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Has anyone tried to pull too much with your Ventrac. I have a car trailer which gets stored in a really tight spot and would like to use my 3223 with the 2 in 1 hitch on the front. It is level ground so I am not concerned about not being able to stop but dont want to cause any damage to the tractor.

Ventrac told me that I would not hurt anything and if it will not move the trailer a pressure release valve would protect the hydraulic system but I wanted to see if anyone has pulled any heavy loads with their ventrac and if any adverse effects were noted.

Thanks

I would agree with Ventrac on that. These things (especially the 4000 series in low gear!) will tow anything, but you always have to keep safety in mind and stopping distance. If you are going at a manageable pace and are on flat ground you shouldn't have any issues.

Personally with my 3223d I have pulled a 12ft single axle trailer loaded with about a ton and a half of pea gravel. No problems and it performed like a champ with no adverse effects :thumbsup: Could have done A LOT more.

Pulling a trailer I wouldn't think you would have any issues as long as weight is distributed across your trailer axle fine rather than all of it being on the hitch. If that is the case, then just throw on your snow blower or whatever your heaviest attachment that you have is. Oh weight your using the front 2-N-1. Shouldn't be a problem either way you have the diesel so a little more weight in the back, but still always a good idea to balance your trailer load properly.

My friend pulls a loaded hay wagon with his 4131 :biggrin: As long as you have traction you shouldn't have a problem and yea if it is too much you'll just go over the relief and you won't damage anything. Car trailer with a car balanced properly should be a piece of cake.

Thanks Slater

I figured I was OK if I stayed on level ground but I am always interested in what others have done with their tractors.

My dealer told me they went to the Ventrac factory at one point to play with all the different units. Supposedly they were pulling a semi on level ground with a 4000 series.

I have yet to max out the front lifting ability of my 3223 but have come close. I had some pine trees dropped off one day and the landscapers tree mover had 2 flat tires so we got the Ventrac out. I never realized how heavy a live tree could be. They were no more than 4 feet tall. Landscaper ended up cutting me a break on the trees.

Have the 4231 Gas and have pulled a 49 Chevy 1 Ton Flatbed uphill over field grass and did not even have the dual wheel set on. Have also hauled 5'x9' trailer full of firewood up and downhill - downhill did require the extra suitcase weights to avoid being pushed. Have pulled many small trees and bushes out by the roots.
You will spin the tires long before you harm the tractor. It is great for positioning a trailer.:thumbsup:
49 Chevy 1 Ton
Pulled from down on the bottom up past camera position - hard to see the slope, but it is 20 degrees or so in places.

That is a nice old Chevy you were pulling. I would think that is a pretty heavy load in the grass. I have a 1970 Camaro sitting in the garage which is almost completed. Hope to have it on the road this spring.

Spent some time at the dealer this weekend looking at the 4000 series Diesel. What a nice unit. I was close to signing my life away until my wife pointed out we have 2 kids and a mortgage. Oh well.

toro5xi said:

That is a nice old Chevy you were pulling. I would think that is a pretty heavy load in the grass. I have a 1970 Camaro sitting in the garage which is almost completed. Hope to have it on the road this spring.

Spent some time at the dealer this weekend looking at the 4000 series Diesel. What a nice unit. I was close to signing my life away until my wife pointed out we have 2 kids and a mortgage. Oh well.

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Don't get too hasty :laughing: The 3000 is an awesome unit, enjoy it while you have it! I love the 4000 series too and will probably eventually upgrade, but I will be sad to get rid of my 3223d.
And yes, live trees are incredibly heavy! Moved a few myself in the slipscoop.
I also saw a picture from a customer onetime pulling a train car :confused2: Wish I new were I saw that, but it was pretty cool and don't doubt the semi trailer pulling one bit.

That 1 Ton Truck is heavy and the tires needed air plus there were chains on the rear tires, but the Ventrac had no problems. I'd like to get that Truck running for J.R. - like everything else, he has taken some things on it apart and not put them back together. It does turn over with the hand crank, so it is not locked up.
I've talked to a local mechanic who is willing to give it a go and it will help him keep busy and earning something. Also pulled this 51 Ferguson TO 30 out and got it running for J.R.

Hey just wondering what a 4000 and 3000 go for? Ballpark is ok

Parkmower said:

Hey just wondering what a 4000 and 3000 go for? Ballpark is ok

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That would depend on the engine option you decide.

If I recall from my dealer (don't quote me on this)
3000: $10k-$13k retail
4000: $16k-$22k retail

Diesel engines would obviously be the high end of either series.
The price you would pay would obviously depend on your dealer and how many attachments you buy (I would guess normally 10-13% off?).
I got mine bundled pretty nice and got a mower deck and blade with the tractor for around the retail cost of the tractor ~$13k. They were having a promo at the time.

Thanks. I was talking about ventracs to one of my regions directors. He'd never heard of them. So I told him about them and their capabilities and attachments. We usually spend around $20k on our mowers, so they are worth looking into.

Check out their web site too for other attachments etc. :thumbsup:

Parkmower said:

Thanks. I was talking about ventracs to one of my regions directors. He'd never heard of them. So I told him about them and their capabilities and attachments. We usually spend around $20k on our mowers, so they are worth looking into.

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I have pulled my 20 foot enclosed trailer with mine,it's about 4000 lbs, just put the 4231 in low range and grabbed a hundred lbs or so of dirt in the slip scoop for ballast. The ground was too soft to use my pickup,The ventrac pulled it thru my mushy backyard after a rain storm easily,my 7k pickup couldn't it was sinking.
My ventrac hasn't pulled nothing next to our steiners,only because I haven't had it long yet...the steiners pull 1800 lbs of mowers 12-20 hrs a week 25 weeks a yr....in 100 degree heat. Whatever you want to pull with your ventrac is probably nothing compared to what they can do.

BKBrown said:

I'll try this again -- the forum locked up yesterday after I had this all entered and before I could send it.

My neighbor recently turned over his New Holland TC18 with the Bush Hog attached.
He was lucky to jump off and the ROPS kept it from rolling over him.
He went down there with his Expedition and got it stuck attempting to get the NH back on it's wheels.
Managed to get the Expedition stuck and did not get the NH flipped back up.
I got a frantic email from his wife "can you come" -- I quickly put the dual wheels on the rear and went over.
Pulled out the Expedition and got the NH flipped up.
The neighbor now has a VENTRAC ordered and is scheduled for delivery this week ! :smile: :thumbsup: :biggrin:

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That's a good way to promote a Ventrac! :laughing::thumbsup:

BKBrown said:

I'll try this again -- the forum locked up yesterday after I had this all entered and before I could send it.

My neighbor recently turned over his New Holland TC18 with the Bush Hog attached.
He was lucky to jump off and the ROPS kept it from rolling over him.
He went down there with his Expedition and got it stuck attempting to get the NH back on it's wheels.
Managed to get the Expedition stuck and did not get the NH flipped back up.
I got a frantic email from his wife "can you come" -- I quickly put the dual wheels on the rear and went over.
Pulled out the Expedition and got the NH flipped up.
The neighbor now has a VENTRAC ordered and is scheduled for delivery this week ! :smile: :thumbsup: :biggrin:

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Great story! I've had many ppl want to buy a ventrac after seeing mine work,until they find out how expensive they are.i did have a friend buy a 4100 after running my steiner a few hours he was hooked.

I agree, I actually think that the Steiners are more stable, possibly because mine are old with no ROPS bar, but they seem to hold a steeper hill and climb steeper to me. We've got liked new Field Traxx tires on both. Don't forget I've got 24yrs time running them as opposed to less than 2 seasons on the Ventrac 4231..

Hi BK

I have yet to try one of the new 4500 series other than the show room floor. Got an offer on my 3223D the other day but not sure I want to let it go. Does anyone know if all the older 4000 series are long gone? Guess I was hoping to maybe find a deal on one somewhere.

Thanks

I finally uploaded the short video I took ...

Moving trailer with the Ventrac - YouTube

Raw Dodge said:

I finally uploaded the short video I took ...

Moving trailer with the Ventrac - YouTube

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Nice trailer. How much tongue weight do you think is on the Ventrc?

The trailer didn't have the mowers in it. But even without them I have a pretty large bench across the front inside along with a little wonder blower and lots of extra parts and tools mower blades safety gear etc ... My best guess is probably 500 pounds maybe a little more or less. The registration shows the empty weight of the trailer at 3400. There's at least 800 lbs in the trailer. ..Most up front. .

I used my ventrac this weekend to pull around my 18 foot 10k utility trailer.. This one weighs around 2100 pounds pulls it like nothing even though it was sitting for 3 yrs, it grunted for a second and then pulled it right out ..