3 point receiver hitch idea's wanted.

[JB4310]

I have the flex point, I had to install the break away slots and a limiter hook to prevent the 3 pt from over raising with negative tongue weight due to dumping trailer.

JB,

 

[rdbrumfield]

I didn't read all the posts. There is a sway brace you can get that works well. All it is is an angle iron that is bolted on with the fender bolts. A hole to accept a pin, threaded on one end and ready for a bar on the other so a lynch pin can be dropped in to secure it. The bar then extends back to the drawbar or whatever you have hooked to the lift arms. The pivot at the fender is right across from the pivot of the lift arms. Put one on each side as they will work in unison with the lift links and keep it from swaying. I have these on my fergy.

 

[Suz]

You need to shorten your sway chains.

I accomplished the same thing as a retrofit by running a turnbuckle from the right lift arm back to the left pin and visa versa. This X created the triangulation needed to keep the hitch from swaying, but allowed free range of motion without buckling or binding.

I guess I always "assumed" that the sway chains would tighten up when I lifted the 3 point to the full upward travel and never tried it. I'll have to try the crossed chain option to see how that works.

To the others who posted thanks for all the ideas. As for putting a hitch on the front I thought of that also. I could just raise the loader and forks over the splitter when I want to move it around. It would be an easy project to weld a square tube to the loader frame to use as a receiver.

As to why/what questions we use the tractor to pull the logs to a working area. I like to use a "short chain" and lift the butt end of the log to prevent it from digging into the ground and also it adds some weight to the back end of the tractor. Then I use the loader/forks to pile the logs. (The pile in the picture is pretty small compared to some of our cutting areas.)
Being the lazy sort I don't want to put the sway bars on the drawbar every time I want to move the splitter. I've also thought of the solid drawbar kit also, but then I have that sticking out beyond the 3 point which would surely be wrecked by the logs. Sometimes I even push the drawbar under the log to pull and then that solid drawbar would definitely be in the way.

 

[CharlieR]

Here's what my dealer set me up with for not much money.
The draw bar happens to be the 20" cat 1 size (should have gotten the 27" one) that cost less.
The receiver is one that bolts onto a truck bumper.
The locking device is one of several types that keep the draw bar from rotating.

 

[beenthere]

.......... I've also thought of the solid drawbar kit also, but then I have that sticking out beyond the 3 point which would surely be wrecked by the logs. Sometimes I even push the drawbar under the log to pull and then that solid drawbar would definitely be in the way.

The fixed drawbar does not stick out beyond the 3 pt. and is definitely NOT in the way. And if anything, it adds protection to your PTO stub and will not be wrecked by the logs.

You can have your cake and eat it too.

Besides, the way you pull logs in, you should have something other than the 3pt drawbar, and more like a quick hitch on the 3 point for dragging in logs.

Something like this.