Rural King Cat 1 quick hitch vs. Pat's

[mjw357]

Anyone have any experience with this quick hitch?

Category 1 Quick Hitch 14116 by Speeco Inc for $119.99 in Misc. Equipment - 3 Point Utility Equipment - 3 Point Equipment & Accessories - Agriculture : Rural King

After a neighbor recommended it, wife brought one home. Put it on the tractor, but I immediately see some headaches with it. That hook at the top connects where the top link would normally go on 3pt implements. I can see the hook not lining up or plain just not fitting some attachments. On my brush hog, the top link attaches to a pivoting link, and I had to move the hook on the quick hitch to the top to get it to stay hooked, but I can also imagine that jumping out while mowing over bumpy terrain.

I may give it a chance, but thinking about taking it back and getting Pat's quick hitch. For about $50 more you get an american made product. It takes care of the lift arm connections, that is the trick part when changing 3pt implements.

 

[ishiboo]

Anyone have any experience with this quick hitch?

Category 1 Quick Hitch 14116��� by Speeco Inc for $119.99 in Misc. Equipment - 3 Point Utility Equipment - 3 Point Equipment & Accessories - Agriculture : Rural King

After a neighbor recommended it, wife brought one home. Put it on the tractor, but I immediately see some headaches with it. That hook at the top connects where the top link would normally go on 3pt implements. I can see the hook not lining up or plain just not fitting some attachments. On my brush hog, the top link attaches to a pivoting link, and I had to move the hook on the quick hitch to the top to get it to stay hooked, but I can also imagine that jumping out while mowing over bumpy terrain.

I may give it a chance, but thinking about taking it back and getting Pat's quick hitch. For about $50 more you get an american made product. It takes care of the lift arm connections, that is the trick part when changing 3pt implements.

I'm not sure if that is their economy version or the regular one, I'm guessing the economy since our local farm store sells the Cat1 for $199 normally. The regular one is not terribly made, but I'm not sure it's that much ahead of the HF version. Neither are really that bad, you should have just studied up a bit on what they work and what they're compatible with before you made the purchase. All of the quick hitches that include the top link are basically set up like that though including the Deere iMatch.

They are not acceptable to use on PHDs, and things like the brush hogs with multiple links on the toplink are not really ideal for it. Many people use a chain instead of the brush hog's top link. But for just about every other attachment, they're awesome...

 

[Fallon]

There are a ton of $150ish QHs out there like that. Mine is a Harbor Freight. They are all similar quality (Harbor Freight). Your other option is a $300-400 LandPride or JD iMatch. Same design, slightly better quality, a lot thinner wallet.

I'm about to sell my tractor & my QH will go with it as its a killer selling point combined with TnT (hydraulic top & tilt/side links). I can hitch up to anything no matter how crooked in under 5 minutes without getting out of the seat.

I'm planning on TnT & probably another cheap HF class QH on my new machine.

I didn't use my QH long without TnT. It's better than nothing, but Pat's & extendable lift links are probably close. Add TnT to a QH & you'll never use anything else.

 

[mjw357]

It's really not the quality that's an issue, it's the design/compatibility with my attachments. I think I'd rather get off the tractor to attach the top link than have to do lots of modifications to attachments to make it work. And I'm pretty sure there are a couple of attachments it's not going to work with at all (PHD, bale mover). Like ishiboo mentioned, I probably should have done some research before bringing this thing home.

 

[Fallon]

It's really not the quality that's an issue, it's the design/compatibility with my attachments. I think I'd rather get off the tractor to attach the top link than have to do lots of modifications to attachments to make it work. And I'm pretty sure there are a couple of attachments it's not going to work with at all (PHD, bale mover). Like ishiboo mentioned, I probably should have done some research before bringing this thing home.

I rebuilt my PHD to fit on my QH. Only works with a hydraulic toplink though.

You do have to modify some nonstandard implements, but it's worth it if you have the skills & tools to do it.

 

[bcp]

You will have to reconfigure your brush hog hitch. Here's one version.



The idea is to put the flex jount behind the A-frame instead of in front of it.

Bruce

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just purchased the Harbor Freight version for $75 with a 25% off Labor Day coupon. My box blade works great with the unit. I went ahead and purchased the adapter kit from Agri-Supply for the floating top links used on my rear finish mower and brush hog. It works fine even though you have to get off the tractor to hook the top link up. Just begin able to attach the lower links from tractor was worth it IMHO. So far so good.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I don't use the top hook on mine, I just made an adapter and leave it on all the time. I have to get off anyway to raise parking stands or hook up pto shafts anyway. I switch implements a lot and it's not a issue.