3 point hitch towing - trailer mover

[number9]

I want/need to be able to pull a surplus military trailer (M101) around my property. Not just move it around, but use it. I seen a thread somewhere but can't find it now, saying that this was not acceptable because in certain off road situations the trailer tongue weight could go negative (trailer too heavy on rear end) and cause the 3pth arms to lift or even slam all the way up. This could cause damage to the tractor or even cause a tractor wreck.

Could you not make some sort of provision down to the factory drawbar that comes out from under the PTO shaft and limit the amount of upward movement the 3pth could have?

This trailer mover looks to have a setup for that very thing. Looks like you bolt the chain to the drawbar to limit upward travel?

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[Kingcreek]

I welded one up that locks into my quick hitch. I've never had a problem like you describe but I can see where it might occur. I guess I could weld up a chain mount easy enough and clevis to the drawbar.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

What size tractor are you pulling with? I think you should be fine as long as you travel at a safe speed and not hot rod the tractor down the street or around the property.

 

[number9]

What size tractor are you pulling with? I think you should be fine as long as you travel at a safe speed and not hot rod the tractor down the street or around the property.

L3800 but I wont be on much level ground. Going back in the woods, up, down, off camber, etc.

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[Eric McCarthy]

Id say try it out see how it does, go slow at first and take your time and be alert and see how things look. Might surprise you and do just fine or you may need to ancor down the trailer mover.

 

[number9]

Yea, guess I'll have to take that approach. Good thing is that the trailer has surge brakes so it won't be trying to push the tractor. I've got 3 of the trailers but one is cherry and modified to be a dirtbike hauler for me and the boys. The other two I'll use and one is 22" to the tongue and the other is 27". I was thinking of welding a receiver tube to the bottom of the quick hitch but that's not going to work out because the amount I need the rotary cutter to flex will put the PTO driveshaft into the hitch tube.

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[rednecklimo85]

I do the same thing and the only time its been an issue was trying to back up with a light tongue weight and hit an obstruction such as a rock, or branch. It happened slow enough I just simply stopped, no slamming. Keep some weight on the tongue, use your head, and you'll be ok.

 

[hodge]

A single axle trailer is easier to tow like that than a tandem is. With a tandem, the terrain can cause the tongue to rise- such as when the tractor would start down a hill before the trailer has crested. Of course, it can happen with a single if the trailer is loaded tongue-light. You might want to be extra conscience of how you load it.

 

[armylifer]

I have an M116A2 trailer that I have a slide in camper mounted on. I tow that around my property without any issues. I have also towed the trailer with the 3 point arms connected to the lock points on the tractor instead of the hydrolic lifter arms. I know that my terminology is probably not correct because I am new to using a tractor but in my instruction manual it tells me how to disconnect the hydrolic risers from the 3 point and connect them to the tractor frame so that it cannot be raised or lowered accidently.

I apologize for not knowing yet what is the correct terminology for the parts of the 3 point hitch. I am just trying to convey the message that I also use my tractor to tow a military trailer around on my property and I have not had any issues yet. I also hope that I have been descriptive enough to help. If not, maybe I can post pictures to show what I an tring to describe.

 

[number9]

Sure, pics would be great.


I've pulled the trailer around a little but not really using it as it doesn't have a body on it - it's really a M116A2 chassis (no body on it). But I am going down to my in-laws today to bring one of my M105 trailers home and am going to take the body off it and put on the M116 chassis. So hopefully sometime next week I'll be able to tell how it's going to work out when I get to pull it around with a load in it.

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[Wild and Free]

Just bought the trailer mover pictured above from king Kutter from a local farm supply store.

I have several bumper hitch, 2 gooseneck trailers my 25 foot travel trailer and pontoon to move around on occasion rather than trying to maneuver them around my yard with the pickup.

I will try it while cutting fire wood later this summer and can definitely see the need for the limiter chain in that situation as my pickup box trailers could definitely get loaded back heavy at times and want to pick up on the 3 point while bouncing around the country side.

 

[gpreuss]

You can buy/build lift arm braces, that go from the lift arm tips back up to the tractor side of the top link. They will lock the drawbar at a given height. You still have the problem of picking up the rear of the tractor, of course. Being sensible with weight distribution in the trailer should keep you out of trouble.