Boat tractor?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=104933
Printed Date: 31 May 2026 at 6:37am
Topic: Boat tractor?
Posted By: Jellymeat
Subject: Boat tractor?
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 11:14am
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Hi there, I am new to the forum so hoe this is in the right place. I am looking at purchasing a tractor to launch my 6.7m rayglass from the beach. It will weigh around 2400kg when loaded with gear, fuel etc. The needs for the tractor are it needs to be able to tow the boat up and down a 80-90m hill with 15-20% gradient. I understand that wet brakes are the best. I see that people like the DBs but when looking at the specs they have a differential mechanical drum brakes. What is really confusing me is the brakes so can someone please explain the difference? Thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: Don18025
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 1:18pm
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Jellymeat, Wet brakes are normally multiple disc brakes in oil, dry brakes can be drum or disc brakes but are dry. The Fergie 24/28 have dry brakes and when you get into deep salt water they can leak and then rust up if left for a while. An International 454 has wet brakes, which are in the same oil as the differential. Now all tractors are different as to brake setups, so you need to ask about them. Example Nuffields were popular beach tractors for many years - they had dry brakes mounted above the axle housing, so they could be kept dry... The real issue you have is how much do you have to spend? Then visit your nearest tractor retailer....and the choice will over whelm you. Take a farmer mate. There is a guy down Whitianga way who purchased a new New Holland to tow his 40 foot Rayglass. Most modern tractors are wet brakes, so the newer ones are the best. I would include on my wish list; working hydraulics - to allow lifting and lowering the trailer front. diff lock - ahead of 4 wheel drive |
Posted By: KikBac
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 1:26pm
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What type of beach is it? You might want to look at a cheap reliable 4x4 (LRover, Bighorn, Pajero) as an alternative. Road legal, with lights etc, good brakes and probably around the same $$ ------------- Beer: the most important meal of the day. |
Posted By: Jellymeat
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 1:41pm
The beach reasonably hard packed sand but 4x4s can get stuck often. Up there we don't need to worry about road legal vehicles for towing boats the cops don't care as there only one around usually and that is not that often anyway. I would rather a tractor than a 4x4 as already have one for towing up there and don want to get it rusty, just want a tractor to get the boat deeper in the water and with a 4x4 would get up to near half the rear rims deep sometimes. So just more to wash and when on tank water less is better. Thanks for the idea
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KikBac wrote:Posted By: Contract
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 3:22pm
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Don18025 asked the real pertinent question. How much are you able to spend ? I originally had a little Iseki 17HP (HST) and it worked wonders for my little Ali Pontoon boat. When I upgraded to a 6 mtr boat, it was straining its ring out going up our hill ~ also about 20% gradient. I traded up to a (Compact) 30 HP Kubota and this eats up the job. I don't even need to change to 2nd ratio. My mates all thought I was nut's spending between $5 & $10K on a tractor. My argument was that I was getting modern technology and I was able to "realize" the resale value out of it pretty easily. The argument was proven when I came to upgrade. I actually traded my smaller tractor on the larger one & traded it for the same price as I had paid some 30 months earlier ! Both of my tractors had TURF TYRES on them. If you are launching into mud ~ they will not be for you, but on sand ~ they have proven to be awesome. They are also great on my section. Lugged tyres rip up the grass when turning & manoeuvring. Not so, the turfs. I like the idea of 4x4 and diff lock is a must. Most of these features come as standard on modern tractors. Just steer away from "modern" Chinese ones. Parts will more than likely be a problem. Purists will not agree, but I love my HST. It also allows novices to be able to use your tractor. If you have a tray fitted to the hydraulics (as opposed to an immediate tow-ball) ~ it means that you do not have to go as deep into the water to launch. It also increases the height to which you can raise your trailer to "slip" the boat. Oh.... and did I mention "Petrol" ? Stay well away from it. Just one man's opinion ! |
Posted By: Jellymeat
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 3:50pm
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Thanks for that. I will be probably spending around the $7k mark. Meaning that i will be getting an older tractor and something with a similar weight I have been looking at DB 990s and bigger but most don't have wet brakes from what i have read, the international 454s and larger and ford 4000s and up. and any other brands that are in that price range I will be putting a tray on the back of it Yes it does have to be diesel
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Posted By: Garry 23041
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 6:47pm
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Diesel yes. I wonder how power steering holds up in the salt? I love my power steering on my tractor. That and good wheel brakes and you can hook around to follow your trailer or whatever very fast. Not recomended on the lawn though............
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Posted By: red89mx
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2014 at 12:25am
| The DB's are popular as most can be modified for additional height. Many boat clubs use them in this configuration as keeps vitals out of water. Understand the rear assembly can be removed and turned to give additional lift. |
Posted By: Garry 23041
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2014 at 6:53am
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Good info red89.. I had a sqiz at trademe and it seems you have plenty of choice in your price range Jellymeat. I even saw some Iseki 45s close to your money. Welcome to the forum and let us know how you end up solving this one? I guess you know your beach and if you need extra clearance or not but height has got to be a biggie. I push my boat with my tractor a lot when it's on the haulout trailer. I have a ball I mount in the front lip of the bucket and it's majic to work the trailer into spaces and not crane my neck all the time. When I have my car trailer on the front and run down the road it's good but you have to be VERY attentive when in high gears......good party trick unless you blink or hold your mouth wrong. Anyway a front ball is very handy even it you can't launch that way.
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Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2014 at 9:05am
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I had a DB but I found it to heavy for the sandy beach I launch on and sometimes it used to bog down and get stuck. I went for a Farmall lighter and lower geared. It's a petrol so I can use the gas out of the boat as I have run out on the odd times at the ramp. Make sure you turn the tyres around the other way so the treads don't dig in and I always fill the tyres half full of water to give them more grip. Get the rims hot dipped as well. I don't like backing the trailer to far into the water, I see some guys nearly fully submerge their trailer. Must be bad from a rust point of veiw. If I was buying another tractor I'd go for a massy 35 petrol. Good low gears and in board brakes. |
Posted By: nzmuzza69
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2014 at 8:36pm
| I have a for 4000 galv rims recent repair etc may look at selling for around 7 k |
Posted By: Big -Dave
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2014 at 2:16am
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I have a db990, wheels full of water.. I beach launch a 2000kg boat on the sand without any problems, however at times the sand on our beach can get soft, so we put it in creeper gear and continue to back it out while winching the boat on, slip it in to forward when the boat is over half way on, and it never gets time to sink in the sand,, Ground clearance is better than most other tractors, smaller fords, dexters, fergies all suffer from dragging their bellies in the water on low tides.. Having a tray and hydraulics is great for hooking the boat up, raising the drawbar to keep the coupling clear of the water etc, but if you are travelling down hill and possibly turning sharp, the extra drawbar length can let the trailer take weight off the front wheels, allowing you to jacknife the trailer, so I would recommend a short tray or just a towbar on the hydraulics. |
Posted By: mattyroo
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2014 at 5:46am
| The beauty about David Browns is that the final drives are offset, so you can turn them one bolt hole increasing rear ground clearance significantly, keeping everything outta the water. Requires an extra step welding on to get up on it after doing this, but gives huge benefits in keeping the salt water out of the brakes and all linkages etc. |
Posted By: Got-ya
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2014 at 8:37pm
Ford 4000? this would be worth a look, Wet Brakes, good hydraulics, reliable motor. diff lock. ------------- THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF FISHERMAN, THOSE WHO FISH FOR SPORT AND THOSE THAT CATCH SOMETHING. |
Posted By: junior fisho
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2014 at 9:14pm
| Id look for 1 around 50-60hp with wet brakes. The 1st 1 I bought was from Big Manly beach, the guy demo,d it towing his 6.5m boat , on flat beach. It struggled to tow it up the hill from the beach to my home, It was a MF 28, brakes fail after they get wet. Up graded it to a JD with oil brakes, goes really well, well worth the $3500 I paid for it |
Posted By: Jellymeat
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2014 at 8:42am
So this can be done to any DB? How hard is it do this? And has anyone had any problems with DB brakes? I have seen an Iseki 6500 that i quite like.
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Posted By: Double Shot
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2014 at 9:25am
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I have a DB770 goes a treat, has been well maintained, I wash it then spray with Salt away, no issues with the brakes at all...mind you I travel on the flat towing a 6.5HT tinnie...never been close to bogging in the sand but then Manly is pretty firm, haven't noticed about the increasing ground clearance, might look into that... ------------- 70ml of 90deg C water pressurised through 13g of roasted finely ground tamped coffee for 25sec's to make a distinguishing sensory hit called a Double Shot |