Quick Hitches A new month, a new Quick-Hitch thread.

[tacticalturnip]

Hello friends,

I think I may have reached a point where I am done with my Pat’s Easy Change system and am looking at Quick Hitches. I’ve managed to crush the tabs on my Pat’s several times and need to use Vice-Grips to add and remove attachments and have had to for a while now. That really doesn’t bother me a ton, but their replacement with a Quick Hitch would add a “quick” hardpoint for my hydraulic top-link which would be convenient. I don’t use any PTO powered implements, so there is no potential cause for interference there.

At this point I am looking at a few different models and would of course appreciate the thoughts and opinions of all here, and besides we needed another Quick Hitch thread, it’s a new month!

My first consideration is the ToolTuff Direct Cat-1 E, this seems to be a Speeco E-Hitch clone and seems reasonable enough for the cheap end of Chinese imports. Priced at $199.

My second option would be the GWT Fast Cat I, as it’s on clearance right now for $289.

Also on clearance from GWT is the standard Speeco Quick Hitch for $229.

Lastly is the good-ol’ Speeco E-Hitch, $244, on Amazon.

Whatever I go with, my plans include KBOH chain boxes, and pins for the hook. Also, having to use bushings doesn’t bother me, as I’ve actually got a few sets left from when I used them with the iMatch on the 1025R.

 

[WinterDeere]

I love my Deere iMatch quick hitch. I looked at some of the other options before buying, but the few others available at the time all seemed to just be cheaper compromises on the Deere design. Maybe that's changed in the years since, but on the other hand... buy once, cry once!

 

[tacticalturnip]

I can't justify the $400 an iMatch commands. I'm trying to find middle-ground between Titan/Amazon and iMatch, but on GTT @kennyd even suggested the Harbor Freight and provided a coupon bringing the price to $99. That makes it rather tempting.

 

[WinterDeere]

I can't justify the $400 an iMatch commands. I'm trying to find middle-ground between Titan/Amazon and iMatch, but on GTT @kennyd even suggested the Harbor Freight and provided a coupon bringing the price to $99. That makes it rather tempting.

Wow. Yeah, I guess I'd be shopping around too, at $400. I think they were something like $260 when I bought, and came with one free set of bushings. I seem to remember my total was just a little over $300, with a second set of bushings.

But I will say, it's a flawless system. Very robust, and zero troubles in the 6+ years I've been using it.

 

[Engineer42]

I have the Speeco. Wouldn't be without it. I have read that the HF model is pretty much the same. Non cabbed tractor I could probably do hook ups from the seat other than pto.

 

[Rustyiron]

Wow. Yeah, I guess I'd be shopping around too, at $400. I think they were something like $260 when I bought, and came with one free set of bushings. I seem to remember my total was just a little over $300, with a second set of bushings.

But I will say, it's a flawless system. Very robust, and zero troubles in the 6+ years I've been using it.

Is it friendly with non Deere attachments? Deere has that self protection tendency built in to some their products.

 

[WinterDeere]

Is it friendly with non Deere attachments? Deere has that self protection tendency built in to some their products.

Yes. It is 100% compatible with both of my former Woods attachments, Herd spreader, and Country Line (DeVilbiss) boom sprayer.

I did have one plug aerator that wasn't compatible with any quick hitch, they had set the lower link mounts too far apart, but an afternoon with the welder and a rattle can fixed that pretty quickly. That mod would have had to happen no matter which brand of quick hitch I bought.

 

[shooterdon]

I bought a Speeco and am happy with it hitch. It replaced a Carter EZ hitch and I prefer it.

It is nice not having to use bushings.

 

[Squirrel's242]

I got the GWT Fast Cat quick hitch. I did fast research and decided to go with it. Originally I was going to get a Speeco. Anyway the Fast Cat showed up and I had it on the tractor in 15min or so. I immediately went and hooked up the box blade where it's been since. I do like the option of pins vs bolts to adjust the top hook.

As for the product, it's nice, arrived quickly, easy to use. My only complaint is that the hitch moved around in the carboard packing and rubbed the end of the rubber handle off and the end is exposed. Not a big deal but I like putting the first ding/dent/mess up on my news stuff, not anyone else.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I have the AGSMART made by SMA https://www.smalink.com/p/873-hf141101/19660 made in USA quick hitch on my SCUT for over 3 years, it's been excellent, came with one set of lower bushings, it uses bolts for the upper pin adjustment (once set, I've never moved it!), just got a SPAREXor my CUT that I haven't used yet, also came with lower bushings, has pins for the upper hook made in UK, both bought from my local Massey Ferguson dealer ... I try really hard not to buy from china!

If you buy the bushing kit(s) from @kennyd he includes the 1-2 & 2-3 bushings for the top pin ... Or you can cut a section on schedule 40 black iron pipe ... I've done both on different attachments.

 

[tacticalturnip]

@Shawn T. W. how much did those run you? I can't get a price from either site without joining.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

The SPAREX I just picked up was $253.14 I don't have to pay sales tax ... Don't remember the other one ... Actually had to look at my CC statement!

I don't know why, and didn't ask, so I don't know why my dealer had a different manufacturer ... Possibly was back in spring of 2022 with supply chain issues, he just got what he could for me ...

 

[WranglerX]

For your viewing pleasure.....

And.....

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Both of mine also came with that extra connector that the one on the end next to the imatch had ... I've never used it.

The SpeeCo E he mentions still has the big top hook, so the regular CAT 1 top pin is still gonna be loose in it ...

Mine are close to those weights ... My other one is slightly less than my new one ... My thinking is heavier is better ...

 

[WinterDeere]

Heavier may be better, in theory. But I've never heard tell of any of those quick hitches failing, in reading this forum.

Then again, I think my iMatch was the heaviest of the bunch?

 

[tacticalturnip]

Heavier may be better, in theory. But I've never heard tell of any of those quick hitches failing, in reading this forum.

Then again, I think my iMatch was the heaviest of the bunch?

On the forums, no, but I've seen some photos in Amazon reviews that scare me away!

This one, for example. This is fun too.

 

[bmaverick]

You can SCORE a huge deal right now, this price has not been seen since 2020 !!! Even better than the last Black Friday sale!

 

[WinterDeere]

On the forums, no, but I've seen some photos in Amazon reviews that scare me away!

This one, for example. This is fun too.

Yeah, I knew there'd be some such examples! It's actually why I was careful to say "those quick hitches" and not just "quick hitches".

I don't know anything about "AUTOSAVER88" or their products, but I'd stick to the name brands we all know, like those included in that GWT video.

Even at $400, I'd probably just buy the Deere one again. One weekend lost, or an injury due to dropping ballast while using the loader, would easily undue the price difference between any of these. Not that I think any of those sold by someone like GWT is likely to fail.

 

[tacticalturnip]

You can SCORE a huge deal right now, this price has not been seen since 2020 !!! Even better than the last Black Friday sale!
View attachment 3861134

I am leaning in that direction. It's hard to pass up, honestly.

 

[bmaverick]

I am leaning in that direction. It's hard to pass up, honestly.

I've had mine for nearly 3 years. I have a very large 2-row, 2-gang disc harrow that weights an awful lot out of all the attachments I have. This HF QF grabs it, picks it up with no issues.

The brush mower is fine too.