Are tractor rear carrying platforms safe?

JohnV2000

Member
I have seen pictures of a Farmall platform carrier that mounts to the back of Farmall tractors. This idea seems interesting, and I think it would be a cost effective solution for me to haul some wood around my yard and just to carry equipment like chainsaws.

I am wondering, though, if adding weight to the back of the tractor like like would make it unsafe? I would be afraid to go up hills because it seems like adding a couple hundred pounds of wood to the back of the tractor might cause it to flip backward.

John
 
If a couple hundred pounds would make it unsafe, it was probably too steep to start with. Start pushing 400 or more and the front might get light going up a good hill. I'd be more concerned about having good brakes coming down.
AaronSEIA
 
No different than any other rear implement, heavier ones, may require the tractor to have sufficient front ballast to balance things. A rear "Carry All" unless very large and fully loaded with green/high moisture fresh cut wood might be a concern, but for a typical carry all, more than likely no concern.

I use a set of universal mount forks set up for a 3 point hitch to carry some heavy logs with my ford new Holland 4630 FWA tractor, and it only has 4 suitcase weights on the front, + the mount which is heavy, it handles this work just fine. A carry all used as you suggest would be no issue.

In reality, this is specific to the tractor you have, how it is set up and what you'll use and carry with the carry all type implement.

Your concerns are valid, one should always consider safety first and when applying weight to the 3 point hitch no matter what it is, and make sure that the tractor is properly ballasted to handle the intended loads.
 
Consider tractor size and rear mounted equipment used on same. Since all the talk about 8N it's designed to handle 2-14 3 point plow with no problem but I do not believe
a 4-16 plow as used on a 4020 JD would be to wise if the Ford would even lift it. It's all about total weight and where located in relation to the axle which is the pivot
point.
 
If a couple hundred pounds will make your farmall tip back, then the little fergys and fords with 3 point lifts should be banned and recalled for safety concerns.
 
A Ford N was designed to replace a team of horses which usually meant two horses. In our "neck of the woods" a team of two horses could pull a one bottom walking plow. A ford N could pull one plow bottom. If you wanted to pull two, you bought a John Deere A, Farmall H or Allis Chalmers WC. We finally were able to pull two 16" plows with an Oliver Super 88. The supposed magic of the three point hitch didn't pan out in red clay with 5 year old alfalfa sod.
 
Did it for over 50 years on a Ford. 8 ten gallon milk cans filled with water for hogs. So that is over 800#
 
no different than putting a mounted plow on the back. as said, add front weights if needed. here is one on a 560.
cvphoto26285.jpg
 
The three point mounted carryall that is "permanently" attached to my 52 8N is far and away my most used implement. I've rebuilt it twice.

Dean
 
It's very handy.
It will not be a safety concern with firewood, a chainsaw, and a splitting maul.

Which Farmall model are you running?
 
That would be a practical application question for your Geometry and physics class. Think of the rear axle
of your tractor as the fulcrum point. Measure the distance to the center of front axle. Measure back from
rear axle to where the load would be centered on your rear carrier. Then you will need to factor in how the
center of gravity of the tractor and load shifts rearward as you tilt the tractor front up a hill, and then
factor in the rotational force trying to lift the front of tractor with X lb-ft of torque applied to the
rear axles. Then as someone said, turn the scenario around so the tractor is backing up the hill and redo
the calculations. Make your teachers earn their salary teaching you practical engineering.-------Loren
 
The amount of firewood you can stack on one of those doesn't amount to much weight compared to a large three-point implement. And if you don't raise the platform very high, even if it did lift the front end, the platform will hit the ground long before the tractor is in danger of tipping.

One of the handiest uses for mine has been as an ersatz liftgate for my pickup truck. It's real easy to get heavy appliances in and out of the bed by backing the tractor up to the pickup and using the three-point platform as an elevator.
 
Dear John, everything about a tractor is unsafe. Recognizing that they are dangerous is the primary step in being
able to use them and not get hurt or hurt others or property. Your thinking about the weight balance of a tractor
is a perfect example of "best practices". Most fully mounted equipment that we routinely attach reduces the front
to rear balance to some extent. We counter the imbalance with front weights, or consider the reduced steering and
potential instability while using it. With correctly attached rear mounted tools and platforms, the front lifting
is limited to the angle of the implement to the ground, and though worth worrying about, toes not cause rear
flipping. Attaching to the tractor higher than the factory drawbar, when pulling with a chain or cable, is the
most frequent cause of flipping over backwards. Youtube has hundreds of videos of stupid moves by operators that
result in "watch this, hold my beer" moments. If one looks at the set of safety decals that are pasted on new
tractors and equipment, the hazards become more clear.
Center of gravity, speed around a corner, hands in the fan blades, power takeoff shafts winding up clothing, and
safety of people and animals near the zone of operation are all critical to consider all the time. Do you know all
this? No. will you? yes. The operators manual has cartoons of 5% of the things people do wrong, (usually the
most likely and dangerous). Experience and observation of good operators are the best teachers. Listening to a
good operator is critical if they are able to give advice or demonstrate proper tactics.
If you take what I have said as a dire warning to stay off your tractor you are incorrect. But we like you and
want to continue answering your questions. (we like them, and it is why we are here doing this) Some of us may
forget at times that we have had 70 years (+ or- 50) to build skills. All of us started where you are. Some like
me at 6 years old with a powered toy tractor, then at 8 operating a 350U international by my self, and others
beginning much later in life. Do not consider your questions to be a bother to us. Don't apologize for them. We
all grow every day, and welcome you into our community. We have had several young people join this forum that we
have coached in some mannor to become solid operators and mechanics. Welcome. Jim
 
Not sure how big the tractor is you are thinking about using it on, but if you are worried about some firewood and forestry tools overloading it it must be very small.

I have a 3 point carrier. Farm built by the guy I bought the tractor from from 2" pipe. A super handy thing to have for sure. I use it regularly for the type work you describe.

Some of its more unusual uses were moving my lathe from the garage to my shop and moving a player piano from a place about 1/2 mile down the road to my house. The piano was no problem. The lathe was a bit much. Had to hang some makeshift weight to the front and most steering was done with the brakes. Fortunately it was level to slightly downhill and only about 400 feet.
 
Thank you everyone! This forum is so great for me, I have learned so much and I hope to continue learning more!

My tractor is a Farmall Super C, with rear wheel weights and small front wheel weights.

Jim (Janicholson), I wanted to thank you individually for always being so friendly and helpful with all my questions. Part of the reason I enjoy old tractors so much is because of nice people like you.

John
 


If the idea of having a little wood on the back of your tractor seems
"unsafe" to you then maybe tractors aren't the thing for you to be playing with. Try a pickup truck for carrying your wood.
 
(quoted from post at 09:49:31 06/15/19)

If the idea of having a little wood on the back of your tractor seems
"unsafe" to you then maybe tractors aren't the thing for you to be playing with. Try a pickup truck for carrying your wood.

I would not say I am afraid of hauling wood on the back, but I am certainly aware of the dangers involved with tractors so I want to make sure I do not do anything stupid. It seems that a rear carrying rack is safe, so I will try to find one or make one for my Super C..
 
(quoted from post at 11:22:05 06/14/19) Let's not forget that they are very bouncy and prone to bucking off whatever cargo that's loaded on it. gm

Gary, I have never heard this before. Maybe you should slow down a little.
 
(quoted from post at 18:33:35 06/15/19)
(quoted from post at 11:22:05 06/14/19) Let's not forget that they are very bouncy and prone to bucking off whatever cargo that's loaded on it. gm

Gary, I have never heard this before. Maybe you should slow down a little.

Me too. When mine is lowered, I set the top link so it sits level. Then when it picks up on the 3 point, the angle holds everything in.
 
> I will try to find one or make one for my Super C.

Most "farm" supply stores like TSC sell the frames for about what the materials cost. You just have add the boards.
TSC carryall
 
His problem is those are for a 3 point hitch. His Super C would have had the Farmall 2 point fast hitch unless he has the 3 point conversion and he might not even have the fast hitch.
 

I don't know how anyone else does it, but if I have a heavy load on the carryall I don't lift it any higher than I have to. It's no different than carrying a round bale unless it's loose cargo that isn't secured. Either way you need to use your head.

I'm kind of amazed at the number of common implements and tools that are labeled "dangerous" these days. It's a wonder anyone ever survived farming or using tools this long.
 

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