Ball hitch for tractor.

[94BULLITT]

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I just googled it, wow there's a few diff ways to use pallet forks to move trailers.

If you want to move a trailer with your FEL get a trailer mover that goes on loader. Don't ruin your forks by cutting a hole in them.

 

[KennyG]

Here is my trailer receiver. It's just fabricated from a drawbar and receiver tube. I drilled an extra hole so it's reversible depending on whether I want to hitch close or farther away. In general I don't have a problem with the three point going up but if I'm loading something on the trailer and don't want to worry about weight distribution, I have about 200 lbs of concrete "suitcase" weights I can put on the drawbar.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I know this question has been asked a million times but what is the cheapest way to hook a ball hitch to a tractor. I have a new 19' flatbed trailer that takes up a bay in my tractor shed. Sometimes I need to get it out/ put it back (tight fit) and doing it with the truck is a pain, especially when I'm alone. I see the three point deals but assume they will go upward since the three point hitch arms are not fixed in place.

Drawbar between the three point hitch arms would have the same problem.

I'm assuming that using the fixed draw bar would be cheap, but not sure if the trailer tongue would allow good mobility that close in behind the tractor.

I've seem hitches that attach to the bucket. Seems that would be touchy to maneuver.

Interested in what you guys use. Thanks.

Cheapest, you ask?

I think I win the prize with this one:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/249514-very-simple-trailer-mover.html

It's for light trailers.

For moving trailer in and out of a barn you can't beat a front end hitch.

 

[WM75Guy]

I use this on my FEL. I move all my trailers including my empty 3 horse slant load GN horse trailer without any problems.

Titan Skidsteer Trailer Receiver Mount Plate Hitch Bobcat Case Skid Steer REC-MP

 

[Btown]

This what I bought. I can even move my 24' gooseneck deck over with it.

Has worked great for me. I usually keep the forks on all the time to move hay bales for the horses.

 

[CobyRupert]

OP can just put a ball on his drawbar. (Is he sure drawbar is set to it's farthest out position?)

I just ordered one of these (triangle stabilizer bars) that links a 3 PTH cross-drawbar to the top link to keep it from spinning for $55.



FUNKWORKZ Tractor Drawbar Stabilizer "The Original!"

 

[ovrszd]

I use this, homemade.

Good, simple, versatile design. Handy as an overalls hammer loop.

 

[oosik]

I just pop a ball on my stationary drawbar and it works.

Quite honestly - I really don't favor the ball/receiver type of hitch. I had a faulty receiver and "lost" a trailer loaded with firewood. Fortunately, it was on my property and I was only going about 2 1/2 mph.

I prefer the farm wagon style hitch - double strap with holes for large locking pin. I feel it is safer/stronger for any wagon being used strictly on-property.

 

[Thomas]

For backing up in tight places this work well for me.

 

[Deere Dude]

For backing up in tight places this work well for me.

I tried something like that but the trailer tongue is lower to the ground than the ball is. I could never hook it up. That plus the fact I couldn't see the ball at all even while standing on the platform.

 

[Deere Dude]

No upward movement at all. I have 3 trailers I move from time to time. The lightest has about 500# of tongue weight, the heaviest tongue is about 1200#. I do the same as Richard, back up, lift and move, drop trailer without getting off the seat. I do have a grab hook, clevis and a pipe to store the hitch when not in use. The hitch fits my HF quick hitch or any 3 pt. tractor. You can easily add a safety chain if you are worried about the trailer tongue being too light and lifting.

I have lifted the 3 pt hitch especially when backing a trailer up and it hits a hole or an obstruction. It goes up 4-5 inches but stops. I just keep pushing if I know it is not a large obstruction.

 

[Al 2]

Well, this isn't the cheapest, probably one of the most expensive ways to move a trailer other than a full sized tractor but I think it's very interesting and just passing it along for viewer entertainment .
Look here: HAULLE Video
Al

 

[MillWeld]

It's not too difficult to weld your own. I have had plenty of weight on mine but if you do make your own plan it well. The visibility of mine is not good: the top link is in my line of sight to the trailer hitch ball.:thumbdown:

On the other hand, the ball protrudes rearward about 10 to 12" allowing for very sharp turns when towing. That required some beefy welding to take the downward force of the tongue.
Bob

 

[Xfaxman]

I put a receiver hitch on the brush fork frame.

 

[MillWeld]

Nice visibility!

 

[check]

For backing up in tight places this work well for me.

Yup. That's what I I have, and it works great for me. Very, very precise control, and when I want to move a trailer down the road a bit, I push the trailer backwards while the tractor is going forwards. I could also have an extended drawbar if I want to see more, but visibility of the ball is generally not an issue.

 

[N80]

I just purchased a cheap three point hitch unit like they carry at Tractor Supply, etc. The difference is that it was only $55 (cyber Monday deal), free shipping.

It is made for BX sized tractors so I'm a little worried that it might be too narrow for my lift arms, but think it will work. It is rated at 6000 pounds. My trailer has a 9000 pound gross rating but rarely has more than 4000 on it so it should be fine. I'll post my findings when I've tried it out.

3 Point 2" Receiver Trailer Hitch Category 1 Tractor Tow Hitch Drawbar Adapter

 

[aeblank]

What in the WORLD is this contraption used for? Flat towing a car......backwards.......?
I just gotta know......

Don't ruin your forks by cutting a hole in them.

Ruin? Really? I'm not sure I've ever seen a set of forks *without* a hole in one of 'em (multiple industrial applications, mine, my dad's, etc.).
I think a drilled hole would be spiffy, instead of the ugly torched hole that's *always* there.

For the OP, this isn't for anything heavy, but works reasonably well. It's a "lawnmower" ball, so the shank is much smaller at, I think, 5/8". I just had to use a die grinder to enlarge the existing bucket hole a *tiny* bit (mostly just clearing the paint out)..

 

[4570Man]

If you want to move a trailer with your FEL get a trailer mover that goes on loader. Don't ruin your forks by cutting a hole in them.

Forks are WAY more useful with a hole in them. All of my forklifts have holes in the forks.

 

[N80]

Where did you get the handle that it bolts on with? (Referring to the lawn mower ball hitch pictured above).