3ph quick hitch rundown (cat 1)

[MattEffinCameron]

So I got a B series...and while I didnt expect to be a real heavy user of the 3ph...I may very well get a rear mounted snowblower before next winter..and in the meantime I have a kubota ballast box which I use for loader work, and just picked up a carry-all.

This weekend I hooked up the MMM for the first time, took off the FEL for the first time...and took off the ballast box for the first time. I later had to move the ballast box out of the way so I had to hook it up again...and then I had to move the carryall I picked up out of the way so I had to take the BB off and put the CA on and then take the CA off when I was done with it.

HOOLY CRAP....working with the 3PH is - as advertised - a pain in the ***. I need a quick hitch or im never going to use the carry-all...ever...and never going to want to use the ballast box.

So some options are...
500 dollar land pride QH15....(looks awesome but...500 bucks?)
100 dollar Harbor Freight QH (minus 25% this sunday),
Any number of quick hitches from woods/cabelas or speeco or whomever that look the same as LP and HF but are priced anywhere in between the two....
~200 for pat's quick hitch extensions with the separator bar

Any other options I am missing?

I have also seen a couple threads where the bulk of the "hooks" on the lower arms on some quick hitches and the angle the quick hitch bracket is at when lowered to pick up the attachment, mean that it has trouble hooking onto the pins on the attachment. (For example, 4short's ballast box) 83709923b5556c5cb8bcb9055dada615_zps82d3066c.jpg Photo by 4shorts | Photobucket

I dont think I will have that particular issue with my BB as I have the newer one:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...18118-ballast-box-b8160-quick-hitch-image-jpg

But I am generally wondering if people have any good or bad experiences with any of the quick hitches listed above and getting them to attach to your implements?

Also any negative experiences with the harbor freight one? I mean at 100 bucks im not sure what its lacking?

Is pat's every bit as good as the other more bulky type?

 

[murphy1244]

I have the Land Pride ans it does me good. A bit overpriced though.

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

I have the Harbor Freight version. I bought it because I needed one quick and they were in stock locally, and I fully expected that I'd get a better one later on. However, it's been on for 2 years and used heavily and I have no intention of upgrading. Works perfectly well for my purposes so far. Best $69 I ever spent on the tractor.

 

[dusty3030]

If you are a little handy the Harbor Freight ones ain't a bad choice.
I would not pay 500 for one this size. Heck the John Deere I match one at the Deere dealer isn't that much.

Bushings for your stuff are cheap and easy to find. I don't use the expensive ones, I use the ones you get bulk at Tractor Supply or a couple of other co op type stores around here.

 

[DennisArrow]

You get what you pay for...........that said, I have a Pat's and have no experience with any of the others. For me, it isn't a choice and I just use it. Have never had a moments problem with it and yes, they surely do cut hook up time waYYYYY down. I just slowly back up while aligning one side, usually the right over my shoulder, look over to see if the other side is lined up, get off and move the implement or adjust the width a bit, reach over and raise the hooks, flip the little levers so they lock in, hook up the top link and off I go............lolol..........takes about as long to do as it took to write this.........Just got one of Mark Hodge's sway bar replacement kits and now.....it's even faster.
Mark's sway bars allow me to change the width of the arms in a snap, so that makes hooking up the 3ph even easier............Life is so very GOod

Using the 3ph with an auger, utility/ballast box, landpride mower, bush hog, box blade, and blade.............Makes it so much easier to work..........

Why take off the loader??????.............Can't say that I have ever taken mine off...........It's there when I need it..............God bless..........Dennis

 

[Mendonsy]

The rigid frame quick hitches are fine IF your 3pt attachments are all the same width. My attachments are all different widths so I ended up getting the Pat's quick hitch.

 

[morris lipham]

I've used harbor freight hitch for several years on bush hog,disc, spreader, works great on them, but I got a tiller and it's narrower so I'm probably gonna get a pat's hitch.

 

[Sammy3700]

I have the Pats weld on hitch on my dads and mine. Made rigid stay bars in place of the turn buckles. Had to put some flat washers behind a few of the pins on the equipment to get them all the same width. Works great

 

[KennyG]

Most of us with HF hitches are happy with them. As long as a few minutes grinding on the hooks if they aren't square and, in the worst case, slightly spreading the hooks with a jack doesn't bother you you won't have any regrets.

 

[mike69440]

I have a bit of experience with Quick Hiches. If you are not willing to modify a Quick Hitch, get the Pats, However I have this for a project. (See Link)

I need to get it all welded together as the little tractor needs ballast and I'll have some Plwing to do.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/327912-custom-3-point-attachment-2-a.html?highlight=