Flexpoint 3 pt. receiver hitch

[Bird]

Fifth wheel travel trailers generally have a much greater pin weight than the tongue weight of conventional travel trailers. So in my opinion it would be difficult, if not impossible, to answer the question about whether the tractor can handle it without knowing the pin weight of the trailer, perhaps total weight, and the 3-point lift capacity of the tractor, and whether there are counterweights on the front of the tractor.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Bird,
Just curious question. Why do you use trailer hitches on 3 pt?
What kind of coupling systems on tractors do you use in US?
Ball hitches we use only for personal car trailors.

Tractor here have hitches over and below PTO shaft.
Single and tandem axle trailors can be coupled on both ways (depending on trailor version), when 2 axle wagons use hitch over PTO shaft.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Why do you use trailer hitches on 3 pt? )</font>

Laziness mostly. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif It lets you back up to the trailer, raise the 3-point hitch to raise the ball into the trailer coupler instead of lowering the front of the trailer onto the ball; saves time in moving trailers around for short distances. It also puts the trailer farther back behind the tractor and enables you to turn more sharply without the tractor's rear tires hitting the trailer. Nearly all our tractors have a "swinging draw bar" for a hitch below the PTO shaft. Right now I can't recall seeing a hitch above the PTO shaft. In fact, it's attached to the bottom of the rear differential and that's the "recommended" or "proper" way to pull a trailer. The only real downside to using a hitch on the 3-point is that some trailers may have too much tongue weight to attach that far back behind the tractor, and most 3-point hitches do not have down pressure, so if the rear end of the trailer is too heavy, or you're loading something from the rear, the 3-point and trailer tongue will rise up, sometimes when you'd rather it didn't /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I concern that this is DANGEROUS WAY, not only because of rising up of trailer tongue, then because of lifting up tractors front end. This was main reason of my curiosity.
We pull trailers here as close as possible to rear axle. OK, you can't turn extremely sharp, but it is safer.
Yes, I know for automatic single (or tandem) axle trailer couplings. But they are using hydraulic lift just for opening/closing (lowering/lifting) trailing hook, and when they are closed mechanical system (hook with spring) hold it closed. Haven’t these pictures yet.
Sorry, if I bothered you. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bird]

Z, of course you're right about it being safer the way you do it. And if I were going very far, very fast, on a public road, etc., then I usually did it your way. And as far as I know, all our tractor manuals say to only do it the right way. However, when you know your tractor and know your trailer and understand the possibilities, using the 3-point hitch is safe. I much preferred the 3-point hitch on my own 10 acres to move things around where I was never going to be going in high gear. I think nearly every boat dealer I've visited had a hitch on the 3-point of a small tractor for moving boats and boat trailers around their own lot, in and out of the shop, etc. I guess what I'm saying is there's a time and place for both methods, but when in doubt, use the swinging drawbar.

 

[rsatter22]

Bird, Your right. I wasn't considering the higher tongue weight. I do see the camper place I deal with moving them around with their JD this way. Although they have ideal conditions- flat pavement. For some measure of safety, a check chain can be used to prevent allowing the lift arms going up too much if the weight is transferred to the back of the trailer. This was mentioned in an earlier thread.
RDS