Need Suggestions For Mounting 2" Ball / Receiver

[3030PJ]

Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

My B3030 has the adjustable 3-pt arms and my previous tractor only had a drawbar so I need some "hitch help" please. What are some slick tricks to installing a receiver that will accomodate my truck's different tow balls? I'd like to be able to use by tractor as a "yard goat" and be able to just back up to my different trailers, hook the ball and raise the trailer tongue jacks up off the ground. When I bought the tractor, I tried a 3-pt. bar/hitch ball set-up the dealer sold which went between the 3-pt arms, however, it would not fit or work w/my adjustable set up on the B3030. The dealer agreed.
Pics. would be nice if anybody has them. My welding skills are fair, at least with a stick. I thought about welding the receiver square tube to my loader bucket, however, it would be too high off the ground to get under 2 of my trailers, even with the bucket on the ground.
Thanks in advance.

 

[ccsial]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

I drilled a 1" hole in the bottom of the bucket on my 1910. I have a 2 5/16" ball that I drilled a hole in the shank. I put the ball in the hole and then put a ring pin to hold it in. I don't need a receiver this way. It wiggles a bit but at 5 MPH it does not hurt anything. I move around a dump trailer and 18' enclosed utility trailer.

The down side is that you can't see the ball from the seat but with practice I get pretty close. Sometimes I have to get off to look and back on again to move closer.

The up side is that the visibility is much better sitting 12 feet back from the trailer instead of 3 feet when I have it on the rear of the L3400. Much easier to back into a real tight space using the FEL.

My L3400 has a draw bar and I also put a ball on that to pull the dump trailer when I want to use the end loader to fill it. I could put it on the RAM but what fun is that?

 

[ronjhall]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

I have 2 hitches. One is mounted to my <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> weight box. Click Here.
I have another one made to use the 3PH. Here is a link to the thread. Click Here.
There is a thread asking what TBNer's built for their receiver hitches. Did not find it. I'm sure someone will post a link to it.

 

[cart99]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

I have the exact same requirement. Isn't there something that could be easily placed on the drawbar? Also, if it takes more than a couple minutes to get on/off, then it becomes easier to just use the truck instead, which defeats the purpose.

 

[Mike_C]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

Here's how I did it:

web page

 

[botalvr]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

I have a really nice 3 pt mounted reciever, I'll try to get some pics, I got it from the dealer for $75, really beefy for the $$.

 

[3030PJ]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here's how I did it:

web page )</font>

I think that's awesome! You should quickly patent that? Do you have approx. or actual dimensions? I like the visibility you have from the driver's seat AND the fact you can leave the hoe on the back. In order to get that visibility I can see where the length dimension is critical without making it stick out too far. Nice job!

 

[Mike_C]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

I do have to tip the bucket up just a little to get the visibility. If the receiver tube is level I can't see it easily. I tip it up until I start to insert into the trailer, then level it out.

The overall length of the steel including the receiver tube is 22.5" (see attached photo). The bottom is 3/8" plate 4 or 4.5" wide. The top bars are 1"x1" steel stock that are 13" long, sticking out 8" past the end of the receiver tube. Note the horizontal gap between the top plate and the bottom plate -- this is critical to get around your cutting edge; without that gap, you would not be able to get it on and off (without leaving a lot of slop between the top and bottom plates). Happy welding...

 

[cchoate]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

Here was my solution:

 

[vango]

Re: Need Suggestions For Mounting 2\" Ball / Receiver

Attachment is combination 3PH 2" receiver & rear weight (~350#). Weight is an old front tractor weight.