Pats' Quick Hitch vs Northern Tools

[jrm21]

I have been considering a quick hitch for my scut. My only attachment at the moment is a rotary cutter, but it would be nice to simplify the connection/disconnection process when I am using the scut for other things.


Originally I looked at something like the Northern Tools quick hitch. I have seen mixed reviews as to quality and ability to work with different attachments.

Then I came across Pat's quick hitch. It is a little more money, but it also seems like a simpler system with more flexibility. Primarily using a rotary cutter, I also wonder if Pat's may be a better choice because of the top link connection.


Any input on which is better in general or specifically for use with a rotary cutter?

 

[Mendonsy]

The quick hitch is great IF it fits your attachments but there are a lot of attachments that require modification or just don't work at all.
I went with a Pat's hitch because none of the six attachments that I have are the same. It is not as simple to hook up as the quick hitch, but it fits everything without modification. I did have to purchase a slightly longer top link.

 

[CCWKen]

I've been using the $80 (with coupon) version from Harbor Freight for the last 7-8 years with no problem. It was probably made at the same factory as the Northern Tools version and others. I've heard that some people have broken the latch levers but I bet they were letting the levers flop down on their own rather than holding the lever and moving it to the lock position. They're pretty heavily spring loaded. They have grips on them. Use them!

I bought the boot-spur shaped adapter with mine but I use that on the top link side of the quick hitch. It allows up and down movement of the rear of rotary mower. I often switch between the rotary cutter and the flail cutter. And occasionally a small Disk. Other than the PTO shaft connection, they take 10 seconds to hook up or disconnect. Non-driven attachments are a breeze.

I had to modify the old(er) flail cutter that was built for Cat-II but having all the implements use the same configuration sure makes connection easy. I'll be getting a Box Blade soon and a Land Plane later. I'll make sure they fit the QH too. They should since newer pieces are SAE. And I'll be able to add a hydraulic top link later without having to fool with that connection like Pat's version. That top cylinder can be a handful if you need to move it to connect it.

 

[jeff9366]

The T-B-N store is an agent for Pat's Quick Hitch. Pat's has evolved into about the Mark III improved version since its introduction.

There are a bizillion threads in the T-B-N archive reporting on Pat's EZ: Google:TBNats EZ

The Google pages go on and on.........


In addition you may wish to consider a HydrauLink Top Link, sold by Amazon, Northern Tool, eBay.

VIDEO: HydrauLink Category 1 Cylinder - For 45 HP Tractors or Less, Model# HL-11 - YouTube

HydrauLink is much more effective than any factory floating link on Rotary Cutters.

 

[Fallon]

All the cheap Quick Hitches are the same... Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, Speeco, etc. Low quality, but get the job done. I have 1 on my tractor, one I welded to a SSQA plate for a 3pt on a loader & picked up another for a friend.

I had to grind the out of spec hooks on one or 2 of em so they fit Cat3 bushings. I welded a 1.5" extension to the back of the top hook on all of em so it sticks out further as well as replacing the top hook bolts with pins for easier adjustment. I'm debating whether to get & modify another cheapie or get a better quality LandPride or John Deere iMatch on my next tractor.

I've had to modify several impliments so they fit my Quick Hitch, in addition to putting Cat3 bushings on all of em. It's sooooo worth it to be able to pickup or drop an impliment without getting off the tractor (much harder to do without TnT though). No way you can do that with Pat's. I love my QH.

 

[jrm21]

Nothern/Harbor Frieght/ Speeco... I wasn't trying to be brand specific. I was basically asking about that particular design vs. the Pat's design.

If I understand correctly:

Pat's
Pros:
Better able to use on different implements without modifications


Cons:
a little more expensive
a little more difficult to connect/disconnect implements


Other style:
Pros:
Easier use
less expensive

Cons:
May require implement modification to work


Seems Pat's may have an advantage (off the shelf/no modifications) with a rotary cutter due to flexibility with the top link?

 

[California]

My quick-n-dirty solution for a flexible top link is simply a loop of chain around the top of the rotary mower and the top of the HF Q-hitch. For mowing, I adjust the tractor's ordinary top link short to pull the top of the Q-hitch a couple of inches forward from the mower's mast.

Also the Q-hitch's top hook is removed for this. Like Fallon I replaced the bolts for that top hook with pins to make it removable (or adjustable up-down) in a few seconds.

This chain loop around the top of both devices is to lift the mower when needed. When mowing, that loop is slack and the mower follows uneven ground better than it would with a rigid top link.

Works for me!

 

[Fallon]

Maybe... Not sure on the Pat's as I only have a QH. I have to raise the top hook on my QH or the flexy link on my LandPride rotary cutter will pop loose. Takes 20 seconds & I have to get of to hook up the PTO anyway. I leave my hydraulic toplink in float when mowing.

Without a hydraulic toplink you still have the turnbuckle, not sure how that would be much different than a Pat's in that regard. Pats extend the lower lift arms I believe, which marginally decreases lift capacity & can result in to short of a toplink or to short of a PTO shaft. A QH will decrease lift capacity a similar amount & have the same PTO length issues, but no toplink length issues.

 

[jenkinsph]

If all you have is one implement to hook up to your tractor you may over think what is best for that particular set up. When you have multiple implements you need to standardize the hook up so that you can easily change between them. A quick hitch of good quality and implements that are properly fitted are the easiest way to go. Many years ago I spent a day modifying all of my implements to work with the quick hitch, that was a day well spent. Since that time I either build or buy implements that fit the quick hitch. Life is good.

 

[LD1]

If I only had one attachment, what would be the reason to ever take it off? And if it never comes off, you never have to worry about re-hooking.

But as others said, its all about what attachments you run. Most modern stuff is what they call "quick hitch compatible". If the only implements you have are that way, hands down the best hitch is the style like northern tool sells.

But 3PH stuff has been around for ~75 years or more??? Quick hitch is relatively young in comparison. So if you are like me and only buy older used equipment.....there really was no set standard for pin spacing and toplink location. Thus a quick hitch just wont work without serious modification to make all your attachments compatible. Thus the Pats system fills that niche.

 

[N2DFire]

We just bought the $80 Harbor Freight flavor QH and the first attachment to get modified was the RC. It's the heaviest piece we have and therefore also the one that's the biggest PITA to hook up.

As others have stated; we have/are/will have to modify every attachment we have (because I'm 99% sure the ones that Dad didn't build himself were all shipped over on the mayflower :laughing: ) and yes that's an inconvenience up front, but ...

Dad has neuropathy in both legs and climbing up and down even one less time in a day is a good thing (and hey I'm not getting any younger either) so in the long run the QH is going to be worth it.

With Pat's system you still have to get down to hook the top link on everything whereas with the QH you only have to get off to connect/disconnect PTO powered attachments. Right now with a RC as your only attachment, you see no "gain" from a QH over Pat's system because you still have to get off to do the PTO anyway, but as your "stable" expands it's going to make a difference. Especially if you are buying new(er) attachments that are already QH compatible.

 

[CCWKen]

I leave my hydraulic toplink in float when mowing.

I take it that you don't have a locking valve on your top link cylinder?

I'm not keen on letting the hoses take the beating when not in float for other equipment. I hope your hoses are sheathed. A popped hydraulic line is extremely dangerous.

 

[Fallon]

I take it that you don't have a locking valve on your top link cylinder?

I'm not keen on letting the hoses take the beating when not in float for other equipment. I hope your hoses are sheathed. A popped hydraulic line is extremely dangerous.

Nope, have good FitRite gear, so leak down takes days not hours or minutes. I wouldn't give up float for the world, it's to useful. I understand what you are saying about hoses carrying the weight & know pressurized fluid cuts, but I'm sure your loader hoses are carrying the weight already. They are probably even closer & better lined up to cause problems.

 

[LD1]

Nope, have good FitRite gear, so leak down takes days not hours or minutes. I wouldn't give up float for the world, it's to useful. I understand what you are saying about hoses carrying the weight & know pressurized fluid cuts, but I'm sure your loader hoses are carrying the weight already. They are probably even closer & better lined up to cause problems.

Yep, no different than loader hoses or backhoe hoses.

 

[bcp]

What's with all the people saying you never have to get off the tractor when using a quick hitch, except for PTO?

About half my implements have a stand in the front that needs to be raised after hitching, and lowered before unhitching.

Do you have rakes, blades, etc., with no stands, that stay upright when parked?

Bruce

 

[N2DFire]

What's with all the people saying you never have to get off the tractor when using a quick hitch, except for PTO?

About half my implements have a stand in the front that needs to be raised after hitching, and lowered before unhitching.

Do you have rakes, blades, etc., with no stands, that stay upright when parked?

Bruce

Actually yes I do - it's called propping them on a stump (or blocks) & lifting them over after they're hitched.

Did this long before we had a quick hitch just so we didn't have to try & pick them up off the ground or pull them forward and do the "balance dance" getting them to the lift arms.

 

[California]

My only implement that needs a stand is the angle blade. And the rototiller could use one, but lifting its nose to wedge something under it temporarily is under 50 lbs so no big deal. Box blade, disc(s), spike harrow are infrequently mounted but don't need a stand.

Most frequently changed is rear forks (with its front 'A' shaped), swapped with trailer ball on a side to side drawbar.

For all of these, the fixed side to side distance between pin hooks remains constant using the HF Qhitch. That saves a lot of monkey business loosening the sway chains to slip the arms over the implement pins for each implement change. It's simple to dismount the trailer ball drawbar and go get the rear forks, for example, I do that all the time.

The other advantage of the QH I mentioned previously: shove the implement around to get it lined up. Much better than precision alignment with a crowbar!

 

[screamin400]

I got mine at harbor freight. First thing I did was take out the two bolts on the link and put roll pins cut to length in their place. Works great so far. No need for an extension. My understanding is that roll pins are just as strong. I could be wrong on my info though.

 

[The Deerslayer]

Nothern/Harbor Frieght/ Speeco... I wasn't trying to be brand specific. I was basically asking about that particular design vs. the Pat's design.

If I understand correctly:

Pat's
Pros:
Better able to use on different implements without modifications


Cons:
a little more expensive
a little more difficult to connect/disconnect implements


Other style:
Pros:
Easier use
less expensive

Cons:
May require implement modification to work


Seems Pat's may have an advantage (off the shelf/no modifications) with a rotary cutter due to flexibility with the top link?

I have used both and prefer the Pat's. Another potential con to the Pat's is I needed an extender for the PTO when using my rotary cutter. No big deal. The Pat's adds another 4 inches or so.

 

[California]

I have pins securing the Qhitch top hook. With these its easy to move the hook up/down, remove it when it's in the way, or even mount the hook upside down after backing up to a couple of implements that have a cross brace blocking where the hook should slip under the implement's top pin.

Note also the addition to the trailer-ball towbar that prevents the bar from revolving. The little plate is welded to a cat1/cat2 sleeve to make it level, then that assembly is bolted to the crossbar on the inner side and also through the hole in the pin out where the clevis pin should go. This is sufficient for my 18 and 24 hp tractors, something more substantial would be needed with the Qhitch on a larger tractor.