Drawbar Hitch

[1m21]

Here is a drawbar hitch I made to move my trailer around. The reciever hitch is from a 1984-1996 Jeep Cherokee. They can be found at the you-pull-it junkyards for $10.00-$15.00. Any straight reciever hitch will work. Also check for 1994-1997 S10 Blazers as some of them use a straight reciever hitch.

This is what it looked like after I cut it down to size and cleaned it up a little in the sandblasting cabinet.

After welding and ready for paint.

The finished product.

 

[Manitou]

Looks good and a great job.

 

[radman1]

You completely stole my idea. I have a receiver I bought at an auction for $10. Plan to do the same thing you did - I'm just too slow. However, instead of placing the pins directly on the end, I was going to weld a flat plate over the ends and put the pins either above or below the reciever tube. Then I can tighten or remove the nut on the pin. Did you weld the nut inside the reciever and then tighten the pin? I was also going to make it the proper width and height to fit on my Spee-co quick hitch.

 

[SnowRidge]

It may just be the angle, but that vertical square tube looks kind of thin walled to me, although the load on that piece shouldn't be too high. Gorgeous looking work. Wish I could weld that well.

 

[1m21]

I was going to weld a flat plate over the ends and put the pins either above or below the reciever tube. Then I can tighten or remove the nut on the pin.

I was going to do that but then figured it was easier just to cap the ends. I can still remove the pins although I can't think of any reason I would need to.

Did you weld the nut inside the reciever and then tighten the pin?

Actually I tightened the pins down first and then welded the nuts. Then welded the plates on the ends of the tube.

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

Nice job! You caused me to remember an old receiver hitch I came across in the shed the other day. I will have to take a closer look and see if it would work for a modification.

 

[Toolguy]

I made mine out of a receiver hitch I got free at a body shop. It was bent a little in a collision. I cut the bent parts away and welded a peice of iron on the bottom of it and then bolted it to a drawbar I had. The upright tube is one of the straight pieces that I cut off. I use it all the time. I have several different attachments that I made to use with the hitch besides a hitch ball.

 

[rone]

Nice job on the hitches. Here is some photos of one that I made up. The welds are not as nice but it works. My welds are starting to improve. I put the chain slots on it to use when pulling a trailer. I see from your photos that they will come in handy for pulling logs, etc..

 

[3RRL]

What a great job turning that Jeep hitch into your tractor draw bar. Turned out great with that paint job too.
Nice work.

 

[excelagator]

Nice job modding an existing part

Dan

 

[MJPetersen]

Good Job making use of "scrap". Good functional tool.

Mike

 

[PineRidge]

Had a hitch similar to yours but was never crazy about the fact that the 3-point doesn't apply down pressure. If the trailer or load is back heavy the load can raise the 3-point unexpectedly.

So I went to this idea instead.

 

[JB4310]

Had a hitch similar to yours but was never crazy about the fact that the 3-point doesn't apply down pressure. If the trailer or load is back heavy the load can raise the 3-point unexpectedly.

So I went to this idea instead.

You can limit the upward movement with a chain as in RONE's 2nd picture from 4 posts above.
I cheated and just bought one, see pic. but I use my bucket buddy contraption more.

 

[1m21]

If the trailer or load is back heavy the load can raise the 3-point unexpectedly.

My Yanmar has a valve under the seat that you can use to lock the 3-point hitch down.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

My Yanmar has a valve under the seat that you can use to lock the 3-point hitch down.

Never thought of that.

Since the lock valve is intended to prevent downward movement of the 3pt, and with no intent to dispute what you say, are you sure there's no check valve, etc. in the system that would allow the 3pt to raise when the valve is closed.

I suppose I could check it out for myself by closing the valve and trying to lift the 3pt, but not sure I want to risk the pump doing it.

 

[3RRL]

My Yanmar has a valve under the seat that you can use to lock the 3-point hitch down.

Interesting.
I've never heard of that before. I thought they all raised up without resistance? But you could lock them from going down further.

 

[1m21]

Never thought of that.

Since the lock valve is intended to prevent downward movement of the 3pt, and with no intent to dispute what you say, are you sure there's no check valve, etc. in the system that would allow the 3pt to raise when the valve is closed.

I suppose I could check it out for myself by closing the valve and trying to lift the 3pt, but not sure I want to risk the pump doing it.

You all read your operators manuals, didn't you?


Page 27 Yanmar Diesel Tractor Operation Manual, "STOP VALVE The tractor is equipped with a stop valve located just under the seat, in between the operator's legs that can stop the three point system from moving. Turn valve clockwise to lock."


Then it has this warning, "DO NOT PULL THREE POINT CONTROL LEVER WHEN LOCK IS CLOSED." and "OPEN LOCK VALVE COMPLETLY WHEN NOT IN USE."

 

[SnowRidge]

Have you closed the valve and tried to lift the lower arms manually? Your manual could be construed to say that you can't lower or raise the 3PH with the hydraulics, especially if any translation is involved.

 

[1m21]

Have you closed the valve and tried to lift the lower arms manually?

No, I can't say that I have. I guess I always figured if my 5' back blade couldn't lift it with the valve locked, I couldn't either.

 

[jimmer2880]

I actually just read that this week also. So, I went out & tried. No, it does not lock it from coming up, it only locks the hydraulics from lifting it up (or, allowing it to go down for that matter).