Broke Down and Got One of those Fake Drawbars :-(

[dougtrr2]

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The one issue I see is I'll have to watch carefully how sharp I turn, or modify the hitch on the splitter. The narrow mouth works fine on the drawbar where it can rotate freely, but can easily bind on this thing.

Could you just unbolt the current end of the tongue and replace it with a standard ball hookup?

Doug in SW IA

 

[pmsmechanic]

Fake drawbar! Interesting choice of words. I have several of those laying around that I bought on sale. I use them to make attachments for my tractor.

 

[aczlan]

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These drawbar locks are a must. I've used this type of drawbar over they years and these little clamps solve lots of unsolvable problems before they occur, especially if working in the woods. Plus, there's a little fab time in making one. There's a store-bought one out there for maybe $20 but it doesn't work correctly and doesn't last very long. Make the one in the picture.

If you have the right size clevis, you can use a clevis as a drawbar lock, put it over the lower link arm and pin it into the first hole in the drawbar.

Aaron Z

 

[jmc]

Saw this happen somewhere, or maybe did it myself- fishing boat/outboard on trailer with rainwater in the bow. 3PH drawbar lifts the trailer tongue, all the rainwater runs behind the trailer axle, which lifts the 3PH until the outboard's skeg hits the pavement.

Dump trailers might be a problem too.

 

[CADplans]

^ The flat side appears to be facing the ground so youæ±*e using the thick side of the bar instead of the thin like Stuckmotor suggests.
In the picture taken from the tractor seat, the chain does appear to be wrapped around the bar?

That's what I thought would happen when I tried it. The bar turned sideways and soon it was smiling. ( I suspect your Cat 2 bar is thicker and maybe harder steel. I didn't intend to use mine much and bought the economy model.

I wonder if wrapping kept the bar from turning???

I did wrap the chain around the drawbar, possibly it kept it from turning, but, if you look at each pic,, wrapping did not keep it from sliding,,,

That CAT II drawbar is a beast,, thick, and heavy, over one inch thick,, IIRC,,,

You would not want it to hit your foot,,,

 

[stuckmotor]

Saw this happen somewhere, or maybe did it myself- fishing boat/outboard on trailer with rainwater in the bow. 3PH drawbar lifts the trailer tongue, all the rainwater runs behind the trailer axle, which lifts the 3PH until the outboard's skeg hits the pavement.

Dump trailers might be a problem too.

There's always a snag.

 

[stuckmotor]

View attachment 629815



These drawbar locks are a must. I've used this type of drawbar over they years and these little clamps solve lots of unsolvable problems before they occur, especially if working in the woods. Plus, there's a little fab time in making one. There's a store-bought one out there for maybe $20 but it doesn't work correctly and doesn't last very long. Make the one in the picture.

Sixdogs,
I like that solution and was about to ask whether you used one on the other end of the draw bar when, I noticed the shadow of the other end.

 

[stuckmotor]

If you have the right size clevis, you can use a clevis as a drawbar lock, put it over the lower link arm and pin it into the first hole in the drawbar.

Aaron Z

I like that solution, too.

 

[WranglerX]

Fake drawbar! Interesting choice of words. I have several of those laying around that I bought on sale. I use them to make attachments for my tractor.

Funny part is if GOOGLE "Draw Bar" what responses do you get.... Not sure where the fake part comes in... If I would have to decide on what type to get I would select the one (of 2 choices) that fits my needs....

This whole thing started on another thread because "someone" HAD TO BE CORRECT and if someone had differing opinion they were wrong....

But yes drawbar stabilizer can save one some grief...

And then there is the time honored ritual of always having tongue weight (yes I know it can shift under some conditions) ...

Dale

 

[TerryR]

Could you just unbolt the current end of the tongue and replace it with a standard ball hookup?

Doug in SW IA

Doug,

Yes I could. In fact it came with a ball hitch and I replaced it with this one so I wouldn't have to fool with a ball.

But if I did I'd have to get some means to prevent the bar from turning as several have mentioned here, and install it every time I want to hook up the splitter. I'd rather fix the issue by modifying the current hitch and not bother with all that. Seems much easier on an ongoing basis to me.