Bucket adapter to move trailers.

[J_J]

Someone on TBN built this adapter to move trailers. It looks like a regular hitch with a screw down bar to lock it down on the bucket. Easy on and easy off. Just clamp it on the sides of the bucket when not using.
<a href="http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=felhitchballdd6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1364/felhitchballdd6.th.jpg" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" border="0"/></a>

 

[J_J]

Someone on TBN built this adapter to move trailers. It looks like a regular hitch with a screw down bar to lock it down on the bucket. Easy on and easy off. Just clamp it on the sides of the bucket when not using.
<a href="http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=felhitchballdd6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1364/felhitchballdd6.th.jpg" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" border="0"/></a>

Picture did not appear so I will put it here as an attachment.

 

[Barryh]

Picture did not appear so I will put it here as an attachment.

Someone on Ebay makes and sells the same thing, along with bucket forks / boom / ripper that all clamp on to your bucket. Pretty handy stuff. The only disadvantage I would see with the ball hitch might be limiting your turning angle when moving a trailer around. Seems to me the bucket might run into the trailer frame at sharper angles limiting your turn. .

 

[RegL]

Someone on Ebay makes and sells the same thing, along with bucket forks / boom / ripper that all clamp on to your bucket. Pretty handy stuff. The only disadvantage I would see with the ball hitch might be limiting your turning angle when moving a trailer around. Seems to me the bucket might run into the trailer frame at sharper angles limiting your turn. .

I bought one off ebay. It works well. It's a little strange at first steering the trailer with articulated steering on the tractor.

 

[Barryh]

I bought one off ebay. It works well. It's a little strange at first steering the trailer with articulated steering on the tractor.

Pretty cool ! Sometimes I wonder how well the clamp on forks work...

 

[SnowRidge]

Having the hitch ball that far out front limits your ability to move heavy trailers, I would think. I have a 2" receiver welded flat onto a custom attachment plate, which I use with the tilt rotated to full dump.

I use it to move my 2,000+ lb 20 foot equipment trailer around. I'm not sure I would like to try it with the added moment arm of that ball on bucket adapter. At least, not with my PT-425. It might be OK with a bigger PT.

An added advantage of a standard receiver versus a ball on a bucket adapter is the ability to change ball size rapidly by slipping in a different ball mount with whatever size ball is required.

 

[3238dpw]

Having the hitch ball that far out front limits your ability to move heavy trailers, I would think. I have a 2" receiver welded flat onto a custom attachment plate, which I use with the tilt rotated to full dump.

I use it to move my 2,000+ lb 20 foot equipment trailer around. I'm not sure I would like to try it with the added moment arm of that ball on bucket adapter. At least, not with my PT-425. It might be OK with a bigger PT.

Do you have a picture of this. I am pretty sure I know what you mean but I would like to make sure.

 

[SnowRidge]

Do you have a picture of this. I am pretty sure I know what you mean but I would like to make sure.

I will take a picture and post it, as soon as I get a chance. It may not be today, though.

 

[RegL]

Having the hitch ball that far out front limits your ability to move heavy trailers, I would think. I have a 2" receiver welded flat onto a custom attachment plate, which I use with the tilt rotated to full dump.

I use it to move my 2,000+ lb 20 foot equipment trailer around. I'm not sure I would like to try it with the added moment arm of that ball on bucket adapter. At least, not with my PT-425. It might be OK with a bigger PT.

An added advantage of a standard receiver versus a ball on a bucket adapter is the ability to change ball size rapidly by slipping in a different ball mount with whatever size ball is required.

It is pretty far out front on the light material bucket as in the picture. I usually use it on the grapple bucket that is shorter. Moving the 2000lb trailer is no problem. I get a little light in the rear when moving the 4000lb dump trailer and articulating. I think about 100lbs of weight at the rear of the pt would be about right to keep the wheels on the ground. Your set up definitely has better leverage though.

 

[tinkertoys]

I bought a cheap 3pt drawbar, put on some braces for toplink and a ball. It works very well and was a lot cheaper than the ones you buy..