Carter's ez-hitch

[tjkubota93]

Has anyone used this? I am considering it.

 

[k0ua]

Has anyone used this? I am considering it. View attachment 465159

I used a set of them for a couple of years. What would you like to know? I don't use them now since I traded tractors that have telescoping lower links and stabilizers, but they were pretty handy on my Kubota L3400hst that had solid lower links and turnbuckle stabilizers. On the plus side they do not make your lower links any longer so your PTO shafts will all still fit. On the minus side they ride higher than the ball ends of your original link connection point, so make sure your lower links can go as low as you will need to make connections to the draw pins on your implements.

I did not have any problems with that, but it could be for some.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Is that not just like a Pat's Hitch?

 

[oldballs]

The ideas is the same, but the design is different and they sell for some less. To really be useful one needs the gizmo that holds the 3 pt apart at the proper distance. I've since bought a Landpride Quick Hitch, and even that has some complications for fitting every attachment that was purchased beforehand and before switching to a larger Kubota.

 

[k0ua]

The ideas is the same, but the design is different and they sell for some less. To really be useful one needs the gizmo that holds the 3 pt apart at the proper distance. I've since bought a Landpride Quick Hitch, and even that has some complications for fitting every attachment that was purchased beforehand and before switching to a larger Kubota.

Agreed. It is somewhat simpler than a Pats. And as I pointed out, the Carters do not extend the lower link length. They also do not auto latch. But since you have to get off to connect the top link with either, I do not see that as much of a disadvantage.

 

[oldballs]

To add some more.....

I think that owning a Kubota (e.g. BX) as a newbie is an evolutionary thing. There are so may things to learn and so many mistakes to make. A Newbie is satisfied if he can just get an attachment hooked up without killing his back. But the old timers aren't satisfied unless they have full hydraulics on the 3 pt and never get out of the seat to hook up or operate an attachment.:2cents:
Cheers,
Mike

 

[k0ua]

To add some more.....

I think that owning a Kubota (e.g. BX) as a newbie is an evolutionary thing. There are so may things to learn and so many mistakes to make. A Newbie is satisfied if he can just get an attachment hooked up without killing his back. But the old timers aren't satisfied unless they have full hydraulics on the 3 pt and never get out of the seat to hook up or operate an attachment.:2cents:
Cheers,
Mike

Mike, you are correct, it IS a journey. And a long one at that.

 

[houser52]

I "used" mine for less than a year. I just might be the only one but, for me they were anything but easy.

Some implements were too low so I had to park them up on blocks just to get back under them.

They would hang up on the lynch pins and pop them off. Tried other things but that didn't work well either and was always hanging up on them.

They wouldn't work at all on some equipment hookups that were boxed in which you had to slide a pin through the lift arm.

Not enough clearance for them to hook up on all equipment.

I was actually working harder each time just to hook up my equipment. I was worn out before I could even start working. Finally I said, the h3LL with this. I took them off and WON'T be putting them back on.

If you're interested in a pair, I'll make you a deal.

 

[oldballs]

I don't think the Carter's was misrepresented and are better than nothing. It's just that a 3 pt Quick Hitch is better and even it has some complications, especially when different sized attachments are involved. Sometimes the "education" gets expensive however. IMHO
Cheers,
Mike

 

[houser52]

I don't think the Carter's was misrepresented and are better than nothing. It's just that a 3 pt Quick Hitch is better and even it has some complications, especially when different sized attachments are involved. Sometimes the "education" gets expensive however. IMHO
Cheers,
Mike

You're right, Carter's wasn't misrepresenting their product and I didn't mean to make it sound that way.

 

[Foodplot]

I have both Carter's and Pat's. I like the Carter's on my Kubota 3400 because it raises the height of the lift arms a bit, and I'm using implements that really are designed for traditional cat 1 ag tractors. If all of your implements have pins that are the same distance a part, these and Pat's work well and are quick. If you don't, you'll need to adjust the distance between your lift arms when switching implements, which takes some of the 'quick' out of your attaching. If implements don't have much space around the lift pins, then these or Pat's may present a geometric problem. Overall, I like the Carter's. Haven't managed to damage them in more than 5 years of use. Pat's are a little more complicated, and I've bent some of the parts on those. If you have extendable ends on your lift arms, I wouldn't bother with either type. I don't have extendable arms on two of my tractors, so I find these handier than nothing.

 

[k0ua]

I felt the Carter's were very useful and decreased my swear word vocabulary. I also made up bent washers for all of my implements.This is almost necessary for proper operation to prevent the from trying to slide off the ends. I used a bungee to hold the arms under tension, and used the turnbuckles for fine adjustment.

Bottom line: better than solid links. Not as good as a true quick hitch. Carter's Not needed if you have telescoping lower links and stabilizers.

 

[oldnslo]

I prefer the carters over Pat's for thefact that they self-align and swivel with the the implement pins. The pat's system is held rigid via jam bolts so they don't move or twist as easy when trying to connect to an implement that isn't level with tractor or where the pin spacing is different enough between implements.

I have both options but have settled on the pat's since I have a couple of implements where the increased height of the Carter's was an issue.

 

[ballaterach]

I've found pretty much the same and have reverted to not using them very much if at all now.

 

[jimmysisson]

Mine stay on the tractor and I'm satisfied with them. I had to cut the heads off the mounting pins and weld a washer in its place - the pin wouldn't fit in a captured-pin setup in my winch.
Mine are 6-8 years old now and a bit floppy but still work fine. I don't use anything to keep them a certain distance apart but sometimes a stick to tip them upright if they flop to the side. Agree you might need to block up an implement to get under it later, but that's easier then extending a driveshaft. Excellent customer service from the Carters, too.
Jim

 

[Gregster613]

I own a set of them. I find them quite easy to use, am pleased with them, and not having to muscle around my equipment. I read about all the different styles and became convinced after reading about kUoa's experience with Carter's that I'd give them a try.

I do find that I am not "very" good at backing up straight as an arrow and need to make several slight adjustments each time -- but that's my fault not the Carter's! That would apply with a quick hitch too!! I agree with others that a quick hitch would probably be even better; but a quick hitch won't work for me on my tractor -- my hydraulic connections stick out just a tad too much.

So, yes I have a set, am happy, and would recommend them to another. Gregster

 

[msb1766]

I also have a set and really like them, Makes hooking up so much easier. I would buy them again if I had to.

 

[brasco426]

Mike, you are correct, it IS a journey. And a long one at that.

It's good that you guys contribute as much as you do. I for one am a complete novice and read all I can just to learn if nothing else. There's a lot of us watching and reading and appreciate the knowledge shared here. Donnie

 

[DK35vince]

I have the weld-on version.
They are always there when I want them, so I use the Carter hitch or the ball ends, whichever is easy at the time.

 

[k0ua]

I have the weld-on version.
They are always there when I want them, so I use the Carter hitch or the ball ends, whichever is easy at the time.
View attachment 465379

There you go, Best of both worlds.