Towing Tractor

[eddieirvine]

Not sure if i am posting on the correct title but i have a trailer i haul my Kubota L3940 HST on and i go by a uhaul place and we have all seen these trailers you drive up on and your front wheels sit in a formed dip your tires fit in and the back of your rear wheels are on the ground, Now is it possible to haul a tractor with one of these making sure you are in a neutral position? I really see no reason why you could not tow one like this? Am i missing something here?

 

[dodge man]

You’re talking about a tow dolly. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Maybe if you were on back roads going slow. The main problem would be the tires are designed for any type of higher speeds.

 

[RjCorazza]

Well, for starters the tires on a tractor are NOT designed for highway speeds.

 

[4570Man]

I wouldn’t do it. Tractor tires are typical only rated for 25mph and the tractor driveline isn’t highway rated either.

 

[oldnslo]

Going slow yes you can tow a tractor that way. Bigger concern is can you stop it since most of a tractors weight is on the rear axle.

Another concern isTractor tires are not balanced and they can start to bounce at some unknown speed. The hopping can get pretty violent quickly.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

The bigger question is of all the things that you could do, why in the world would you want to do this? There is definately reasons why you have never seen anyone pass by you pulling a tractor this way.

 

[newbury]

I've a M4700 and several "lots" of 15 to 80 acres spread over an area of about 15 miles by 10 miles. A bit far to drive my M4700 (top speed ~18MPH) without trailering. But I could see loading it on an APPROPRIATE tow dolly and pulling it with my dually at 18mph to get it to my far lot.

 

[4570Man]

I've a M4700 and several "lots" of 15 to 80 acres spread over an area of about 15 miles by 10 miles. A bit far to drive my M4700 (top speed ~18MPH) without trailering. But I could see loading it on an APPROPRIATE tow dolly and pulling it with my dually at 18mph to get it to my far lot.

I took a 15 mile trip the other day at about 35 mph because I was missing a trailer tire. Even with hitting every safe turnout the line of cars backed up was quite long. I can’t imagine intentionally setting out on a 18mph trip over that distance.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I've a M4700 and several "lots" of 15 to 80 acres spread over an area of about 15 miles by 10 miles. A bit far to drive my M4700 (top speed ~18MPH) without trailering. But I could see loading it on an APPROPRIATE tow dolly and pulling it with my dually at 18mph to get it to my far lot.

Give it a shot and let us know how it pans out, who knows maybe ya'll will start a new trend, just kidding, nothing about this sounds like a good idea to me, make no mistake about it I am not saying it couldn't be done , just saying that just because you can rig up something to work doesn't mean you should. I would also be curious what the State or DOT law man would think about it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

On top of everything that has been mentioned I would say the weight distribution (rear end heavy) would make it sketchy and more importantly I would be scared to burn the transmission, when you haul a rear wheel drive truck you have to disconnect the drive shaft or apply the the truck U haul neutral function if not you burn the transmission, I would say the same thing apply.

 

[Thomas]

Not worth the risk to yourself and others.

 

[CoyPatton]

You’re talking about a tow dolly. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Maybe if you were on back roads going slow. The main problem would be the tires are designed for any type of higher speeds.

I will go beyond saying I’m not sure this is a good ideal, to saying I think this is s terrible ideal. Your tractor is not designed to travel at highway speeds. Tires are easily replaced, not cheaply however, but the internals of the rear axle (the business portion of the tractor) not so much.

 

[workinonit]

Those tire straps wouldn't go around my front tires.

 

[Joe Batt]

As long as you don't tow it faster than the max speed of the tractor, but then why tow it? I see no advantage to using a dolly.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Jumping onboard with the majority of the comments...DON'T DO IT! I see nothing but trouble, for all the above reasons...and likely a few more.

 

[kneedeep]

Just drive it

 

[Chewwy]

One must also consider proper lubrication of bearings, gears, shafts, etc.

Not sure about the transmission/rear axle on your machine, but some motor vehicles require dropping the driveshaft when towing using the tow dolly. Proper transmission lubrication does not occur when components are turning driven only by the rear wheels via the driveshaft.

Don’t ask me how I know this.

 

[bgr]

You would need to completely disengage the rear wheels to tow with a dolly under the fronts. i don't think the Kubota can do that, even if trans selector is in neutral. You would have to contact Kubota national customer support to get an answer. I also agree the rear tires are not made for road speeds, as the sidewalls will say in their labels. "Not for Highway Service."

The cars usually on those dollys are front wheel drive with the front wheels on the dolly. The rear wheels have road speed rated bearings and road speed rated tires and are balanced. They are turning at the same speed as if they were being pulled by front wheels, so no problem.

"Roading" your tractor very far puts a lot of wear on it, too. Do not drive manual 4 wheel drive machines on the road, as their differentials designed to split power between front and rear axles are not designed for that service. Tires also get a lot of wear.

You probably should check to see if it is legal with the state motor vehicle department.

 

[mike69440]

I've a M4700 and several "lots" of 15 to 80 acres spread over an area of about 15 miles by 10 miles. A bit far to drive my M4700 (top speed ~18MPH) without trailering. But I could see loading it on an APPROPRIATE tow dolly and pulling it with my dually at 18mph to get it to my far lot.

OK, that should be not to dangerous as long as 15-18 mph is all you go and you are not on public main roads.
Overseas and at mines, it is a common 3rd world practice to move excavators with a single axle dolly. Lock down that front axle!

 

[olenjohn]

Sure, go for it. Let us know how Uhaul endorsed that.