Drawbar???????

[ericbx1500]

I am a little new at using a draw bar. I want to install a draw bar with a 2” ball so I can move my trailer around the yard. I’m assuming this would work? I also want to put a hook on there so I am able to drag some brush. Am I able to use a drawbar and my 3pt hitch this way. Will it hurt anything?

Is there any special way to connect it? Looks like I just connect to the swing arms and the top link is not used.

 

[kevinj]

You want to set it up this way for towing. See attachment

 

[texasjohn]

Terminology.. I call a drawbar the thick bar thingy that connects under the center of the tractor and extends to the rear. Typically there are several settings that determine the length it extends to the rear. This bar has a large hole at the back end and will accept a trailer ball. It is ideal for moving trailers around... and you can also loop a chain over it and use it to pull the chain.

This is the strongest and best connection for such activity. Low center of gravity, etc.

You can connect a bar between your lower swing arms and that WILL work but you will discover that a bar on your 3pt hitch arms will rotate and thus it is difficult to align and connect a trailer hitch to the ball. The advantage is that the height is adjustable via 3PH.

However, you will need a way to stabalize the drawbar and trailer ball if you are going to do this a lot... there are various methods to do this. Most involve an addition that connects to the top hitch and thus prevents drawbar rotation.

 

[redharley]

You really need your top link connected,if you use just a draw bar between 3pt arms can get real dangerous as draw bar can rotate ball can be forced off trailer and could ride up back of tractor going down grade. Do it like the picture no problem's. Have a good day

 

[jimainiac]

I don't mean to sound like an advertisement, but when you go to the attachments forum there's an add for the "easymover hitch" that bolts onto a 3PH drawbar. It works great for moving trailers around the yard without climbing off the tractor seat.

 

[rdsaustintx]

What everybody else said. A drawbar is great for plain pulling, but you need an upper link attachment to use a ball hitch. Otherwise the drawbar will spin out from under the trailer receiver.

I bought a "handi hitch" from redlandhill, they're all over e-bay. Basic model is $108+ship, photo attached.

Happy Trails,

Russell in Texas

 

[AMR]

for moving my boat trailers around I like my Paynes Forks clamp on trailer hitch, that way I can leave whatever is on the 3 pt on there or even the bh, one of my boats is around 5,000 pounds, BMT, and it moves around with no problem, this was $110 or so

when I do use my drawbar my dealer fabbed up a simple bracket that slides on over the drawbar and one of the 3pt arms to keep the drawbar from spinning, I will forward a photo when I get it, cost was about $8.00

 

[kevinj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Terminology.. I call a drawbar the thick bar thingy that connects under the center of the tractor and extends to the rear)</font>

I agree, My Grandfather always called the 3PH drawbar a "Ford Bar". To him real tractors did not have a 3PH!

 

[Bird]

The drawbar sticking straight out from under the differential is frequently called a "swinging drawbar" because on a lot of the bigger tractors, there are pins that hold it in place and it can be "swung' to either side, then pinned into that position. The one between the lower links of the 3-point hitch is then just called a "drawbar".

 

[kevinj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The drawbar sticking straight out from under the differential is frequently called a "swinging drawbar" )</font>

You are correct. That is what we had on all the large Farmall and John Deere tractors when I was young.

 

[texasjohn]

ericbx1500, are you discussing a "drawbar" between the 3ph arms or a "swinging drawbar" under the tractor? (note, not all drawbars underneath tractors are of the swinging kind because not all tractors have the positioning pins) Either will work and have their plus and minus features as discussed above. The one under the tractor comes with all tractors I know of and only needs the addition of a trailer ball... The 3ph variety costs extra money.

 

[texbaylea]

This is something where you can go two ways: go fancy with something like the Handi-Hitch or the unit advertised here on TBN or go to a dealer such as Agri Supply and get draw bar lock for substantially less money, approx. $25 vs $100.

The lock that Agri Supply sell slips over the draw bar and clamps or bolts on the lower 3pt arm. Either approach works and each has different advantages.

Vernon

 

[ericbx1500]

Would I hurt anything (3pt) if I installed a hook on my drawbar to drag some brush or pull a vehicle, etc?

 

[redharley]

Eric,people are pulling trailer's with the 3pt arms,they can pull a plow thru the ground,so I guess if you use your head and not overdue it you would be OK.Now if you talk to a dealer or manufactor most likely will tell you only hook to the DRAW bar under tractor's rear for safty.How's that for a disclaimer.Just take it easy pulling from 3pt arms gives a higher pull, easier to flip tractor.

 

[redharley]

I wanted to add but forgot if i was pulling a Car or something heavy it would be from Draw bar under rear.

 

[texasjohn]

Gotta be careful to use a mostly straight line pull if chaining to 3ph and pulling hard.... at a high angle... like going around a corner dragging a big rock... might bend the 3ph arms. However, I'd not be concerned if dragging brush with bouncy limbs that don't get caught and hung up and cause a heavy pull on the tractor.

That said, I always avoid the 3ph and use the lower drawbar when pulling using chains... lower center of gravity, more metal, stronger attachment point.

 

[automech]

I have a drawbar that attaches to the lower thee point arms only, I haven't used it yet but it does look like it would rotate when attached to a trailer. It came with the tractor, and the guy I bought it from said he used it to move his boat around the yard. What is it really designed for if it doesn't attach to the upper link? It has holes drilled across it and a ball attached to it but seems like it shouldn't be used for towing.

 

[Bird]

You just need a drawbar lock to keep it from turning and you can use the drawbar just on the two bottom links. You can make a drawbar lock, or buy one. About this middle of this page is one picture.

 

[ericbx1500]

The only problem bird is that style won't work on the bx series. I have been looking at this one(link below). Or like you said make one. The only question I have is do I need one or two?

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