Lawn/Garden Tractor for hauling?

Anybody use a lawn tractor or garden tractor for their hauling around their yard or property. I have a 4x6 high sided trailer I use for gathering my firewood. I usually can get about a face cord (1/3 of a cord) in it. I’m getting tired of driving through my lawn with my Suburban to get the trailer down to my stacks. I’ve been toying with the idea of this type of tractor because they can be found reasonably cheap. Down to the stacks from the driveway is really only 100’ or say and is slightly down hill. The trailer would be getting pulled back up empty. In fact, what I do know is tow the trailer down with the truck, and when it’s empty, unhitch and push it back. So I’m confident empty won’t be a problem. And I should have enough flat area to slow down and stop after the slight decline down the the stacks. If I could just back down the trailer it really wouldn’t be an issue, if it’s sort of a sideways spat toward my stacks without a lot of room on either side so while backing up, the trailer constantly wants to turn towards the stacks because the hill is slanted that way. There’s really not enough room to correct with the long Suburban. So I don’t I have to pull my trailer down and that puts the nose of the truck right against my neighbor’s fence and right in between the shed and the swing set. It’s a little cramped. I’m thinking the tractor allows me to pull the trailer down without so many issues. And it would be of benefit for some of my overflow areas as well.

Ultimately, the question is, do you think a yard tractor can handle this, or do you use one already? From my reading I’ve done a garden tractor would be better than a lawn tractor. I know the engine can do it. The real concern is the transmission. Thoughts? Thanks in advance and I hope the post wasn’t too long. Just trying to be thorough.


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I have 2 garden tractors.....cub cadet 1250 that use to haul wood out of my steep rocky hill behind the house when im sawin.
I think somethin like my Kubota G6200 would work really well for you need. I lucked out n found one with a 3 point hitch. 16 hp,3 cyl diesel....

 

I use an 80s vintage Deere 265 to tow the splitter around, and it's quite adept at it. Wouldn't hesitate to pull that trailer with it, or an even larger one honestly, provided traction isn't an issue. Traction with the stock turf tires is sketchy when it's wet. AT tires would be cool, but I can't justify the expense.

I also have a smaller and newer Cub Cadet purchased (...foolishly? maybe.) for lawn duty when the pto on the Deere went the day before our independence day party a couple years ago and I got too mad to think straight.. Not sure of the model, that I use to pull a similar trailer but without the tall sides. It groans a little under a mounded load of wet wood.

Why not use the Deere for the wood too, Papi? Well, because I put a ball hitch through the pin mount to hook the splitter up, and haven't gotten around to putting the appropriate hitch on the trailer.

 

I use an old metal craftsman trailer (much smaller than yours) behind my lawn tractor. Works well but not huge capacity. I use it to haul from my driveway to my stacks and have used it to transport wood scrounged from my neighbors properties. It’s a little at a time but I can’t access my stacks with my truck so it’s a huge timesaver. The stack on the right was brought back to my house from a neighbor’s a few houses down the road. Probably 2.5 cords total.

 

Been using the Cub GT since 2007. I can tow a fully loaded (with Oak) 5X10' utility trailer no problem, but I don't have much in the way of inclines to deal with.
I've also used it for a few years to plow, and of course mow.

 

Garden tractor would be fine for that. A lawn tractor would most likely smoke a driveline toting that kind of load.

 

I use my ariens GT17 for firewood use when I'm not using the Kawasaki bayou. That ariens is one well built machine. Only early last fall did the engine from 1984 konk out. I haven't determined if the engine is toast, or fixable. Good thing there are repower kits to swap a Honda gx twin or a Kohler magnum into it.

I'd suggest a real garden tractor vs a lawn tractor with a stout transmission like what I have. Trusting a wimpy lawn tractor belt is waiting for disaster.

 

I use my John Deere X530 along with a 15cf JD trailer. Works great hauling wood. I have a ball and pin on the X530 so I can switch back and forth between log splitter and trailer.

 

Thanks for all the great and helpful replies! Here is what I am hoping to go look at tomorrow. I’m pretty sure it is considered a Garden Tractor because it is rated to attach a plow or snowblower.


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Those old bolens were well built. I think that model has an Eaton hydro unit. You could always repower it

 

I put a hi hitch on my cub xt1. Mainly for moving my splitter around. I pull a small garden trailer loaded with firewood, not sure if I would do more than that with the hill at my house. I can defanitly agree go garden tractor size if you can. This is what I have so i use it to its fullest.

 

Man that things got class

 

I use a '75 CubCadet 1450 to haul my trailer similar to yours with wood all the time. From the barn to the garage to fill the rack. On occasion she even pulls my wood hauling trailer(8ft truck bed made into a trailer) loaded up just fine. So ya, a garden tractor would do what you need it to.

 

Here's my GT17

And this is why I love my gt17. Dad on the tractor a couple of years before he passed.

Dad bought it new, in 84. It's mine now.

 

Perhaps a Farmall cub would be more in line with what your aiming to do.
At my buddy’s house we pull a mounded high 4x8 trailer with a Cub Cadet 73 with an 8 horse in it and it does fine. He runs bar tires and chains.

 

I suggest a set of wheel weights on almost any of the garden size tractors......ya wont regret them....

 

I bet that would do just fine. If the tranny is good it’s worth another engine. Extra weight front and rear would be a big help. I’m surprised by how much my JD X530 will handle, towing is no problem as long as it has traction.

 

Good luck saewoody! If you get that you might want to get chains.

 

I have used my Troy Built Gtx20 (Bolens) to haul wood. Its the old cast iron hydro/rear axle. Works great (but find the quad way more versatile.)

 

I'd look for as heavy a garden tractor as I could afford if towing was my main concern. On my little lawn tractor, the limiting factor is keeping the rubber stuck to the ground, whether it's spinning tires going up hill, or having the trailer break the back end loose going down hill.