Lawn mower tractors, also known as riding lawn mowers, are known to have a variety of uses besides maintaining the grass in your yard or farm. One of their most common uses is towing, whether it’s pulling trailers, equipment, or attachments for getting things done around your property.
Owning a lawn mower tractor offers you exceptional towing capabilities. You can basically hook up anything you want to the back of your vehicle and pull it behind you while cutting the grass. If you currently have a riding lawn mower or looking to buy one, you probably already know how convenient these machines can be when it comes to towing and simultaneously.
However, chances are you’re not as sure about your lawn mower towing capacity. Don’t worry though, this is where we come in! We did the research to save you the trouble. If you’re looking for a quick answer, here it is:
Generally speaking, the average lawn mower towing capacity falls between 300 and 600 pounds. You can determine the exact towing weight limit of your mower by referring to the rule of thumb: a lawn mower towing capacity is around 50 to 100 percent of the combined weights of the vehicle and operator.
Keep reading as we explain -in more detail- the factors affecting the towing weight of your lawn mower. We’ll also share some tips to stay safe when towing with a riding mower.
How Much Weight Can a Lawn Mower Tow?
The average lawn mower towing capacity ranges between 300 and 600 pounds. As a rule of thumb, the towing weight limit of your lawn mower is between 50 to 100 percent of the combined weights of the vehicle and operator.
That said, to ensure a safe and efficient performance from your lawn mower, you should never tow items that weigh more than the total weight of your vehicle. Not only will towing heavy objects affect the braking, handling, and acceleration of the mower, but exceeding the limit will strain vital components of the machine that you want working for a long time such as the motor, transmission, and brakes.
Even though it can be tempting to test the towing capabilities of your lawn, staying in total control of the vehicle should always be your priority.
Factors Affecting Lawn Mower Towing Capacity
It can be tricky to calculate the exact towing capacity of your lawn mower because it depends on a set of different factors including your motor specs, transmission specs, trailer specs, and the type of terrain you’re towing over.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the determining aspects for a lawn mower’s towing capacity:
Terrain Type
- Wet/muddy — wet and muddy ground can decrease traction while towing due to the increased resistance on your wheels. As such, the towing capacity of your riding lawn mower will fall.
- Downhill/slopes — while towing down a hill or a slope will decrease the power required to pull a load, it can also be rather dangerous if your vehicle lacks the proper braking power or if you fail to allow yourself enough distance to stop completely when necessary.
- Uphills/inclines — on the contrary, towing up a hill or a slope will increase the power required to pull a load and, ultimately, cause a reduction in the towing capacity of your lawn mower compared to towing on level ground.
To help minimize damaging your vehicle, try to avoid inclines with a more than 10% slope. Most manufacturers provide guides on slopes in their owner manuals, so you can refer to your own for information regarding your specific model.
- Uneven/bumpy — towing on uneven or bumpy terrain will mostly compromise the ride’s overall quality and smoothness. Also, it’ll require more towing power because your mower will have to pull the load through obstacles, which increases the stress on your vehicle and, eventually, decreases the towing capacity.
Torque vs Horsepower
Although both are important, torque plays a bigger role when it comes to towing. When looking for a lawn tractor to tow with, make sure you choose a vehicle with as high a torque rating as possible.
Transmission
Transmission is key when pulling with a mower tractor. You need to make sure that towing loads heavier than 350 pounds won’t cause you to press the forward travel pedal beyond halfway to prevent transmission damage.
Braking
Most people are concerned about getting their mower tractor to move forward when towing. While this is obviously important, it’s also essential to be able to quickly come to a complete stop when necessary.
This is where strong and efficient brakes come to play, especially when towing downhill. Make sure you test your brake system before diving into action to avoid accidents.
Tips for Safe Towing with a Lawn Mower
When towing with your lawn mower, safety should always be your top priority. Here are a few pointers to help you stay safe:
- Although we talked about braking ability before, it’s so important to consider that we’re mentioning it here once again. The more weight you tow and the faster the speed you use, the larger the stopping distance you’ll need. So, make sure you allow yourself enough time to halt.
- When towing downhill, never put your tractor in neutral.
- Turning your lawn mower is different when towing, especially with a heavy load. Be very careful upon turning, even more so on tough terrain.
- Avoid coasting when towing.
- Be sure that the hitches and accessories you use for towing are compatible with your specific lawn mower tractor. Avoid attaching unapproved equipment or towing gear from shady sources.
Wrap Up
There you have it, a complete guide on lawn mower towing capacity. As you can tell by now, the exact extra weight you can pull behind your riding mower varies from one model to another, but the general rule is that it falls between 50 to 100 percent of the combined weights of the vehicle and operator.