Preferred method to pull trailer behind tractor?

[Hunter8282]

I have a fairly heavy-duty 5'x8' utility trailer that I am sure I am going to want to pull behind my tractor from time to time. Have used it a lot for hauling cut/split firewood behind the truck.

What's your preferred method? Favorite 3pt hitch receiver? Something I am probably not even thinking about?

 

[oldnslo]

Draw bar is best since rigid and does not move up and down or side to side like 3 point.

3 point hitch will work with knowledge and understanding that trailer weight pushing can cause 3 point arms to lift and there will be some side sway.

 

[LouNY]

The tractors fixed draw bar is often the best and simplest way.
A 3 pt. hitch can be a bit more versatile and with sufficient care and understanding nicer.
The 3 pt. has no down force if the trailer tongue gets light it can lift and actually over lift the lift arms and damage the tractor. Also when traveling down hill and or stopping if the trailer tongue gets higher then the lift arm pivot points the trailer and load will lift the lift arms with considerable force.
A 3 pt hitch should have a means of restricting upward travel.

On my hitch I have a chain which runs down to a clevis on the drawbar, this should prevent excess lift.

 

[Hunter8282]

So just fasten the right size trailer ball directly to the draw bar?

 

[repete]

One of these:

 

[ptsg]

Drawbar. That's what's used to pull a trailer.

 

[EddieWalker]

This is my little 37hp tractor. The trailer has a bunch of furniture in it, and it was used for storage for a while before selling it.

I use the draw bar to tow my different trailers.

 

[LouNY]

So just fasten the right size trailer ball directly to the draw bar?


View attachment 5709770

That will work properly.

 

[LouNY]

One of these:
View attachment 5709772

Without a method of restricting the lift height these can cause major problems it the trailer tongue lifts for any reason.

 

[Hunter8282]

Without a method of restricting the lift height these can cause major problems it the trailer tongue lifts for any reason.

I did not know this so THANK YOU for posting it and the info above. Probably would have had a trailer load of green red oak firewood smash into the back of my tractor cab!

 

[WranglerX]

Fixed draw bar with correct type/size hitch (ball?)....

 

[jmc]

I either witnessed this or did it myself:

Fishing boat with outboard on a trailer, standing water in the boat. 3PH mounted ball. Tractor lifted the trailer tongue, all the water runs to the back of the boat lifting the 3PH, outboard's skeg bottoms out on the pavement.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Without a method of restricting the lift height these can cause major problems it the trailer tongue lifts for any reason.

It shouldn't normally be an issue if paying attention to things, just like when pulling a trailer with something else. Negative tongue weight doesn't happen all by itself.

I more often than not don't latch the pintle hook when moving trailers or pulling the little bumper pull dump trailer. That way I don't have to get off the tractor to move the trailer to a different spot to load more dirt in it.

I do latch it when dumping the trailer to the rear (it's a 3-way) as a precaution, but have yet to have the 3-point lift.

 

[Gordon Gould]

If you are pulling the trailer on very rough uneven terrain, like in the woods, you may be better off with a pintle hitch instead of a ball.

gg

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I have a 5x8 trailer and this got me thinking, I'll probably just get this & put a ball on it.

 

[LouNY]

I have a 5x8 trailer and this got me thinking, I'll probably just get this & put a ball on it.View attachment 5709791

In my opinion those things are just an accident waiting to happen, but lots get sold.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I have a 5x8 trailer and this got me thinking, I'll probably just get this & put a ball on it.

I don't understand those things. Used with a typical coupler they must be very hard on the coupler.

Or is there an easy way too keep that bar from rotating?

 

[LouNY]

It shouldn't normally be an issue if paying attention to things, just like when pulling a trailer with something else. Negative tongue weight doesn't happen all by itself.

I more often than not don't latch the pintle hook when moving trailers or pulling the little bumper pull dump trailer. That way I don't have to get off the tractor to move the trailer to a different spot to load more dirt in it.

I do latch it when dumping the trailer to the rear (it's a 3-way) as a precaution, but have yet to have the 3-point lift.

If you look at the height of your lift arm pivot points, then when towing if the ends of the 3 pt are higher when stopping or going down hill it will be an issue.
To those who haven't had an issue good to hear hope you stay that lucky.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Okay, I think I know what those bars are for. My dinky dump trailer came with a "fork" meant for a vertical pin.

If so, that the bar can rotate is a big plus since it allows the connection to pivot in two planes instead of just one.

 

[LouNY]

It shouldn't normally be an issue if paying attention to things, just like when pulling a trailer with something else. Negative tongue weight doesn't happen all by itself.

I more often than not don't latch the pintle hook when moving trailers or pulling the little bumper pull dump trailer. That way I don't have to get off the tractor to move the trailer to a different spot to load more dirt in it.

I do latch it when dumping the trailer to the rear (it's a 3-way) as a precaution, but have yet to have the 3-point lift.

If you look at the height of your lift arm pivot points, then when towing if the ends of the 3 pt are higher when stopping or going down hill it will be an issue.
To those who haven't had an issue good to hear hope you stay that lucky.