Tractor for pulling camper

[austinado16]

I posted back in February that I'd grabbed a junky old lawn tractor on the cheap, so I could turn it into a "tug" to haul my camp trailer or watercraft trailer from the back yard out the truck.  Had one of those hand dollys, and while they work great, moving trailers around on the grass/dirt by hand is just a joke.

But, being me, I couldn't live with a junky old lawn tractor, so I decided it might be fun to do a little cosmetic restoration.  This is a 1990 Toro Wheel Horse 212-5 with 12.5hp Onan and 5 spd trans.
BEFORE:


AFTER:


FINISHED HITCH DETAIL:


Haven't used it to tow the camper yet, but it tows my big double watercraft trailer, at almost 1,700lbs, without a problem, and at just about an idle.

[wavery]

I posted back in February that I'd grabbed a junky old lawn tractor on the cheap, so I could turn it into a "tug" to haul my camp trailer or watercraft trailer from the back yard out the truck.  Had one of those hand dollys, and while they work great, moving trailers around on the grass/dirt by hand is just a joke.

But, being me, I couldn't live with a junky old lawn tractor, so I decided it might be fun to do a little cosmetic restoration.
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Haven't used it to tow the camper yet, but it tows my big double watercraft trailer, at almost 1,700lbs, without a problem.

Nice job....

I'd like to get one of those for our Fallbrook property.

We have a steep, curved driveway and it's about 100yds down to the street. It would be nice for hauling the trash and moving trailers around.

How many HP is that thing?

[austinado16]

This one has 12.5 horse Onan engine and it's plenty of power and tractor weight.  It pulled it just at idle speed and I've got the idle turned down pretty low.

These things are cheap as chips.  Since buying this one, I bought a Craftsman for $40 (with the complete mower deck and rear bagger assembly)......changed the oil, dialed in the carb, washed it and sold it for $400 a day later, and 2 days ago, a guy gave me another Craftsman because the mower deck belt ($21) broke.  It also has the complete rear bagger assembly, so another $400 when it's finished.  There's another one locally for $45 with an 18horse engine.

So jump on Craigs list and grab one.  I also scored a garden cart that came with the first Craftsman, for another $40 and kept it.  I use it all the time!

One thing I've learned; the Onan is a nice engine.  Has pressurized oiling, and a spin-on oil filter.  Very quiet and smooth.

[wavery]

This one has 12.5 horse Onan engine and it's plenty of power and tractor weight.  It pulled it just at idle speed and I've got the idle turned down pretty low.

These things are cheap as chips.  Since buying this one, I bought a Craftsman for $40 (with the complete mower deck and rear bagger assembly)......changed the oil, dialed in the carb, washed it and sold it for $400 a day later, and 2 days ago, a guy gave me another Craftsman because the mower deck belt ($21) broke.  It also has the complete rear bagger assembly, so another $400 when it's finished.  There's another one locally for $45 with an 18horse engine.

So jump on Craigs list and grab one.  I also scored a garden cart that came with the first Craftsman, for another $40 and kept it.  I use it all the time!

One thing I've learned; man is the Onan a nice engine.  Has pressurized oiling, and a spin-on oil filter.  It's also extremely quiet and smooth.

I checked this afternoon and found one for $300 but it was a single speed auto clutch. I would imagine that would be pretty slow. I've seen them with a 5 speed trans. That would be more up my alley because I have a long up-hill road.

Thanks for the tip, I'll keep a watch out for one. My renter is always belly-aching about how for it is to take the trash to the road. Maybe if I gave her one of these, it may make her happier. The only thing is.....it's just one more thing to go wrong :eyecrazy: .

[austinado16]

There appears to be 4 different transmissions:
1) A transmission with Reverse and a number of forward gears that you shift manually.  But generally these are not shift on the fly, you stop the tractor and engage the new gear, and then let out the clutch.  It's no problem because these engines make a huge amount of torque, so they'll pull themselves from a stop in 8th gear, no problem.

2) A "Hydrostatic" transmission which has reverse, and then a sliding forward gear shift, almost like a throttle.  The more you move the shift lever toward the "fast" end of the shift indicator, the faster the tractor goes......plus you still have throttle control.

3) An automatic. I don't know anything about them, but it sounds like the tractor just runs up and down through the gears on it's own.

4) A shift-on-the-fly manual trans, but this seems to only be on the newest models.

I keep finding standard shift models.  This Toro is a 5 speed and so was the first Craftsman.  This latest Craftsman is a 6 speed.  Top speed for them seems to be about 5mph.

They're pretty darn bulletproof though.  This Toro has 1,159hrs on the Hobbs Meter, and that's considered a huge amount of run time.  It still starts with just a blip of the key and idles down like a stop watch.

[austinado16]

Wayne I just found the ad for the $300 Toro.  Man, you should grab that!  It's $1,700 tractor.   I did a quick google search and found a photo of it......it's nice!!  And Sears has the garden carts for cheap.  I think $99 for their basic one, and $199 for the uprated one that can hold more weight.

[wavery]

Wayne I just found the ad for the $300 Toro.  Man, you should grab that!  It's $1,700 tractor.   I did a quick google search and found a photo of it......it's nice!!  And Sears has the garden carts for cheap.  I think $99 for their basic one, and $199 for the uprated one that can hold more weight.

I talked to the guy. It is an "Automatic". All that means is that it has a centrifugal clutch. He says that top speed on the tractor is about walking speed. That would be OK for moving the trailer but hauling the trash down to the road would be a pain.

I'm starting to think that a golf cart may be the way that I will go.

[TheViking]

I'm starting to think that a golf cart may be the way that I will go.

Don't even think about it

[wavery]

Here's a serious tractor.....

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/grd/610387031.html

[TheViking]

Here's a serious tractor.....
 
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/grd/610387031.html

No, this is a serious tractor!
 

[mrsoreo57]

DANG !!!  With a tractor like that you could drag a house....BEHIND the PUP !!!

[McCampers]

I talked to the guy. It is an "Automatic". All that means is that it has a centrifugal clutch. He says that top speed on the tractor is about walking speed. That would be OK for moving the trailer but hauling the trash down to the road would be a pain.

I'm starting to think that a golf cart may be the way that I will go.

Now you're talking!  Geezers and minigolf!  Resort city!  Welcome aboard!

[aw738]

Yea and it's not that nasty green color.

I WANT ONE!!!!!

Posted by TheViking - 05-01-2008 at 12:38 PM
Quote:
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Originally Posted by wavery
Here's a serious tractor.....

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/grd/610387031.html
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No, this is a serious tractor!