Pulling a gooseneck trailer with a tractor

[troverman]

Every year on halloween we do a hayride where I use my tractor to pull a trailer situated with rails and hay bales for seats. In the past I've towed conventionally my 18' equipment trailer, weighing in at 3300lbs empty. I no longer have that trailer, instead having moved up to a 30' deckover gooseneck, weighing 5600lb empty.

My towing tractor is my MX4800. With the conventional-tow trailer, I used a ball mounted on the drawbar. However, with the gooseneck, I'd have to use a 3-point hitch gooseneck frame and ball attachment.

The area we do the ride on is 100% flat, and lawn. About 5 acres.

The tractor will have a loader with a bucket or forks on it, and has loaded rear tires, so I'd say it weighs a little more than the trailer.

Can the 3-point hitch lift this gooseneck? Will the tractor safely pull it?

I think the answer is yes, but thought I'd get opinions.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yea you should be fine.

 

[Sammy3700]

I pull my 27 footer also with a L3800. Just keep more people in front of the trailer wheels than behind because the rear lift doesn’t have down pressure. So far I haven’t had any problems and have hauled around 30 people at a time.

 

[SidecarFlip]

If I can haul down the road, 30 rounds on my 28 foot Kaufman tandem axle gooseneck, you can haul people no problem. I'd just have it in 4wd so your braking power will be front and rear.

 

[BigG]

I have done the hayride thing with a 27ft gooseneck and a TL80A New Holland. Flat land in the sub division here in FL with 50 plus people on board. I honestly could not tell the difference between empty and full. It was on paved flat roads and was a great time.

Things to think about:
1 egress, a ladder or step for people to get up onto the deck.
2 run a chain fron the drawbar to the hitch so the 3 pt can not raise up on you.
3 apoint one person as the trailer boss to be your safety spotter to insure every body stays seated,to spot for you if you need to back up, and watch for the kids between the tractor and trailer. I have a cab tractor and those cheap walkie-talkies are worth every penny to be able to talk to your trailer boss.
4 If your are on the street at night make sure you have a SMV sign posted. I also used a Honda generator to power the Christmas lights done up on a hoop across the back of the trailer and around the sides. Christmas lights worked great for me but I just saw some LED lights in a tube from Harbor Freight that might be even better. Also powered the boom box for the sing along of the Christmas carols.

 

[mbu]

From Kubota's Owners Manual for your tractor...

Maximum towing weight is 7,700 lbs (weight of trailer plus the weight of the load).

Maximum drawbar load is 1,650 lbs.

If you are within those parameters you will be okay.

 

[Fordtech86]

I think it would be fine too. Maybe as a test run throw the 2501 on the trailer and tow it around a similar flat spot? Surely between hay and people you wouldn***8217;t have more weight then the L.

We do the same thing at Halloween, I haul the L to our friends neighbor hood and hook the trailer up to the tractor and go. Easier to get around then pulling it with the truck. Get lots of funny looks tho lol. When country comes to town. BigG has inspired me to make it even better this year, my inverter generator,the Bose system, and lights are going on this year!

 

[Fordtech86]

Worst case is maybe you need to throw some extra weight in the bucket if it feels too light? I would rather take a trial run before hand before loading people on it but that’s just me.

 

[troverman]

Thanks guys. Lots of great advice and I appreciate it.