Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

[ZmOz]

I've heard about people using riding lawnmowers to move their boats around before...will it work with any old lawnmower? I have a CV-16 that's about 1500lbs with the trailer...so I'm not trying to move anything too large, but the place I have to keep the boat beside my house is EXTREMELY hard to back into and out of...I was thinking of buying a used riding mower just for this purpose.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Best bet is to see if you can borrow one first and give it a try.<br /><br />I have a Craftsman B&S V Twin 24HP. The biggest issue when towing or pushing heavy objects is wheel slip. Even with weights and chains It won't plow a lot of snow. <br /><br />An ATV with its 4wd would be much better I bet. I know my friend uses his for that and it also plows a heck of a lot of snow.

 

[Capt. T]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I use a 14 HP lawn tractor to move my boat around (boat & trailer = 3500 lbs). Powerwise, no problem, no slip either. However I'm looking at changing out the rear tires to something more able to take the weight.<br /><br />I used a piece of structural steel channel to extend the hitch plate in back to give me enough room to mount a 2" ball. The only difficulty I had was getting the front of the trailer down low enough to mate to the ball. The trailer jack will not go down that low and the spare tire has to be moved. Otherwise, great idea. I also use it to drag my utility trailer around the yard.<br /><br />Go for it, you should have no real problems

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I use mine for that all the time.<br />Also use it to move my 27' camper around when I need to.<br /><br />But it is a Kubota diesel, and well, there ain't no comparison to a regular lawn mower.

 

[BillP]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I used an old Gravely lawn mower in low gear with an 8hp single cyl cast iron engine to move trailer boats around my yard. Biggest boat was a 20'Proline cuddy. The boats were only moved a few times a year and approx 400'-500'distance. The Gravely lasted 25 yrs before needing a rebuild so I know the loads didn't bother it.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Sounds good... . What about braking? I only have to move the boat about 20 feet, but there is a slight hill, and right at the bottom the boat needs to stop...this is why I can't push it by hand, I can't stop the boat when I'm standing in front of it. (two people have no trouble stopping the boat though)

 

[Lark40]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Read this:<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=22;t=000710

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Are there any gas powered ride on devices meant specifically for this? Now I'm thinking of building something myself...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Go to the local lawn mower repair shop and you may find a pile of old riders that are ready for the recycler to take. Many of them have good frames/transmission/tire setups and just need a motor. Toss the cutting deck and you can build a simple tractor for under a few hundred bucks.<br /><br />I have done this before. Found a 1966 RUGG mower and paid $25 for it. Trans has a small problem that was fixed for $6. It smokes a litte, but makes a nice tow machine.

 

[ED21]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I used to move airplanes around with a towmotor(it looks like a lawn tractor on steroids). The hitch was on the front & it was amazing how precisly you could place a large airplane in a hanger with only inches to spare.

 

[down_time_1]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I have a 317 Johndeer with a 3 point hitch and have been moving my boats for years (2950 lbs). It workes great, because i'm able to raise it up off jack and put it down with out getting off mower.

 

[down_time_1]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I have a 317 Johndeer with a 3 point hitch and have been moving my boats for years (2950 lbs). It workes great, because i'm able to raise it up off jack and put it down with out getting off mower.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I have a JD 332D which works well. The hydraulic 3 pt hitch works well since it gives a little extra distance to swing the tongue and can be raised or lowered easily for better placement.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

We move aircraft up to 15,0000lbs., with our 16hp cub cadet. your mower will work just fine for that unless you are going to be in the mud or something.............

 

[the hangman]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

There is a big difference between a riding lawnmower, a lawn tractor, and a garden tractor. A garden tractor has a much heavier transmission and is the only thing meant to pull such loads.<br /><br />There is a forum that deals with such issues:<br /><br /> http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/tractor/ <br /><br />Jeff

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Zmoz.. You big GIRL..<br />Just push it there...<br /> <br />It's only about 16ft ...<br />You MAN or MOUSE ?

 

[honedout]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I have a 12 hp Troy Built garden tractor that I bought at a garage sale just for this purpose. It works very well. I put a 2inch ball on it and away i went. I pull all my trailers with it. The biggest one i have is an 18 ft Proline center console. Pulls it no problem

 

[Solittle]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

I had a simular problem years ago. I solved it by bolting a piece of angle iron with a ball (for the hitch) to the front bumper of my car.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

What about braking? I only have to move the boat about 20 feet, but there is a slight hill, and right at the bottom the boat needs to stop...this is why I can't push it by hand, I can't stop the boat when I'm standing in front of it.

Just leave a 4X4, or garden landscape timber laying where you want the wheels to stop............<br />With, or without power,....... It gives you a "Target" to shoot for................. <br />

I solved it by bolting a piece of angle iron with a ball (for the hitch) to the front bumper of my car.

My Dad Always had a hitch mounted on the front of his truck............... Brings back Memories......Thanks SoLittle........

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Towing my boat with a lanwmower...

Ride-on mower has worked for me in the past. Braking on a slope is a big problem, because the mower (on gravel) doesn't have the beef to hold the boat. <br /><br />I tied the trailer to a shackle on a post before moving it with a length of rope that went taught exactly where I wanted it to stop. No worries.