Tractor to push boat up driveway - suggestions?

[Mikeski]

I am thinking about picking up a small tractor or big riding lawn mower to push my boat up my driveway into the side yard parking spot. Currently I use either my truck or Tahoe to get it as close as I can then push it in the remainder of the way by hand, both vehicles are too long to make the final turn, last weekend a buddy suggested I get a small tractor. It needs to have enough power and traction to push the boat over the curb and over a hump while on the lawn. I currrently put my 4wd tow vehicles in 4 low so I don't tear everything up with spinning tires. A friend used to have a medium size lawn tractor with big weighted rear tires, I think it might have enough traction but not sure about the power. I am also considering a winch setup. Don't really want to spend more than $1-2k, used/abused is fine.

Tell me what you guys think?

[SkiBlue]

RE: Tractor to push boat up driveway - suggestions?

Find a cheap, used 4x4 ATV and you'll have no problems!

[flaudia402]

I also would recommend a cheap old ATV. My family lives on a relatively large acreage and we frequently are doing heavy lifting and yard work. Doing everything by foot/car wasn't cutting it since a car was too large to fit in certain places and we're not strong enough to move 500 pounds around. We were thinking of an ATV also but ended up going with a Polaris Ranger 6 x 6. We have it hooked up to a trailer to use for odds and ends. This may be more than what you're looking for, but if you're simply looking for something to move heavy objects (such as your boat) by yourself, your ATV would do just fine.

[54T]

check this out

http://www.trailertugpro.com/trailers.html

[Mikeski]

54T, I have seen these but there is no way it is going to get enough traction to push the boat over the uphill concrete transition between the lawn and the parking pad. Maybe if I built a saddle over my tongue to hold my 540lb fatsac?

My truck and Tahoe need to be in 4 low to get enough traction to do it without tearing up my lawn. I guess I could use it to do what I now do by hand but I was hoping to find something that is capable of pushing it the whole way.

[Mikeski]

Maybe this would do it?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/829383503.html

[AirTool]

Maybe this would do it?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/grd/829383503.html

Nice...hopefully it comes withOUT the driver.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

Consider this. Install a 115Vac electric winch in the back of the garage. Use two nylon slings, 20 ft work best, and a shackle. The slings go around the frame in basket with the four ends in the shackle which you connect to the winch hook. Use a trailer dolly to pick up the toungue and steer it home.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...ID=1008&r=view

If your hill is not to steep a planetary winch will be enough http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/guideBrowse.shtml

If your hill is steeper, a worm drive wichi will be needed http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/guideBrowse.shtml

NOTE: You can get the slings and shakles from Grainger also.

Works like a champ, and is great if there is a bend (and you avoid the fun of the brakes locking up with the down hill pressure if you take it out of reverse to change the angle). Other advanage, it stows under the back of the boat and does not take up precious room in the garage like a tractor or ATV.

If you want, I can take pictures of my rig

[jos]

http://www.powrwheel.com/

Over here its very popular under 60+, to put there caravan in place without any effort.

[guyhawk]

I have a kubota b1750 (17.5hp) compact tractor with a 4ft snow plough mounted on the front, ball hitch on top left, top right of plough unhitch from truck, park truck, pull up with tractor while loweing blade with hydraulics, line ball up which you can see from the cab, lift blade, put boat away, lower blade, park tractor all with out having to get out of the cab, makes my life alot easier as have young kids and my wife always seems busy sorting them out when we get back from boating,! tractor is abit bigger than the one pictureed earlier and i have a 220 with twin axle trailer which can turn on the spot, will try to attach picture

[Quinner]

Mike,

Have moved the boat a couple times with the ATV, ours is a 500cc 4x4 which moves the boat fine, the only PITA is the ball mount on the ATV axle is really low, too low to lower with the crank so you need to either lift the tongue by hand and set it on the ball or back the ATV up on blocks to raise it some. Anyways, just something to think about.

[rbalan]

How much of a slope is it? And if I'm understanding you correctly, a vehicle will more than likely have to back the boat up slope. Keep in mind that most "tractor" type vehicles do not get nearly the traction in reverse as they do forward when dealing with slopes. I use a Boxer mini skidsteer to get my boat into/out of the garage because of a tight turn and can tell you it would not push the boat up my concrete driveway (approx 12-18 degree grade).

[RLS]

Have you thought about putting a hitch on the front of one of your trucks. I put one on my truck so I could put a motorcycle on the front but I use it twice as much for tight work with the boat. You can control the boat trailer twice as well from the front. Because the steering is at the same place you are towing the control is great. You can also see much better. They make front hitches for most trucks. If you have disc brakes on your boat trailer you will need the insert for the side of the trailer brakes. The same would be true with a tractor.

[rbalan]

Good idea RLS, probably the cheapest route as well.

[wake_fun]

I use a John Deere LT133 mower with a custom built hitch. I got the hitch off an old Suburban from the junk yard and cut it up to fit. It's flipped upside down. I used existing holes in the frame of the mower to attach it! It turned out perfect.