Quick Hitches Survey on quick hitches

[GrantMO]

I wanted to ask anyone with a Freedom Hitch, Landpride or other quick hitch to post their comments on how they like them. I got the FH video and it looks impressive.

 

[JackIL]

I have the Freedom Hitch on 7 implements and I love it. The first reaction you have is that it is too expensive. However, after you have it and use it the cost factor just disappears. The ease of attaching and detaching from the tractor seat plus the safety of not having to try to push and shove the implement into position easily justifies the cost. In addition you don't have to spill any blood or shout out those extreme cuss words that always seemed to accompany the process of attaching and detaching any implement before the Freedom Hitch. I would never be without the Freedom Hitch again.

 

[charliek]

I use a SpeeCo quick hitch (about $160) and it works fine. Probably not as good looking as Freedom, but much better than the old way without a quick hitch.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My SpeeCo Quik-Hitch...

I'm not a fan of being at the mercy of a mfr. and paying $200. extra for each and every attachment, I get for the rest of my life to use it...

Besides, the learning curve is short and hooking/unhooking these attachments builds up endurance, muscles, and helps make you a farmer real quick... /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[GlennT]

I have the LandPride quick hitch and have been quite satisfied with it. However, you need to realize that you don't just put it on the tractor, back up to an implement and go. Many implements have to have some modification before they can be used with a quick hitch. For example, the pins on some implements are spaced too close together or too far apart to fall within the arms of the quick hitch. On other implements there may be a crossbar or part of the frame that doesn't permit the bottom hooks on the quick hitch to slide underneath the pins before being raised to complete the connection (many scoops present this problem). The connectors for the upper pin on some implements don't allow the upper hook to slip under the pin before being raised. Also, the upper hook on this type of quick hitch can only be adjusted for a few inches vertically (if at all--some are welded in place) and the upper connections on some implements are either too high or too low. If considering a quick hitch such as a LandPride, you really need to measure (1) the distance between the bottom hooks and (2) the distance the upper hook lies over a line connecting the two bottom hooks. Then measure where the pins fall on your implements and determine where the upper connector will fall in relation to the upper hook of the quick hitch. I have some back and shoulder aches and pains due to a misspent youth loading hay bales and such on a South Dakota farm and after buying my tractor I soon decided that a quick hitch was well worth the expense and the fuss and commotion involved with modifying implements to make them fit. And I should add that I haven't had any regrets. I would suggest that you shop around and compare comparable types of quick hitches sold by Tractor Supply and Northern Tools. They cost about $200, whereas the LandPride hitch with an adjustable upper hook costs about $325. One other thing to consider is that the use of a quick hitch will move all of your implements a smidgeon further back from your tractor. If you have a small tractor and some heavy implements (such as a chipper, a shredder, a finish mower, a scoop filled with gravel, something hanging on the end of a crane, etc., the front end of the tractor becomes very light--even with weights. Also, the use of a quick hitch doesn't mean that you never have to move an implement around to get at it conveniently (unless you have a lot more storage space than most of us). It probably still will be desirable (or even essential) to build dollies for your implements. I should mention too that I am never able to back up and hook up to an implement without getting off the tractor to diddle around and make final adjustments, insert a pin or two, etc. Life is just not that perfect. For some strange reason, the space in each bottom hook is 1 1/8 inches even though the bottom pins on implements with Class Two hitches are 7/8 inch. Spacers are available at low cost from tractor dealers and you probably are going to want to buy two for each of your implements. Otherwise, there is so much play in each bottom hook that the implement jerks around as you drive along. I really appreciate having a quick hitch, but do you have the option of fitting adjustable bottom arms on your tractor's three-point hitch? These really look slick; however, I understand that they are a bit pricey and they aren't available for many tractors yet. Anyway, my quick hitch enables me to walk around without a stoop and a grimace most of the time; I'm thankful I have one.

 

[ric]

John, I also have a SPEECO Quick Hitch. Curious about why you are not using the Quick Hitch bushing on the lower lift pins on your implement. Seems without these your attachment would be bouncing around all over the place.

Grant, I use mine all the time and like Glenn said you do need to "help" it connect sometimes but it beats wrestling with your implements to get them attached. Without it sometimes it seemed like I needed a second tractor just to get the first one hooked up to something in order to do anything. Not now.

 

[radman]

Like many of the others, I also have a Spee-Co quick hitch. For me the optional third link attachment (comes with quick hitch) shown in J. Miller III picture works great. On my attachments, the standard "hook" never fit the implement. I also have a hydraulic 3rd link and this makes it easy to attach. The Landpride hitch is of the same design as Spee-Co but IMHO not worth the additional cost. My Spee-Co cost $179 and came with one set of quick hitch bushings for the lift pins. Additional quick hitch bushings cost about $18 for a pair. On some of my implements, the quick hitch bushings won't work because they use essentially a 7/8 hitch pin for the lifting points. On these, I use a Cat I -II spacer and then use over this a Cat II - III spacer to get the proper 1 1/8" outside diameter. (The quick hitch bushings fit over a 7/8" lift pin and have an outside diameter of 1 1/8")

 

[Mosey]

I don’t see how the SpeeCo Quik-Hitch or others like it would work on most finish mowers or bush hogs because they won’t allow the pivot at the top to move up and down. The top link needs to be able to move up and down freely. Am I missing something?

 

[wallysue]

Mosey, Heres what works for me - finish mower same thing.

 

[BeeBop]

Try Jiffy Hitch, it's the best I have seen or used to date. I have it on all of my impliments w/the exception of a post hole digger. It makes work almost..fun.

 

[Boondox]

After seeing the LP, the Freedom Hitch, and some generic wannabe at Empire Farm Days, I'm very interested in adding quick hitching capabilities to my rig. Didn't see the Jiffy Hitch. Of the three, the Freedom Hitch looked like the best and fastest way to go. The generic used channel iron, so you had to back up perfectly to get a fit like so ]]. The FH used angle iron on the female end and square tubing on the male angled so it fit like this >>. In my observations, this arrangement seemed to allow connections even if you were off about 10 degrees.

Comments?


Pete

 

[bubenberg]

the freedom hitch is great we had it for a few years now. i wish someone would come up with a better idea for hooking up the pto when needed ....this is at times a knuckleboster, cold finger, twisted body situation; and that is why we went with power trac ...what a breeze that is to hook up an attachment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GlennT]

Mosey--You are correct in thinking that the rigid upper hook does not allow the flexibility that a shredder or finish mower requires to follow the contour of the area being mowed or shredded. I notice that in the picture posted by John Miller III he has an adapter with slots in it to permit this vertical movement. This wasn't available for the Land Pride when I purchased mine several years ago. I use a short length of heavy chain and a clevis to connect the upper link of the shredder or mower to the quick hitch--to the frame of the hitch itself and not to the hook. Actually, the mower or shredder would work just find without any upper connection if you were content to pull the implement behind on its wheel(s) and never lift it off the ground; however, if you hit a rock or a stump the implement can pivot upwards instantly on the lower pins and wind up upside down against the ROPS or on top of the operator if there is no ROPS. A substantial upper connection is needed to make sure that the implement stays on the ground where it belongs and to allow you to lift the implement for transport. By the way, I agree that the extra cost of the Land Pride in comparison with the SpeeCo is not justified. I bought my Land Pride because it was the only speed hitch available within 75 miles that I could see and measure and I also had faith in Land Pride products.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

The quick hitch is by far the most usefull attachment that I have. The pivot for the top link should be built into the mowere not on the tractor. The only time I have to get off of the tractor is when I need to hook up the drive shaft for my tiller and mower.

 

[patrickg]

I have been interested in quick hitching for a while, especialy while hooking up my brush hog or the morning after. It isn't the price of the Speeco and its bretheren that slows me down, it is my concern about robustness. Although I only have a Kubota L4610HSTC with a bit under 40HP to the PTO, I have fairly substantial 3PH implements (read heavy). My brush hog is a 6 ft Cimaron with single tail wheel but is the HD model with square tubing bracing on the deck, slipclutch, and a gearbox rated for 60 or 80 HP with chains front and back. Similarly, my Cammond box blade weighs over a thousand pounds.

The clerks at say, TSC, can give you a price and help you load it if you buy but have no idea how heavy an implement it is rated for. I tend to get, shall we say, "virorous" in my use of heavy implements and am concerned that an afordable hitch might not be strong enoug.

I have been tempted to JUST DO IT but why waste the time and money if it is likely to break.

Any experience to share along these lines?

Patrick

 

[Inspector507]

I'd like to see when First Choice's hitch will be available

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I wasn't aware they were making one. I heard rumor of a hydraulic top link that was supposedly at the Louisville show. Did they also have a quick hitch prototype there that you saw?

 

[MarkV]

Jerry, I am also interested in what First Choice comes up with and when it will be on the market. From what I have seen, Jim and Pieter have been trying to come up designs that address the shortcoming of existing attachments so it should be interesting.

Gary, somewhere on the forum there is a photo of both the prototypes of the First Choice quick hitch and hydraulic top link. Hopefully one of the more computer talented members will post a link.

MarkV

 

[Inspector507]

Here it is. Yes the prototype there in Louisville was nice looking even though Jim said it looked real rough /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-175727-Hitch1.JPG>First Choice Prototype</A>

 

[Inspector507]

Here's the top link and the quick hitch
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-175723-TopLink1.JPG>Top Link</A>