John Deere B Float

[55 50 Ron]

I think a 2 5/16 ball will easily fit into that drawbar hole because the 2 5/16 doesn't mean the ball hitch mounting stud or bolt. I think .85 (greater than 3/4) will easily accept the ball mount which I bet is no larger than 3/4.

I stand corrected. I measured my 2 5/16 ball hitch - the mounting stud is 1 inch. Also measured my 2 inch ball and it also has mounting stud at 1 inch.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I stand corrected. I measured my 2 5/16 ball hitch - the mounting stud is 1 inch. Also measured my 2 inch ball and it also has mounting stud at 1 inch.

Yup, unfortunately you can't get a 2-5/16" ball with a 3/4 shank.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I have thought about the clamshell option but most 2" balls that support 3.5k have a 3/4" shaft. To support 5k+ you have to have a 1" shaft that would require drilling or an adapter. I have found one 3/4" shaft that supports 5k and it is $120 and I think that is crazy for a 2" ball. My trailer is a 20' 10k trailer and I do not think 3.5k is enough when you have people on it. I would feel confortable with a 5k setup.

Piece of flat steel, at least 3/4" thick, at least as wide as your drawbar, long enough to catch both holes in the drawbar, and give you enough room for a 1" hole about 2" from the end for the hitch ball. Three holes, a 5/8" hole for the front, 7/8" hole for the main hole, 1" hole for the ball. Grade 8 bolts for the plate to the drawbar. Install ball of choice.

Your trailer weighs about 4000lbs empty, and people are heavy so keep that in mind. Use your common sense. If the parade route is fairly flat, ignore the hand-wringers.

Also keep in mind that a 5000lb rated ball doesn't turn into a pumpkin at 5001lbs. It's designed to hold 5000lbs going down the road at 75MPH, and more times than not is strong enough to hold even in an accident where all kinds of crazy forces are put on the ball. It will be plenty strong enough for put-putting at 2MPH along a parade route.

 

[ss55]

You have a very SMALL and light weight tractor with limited braking ability.

Err on the side of caution and DON'T do this.

If the OP is any distance from the parade then traveling to and from the parade will probably be done in road gear. A 4000 pound late B with a 10 MPH road gear might handle that marginally, but a 3,300 pound early B with a 16 MPH road gear would be very risky, especially on gravel in hills.

Gear down and take the back roads.

 

[K Thomas]

We are attempting to make the float as safe as possible. We are located in Southern California and the terrain is very flat. We have added 34" side rails all the way arround, built wooden benches that bolt down, trailer running lights are powered off the onboard battery and led lights to light the walk ways. The event will be a local small airport and there are no hills as we will be towing the float around the WW II aricraft on the runway. That said there will be a seperate battery on the float that will have a break controller hooked to it, can't use the tractor battery as it is 6v. Float will have at max 16 people.

 

[Russ from MN]

We are attempting to make the float as safe as possible. We are located in Southern California and the terrain is very flat. We have added 34" side rails all the way arround, built wooden benches that bolt down, trailer running lights are powered off the onboard battery and led lights to light the walk ways. The event will be a local small airport and there are no hills as we will be towing the float around the WW II aricraft on the runway. That said there will be a seperate battery on the float that will have a break controller hooked to it, can't use the tractor battery as it is 6v. Float will have at max 16 people.

It sounds like you have done your pre-work, good luck!

 

[NoDakInMN]

Just recently in Wisconsin there were numerous people hurt in a hayride accident, not sure how it happened.

At least 25 people, including children, were injured when two hay wagons being pulled by a tractor rolled over during a field trip at an apple orchard near Chippewa Falls on September 18.

I think even a casual observer would say there is a world of difference between pulling two hay wagons loaded with hay and people through the uneven terrain of an orchard and a single trailer barely moving at a parade pace. Parades are generally led by a marching group bearing flags, so that pretty much sets the top speed of the parade and the further back you go, you wind up waiting as much as moving.

 

[Rich'sToys]

It sounds like you have done your pre-work, good luck!

I agree. Go for it!

 

[dex4020]

A jd b will have no problem pulling a parade trailer