I would think it would be okay for a short distance. Obviously you already have full-time 4WD and hdap tires. You might need to use the diff lock. If the tongue weight becomes too much, your front end may get light, so I would recommend filling the front with suitcase weights and backing down the hill. A better option might be to use a winch but that would require more preparation.


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I dont think it would be a issue at all. I'd just make sure any water it has in it will be drained as soon its outta the water. Any water in the water craft will flow to rear when you go uphill and will actually lift weight of your rear axle and you might loose traction.

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I would think it would be ok, if not ideal. As was said, watch for the front end getting light. Full throttle and using a slow speed with the hydro controls should be better for the tranny.

If there was a winch option, that's easier on the equipment.

 

Sounds like it shouldn't be much of an issue then. Do not have a winch so that isn't an option. My neighbor does have a Artic Cat Prowler 500 I could possibly borrow that has a 1500lb towing capacity of that would be better suited.

 

Are you planning to have the deck on it and what is the deck width? The 54” deck weighs about 219 and the 60” about 230. With the deck lowered, that will put the Center of Gravity lower. I don’t think you will have any issue as long as you drain the excess water.

 

I wasn't planning on leaving the deck on but I guess I could if it would be better. I just figured it off would give better maneuverability. Definitely will drain the water as soon as getting it on the trailer. I have 6 weights I can out up front for counter weight. The front acts as a weight bracket without anything additional right?

 

Can you pull it out of the water a little, and let some of the water drain, pull it a little further, let more drain, etc?

Leaving the deck on seems like a good idea, as long as it won't make you get hung up on anything. The extra weight will help keep the nose down.

 

Should be fine, you're likely to have an issue with traction before you'll exceed the limit of the transmission. I'm pretty sure you can just add the weights to the front bumper.

 

Wondering what the towing capacity of the x738 is on an incline. I have seen people move much heavier trailers on flat. Looking to emergency tow a jet ski out of the lake at my parents. It takes on water so trying to get it to a regular boat ramp to put in on the trailer isn't really possible. It is on a hill probably about 12-15 degrees at some points. Less though where I would be pulling it out of the water. Trailer is about 380lbs + 957lbs for the jet ski full of fuel. Is my x738 capable of pulling such weight. It would only be a short distance. Maybe a few hundred feet to the first spot I can get my truck too.

I would be using my click'n'go weight bracket that has a 2in hitch receiver on it to mount the hitch ball.

Here is a few pictures of the area.

 

I would feel confident with weights. If you have a problem turn the tractor around, hitch to the front and to lowly in reverse.
Regardless, make sure you stay out of and deep wet areas or you’re cooked.The slope and the weight are a bad combination in mud.

 

Going to take the deck with me but try without it first. I will have to traverse through some thick grass but when I was up there today it was not wet at all so should be find in that regard.

 

Can someone film you, I know others would like to see this incase this makes Youtube, "What not to do with a Tractor and Jet Ski on a Slope"

 

I do plan to take some pictures but hopefully nothing like that will be happening. Don't want to damage the tractor that is for sure.

Going to have some help so worst case I have some push the trailer from behind to get it over the little bit of shore bank.

 

I don't know the specifics of the machine, but a differential lock was mentioned. If it were me, I'd have that engaged the whole time. If you start to spin a wheel, you'll start to dig a hole with that wheel, just making everything more difficult. I'd want to maximize my chances of having it go smoothly in one "take", with no spinning. That's what I do with my little SUV in the winter, if I'm concerned about spinning trying to get up the driveway, or up our hill, I'll lock the center diff before getting started, to try and avoid wheelspin in the first place.

The angle isn't as steep as what you're dealing with, but my tractor is also substantially smaller than yours, and not as heavy-duty. And it pulled a trailer weighing maybe around 1500 lbs (don't know the exact weight) up my driveway, which gets up to around 8-10 degrees, I think. It seemed to go OK. Yours is a beefier machine, and 4WD, with a differential lock. So you've got a lot of things working in your favor, at least.

 

You should be fine, my only concern would be if the water etc in the jet ski sloshes to rear and makes for a negative tongue weight, it will provide a lifting force on your traction tires. I would hang the four weights on front bumper and a couple more on back if I could.

 

I didn't think of the sloshing till you mentioned it. Not only can it cause a negative tongue weight, it can pull the tractor backwards. I've never really thought about a tow rating on my small tractors, and I have pushed the limits often. I have a steep paved drive. I was splitting Oak firewood on the court in front of the house, and I have a 2 cord wood shed behind the house. I was taking loads in my little green JD dump trailer to the shed, using my 265, as I split and filled it. It was taking too long so I got my small road trailer and started filling it. When filled to the top of the sides it holds exactly 1/2 cord of wood. I started with just tossing a little jag of wood on the trailer, pulled the hill easy. Went to stacking more on, still easy. Stacked it to the full 1/2 cord. A full cord of Oak can run 4-6,000 pounds, so I figure I had at least 2,000 pounds on the trailer. Got almost to the top of the drive and the right tire started spinning. Funny how you can think of multiple things all at once. Like, this was really stupid, I wonder if you have time to feel a 1/2 cord of wood land on you before you die, and I better get my big butt over that tire. Shifted over the tire, it hooked up and made it up the drive in one piece. Now I just figure 2,000 pounds is too heavy for the 265 going up hill. But, now I have an X540 with traction lock!

 

My x758 pulls my 800+ pound lawn roller around like it isn't even back there. You'll have no problem with 1500# trailer/jetski and the AWD of the x738.

Rob

 

Rated for towing to 25,000 lb on level hard surfaces.

22 HP Tiffin Aire Tug

My 2wd GT weighs over 2450 lb when fully equipped (including tire chains) and has no difficulty climbing a 20° slope. Your tractor, trailer, jet ski, and 20 gallons of water in the hull is only about 100 lb more.

Twenty gallons of water is 166 lb. At the rear of the jet ski, it will be working against a long leverage ratio before applying a lifting force to the rear of the tractor, and even then, it has to overcome the tongue weight of the trailer to have an effect on the tractor..

Given half a chance, and some ballast and traction enhancement (chains), even the smallest GTs have enormous towing potential. Don't sell them short until you try. Even LTs can tow a 2000 lb trailer on level ground.

 

Appreciate the added information Tudor. That AireTug is pretty weird looking with the wheels moved all the way to the back like that but impressive non the less. I will have all 6 weights I have on for sure. Will put 4 in the front and 2 on the rear heavy hitch. Going to try and do it without the mower deck although the added weight would be a benefit not knowing what is all in that thick brush I will traverse the ground clearance would be nice.

 

Pictures, or it didn't happen...

I also have a 738, and I think you will be fine as well. The only real limiting factor is the soil's ability to provide decent traction. As long as it isn't mushy, you'll get it done.

 

Don't want to leave you all hanging. I have a few pictures of getting down there but don't have any from after the fact. A buddy does have a video of it though so just need to get it from him so I can post it. It handled the task no problem. The only little issue was the drop off into the water wasn't sloped much but with just a small push from 3 people in the water we had it up and out easily.

 

wouldn't worry about it.. I move a 33 foot camper with an x730. That is probably around 9-10,000 pounds. I have a dolly which has a 5th wheel on it, and the camper weight is on that dolly.. However for mowing, I use the x730 or even legacy to move it across the yard some times.

 

I pulled a hot tub on a dedicated hot tub trailer (very light) up a fairly steep hill in our back yard with my 25hp older Craftsman GT (with wheel weights) and the hydro groaned a bit, but it did it without issue. I can't imagine a jet ski would be heavier and you have a LOT more tractor and traction than I had. The best answer is take it easy and stop moving if it feels like too much.

Take a buddy/wife/kid/neighbor with you just in case. And if they can, video it. Even if nothing goes wrong. we all like watching these awesome little machines punching above their weight.

 

And if they can, video it. Even if nothing goes wrong. we all like watching these awesome little machines punching above their weight.

Absolutely! It's always cool seeing them do impressive/unexpected work.

 

Gee, I wouldn't have even bothered asking on here lol. I'd have just hooked up and tried! The tractor will let you know what it thinks about the task at hand...

 

Nice!

 

That's cool. And it's a nice looking tractor! That video would be fun to see, if it's available.