Finding the right size and type of lawn mower to suit your garden can be a tricky job. Not only do you need to consider what sort of surfaces you will be using it on, budget, or power source but have you ever thought about how will you transport this machine from A to B?
If you’re considering buying a large-scale lawnmower for your gardens, then how will you securely fit them into either your car or truck? Don’t worry though, we’ve got all the answers here in our comprehensive guide on can lawn mowers fit into car or truck storage.
With this guide we’ll talk about the different sizes available, methods for safely transporting such machines over short and long distances and so much more.
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Can Lawn Mower Fit in Car or Truck?
If you’re looking for a way to transport your lawn mower from one place to another, then fitting it in a car or truck can be an effective solution. The process of loading a mower into your vehicle isn’t that difficult as long as it fits in the trunk. That being said, it’s important to measure the area available before heading out to purchase one.
Yet, most electric or push mowers should fit without needing any disassembly unless the trunk is quite small. If bigger mowers aren’t suitable for most cars, there are always alternatives such as vans or trailer hitches that could make transporting them much easier.
How Do You Put A Lawnmower In A Car?
Fitting a lawnmower into a car, be it in the trunk of it or the back seat can be quite easy but then it becomes a problem if the handle of the lawnmower cannot be folded.
If you will be transporting the lawnmower more frequently, you should get a truck but in the absence of that and you want to use a car, there are two things you can do.
- Use a metal ramp or strong plywood
A metal ramp is a good investment for those who are frequently transporting a lawnmower. It can also be sure to lift heavier lawnmowers into the trunk of a car. However, it needs extra care or else it might damage the car in the process. This is why it is ideal for a truck. Plywood is a cheaper alternative and can work with push lawnmowers.
Just pick it up. This is for lawn mower transportation that happens once in a while. Most push lawnmowers can be lightweight and so quite easy to carry, so doing this should not be too tiresome.
- If the lawnmower has been in use, carry it in a horizontal position to prevent oil or fuel from spilling. It would even be better if you can empty the tank before carrying it.
- You are not to carry the lawnmower by its handle alone.
- Make sure you are putting on the right gear to prevent injuries. The right gear like protective gloves and a long-sleeved shirt. The gloves will keep your fingers protected when it gets close to the cutting blades because your hands are most likely to get there.
- When fitting the lawnmower into the car, do not force it in. Too much force can damage the lawnmower and even the car. Little damage to the lawnmower can make it malfunction. And even if you succeed in force-fitting it into the car, it will be very difficult to bring it out of the car.
Also Read: Are Lawn Mowers Waterproof?
How Do You Put A Lawnmower In A Truck?
The only option for transporting bigger commercial or riding lawnmowers is to put them in a truck, trailer, or pickup. Putting a lawnmower into a truck can be quite easy, however, it requires a little effort especially when being put in without a metal ramp.
Here are two ways you can put your lawnmower into a truck:
- With a metal loading ramp
This is the most effective and less stressful way to put a lawnmower in a truck. This might seem a little too much for a simple push lawnmower.
- Ensure that the truck is off and on the parking brake. Lower the tailgate of the truck.
- Unfold the metal ramp and attach the edge to the truck. This part is very important and should be done with keen attention. The ramp is most likely to come with straps for the attachment but if it doesn’t, then you should get one before the fitting. If the ramp is not properly secured to the truck, it is most likely to slip off while you are on the mower. This can cause injury to yourself.
- Now, Drive up to the ramps with the mower, but not on top of them. Adjust the ramps’ width to be the same as that of the front tires, ensuring that the tires can move up the middle of each ramp freely.
- Put the mower on low gear and give it enough throttle to keep the engine from dying while going up the ramps. But just enough to keep the ramp from getting kicked out from under the tires. If the mower is one with a hydrostatic transmission, go slowly.
- Drive the mower up the ramp and into the bed of the truck at a steady speed. Drive it far into the bed carefully so it does not damage the bed. If the mower is rested far into the bed of the truck, it will make the ride easier and less bumpy.
- When that is done, turn off the engine and set the lawnmower to the parking brake. Don’t forget to remove the mower keys.
- To ensure more security for the parked mower, use ratchet straps. Secure the ratchet straps to the bed and through the parts of the mower that cannot be damaged. In case you do not have ratchet straps, you can use strong cords to hold them in place.
- Fold up the ramp and put it into the truck because you will need it when bringing down the mower. Close the tailgates and you are ready to go.
- Without a metal ramp
This method requires quite a lot of effort and can be used in the absence of a loading ramp. It is most suitable for a push lawn mower in case you cannot just pick it up and put it into the truck, just use this method.
- Get very wide and strong plywood or two not-so-narrow-ones. Make sure the truck is turned off.
- Lower the tailgate of the truck. Place the plywood between the truck and the floor such that it is in a slanting position.
- Hold the mower in a tilted position and move it so that the front wheels are on top of the plywood.
- Then with the mower still in motion, see-saw it until both the front and back wheels of the mower is on the plywood.
- Push the mower on the plywood till it is at the top of the plywood and in the bed of the truck.
Note that whether it be in a car or a truck, there has to be a curve when trying to put a lawnmower in. The curve/slanty position allows the mower to move up into the vehicle at an angle that prevents the mower from getting stuck on the edge of the tailgate.
Also Read: How to Make Lawn Mower Street Legal?
Do Lawn Mower Handles Fold Down?
This is one of the features that is very advantageous for space. Lawnmower handles can be folded down, but they are most likely done with newer models, unlike older ones. Manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to make it easy for people to own a lawnmower by making features flexible as they advance.
However, folding a lawnmower handle has to be done the right way to prevent damage. Fold the handle either vertically or forward. As you fold the handle, make sure the cables are routed around the outside of the handle locks.
Whichever model of lawn mower you use, make sure you read and become familiar with the manual for information on safety, warranty, and your model.
Can You Put A Lawnmower Engine In A Car?
When parts such as the handle and others are removed from the lawnmower, it becomes a little less bulky. The reduction in weight might however be very minimal.
To put the engine easily into the car, you might want to leave the wheels on. The wheels will allow you to push the engine up the plywood or ramp into the trunk of the car. But if the wheel is easy to carry you can just simply pick it up and put it in the trunk.
But if we are referring to using the car engine in a car, then the answer is No. Lawnmower engines and car engines are quite different in terms of thread size. They use different sizes of thread.
While car engines use 14 mm of tread, lawnmowers use 10 to 12 mm thread. These threads are not similar at all and just cannot work together. If you attempt to join them together, it might cause damage to the unit, its plug, or the engine, and even possibly everything. So No, you cannot use a lawnmower engine in a car.
Which Lawn Mowers Cannot Fit in a Car?
Bigger, commercial lawnmowers might seem very difficult to fit into a car. They are bulky and heavy. If you have a riding lawn mower, fitting it into a car will also be near impossible. This is because of its size and weight.
Even if the lawnmower fits into the car despite its size, Its weight might cause the rear end of your car to go lower than it ought to. This will eliminate the chances of having a smooth ride during the transport.
These lawnmowers weigh an average of up to 500 pounds. Trust me, there is no way they can fit into a car without damaging or you have to dismantle the car. Your best bet is to get a truck or trailer.
Will A Riding Lawn Mower Fit In My Truck?
As far as it is a truck or a trailer, a riding lawn mower can fit into it. A truck provides enough space to contain the lawnmower and the ability to hold the weight of a lawnmower. All you need is the right accessory that cannot only create a curve but is also strong.
That accessory is a metal loading ramp. When getting a ramp to use, you can try to make research the size of the ramp you need. This is so that the ramp provides the perfect size and hold for the lawnmower without slipping.
Can A Riding Lawn Mower Fit In A Minivan?
Minivans provide a lot of opportunities for exploits including camping, road trips, and whatnot. It is a smaller version of a van and can help with the role of a pickup truck. However, fitting a lawnmower into one might be near impossible because the rear door of a minivan is too short for it. Most of them, actually.
The rear door of most minivans is just 40-42 inches tall, but most riding mowers are 46-48 inches tall.
If your riding lawn mower isn’t fully built and isn’t longer than 40-42″, it will fit in the back of a minivan. And if it is fully built but still not up to 40 or 42 inches, it is even better.
Safety Tips To Move Lawn Mower From One Place To Others
Like I said earlier, you can transport your lawnmower with the help of a couple of steps, but these steps require some precautions to be taken to ensure the safety of you, the vehicle, and the lawnmower.
- The most important safety measure is wearing the right protective gear. When moving a lawnmower, you will find how important it is to have protective gloves and a long sleeve top.
- The second most important tip is to make sure all the liquids in the lawnmower are drained out of it. Gas emissions from lawnmowers are harmful and you do not want to find out how harmful.
- Clean the lawnmower. The lawnmower should be wiped off any liquid or fuel spill on its body before transport.
- Possibly remove the blades and clean them properly. Remove grass remaining that could have been stuck on it. You can attach it back to the lawnmower if you please. If not, wrap the blade in bubble wrap to keep it from hurting you or causing damage to the vehicle.
- Do not take any chances, unplug the spark plug and wrap it with bubble wrap.
- Fold or collapse the lawnmower push handle.
- Ensure the loading ramp you are using is the right one with proper attachments. Getting the wrong one and not attaching it properly to the truck or car can cause the ramp to slip off. If the lawnmower happens to be on the ramp with you on it, it will fall off and can cause severe injuries.
- It is most advisable to drive a lawnmower into the truck or trailer backward, that is, with its back first. This will help to reduce the chances of the mower tipping over. But if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you can always drive forward but make sure it is in low gear.
- Do not stop the mower midway on the ramp. If this has to happen, then you need to go back down the ramp and start again.
Conclusion:
If you are finding it difficult to move your lawnmower, then you should hire a moving company or someone who owns a truck or trailer. Just make sure you follow the maintenance and precautionary rules. Most countries do not allow the transportation of combustible and hazardous pieces of equipment.
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