Harbor Freight Quick Hitch Discontinued?

[ptoengageant]

Have a buddy looking for one. He called all of our area HF stores and they said they’re clearance items and will no longer be stocked. If anyone here works at HF, can they confirm?

 

[MESSMAKER]

Wow, I thought they sold a ton of them.

 

[bcp]

3-Point Quick Hitch - 27-3/16 In. Clearance

Amazing deals on this 3-Point Quick Hitch 27-3/16In Clearance at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

From the ad above:

Maybe it will be replaced by one with a better hook design.

Bruce

 

[p0diabl0]

I have an unsubstantiated theory - it's not actually on clearance. The cashier said mine was on clearance when I bought it a year ago. No purple tag. The website says clearance - no discounted price. My bet is that their database system simply sees the word "clearance" in the name and marks it as such, never mind that it's referring to the distance between the hooks.

 

[California]

I have an unsubstantiated theory - it's not actually on clearance. My bet is that their database system simply sees the word "clearance" in the name and marks it as such, never mind that it's referring to the distance between the hooks.

Well maybe. My nearest store shows 'back in stock soon'. Price $130, double what I paid for an early one. I wouldn't be without it.

'Check other stores' shows only a few have it. 1 store at a reasonable shopping distance (of three), 1 store @ 35 miles, 5 stores @ 50 mile radius, a few more @ 80 mile radius. I think that's less than half of the stores in this region. (inland east of San Francisco).

If I needed one I would go grab it, just in case. So far as I can tell its identical to all the others with the exception of Deere and Deere's has a fixed-height hook. (not as broadly useful).

With HF completely changing their image, anything is possible.

 

[California]

I went and looked at HF's reviews for the QH. 700 reviews, only 50 are one or two stars. All but about five are (valid) complaints of not matching their random implements.

There are almost no mentions of the QH becoming damaged in use. So it's not cheap junk as some competitors might claim. There are some instances of HF's legendary random quality control, discovered immediately. Just know its returnable if you can't use it.

At 63 lbs, its all the weight I would want to rassle on/off the tractor if it didn't match one of my implements. One 2-star review noted his Woods QH weighs twice as much. Thanks, I like this better.

Everybody complained about the top hook. I have the solution for that, I bought the Speeco replacement hook that extends out farther, about $30. Problem solved.

In summary, recommended - if your implements are close to industry spec dimensions. Expect minor adjustments on a couple of them. And be sure to get the Speeco top hook.

 

[bcp]

You could buy a $700 dollar quick hitch, but if your implements aren't built to standards, it won't work.

Bruce

 

[WranglerX]

With all the better quality QH's available I don't understand what is the problem....

 

[peter.ahmet.spencer@gmail]

I kept checking online even though all the ones that did show were all in California for any that were close at all. I checked again on Aug 12 and they were showing in Chehalis, the next day it showed available in Lacey WA and I made a little trip.

First I need to shave some off of the body to get the box scraper blade to fit around the lower pins. After that I'll know what I need to do with the top hook. Right now I am trying to just become adept at swapping out attachments.

 

[Torvy]

My old boss is a bigwig at HF in Calif. I could ask him, but no guarantees he would admit anything

 

[California]

I see 'In Stock' at 17 different stores within a couple hundred miles of San Francisco. And one 'Limited Stock'.

More stores show stock now, than I found back in June. That doesn't look like a closeout.

Put the Speeco top hook on it that extends farther out, to avoid the interference found with most implements.

I think HF's is a generic clone identical to what's sold at double the price by others labelled with a 'respected brand' name.

 

[newbury]

In summary, recommended - if your implements are close to industry spec dimensions. Expect minor adjustments on a couple of them. And be sure to get the Speeco top hook.

With all the better quality QH's available I don't understand what is the problem....

There is no problem, just pay the extra $500, I'm sure you can afford it.

As point of reference HF's "Availability" page shows 7 stores within their "search" range (?200? miles) of zip 22315 having "in stock" and 3 with limited stock.
And for my other prime location -zip 38843 it shows 2 and 1 respectively.

 

[WranglerX]

There is no problem, just pay the extra $500, I'm sure you can afford it.

As point of reference HF's "Availability" page shows 7 stores within their "search" range (?200? miles) of zip 22315 having "in stock" and 3 with limited stock.
And for my other prime location -zip 38843 it shows 2 and 1 respectively.

What a BS statement.... There is quite a few QH's available in the $150 to $350 range.....

tractor quick hitch - Google Shopping

 

[the old grind]

I tried giving one away, only used for one hour, etc. I guess nobody ever got the hint.

 

[Kep1a]

This fixes the top hook issue. It says harbor freight top hook fix
Top hook fix

I use this for item that can't be used with a hook. I put in place where the hook was.
Adapter

I just hated buying these for everything.
sleeves

 

[Tinhack]

I just hated buying these for everything.
sleeves

I don't/didn't. I welded in a piece of 1/8 flat formed into a U. I just tacked it in at the top so it's easy to cut out if it wears. Those sleeves were made for the lazy people. They deserve to pay extra for each implement.

 

[bcp]

You don't need those expensive sleeves with knobs. Buy a pair of category adapters for each pin. That's all you need. The knobs do nothing on a fixed-width quick hitch.

Bruce

 

[California]

This fixes the top hook issue. It says harbor freight top hook fix
Top hook fix

That looks good. The important thing is the centerline of the two holes is at the back of the hook rather than the type of hook with the edge of the holes within the edge of the hook.

I use this for item that can't be used with a hook. I put in place where the hook was.
Adapter

Not so sure about that one. I got one, and never use it now.
For mowing I throw a loop of chain over the tower on the rotary mower and the top of the quick hitch. This works fine for lifting the mower and lets the mower float over rough ground the rest of the time.

I just hated buying these for everything.
sleeves

As BCP said, not needed. The simple cat 1/2 sleeves (just simple tubes) are all you need. I go even simpler, no sleeves, ignore the slack. I also admire Tinhack's hack.

 

[Mat4644]

I have one. It's built durable enough. But - Bottom and top hooks are out of spec (too big of slots) plus latches on bottom too far away from implement pins. Implements such as a tiller jump around too much in the hitch. Normal looseness in a three point hitch plus excessive play in the Harbor Freight hitch equals a lot of shaking. Plus the top hook clearance is a problem on some implements.

Use a good quick hitch and you'll call this one junk.

 

[WranglerX]

I don use the expensive Cat 1 "bushings ", a piece of 1 inch water pipe works well for me...