3pt hitch/counterweight/storage?

[JohnS]

I am looking for an implement that does all three. Either, commercial or DIY.

- Hitch must be able to mount a ball, plus have a hole for clevis/pin.
- Place to add/subtract additional FEL counter weight.
- Place to mount large PVC tool container, that could hold chainsaw, fuel, and other misc items.

It would stay mounted on the back of the tracter, except when using another 3pt implement. Anyone built something that satisfies all three requirements? It shouldn't be too hard to modify some of the hitches out there or build one, but was looking to see if this ground has already been traveled. Thanks.


JohnS

 

[Knight9]

John,

I saw this one a while ago. Bad River Products I like the "hitch part" a lot, probably the best I've seen. The "add on" for the cargo holder certainly would hold your toolbox, chainsaw etc. Not sure that I would want to use it as a "weight holder" for FEL counterweight, as it can only hold 500 lbs. Could be modified to hold more I would think.

Kevin

 

[JohnS]

Thanks Kevin. I have seen a similiar carrier on SUVs. They didn't impress me. I am looking for something that would have storage, above the toplink. A little high to get things out, but prefer that to extending the length.

JohnS

 

[gws]

How about a heavy duty carry all with a receiver tube welded to cross member? I am looking at doing something like that myself. A place for weights, 2" recevier down low and a sprayer (or your storage box) up high.

Gary.

 

[gws]

The bad river product looks like they took a step bumper receiver and welded a vertical bar to it and placed it on top of a drawbar.

Gary.

 

[JohnS]

I am not sure what a "heavy duty carry all" is. Do you have a pic or link? Sorry for my ignorance.

JohnS

 

[Knight9]

Here is a link to a Carry All ....although I probably wouldn't classify this one as "heavy duty". Different manufacturers make them of various grades of strength.

Kevin

 

[JohnS]

Kevin, thanks for the pic. I have seen them, just didn't equate it with that name. I will try to use the pic, to describe what I am looking for.

Take the "carry all" and get rid of the forks. Add a square or rectangular top frame. Instead of extending back on it, would like to use some of the space, going toward tractor. Mount a large PVC storage container on top of it. I have a FEL and have to manuever allot in the woods, so I don't want anything that will be making it more difficult. Now, add a drawbar to mount a ball or clevis. Add another bar above that for weights. Clear as mud, right?


JohnS

 

[Timd]

Sounds like you are looking for something more like what
jeepers call a "jamboree rack", modified to fit a 3PH.
The picture here might give you some ideas...

http://www.sierrajeep.com/jamboree.htm

Timd

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Your idea sounds great. I would consider a ballast box (3pt) with drawbar welded through the bottom and out the back for receiver hitch (or drawbar), the top rear edge stiffened with 1/2' steel plate to hold hang-on weights, and a tool tub (plastic or rubber) to fit in the ballast box. Possibly would have room to add weight below the tool tub in the box. Hey, that sounds so handy, I may have to configure such an arrangement for my 4300. If the weights were in the way at the rear of the box, maybe there would be room to hang them at the sides, thus making the tool tub more accessible from behind, and less cumbersome in the woods. I might also add a big hook to the rear of the box to snake logs out of the woods. And a couple of chain hooks to hang logging chains on for the woods work. Hmmmm. This is getting to be an all-around tool. For those afraid of tipping the tractor up by hooking a log to the top of the ballast box, put the safety chain on as shown in the Bad River hitch product. Keep the ballast box low to the ground, or add a low skid plate that would contact the ground if the front end came up for any reason.

 

[MarkV]

JohnS,

I can see how your plan would serve several needs, but I don’t think you will find it on the market. If I were building something like this, I would want the weight and hitch point to be as low as I could get it for stability on uneven ground. If you could live with a fixed weight and are not welder challenged, like myself, here is what comes to mind. Many people build a counter weight by using a container (garbage bucket) with a draw bar (the flat kind that attaches between the lift arms) inserted through it, then fill the container with concrete and set an attachment point for the upper link on top. Me be thinking of a square container with the draw bar through it, then threaded rod running vertical through the draw bar and attached to a lower bar for the trailer ball, as well as out the top of the concrete. If you are still with me, a hole would be left exposed on either end of the draw bar to allow two more vertical treaded rods reaching to the top of the concrete weight. I am thinking this would leave three points to attach a toolbox platform and the platform could have an upper link attachment point welded to it.

MarkV

 

[JohnS]

After a couple of read throughs, I think I've got the picture. Thanks. It certainly looks like there is no commercial solution out there. I will be using you description to draw-up some tenative plans. Need to get out and take some measurements and find/measure the PVC toolbox. This will make a good winter project. BTW, I haven't done any welding in years, and when I did, I was that good, anyway. My neighbor up the road, is though /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


JohnS