Is 3-point hitch really dangerous?

[rambler]

I too wonder why not just hook it to the draw bar? Much simpler option in my mind. Some people here feel the need to warn everyone about every theoretical problem, not matter how unlikely, even if they have no personal experience. 95% of accidents can be prevented by good old common sense. (example in this thread already) Don稚 let them scare you too much. If it were up to some, we壇 all be cowering away in the corner.

I know what you mean.

On the other hand, I had a battery blow up when I leaned over to start my 960 Ford (battery is under the instrument cluster). Wow. I will always take blowing up battery warnings seriously after that - no matter how rare, when it happens - wow. Lost my hearing for a couple seconds.

I've had 3pt arms come up on me 2x as well. It's a serious deal when we are talking about 6000lbs behind a compact tractor. Hills or hard braking and carrying the trailer just a tad too high & it can be a bad deal. It might break the 3pt inside; it might fishtail & roll over the tractor on a hill.

This is one of those things that really should be taken seriously. It can happen pretty easy. (By my experience, it can happen at least 2x as often as a battery blowing up!)

The hold down chain as some mention is a good thing. That'll take care of it.

--->Paul

 

[Ken45101]

A couple of things:

When you dump the load, the weight will be back on the end of the trailer and probably will try to lift the tongue. When dumping on our driveway (10% grade, concrete), I've actually had it lighten up the rear of a 3/4 ton pickup enough that the tires did not have enough traction and the truck and trailer started moving downhill! I had to put the truck in 4WD to get front end braking to hold it. Kind of scary to say the least!

You are probably talking about a 2000# trailer, plus the 4000# load. That's a lot of weight for a small tractor to handle on steep hills.

Is the tractor rated for a 6000# trailer? Will you have control going down hills (and traction going uphill)? Are your rear tires loaded?

I would be leery with that kind of weight behind my M5040 (6000#). YMMV.

Ken

 

[Baby Grand]

Speaking for myself, common sense isn't always so common when I'm in the middle of "getting something done". I can be bull headed, or so my wife tells me, so I like to think of every which way I could get myself into trouble before I even put my boots on. It seems the OP is doing similar, which I understand and respect.

One surprise I had the first time I used a 3pt trailer (hooked up without a chain to the drawbar) happened while backing up. I managed to get the trailer jackknifed - not hard with a short wheelbase trailer. The inside rear tire of the tractor started to lift off the ground. After some clutch and pucker, all 4 were back on the ground, but there was a period when my "early retirement" looked likely.

-Jim

 

[Diamondback]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Unfortunately the L35 doesn't have any allowance for a drawbar on the back of the tractor. My guess is the designers reasoned it would be used primarily in it's backhoe mode. Produced as a commercial unit, it came from the factory with loader and backhoe standard. Although the 3-point arms and link are included for use with various implements...no drawbar to secure to...

Any other thoughts...ideas...

 

[Ken45101]

TUnfortunately the L35 doesn't have any allowance for a drawbar on the back of the tractor. My guess is the designers reasoned it would be used primarily in it's backhoe mode. Produced as a commercial unit, it came from the factory with loader and backhoe standard.

Hmm, another potential warning. My B21 TLB warns not to use the unit with the backhoe removed without adding substantial weight on the back. Of course, the B21 is small unit and I'm not familiar with how big the L35 is although I'm sure it's bigger than the B21. Do you have the manual for the L35? What does it say about trailer weight capacity?


Ken

 

[Diamondback]

Ken45101,

I'll check the specs on trailer weight, if any. Missed it the first time I went through the manuel.

The L35 is listed at a little over 6,000lbs with backhoe and loader. I would suspect the backhoe alone weighs in the 1,200-1500lb range.

 

[Ken45101]

The L35 is listed at a little over 6,000lbs with backhoe and loader. I would suspect the backhoe alone weighs in the 1,200-1500lb range.

Okay, that's heavier than I first guessed. Puts it into the range of my M5040.

I assume it's 4wd? If so, make sure that when you are on hills, you have it in 4wd. That's not only traction, it makes a big difference in breaking too.

Ken