Moving a Boat with My BX23

[AMR]

QUESTION: I have a boat/motor/trailer with a combined weight of about 5,000 pounds. I would guess the tung weight to be around 250 pounds. Can I safely move this around the driveway with my BX23 and its drawbar? Essentially, I will drive the boat up the driveway with the truck and then drop the trailer and get it turned around and in the garage with the tractor. Thanks all for your thoughts.

 

[RonR]

If everything is absolutely FLAT where you are talking about, I'd try it. If you have any slope at all, that is a LOT of weight to move with a small tractor. I'd feel safer having a helper guide me and back it in with the truck. But I'm overly cautious most of the time. The tongue weight wouldn't be the issue, but the total weight would concern me.

Ron

 

[ccsial]

With the boat on the drawbar you may find that the visibility backing up into a tight spot is not so good. You will be sitting so close to the bow you can't see the rear. Using the mirrors on the truck are probably easier.

I use a ball on the end FEL of my 1910 for my boat and other trailers and I get fair visibility because I am far enough back. Using the draw bar on my L3400 is difficult.

 

[Mike_C]

I agree completely with the previous comments

1) only if it's flat, if there is a hill don't do it

2) you will not be able to see around the boat by using the drawbar hitch. I move mine with a hitch on the bucket of my bx-22.
See this web page

 

[nbennett]

I move my 5500 lb. travel trailer around the yard with my BX on the level part. Once, I tried pulling up a slight grade and the front end was so light that I could not steer the tractor. I'm not about to try it down hill! Otherwise, the 3 PH is much more convienient to use than trying to hook up to my truck without someone to help.

 

[RobertN]

The trailer sales/repair place near me has a late '60's Internatioanl Cub. They have a reciever hitch on the rear 3pt. They move trailers of all sizes around thier lot. It is a fairly level lot though...