 

[makey98]

Thank you all, that makes me feel better. Seems like even these subcompact tractors would do more than what I would need. I can’t imagine really needing to move big weight, more just the empty trailer or some light stuff in it and didn’t want to risk it with the truck. Like today I have my neighbors 35ton splitter and thought I could get some work done, instead got stuck and the day was wasted. While I have your attention any suggestions on which models? Would like to find something in reasonable condition for $10-15k but seems like new is 25k-30k or even used is $20….

 

[nybirdman]

Also pull from the draw bar and not the three point(no down pressure).

 

[strantor]

Also pull from the draw bar and not the three point(no down pressure).

+1 (assuming any tongue load)
I use a ball hitch attachment all the time to move empty trailers around. It's one of my most frequently used attachments. It's super convenient to be able to lower the ball all way to the ground, back up to the trailer, and bring the ball up under the hitch, move the trailer, and drive off, without ever having to get off the tractor. But if there's any load on the trailer this isn't so safe.

 

[5030]

Pulling it is one thing. Stopping is another altogether. Remember that a tractor the size you mention is going to weigh <4000 lbs, and only has brakes on the rear tires. So depending on how heavy you load the trailer, it could end up pushing the tractor, or as they say; "the tail might wag the dog."

Good point but so long as you don't act stupid, it should be fine.

Case in point, back when I ran small squares we had a couple tandem axle silage wagons we bought at auction and took off all the upper panels just leaving the deck and we used to load small squares on them 10 layers high and the decks were 18 feet long and more than once I pulled them with our Honda Foreman 400 quad....loaded. You just never wanted to stop fast, or slow for that matter, but even the quad pulled them.

I don't believe the op would have any issue so long as he did it carefully.

 

[Billrog]

I've moved my holiday trailer around and have a log trailer for bring my logs out of the bush with my tractor all the time.
1st tractor I used was a 19HP case originally before getting a little larger one.

I've also had 4 -20' fir logs on going up and down hills steep enough I'd throw a chain around them so they wouldn't slide on the trailer. Never a problem stopping and going down hill the tractor is able to hold the load back with just the engine. When going down a steep grade I lower the hitch close to the ground or it will push it up.

 

[Dragonpharm]

Question about the truck getting stuck. Is the truck 4 wheel drive? As others have said, tractor shouldn't have any issues towing. Traction could be an issue for the tractor as well as the truck. I wouldn't take my tractor anywhere my truck gets stuck. Granted, my truck is much more of an off road truck than it is a tow vehicle. Your mileage may vary so to speak.

 

[Cougsfan]

I often move my trailers about my property with a ball attachment mounted to my FEL. The reasons for that is I can hook the trailer up easier and faster and I can back the trailer into a tight spot easier and more accurately than I can with the trailer attached to the draw bar.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Would be interested in compact tractor like the Yanmar yt series or kioti or other modes. Just for some various land uses, moving firewood around and random projects. The question I have is could a small tractor like this pull a 14k bumper pull equipment trailer just around the property?

This is what the manual for the Kioti CK3510/4010 says are the limits.

 

[Torvy]

While I have your attention any suggestions on which models? Would like to find something in reasonable condition for $10-15k but seems like new is 25k-30k or even used is $20….

Yes. Many of us chose an unfortunate time to need a tractor. Prices are high enough for used that it can be hard to justify not buying new (warranty, useful life, loan rates if needed).
I think most would need more info about how you plan to use a tractor and what potential uses may come into play if you have one. I have a lot of data compiled about various brands in the Compact Utility frame sizes. Within that subcategory sizes vary by quite a bit. My key advice at this point is to not get too wrapped up in the brand right now. Most OEMs will build something that will do your job and will work well.

 

[makey98]

Question about the truck getting stuck. Is the truck 4 wheel drive? As others have said, tractor shouldn't have any issues towing. Traction could be an issue for the tractor as well as the truck. I wouldn't take my tractor anywhere my truck gets stuck. Granted, my truck is much more of an off road truck than it is a tow vehicle. Your mileage may vary so to speak.

2015 f-250. All terrain tires that have about 40k on them. Twice in past two weeks just sinks in and immediately gets nowhere with low four and locked rear diff… different tires may help of course…

 

[makey98]

Yes. Many of us chose an unfortunate time to need a tractor. Prices are high enough for used that it can be hard to justify not buying new (warranty, useful life, loan rates if needed).
I think most would need more info about how you plan to use a tractor and what potential uses may come into play if you have one. I have a lot of data compiled about various brands in the Compact Utility frame sizes. Within that subcategory sizes vary by quite a bit. My key advice at this point is to not get too wrapped up in the brand right now. Most OEMs will build something that will do your job and will work well.

Nothing big. I have 2 acres of weed field that I need to turn over and grade for seeding. I have a section by side of pole barn that I want to put a 24x10 section of gravel for parking trailer and random stuff, would like to build a lean to cover that someday. I like to cut wood so general moving of stuff around, have about 2 cords in random piles where I drug the splitter around. Need to pull the splitter back there of course. I wanted to widen my asphalt driveway a bit at the end but need to add a bunch of topsoil and then some gravel on top to get it to grade as it slopes away a bit. I have 3 acres of alfalfa, clover mix that I planted when I converted the acreage from corn field. Planning to get a small sheep barn and sheep but haven’t made that leap yet. But now that field has gone crazy and I was mowing 15 inch high alfalfa with my zero turn going 3 miles and hour about every month last year. Couldn’t find anyone to cut and bale that small of property. Then a bit of snow clearing of the driveway which takes forever with the atv blade….just stuff like that!!!! Also have a longer term goal of buying some larger piece of recreational land for camping and hunting so….. who knows! Thanks.

 

[Torvy]

Nothing big. I have 2 acres of weed field that I need to turn over and grade for seeding. I have a section by side of pole barn that I want to put a 24x10 section of gravel for parking trailer and random stuff, would like to build a lean to cover that someday. I like to cut wood so general moving of stuff around, have about 2 cords in random piles where I drug the splitter around. Need to pull the splitter back there of course. I wanted to widen my asphalt driveway a bit at the end but need to add a bunch of topsoil and then some gravel on top to get it to grade as it slopes away a bit. I have 3 acres of alfalfa, clover mix that I planted when I converted the acreage from corn field. Planning to get a small sheep barn and sheep but haven’t made that leap yet. But now that field has gone crazy and I was mowing 15 inch high alfalfa with my zero turn going 3 miles and hour about every month last year. Couldn’t find anyone to cut and bale that small of property. Then a bit of snow clearing of the driveway which takes forever with the atv blade….just stuff like that!!!! Also have a longer term goal of buying some larger piece of recreational land for camping and hunting so….. who knows! Thanks.

Better ask @Hay Dude about the alfalfa. Last time I worked hay we had a sickle bar mower and a small square baler. (Round bales were new tech) Maybe with that small of a space you could cut it and borrow a stacker?