3PTH trailer hitch

[leveller]

I have wanted to build one of these for a while, so yesterday when I needed to move two trailers to clear snow, I decided I would quickly build one. Well, quickly turned out to be a whole afternoon, but I can see this will quickly become one of my favorite attachments! I was wondering if it would handle my dump trailer, as it is quite heavy, but it was easy to move with this hitch. Now I'm wondering if it will handle a loaded trailer, sure would be handy at times! I know lots of these have been posted, and I did not build anything that has not been done before, but here are some pics, Greg

 

[Just Bill]

Hello
I'm sure it will handle a loaded trailer.
You will probably wonder why you waited so long to build one.
You can rig it up to do a lot more than just pull a trailer also.

 

[brandoro]

I made mine out of an old hitch from a truck, that way most of it was made for me and I can use different drawbars depending on what I want to move. It works great.
I would expect you could move a loaded trailer depending on weight and how much grade. On a firm level surface I would say no problem.

 

[firemech]

I have wanted to build one of these for a while, so yesterday when I needed to move two trailers to clear snow, I decided I would quickly build one. Well, quickly turned out to be a whole afternoon, but I can see this will quickly become one of my favorite attachments! I was wondering if it would handle my dump trailer, as it is quite heavy, but it was easy to move with this hitch. Now I'm wondering if it will handle a loaded trailer, sure would be handy at times! I know lots of these have been posted, and I did not build anything that has not been done before, but here are some pics, Greg

I have a marina that we use our Kubota DT 7510 with a "Trailer Hitch" exactly like you built to move our boats. The hitch has survived 25 years and three Kubota's moving approximately 1,000 boats each year from 14ft to 30 ft in length and it works great. Our turf tires are loaded (more traction then industrial tires on our asphalt boat ramp) and on the bigger boats we need front weights or the loader installed but the unit has worked well and is kind to the tractor. Just keep the turnbuckles tight to prevent side to side motion or you can "spin the tractor out" on corners and if loose makes it tough to back the trailer up. GOOD JOB on the build.

 

[tessiers]

I loved mine so much I had to build another, it was always on the wrong tractor. Both of mine are just a vertical that bolt through a drawbar.

 

[JB4310]

Looks great, but don't paint it yet.

You still need some break away chain hooks and more importantly a way to limit the height the 3 pt can rise. since there's no down pressure on the 3 pt, under certain situations it can rise up uncontrollably, possibly damaging something.

You need it for dumping trailer for sure, but even for transporting, if you start going down hill and try and stop, sometimes the trailer can force the 3 pt upwards beyond it's normal travel range. Possibly causing damage, injury or loss of control.


I have a Flexpoint hitch, but had to put the break away loops and limiter chain hook on myself. They should come with them IMO.

JB.

 

[leveller]

never thought of a chain to limit height. Do you make the chain so short that the 3pth can not go all the way up? Would this cause damage if you moved the 3pth lift lever all the way back? I could see this chain being needed while dumping my trailer, Thanks, Greg

 

[Bedlam]

I use the same set up with the chain.
The grab hook allows adjustment for the height. I would imagine something would give if you were to go way up with it and not feeling the tension. I drop the chain on the hook, then VERY slowly raise the hitch till its snug and then be sure not to raise anymore. On mine there is an adjustable limiter tab on the hand lever i could set to avoid raising it to high.

 

[beenthere]

I have wanted to build one of these for a while, so yesterday when I needed to move two trailers to clear snow, I decided I would quickly build one. Well, quickly turned out to be a whole afternoon, but I can see this will quickly become one of my favorite attachments! I was wondering if it would handle my dump trailer, as it is quite heavy, but it was easy to move with this hitch. Now I'm wondering if it will handle a loaded trailer, sure would be handy at times! I know lots of these have been posted, and I did not build anything that has not been done before, but here are some pics, Greg

If you are going to pull the trailer shown when loaded, better have the brakes hooked up for any downhill travel, as well as have the limit chain on the 3 ph. The tractor may have the traction to get that size load moving, but need to plan on how to stop it. A jack-knifed trailer pushing you along is not a pleasant experience, and can easily be life threatening.
Electric brakes would be best, as in a jack-knife position, some hydraulic brake systems don't work so well.

 

[leveller]

If you are going to pull the trailer shown when loaded, better have the brakes hooked up for any downhill travel, as well as have the limit chain on the 3 ph. The tractor may have the traction to get that size load moving, but need to plan on how to stop it. A jack-knifed trailer pushing you along is not a pleasant experience, and can easily be life threatening.
Electric brakes would be best, as in a jack-knife position, some hydraulic brake systems don't work so well.

Thanks for the advice. I have no intensions of pulling this trailer with my tractor, other than to get it into or out of a tight spot at times. I will mainly use the tractor to move trailers around the yard,like when I need to clear snow or mow. I will make provisions for a limiting chain, as I am sure at some point I will dump the trailer while attached to the tractor, Thanks again, Greg

 

[JB4310]

never thought of a chain to limit height. Do you make the chain so short that the 3pth can not go all the way up? Would this cause damage if you moved the 3pth lift lever all the way back? I could see this chain being needed while dumping my trailer, Thanks, Greg

You can set the chain for what ever max height you want, if you are worried about bending your draw bar by lifting against it you could raise the 3 pt all the way up and hook chain there, so it couldn't go any higher.

I hook mine so it can only go maybe 3/4 of it's full travel, if pulling a trailer I don't need it any higher. You can feel the resistance if you pull against it, nothings just gonna snap but you could bend the draw bar by lifting 3 pt if you wanted and the bar was in the outer most position.
But under normal use like trailer tongue rising/bouncing, you wouldn't bend anything.

I see your trailer is quite large, alot longer looking than mine and your axles are farther back than mine also, so maybe yours doesn't come up at the hitch when you dump it? Mine does (forcefully) that's why I said you'd need it for dumping, but for yours maybe not?

I use mine all around the yard, even down steep driveway, I haven't had a problem. But your trailer looks bigger so a couple of things you can do to make pulling it safer, besides the limit chain, if you have 4x4 that would give some engine braking to the front wheels. But if you were really worried about going down a steep hill with a load, then if your trailer has an on board battery break away braking system you could tie a line to that pull out switch and hold on to it in a hairy situation, and if needed you could pull the break away pin for an emergency stop.

You'd have your hands full trying to get out of that predicament once employed, but at least it would bring things to a halt at the moment.

JB.

 

[leveller]

Like I said before, I am not planning on pulling this trailer with my tractor, other than moving it around on my yard. Even if I did, the land around here is soo flat that it would not be a problem,but you have some good points to keep in mind, Greg

 

[VroomVroom]

I've been wondering about the limiter chain also. I was under the assumption the housing the swinging draw bar slides into would break out as its not used for support weight downwards or pull upwards. I dont mind using one myself, but a few family members may use the tractor while I'm gone and Im nervous they will force the 3pt up while chained to the swinging drawbar, Im not sure what to think of the situation. Has anyone thought of using a pulley to cause the upward force of the 3pt either lifting or being forced up by a pushing trailer to pull more in an outward direction of the swinging drawbar? The swinging can take the outward force. I wonder if a pulley coule be used to change the angle of the force from upward force to outward force? Any opinions. ?

 

[JB4310]

Has anyone thought of using a pulley to cause the upward force of the 3pt either lifting or being forced up by a pushing trailer to pull more in an outward direction of the swinging drawbar? The swinging can take the outward force. I wonder if a pulley coule be used to change the angle of the force from upward force to outward force? Any opinions. ?

You would have to draw me a picture of that before I could comment.

I understand your concerns about the draw bar mount.

JB.

 

[handirifle]

Could the original poster, describe how the side pins on the lower cross bar work? Are they in a permanant position or do they slide in and out? I like the simplicity of yours.

 

[VroomVroom]

I'm not sure it could be done. I thought about it and there is no where to mount a pulley that would allow the force be changed from up, to a straight backward force. I was thinking maybe mounting a pully on the 3pt hitch you would build, but the pully would go up with the hitch and so the force would still be upward on the swinging drawbar. you cant mount it on the swing either as the force would be upward. no way to do it.....

 

[handirifle]

You guys are full of good ideas. After reading this, last night, I scored on a $25 Hidden Hitch complete receiver hitch. Gonna use that to build mine.

One question, what do you guys use to cut/drill those 3/4 or 7/7" holes in the mounting brackets? I don't have drill bits that big and no cutting head for the torch.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You guys are full of good ideas. After reading this, last night, I scored on a $25 Hidden Hitch complete receiver hitch. Gonna use that to build mine.

One question, what do you guys use to cut/drill those 3/4 or 7/7" holes in the mounting brackets? I don't have drill bits that big and no cutting head for the torch.

I think you meant 3/4" and 7/8" hole. If you have a drill press go to Harbor Freight and get a 1/2" though 1" set of bits for cheap and use plenty of cutting oil and a slow speed. If not for about the same money a machine shop will drill them for $5 per hole.

8 Piece Silver and Deming Drill Bit Set

I bought this set a few years ago and have drilled 100's of holes with no issues but only use them in my drill press and at a slow speed of like 200 rpm or less and use plenty of thread cutting oil from the plumbing section of Lowes.
Chris

 

[handirifle]

I think you meant 3/4" and 7/8" hole. If you have a drill press go to Harbor Freight and get a 1/2" though 1" set of bits for cheap and use plenty of cutting oil and a slow speed. If not for about the same money a machine shop will drill them for $5 per hole.

8 Piece Silver and Deming Drill Bit Set

I bought this set a few years ago and have drilled 100's of holes with no issues but only use them in my drill press and at a slow speed of like 200 rpm or less and use plenty of thread cutting oil from the plumbing section of Lowes.
Chris

:laughing: Yea I guess I did mean 7/8". Well, i went out and spent nearly $50 for two drill bits. Crazy. Unfortunately HF is over an hour away. I could go mail order but that's a week's wait. I just looked that set over. I will add that to my wish list. Lots of useful sizes there.

Thanks for the speed advice as well. At these prices I do not want to burn em up.

 

[Workstead]

I made mine out of an old hitch from a truck, ....

Brandoro,

Do you have any pics of how you mount the hitch to the lower arms? It looks like there is are brackets on the under side of the hitch.

Thanks,

Clem