Towing with a bobcat? (Noob question I know)

[bebey]

Did a search but didn't find an answer. I purchased a 7753 today for working on my homestead. Other than research about what I should look for before purchasing, I know very little about the skid steer's capabilities. Can you tow with these things? I don't see any kind of a hitch but I didn't look close. Thanks!

 

[SkidRoe]

You can definitely tow with a Bobcat. Typically, it involves building some sort of hitch adaptor to attach either to the bucket or to the bobtach itself. I have never seen a factory built tow hitch for a skidsteer, but somebody may know of one.
Here is one example of what a member has built:
http://www.skidsteerforum.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=54&frmView=ShowPost&PostID=35154
Of course, this means that you will be towing in reverse, which may or may not suit your intent. Back about 25 years ago, I do remember one of our neighbours had a hitch on the rear of a John Deere skidsteer, and used to haul a fertilizer bin with it for augering fertilizer in to their corn planter. I am pretty sure that this setup was home-made too.

 

[Tazza]

You can definitely tow with a Bobcat. Typically, it involves building some sort of hitch adaptor to attach either to the bucket or to the bobtach itself. I have never seen a factory built tow hitch for a skidsteer, but somebody may know of one.
Here is one example of what a member has built:
http://www.skidsteerforum.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=54&frmView=ShowPost&PostID=35154
Of course, this means that you will be towing in reverse, which may or may not suit your intent. Back about 25 years ago, I do remember one of our neighbours had a hitch on the rear of a John Deere skidsteer, and used to haul a fertilizer bin with it for augering fertilizer in to their corn planter. I am pretty sure that this setup was home-made too.

I have used mine to tow a rather large compressor, even a dead car up the driveway. The thing to make sure you do is to tow it in reverse, don't drive it. There have been stories of the hitch popping off the ball and the draw bar coming into the cab to say hello with some not so nice ourcomes... If you drag and for some reason it let go, it won't harm you, if you were pushing you may not be so lucky.
If you had to push it, make sure if you build an attachment you make it so you can use a safety chain too. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[bebey]

I have used mine to tow a rather large compressor, even a dead car up the driveway. The thing to make sure you do is to tow it in reverse, don't drive it. There have been stories of the hitch popping off the ball and the draw bar coming into the cab to say hello with some not so nice ourcomes... If you drag and for some reason it let go, it won't harm you, if you were pushing you may not be so lucky.
If you had to push it, make sure if you build an attachment you make it so you can use a safety chain too. Better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you for the replies! I definitely don't plan on pushing with it. I'm now wondering if there is some way to fabricate a hitch at the rear of the bobcat so that I can tow it (I would like to be able to tow carts, trailers, etc. over my property. Thanks again!

 

[flyerdan]

Thank you for the replies! I definitely don't plan on pushing with it. I'm now wondering if there is some way to fabricate a hitch at the rear of the bobcat so that I can tow it (I would like to be able to tow carts, trailers, etc. over my property. Thanks again!

I've got one on the back of mine, was there when I got it. It's on the door itself, rather massive chunk of metal with giant hinges and a huge, sturdy latch. Not like the formed ones with the hood release type now. That would probably be the only way to put one on that wouldn't be too low; any frame mount would have door clearance problems.
Not the best pic, it's one I had from when I brought it home.

 

[lesgawlik]

I've got one on the back of mine, was there when I got it. It's on the door itself, rather massive chunk of metal with giant hinges and a huge, sturdy latch. Not like the formed ones with the hood release type now. That would probably be the only way to put one on that wouldn't be too low; any frame mount would have door clearance problems.
Not the best pic, it's one I had from when I brought it home.

For $70 - $100 you can buy a receiver that will attach to the edge of your bucket. I bought one for a small machine that didn't have a quick attach. It works great on the big a little machines I have. Since the receiver attachment can rotate around the bolt that mounts it to the bucket, safety chains are a good idea. I never had a problem with it.

 

[craigb93]

I've got one on the back of mine, was there when I got it. It's on the door itself, rather massive chunk of metal with giant hinges and a huge, sturdy latch. Not like the formed ones with the hood release type now. That would probably be the only way to put one on that wouldn't be too low; any frame mount would have door clearance problems.
Not the best pic, it's one I had from when I brought it home.

I have a set of Pallet Forks for my 742. I cut a hole in the tip of one fork that I screw a hitch ball into. I have a large wood chipper that I maneuver around easily with it. Boat trailers too. I do pin the hitch w/ a full size clevis so as to not lose it at the wrong time. Also set the Fork in a wide solid spot on the Bob-Tach part and then spray a paint mark to know it is not shifting. Dick

 

[bebey]

I have a set of Pallet Forks for my 742. I cut a hole in the tip of one fork that I screw a hitch ball into. I have a large wood chipper that I maneuver around easily with it. Boat trailers too. I do pin the hitch w/ a full size clevis so as to not lose it at the wrong time. Also set the Fork in a wide solid spot on the Bob-Tach part and then spray a paint mark to know it is not shifting. Dick

Thanks all for the great ideas. I like that pic and assuming my door is heavy duty, that is my plan. I know they make attachments that work in the front but I want to tow a trailer over some distance and don't want to drive in reverse. Thanks again!

 

[SkidRoe]

Thanks all for the great ideas. I like that pic and assuming my door is heavy duty, that is my plan. I know they make attachments that work in the front but I want to tow a trailer over some distance and don't want to drive in reverse. Thanks again!

Assuming that the rear end design of the 7753 was carried over to the 773, I would not be trying to pull from the door. The hinges and latch would not be up to the kind of tractive effort that your machine can generate. (FYI - I was effortlessly pulling out cedar tree stumps with the 773 last week - these machines have some pretty serious pulling power)
Best to weld something to the frame below the door and come up with a removable gooseneck for a hitch, so that it can be easily removed for service and when not in use.

 

[bebey]

Assuming that the rear end design of the 7753 was carried over to the 773, I would not be trying to pull from the door. The hinges and latch would not be up to the kind of tractive effort that your machine can generate. (FYI - I was effortlessly pulling out cedar tree stumps with the 773 last week - these machines have some pretty serious pulling power)
Best to weld something to the frame below the door and come up with a removable gooseneck for a hitch, so that it can be easily removed for service and when not in use.

That's a great idea. I will check it out when I'm out next to the cat again. Thanks!