Will my BX25 be able to do this?

[Tractor Factor]

I know this is bass ackwards as the BX25 is being delivered tomorrow..but I've got some trails through the woods here, and I wonder if any of you can tell me if I will be able to haul cut logs for firewood on a small trailer. Total weight of the trailer and wood in the 600-700 # range, I would guess, and sections of the trails have a max sustained pitch of approximately 1 foot in 5 (for example, 20 foot rise over 100 feet run). The trails are a broken shale/gravel/clay combination and have been graded fairly flat with a dozer, so it's a straight climb, no sideways tilt.

I don't want to have to take the FEL or BH off, but instead plan to try to rig a ball right to the BH, like KeithInSpace did. I would think 23HP and 4wd would be enough to do this. Maybe I'd be better off taking off the BH, buying a 3PH and adding a drawbar?? Thanks for your advice.

 

[CHDinCT]

Well, the BX towing capacity is rated at somewhere between 1,700-1,800 lbs IIRC, but I have no idea if that's with or without attachments on. I'd guess it has more to do with how much weight they think you can safely pull vs carry, so my guess is the extra weight of the BH/FEL doesn't change the tow rating. That said, you might want to play it safe and remove the BH for log skidding.

 

[art]

Had a customer drag out three 7x14 dump trailer fulls of cherry and butternut logs for lumber. The stumps were all a minimum of 15" diameter and logs up to about 17' long. He had to pull them down a hill about 40 foot and then across a stream about 7' wide and about 6" deep of water and back up a hill that is about 60'. He did this from the cross drawbar not the backhoe. The last hill he climbed many TLB's that are full size back-up it to keep from flipping over backwards.

 

[fish6942]

No doubt it will pull it. The question is whether it will STOP it. Consider how big the hills are where you'll be using it.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I think I'd agree with Mr. CHDinCT. I recently pulled my 10k# rated trailer around the neighborhood for a Halloween hay ride. In addition to the ~2k# weight of the trailer itself, there was another 50# of stakesides, 50# of hay, and ~700# of human beings aboard for a total in the 2,800# to 3,000# range.

I was going up and down 10% grades on paved roads and could feel the 'pull' and 'push' of the trailer. Never felt the need to go into low range, but I could hear the HST doing its job.

I had the trailer mounted to my Leinbach Line LTH-1 2" reciever with my Weight Distributing shank and WD bars installed to get weight onto the front wheels. Worked like a CHAMP. Didn't feel the need to have a single pound in the FEL bucket to offset the trailer.

My point: I'm not sure I'd pull a serious load off the BH ball for three reasons...
1) You can't drop/lower the load/trailer if things get hairy...
2) You can't mount the WD hitch, as I have found to be useful...
3) And you can carry the load lower, bettering your COG.

I have used my BH hitch to yank around my big trailer loaded with tree litter on the flat portions of the yard and it has worked quite well. Skidding logs on a trail? Tractor can handle it no problem in 4WD and low range, but I'm not 100% sure I'd start out with an extra 700# anchor hanging off the back of the tractor. I'd do it with a draw bar or a hitch assembly like mine until you're very, very comfortable with what you're doing.

In the end, you'll end up doing it without the BH attached. I am much more confident in "mixed" situations without the BH attached because of the greatly lowered COG.

I'm sure you'll figure what works for you...I'm just speaking from 3 years of being able to do it both ways, and I know how I END UP doing the job. The BH is so easy to remove/install, it won't be a big deal to you.

 

[310-510]

You might consider putting a receiver in the loader. I pulled a trailer around the farm on pretty steep hills with 3000 pounds using my BX24. Just remember to keep the loader aimed downhill and if it starts getting away, lower the loader to the ground. Never had any trouble.

 

[dodge man]

I'd think you would be O.K. as long as it's not wet. Just work up to a full load slowly. Start out with just the trailer, than try a partial load, then a full load. I'd recomend going slow in low range. Did you ever think of just loading the wood in the end loader? It won't haul a lot, but it's fast and easy. If you are hauling several thousand feet, that won't be that great, but if you aren't hauling very far, the end loader might be quicker and safer.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Much to digest here. I guess my original question was really just does this machine have the power to pull this load up this slope (the answer is yes). I see now there are a lot of other things to consider. I can also see the backhoe should really come off...ok. Mainly I was just trying to save a few $ because the 3PH doesn't come with the BX25. Does the spending ever end??

BTW, I have no idea what a 10% grade is equivalent to. Could someone ballpark that in rise/run in feet (for an old carpenter)?

I infer from a lot of your comments that feeling your way around and taking it slow, using trial and error and common sense, keeping safety first, are some good guidelines for a first time tractor owner.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I agree with others - it's ALL about stopping the load! Having the backhoe installed will increase weight to assist in traction. However, backhoe is not made for that type of use... Another possibility - if you don't already own the trailer - is to get one with brakes. "Install" a controller (meaning power it) and manually use it to control trailer brakes.
Mike

 

[amigauser]

Grade (slope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Grade Percent Incline And Downgrade Calculator

 

[bota jim]

no doubt it will pull it. i shuffle dual axel car trailers around my yard with cars on them using my bx24 and a bucket reciever. of course i am on flat ground but still between the trailer and car you have to be talking about 3-4000 pounds. it does it no problem as long as the tongue weight isn't over 500lbs. it would do it even easier if it was on the 3pt hitch.

 

[dodge man]

A simple way to understand percent slope is to think of it in 100 feet. A 10 percent slope would have 10 of rise in 100 feet, or 1 foot or rise in 10 feet. A 20 percent slope would have 20 feet of rise in 100 feet or 2 feet in 10 feet, and so on.

 

[dodge man]

I'll give you an example of a problem I had yesterday. I have a hill at my place, just guessing here, is maybe a 15% grade, maybe a little more. I had my end loader on, empty and a home made ballast box on the back. The ballast box and the weight in the back was maybe 100 pounds. The hill had alot of leaves on it but it was dry. I forgot to put it in 4 wheel drive, and as I headed downhill, it pretty much just took off on me. What happens is the rear wheels lock up and you just kind of take off. I actually slowly stepped in to the hydrastat which got the rear wheels turning at least a little bit, and I was able to steer down the hill O.K. I have had the same thing happen on my old riding mower so I didn't panic. Its a helpless feeling. My hill isn't that long, about 70 feet and flat at the bottom. You could see the problem I would have had if the hill had been longer, if I had a loaded trailer behind me, and the trail wasn't straight. You don't want to be going 20 miles downhill in one of these things. I'm not trying to scare you, it just takes experience. Being a new tractor owner also, its best not to learn the hard way. I learned the hard way but wasn't hurt. I just need to remember, 4 low when going down the hill.

 

[Tractor Factor]

A simple way to understand percent slope is to think of it in 100 feet. A 10 percent slope would have 10 of rise in 100 feet, or 1 foot or rise in 10 feet. A 20 percent slope would have 20 feet of rise in 100 feet or 2 feet in 10 feet, and so on.

Ahh, very good, thanks. So I'm looking at about a 20% grade, or slope. I'm sure there's some formula for figuring the decreasing load you can tow in relation to an increasing slope.

 

[Tractor Factor]

I'll give you an example of a problem I had yesterday. I have a hill at my place, just guessing here, is maybe a 15% grade, maybe a little more. I had my end loader on, empty and a home made ballast box on the back. The ballast box and the weight in the back was maybe 100 pounds. The hill had alot of leaves on it but it was dry. I forgot to put it in 4 wheel drive, and as I headed downhill, it pretty much just took off on me. What happens is the rear wheels lock up and you just kind of take off. I actually slowly stepped in to the hydrastat which got the rear wheels turning at least a little bit, and I was able to steer down the hill O.K. I have had the same thing happen on my old riding mower so I didn't panic. Its a helpless feeling. My hill isn't that long, about 70 feet and flat at the bottom. You could see the problem I would have had if the hill had been longer, if I had a loaded trailer behind me, and the trail wasn't straight. You don't want to be going 20 miles downhill in one of these things. I'm not trying to scare you, it just takes experience. Being a new tractor owner also, its best not to learn the hard way. I learned the hard way but wasn't hurt. I just need to remember, 4 low when going down the hill.

Wow, that was unnerving just to read it. It's not hard to imagine the trailer going one way or the other and turning the tractor to where you might get pulled off the trail and end up at an angle to the hillside.

"I was able to steer down the hill O.K. "

I have trouble backing up a trailer on level ground!

 

[dodge man]

Yeah T.F., it was scary. I did the same thing with an endloader full of dirt once. Forgot to put it in 4 wheel drive and when I started downhill, it took off. I wasn't on a trail and it just took off through some trees. You'd think I'd learn. You can also drop the endloader to help stop, but I didn't. Good luck with the new machine, not trying to scare you, just be carefull as you learn.

 

[RobJ]

No doubt it will pull it. The question is whether it will STOP it. Consider how big the hills are where you'll be using it.

Agree, I'd take the BH off if it were me.

 

[easygo]

I'm sure you will be able to haul a 600-700# trailer. As others suggested take the backhoe off. You will have a lot easier time to get around in the woods and back up the trailer if needed. I used to pull a small trailer with a 600# ATV and the trailer loaded with wood weighed more. It pulled it all right but had to be very careful on downhills. That said. I truly doubt that a load that small could be much of a factor for your BX (with the hoe off). My B7510 weighs the same as the BX and it can easily handle 600-700# without noticing. Still be careful down the hill. When I haul my 3000lbs boat that is an entirely different ballgame.

 

[Volfandt]

Your BX will have no problems handling that weight. Just use low range and allow yourself plenty of time and space to stop / manuver.

I've got somewhere between a 10 to 15 degree drop from my front to my back and I've not only handled it fine w/the BX hauling a 6 x12 trailer but also w/ my little ole 8hp gear drive Wheel Horse. I don't have a pic of my BX23 w/the trailer but heres a pic of my 856 Wheel Horse hauling a 900 lb 6 x12 trailer loaded w/ a couple hundred lbs of brush. That little ole thing hardly grunted and neither did the BX23 in low

 

[KeithInSpace]

Though not nearly as nice as Mr. Volfandt's Wheel Horse, I built my first deck on a HECK of a slope using an old Monkey Ward lawn tractor and some home grown trailers to haul the tons of lumber from the street to the back yard.

Worked great until I got on a slope...the rear wheels broke free and no amount of brake would help.

BE SURE to use the 4WD when towing, loading, or whatevering a load on a slope. There's no saving you if she gets away from you and it is only the rear wheels clamoring for grip. Others have said it, just wanted to give you another example.

And show off pictures of that huge deck I built. Alone. Took a whole summer...wife was pregnant, so she slept through the whole thing, leaving entire weekends for me to work. It was GREAT. Pictures of new deck, old tractor, old trailer, old 4Runner, and slightly younger me. I'd put 1,000# of lumber on that little skid trailer and tote it around the back of the house. Worked perfect.

The day I finished the deck, we moved out of the house. Bummer. Oh well...I have my REAL tractor now...well...a BX anyway...