[mbrun]

Ok, so tonight I took the trash down the long 600'+ drive to the street. Except when weather is bad I walk it down. When weather is bad I sit on the tractor and pull it. I have often thought about coming up with a means of hooking the trash can to the back of the tractor and pulling/towing it. Got to wondering if anyone here on MTF has come up with a convenient way to hitch a 90-gallon trash can to their lawn and garden tractor. The picture below is representative of the cans I use.

What say you?

 

[89YT12]

Here is a quick drawing of what i came up with, you could make it with some rebar i would imagine

it would go through the handle to attach to the can, be angled so its on it wheels and a loop for going over a hitch ball

 

[89YT12]

Ahhhh Dang It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I want to build one, maybe even use some square tube and and pin style hitch ....... Build em, Sell em

 

[Loremaster72]

Check out this link. It's for a trash can carrier rig that fits into a receiver hitch. A buddy of mine uses one of these since he has a very long driveway (0.2 mile), and it works really well. It's spendy, but it is well built and does the job, and can even haul two cans. It also has a version that works with an ATV, so they may already have a version that could mount to a tractor. If not, you could probably make one work with only a little bit of effort.
http://cansporter.com/

One thing you will need to consider is how much weight your cans typically weigh when full. I carry mine by hand, but if you fill a larger rolling can, you may have a LOT of weight there. If so, can you pick that much up with your tractor without tipping it up? If you only have one can, and the weight is within the capacity of a tractor's rear hitch, you should be able to fab up a bracket to pick up the can. You also have to get it high enough that the can doesn't contact the ground when you cross over any angle transitions.

Another thought that comes to mind would be making some sort of low cart, with better wheels, a nearly vertical post to strap the cans to, and a drawbar to pull it with behind the tractor. It wouldn't be nearly as maneuverable, but still would work and would be simpler to fab. I can even picture a way to make it out of wood.

I'd say that's enough brainstorming for one evening. I'll shut up now and give others a chance to chime in.

 

[Loremaster72]

Dang, two people chimed in while I was composing my dissertation.

 

[more&more lawn mowers]

Even though I dont even have trash cans to carry it still sounds like a great idea. Also, if you live in the city or something and rake leaves you could carry the can around your yard with the tractor, put the leaves right in the can, and haul it out to the street. I just make a compost pile and put it in the garden so I guess county people could use it too.I want to see pics of this thing.

 

[more&more lawn mowers]

I want to see pics of this thing!

 

[more&more lawn mowers]

Sorry for the 2 posts it froze up on me so I tiped the second post and it ended up posting them both.

 

[mbrun]

Here is a quick drawing of what i came up with, you could make it with some rebar i would imagine

it would go through the handle to attach to the can, be angled so its on it wheels and a loop for going over a hitch ball

I was just wondering if there was something that could be left attached to the can. Tilt it forward and attach. Perhaps your idea could be adapted for that?

 

[mbrun]

Check out this link. It's for a trash can carrier rig that fits into a receiver hitch. A buddy of mine uses one of these since he has a very long driveway (0.2 mile), and it works really well. It's spendy, but it is well built and does the job, and can even haul two cans. It also has a version that works with an ATV, so they may already have a version that could mount to a tractor. If not, you could probably make one work with only a little bit of effort.
http://cansporter.com/

One thing you will need to consider is how much weight your cans typically weigh when full. I carry mine by hand, but if you fill a larger rolling can, you may have a LOT of weight there. If so, can you pick that much up with your tractor without tipping it up? If you only have one can, and the weight is within the capacity of a tractor's rear hitch, you should be able to fab up a bracket to pick up the can. You also have to get it high enough that the can doesn't contact the ground when you cross over any angle transitions.

Another thought that comes to mind would be making some sort of low cart, with better wheels, a nearly vertical post to strap the cans to, and a drawbar to pull it with behind the tractor. It wouldn't be nearly as maneuverable, but still would work and would be simpler to fab. I can even picture a way to make it out of wood.

I'd say that's enough brainstorming for one evening. I'll shut up now and give others a chance to chime in.

Thanks for the YouTube link. Once there I watched the video. I also found a variety of options for using your car or truck.

The last one has me thinking about options for using my powered sleeve hitch.:trink40:

 

[89YT12]

Well Dang :banghead3 :biglaugh:

 

[Dodgeboy49]

I can just picture one of those things out on the highway... :thThumbsU

 

[deereboy55]

A couple of my neighbors haul their trash dumpsters,with out any special brackets . They just drop the handle of the dumpster on the hitch ball and drive to the end of the driveway. They do have straight drives. My driveway is only 50 feet long so I can still walk .

 

[mikeinri]

That yellow device is brilliant. Simple is good, as they say. Looks like it holds the cover closed, which may not always happen by just hooking onto the tow ball.

I walk mine out, usually with the recycle bins on top. Of course, I have a pretty steep driveway that slopes down from the house to the street, so it's a pretty easy job. Gets a little tricky with slush/ice in the way...

A former neighbor used a tow-behind tractor cart (placed the buckets onto the cart), but his buckets were smaller.

Mike

 

[Loremaster72]

The yellow device gets an A for simplicity in moving a single can at a time. The weakness in it is that it relies on the wheels of the trash can. They aren't the sturdiest wheels. While you won't be loading them any harder than when you hand push, you will probably not pay as much attention to bumps, ruts, and snow/ice, and so will impact them harder. You also have to watch how sharp you turn when pulling the trash can as a cart. Remember to give consideration to maneuvering them at the ends of the driveway, especially when the can is full. If you have to transport two cans, you may really want the double can transporter when the weather is nasty. Best of luck in your decision!

 

[Alan Lloys]

A couple of my neighbors haul their trash dumpsters,with out any special brackets . They just drop the handle of the dumpster on the hitch ball and drive to the end of the driveway. They do have straight drives. My driveway is only 50 feet long so I can still walk .

I do the same thing but using the hitch ball on my tractor.
I have a hitch welded to one of the suitcase weights on the rear rack on the Legacy. It is a bit on the high side when hauling trailers, but it works perfect for just putting the trash can handle over it.

That being said I like the idea of the yellow system - I will probably see if I can figure something like that out and build myself - preferably in a 2 can version so I can haul both trash and the recycle bin down at the same time.

I have around 300' of driveway so it is not bad. But since it is gravel and I do not clear it all the way down in the winter, it can get very icy and slippery. For safety reasons I often use the tractor instead - that one is not as prone to slipping and falling. :thThumbsU

And after all that is why we are all here right ?

 

[bcrewcaptain]

my solution=

I somehow manage to fill 2-3 full size cans every week with heavy stuff, I just take the trailer down, chain it to the mailbox, and go pick it up in the afternoon. Heck, I just park the trailer beside the house half the time and never take the can off

 

[Bill.H]

You guys are thinking small potatoes. Look at it this way ...

You now have a PERFECT reason to convince your wife that you really really need a GT with a front end loader. Put the cans in that

 

[marlboro180]

really really need[/I] a GT with a front end loader. Put the cans in that

Now that's thinkin'.:fing32:

That yellow thing is like someone said, brilliant.

 

[mikeinri]

I haven't checked the website, but it appears that the way to use the yellow thing for two cans is to have two yellow things. The second one hooks onto the first can, over the bar/handle that's usually about 1/3 of the way down on the can.

I do agree that the wheels are truly the Achilles' heel of these things. I walk mine down a 150' driveway, with no obstacles. Came home one day, and one of the wheels was sitting on the ground next to the can. I can only assume that the robot dropped it too hard, but the design and materials really don't impress me.

Mike