2305 for hay ride use ?

[wagonguy]

no hills where I would be runnung 2305. pretty much flat as pancake,maybe couple bumps in grass but not even a elevation change of 1-2 feet over 10 acres of flat part of park.

 

[whitedogone]

Drawbar Tongue Weight Capacity, lb. (kg) 562 (255)

 

[wagonguy]

is that for drawbar on bottom frame of tractor or drawbar connected to the 3pt hitch? and if that is tongue weight measured like a trailer hitch? my class3 van hitch is 400 lb but rated to haul 5000lb trailer(total weight). my backhoe weighs more than 562 lbs. tongue weight for a small hay wagon cant be too much. I'll have to check on it.

 

[RobertN]

I used to have a Farmall-A. It would pull my 16' flatbed with hay bales and a load of Cub Scouts very easily. Some notes from our parade days:

- Make sure everyone is seated. If we had anyone that could not remian seated, they came off the float, and walked with the Cubmaster.
- Watch the clutch. Tractor clutches are not as smooth as car clutches. It may only go 2mph, but it will rock you off your hay bale if you do not slip it correctly; see 1st note about always seated on the float
-USE 4WD if you have it. Remember, you only have rear brakes. When you lock in 4WD, your braking includes the entire driveline, ie the front tires too. In my case, I had a 1600lb trailer, four bales of hay(400lbs), and 10-12 kids(guess around 800-1000lbs). That's 3000lbs pushing your compact tractor. Take advantage of all the braking you can get.
- use the drawbar, not the 3pt.
- go slow. In the parades sometimes I would get behind; the parade folks would try to hurry me. Not with 10-12 kids on the float... Parades seem to spread out, then bunch up, then spread out...
-use your break-away switch/brakes on the trailer. Run a rope down to the cable, so you can pull it in an emergency. Make sure the battery is charged though...
-We always had a couple adults, at least on on each side of the trailer, walking and watching the kids. One was always near me, so I could hear them clearly if I had to stop. They dressed in uniform or costume, so it was not obvious to the crowds watching the parade.
-Announce what you are doing. Let them know when you are starting to go so they are sitting and expect the movement.
-Let everyone know the rules BEFORE they get on the float/hay-ride.

Have fun! It is easily doable. Decorate it up. Let the kids decorate the float/hay-wagon. We won best float two of the four years we did the Christmas parade here.

Just make sure to go slow, look ahead, and anticipate what is ahead.

 

[RobertN]

You are right, a compact, even an antique compact, will easily pull it. That is what Farmall-A's and JD-LA's did; pulled trailers around farms.

Use the 4wd though! Compact tractors do not have front brakes. But, when you put it in 4WD, it ties the front tires in to the driveline, effectively giving you 4 wheel braking.

It should pull it better than it will stop it, and no I wouldn't use 4x4 on pavement. My concern would be the liability risk.

Steve

 

[aczlan]

Drawbar Tongue Weight Capacity, lb. (kg) 562 (255)

is that for drawbar on bottom frame of tractor or drawbar connected to the 3pt hitch? and if that is tongue weight measured like a trailer hitch?

It says "Drawbar Tongue Weight" so I would assume that it is talking about the amount of weight that can be put on the fixed drawbar under the PTO. This is irrelevant because a traditional (2 axles, front steering, rear fixed) haywagon will have ~20# of tongue weight, all the weight is born by the wheels.
This is because you cannot have that weight on the back of baler, it would act like a lever and lift up or push down on the tractor pulling the baler depending on how the wagon was loaded.
The important number is the maximum trailer weight.

As an aside, if I were setting up a trailer exclusively to haul people I would look into getting at least rear wheel brakes installed, perhaps by removing the axle stubs and installing standard trailer ones with brakes and installing a breakaway brake system, that way you could have extra stopping power if needed and have breakaway brakes in case the trailer came disconnected.

Aaron Z

 

[Deadman]

If your trailer will have no tongue weight, remember that your rear tires of your tractor will also have very little weight pushing them down for traction. Consider some weights on the rear to help with the traction.

 

[wagonguy]

I could add some weight, I have a quik hitch and was going to connect trailer to that to pull it. but I can use the tractor drawbar instead if it works better. I can load the tires too if I think I'd need it. I can try pulling approx weight and check traction on the grass. and I have the 4wd if need it. one nice thing about HST no clutch dumping/slipping to start out. I also have a 17' aluminum double axle car trailer,I thought about using it,but would have to make some mods on it for hayride use. but unloaded,it is LIGHT. will haul 4000 car but we used to store it by winching it up under foof joists with comealongs on each end. I can pick up front tongue and move it by hand anywhere I want to in lot.
Thanks for all input so far,keep it coming and if anyone has done similar and has pix,Id like to see some.

 

[RobertN]

HST is easier. USE the 4WD as long as you have it. You will not need it to start towing, but it will make it easier to stop; remember in 2WD you only have braking on the rear axle.

Obviously, my '41 Farmall-A was 2wd. Our parades were on pavement. We were going slow, but there were a couple times I wished I had four wheel braking.

Otherwise, it is a real hoot! I towed Cub Scouts a bunch, and also towed some older ladies from a local herb society. They had a blast!

I can try pulling approx weight and check traction on the grass. and I have the 4wd if need it. one nice thing about HST no clutch dumping/slipping to start out.

 

[RobertN]

I do not have pictures of the whole thing while in the parade, but while we were preparing.

if anyone has done similar and has pix,Id like to see some.