2" receiver on drawbar

[aa777888]

I am a fairly new tractor owner. I'd like to tow a small utility trailer I have to carry brush, etc. I am able to find no end of 2" receiver units for 3 point hitches, but the attachment that would seem to be a no-brainer, a 2" receiver that either bolts to or replaces the drawbar is not to be found anywhere.

I did see a nice photo of a home-built one on the site. Unfortunately I do not have a welder nor the welding skills. I could have a local fab shop build one for me, but I'm just amazed I can't simply buy one.

Any suggestions?

Tractor in question is a JD3520, if it matters.

Thanks,

aa

 

[Bob77064]

How about this.

Flexpoint Adapter Turns Your 3-Point Hitch into Versatile 2in. Receiver, Model# FPHS-1 | 3-Point + PTO Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Doppelgangar]

Can't you find a pin with a ball on the top from your tractor supplier. One would think it as a standard thing to buy with a tractor.

 

[aa777888]

Bob--as I wrote in my original post, those are dime a dozen. I would have bought one already if that was what I wanted.

Doppel--never seen one of those. Got a link to one I can buy? I'd still prefer a receiver, though, so that I can put different ball carriers into it.

Thanks,

aa

 

[s219]

So let me ask a dumb question -- why don't you want to attach a ball to the standard drawbar? That's what I have been doing. You could even buy extra drawbars if needed.

 

[Don87]

I am a fairly new tractor owner. I'd like to tow a small utility trailer I have to carry brush, etc. I am able to find no end of 2" receiver units for 3 point hitches, but the attachment that would seem to be a no-brainer, a 2" receiver that either bolts to or replaces the drawbar is not to be found anywhere.

I did see a nice photo of a home-built one on the site. Unfortunately I do not have a welder nor the welding skills. I could have a local fab shop build one for me, but I'm just amazed I can't simply buy one.

Any suggestions?

Tractor in question is a JD3520, if it matters.

Thanks,

aa

I know what you are asking for, but, it doesn't seem to be manufactured anywhere.(I've searched everywhere)

You'll probably need to get one custom made.

 

[Don87]

So let me ask a dumb question -- why don't you want to attach a ball to the standard drawbar? That's what I have been doing. You could even buy extra drawbars if needed.

This is where the confusion comes in.

The actual drawbar on a tractor is not the 3pt. hitch, the drawbar is the bar that protrudes from the bottom of the tractor near the rear end........it doesn't move.(well, not up and down anyway)

Some smaller tractors have the drawbar hole molded into the steel that is part of the tractor frame.

That is the 'towing-pulling point' of a tractor.



Edit: this Farmall BN is upside down, but the drawbar is visible.

 

[Bob77064]

What I like about the attachment for the TPH is that you can adjust the height of the ball. Seems like the drawbar is kind of low for most trailers.

 

[Don87]

What I like about the attachment for the TPH is that you can adjust the height of the ball. Seems like the drawbar is kind of low for most trailers.

It is kinda low, but if you are using a ball mount, you can get hitches that rise up 1, 2, 4, 6, inches. But I haven't seen one with a receiver.

Towing with the 3pt, can be a challenge.......as the 3 pt. can move up on you while in motion and cause all kinds of headaches. Can possibly cause a flipover if on a downslope, depending on what you a pulling. My logsplitter has given me a good jolt several times here in my yard.

 

[Bob77064]

It is kinda low, but if you are using a ball mount, you can get hitches that rise up 2, 4, 6, inches. But I haven't seen one with a receiver.

Towing with the 3pt, can be a challenge.......as the 3 pt. can move on ya while in motion and cause all kinds of headaches.

The only towing I would do with it would be just to move the trailers around.

 

[CurlyDave]

The only towing I would do with it would be just to move the trailers around.

How far are you going to move them around?

If you are talking about only very short distances to jockey them in a yard, Payne's makes a receiver which clamps onto your FEL bucket. This allows you to raise and lower the ball at will.

 

[wcampbell47]

AA - I understand that you want to tow from the draw bar. Your tractor is about the size of mine. Let me share a couple of experiences.

By the time you get your trailer hooked up to a ball on the normal draw bar, even if it is extended the tongue of the trailer is going to be close up on the tractor. Your turning radius will be limited by the Y shape of the tongue. If you turn sharply the trailer tongue will get into the rear tires causing damage either to the tractor or the trailer. Been there done that. Secondly the lift arms extend past the regular draw bar, yet another obstacle as you tow and turn.

There is a reason why experienced tractor drivers don't tow trailers from the draw bar unless you have a long single tube tongue which is not common on utility trailers.

I have a tool bar that I use to attach different plows to. In the middle of the tool bar I have U bolted a receiver hitch. I definitely appreciate the ability to lower the 3 point, back under my trailer, raise the 3 point and jockey the trailer around.

Towing from the 3 point is going to cause way less grief than binding a rear tire in the trailer tongue.

 

[JJZ 109]

I've never used the underneath, rear facing drawbar on my tractor. It's almost like it isn't even there. In fact I removed the one from my previous tractor and still have it. Forgot to put it back on when I traded because it was never used.
How about a multi hole bar that attaches to the lift arms? Like this one? With one of these it may be possible to bolt a step bumper mount type receiver like this
Harbor Freight model.
As CurlyDave says, you can also get a clamp on style. They can be had on ebay for cheaper than Payne's. But I will tell you that my experience with them has been less than stellar. First, the screw on them will dent your bucket bottom in. So I put a piece of steel under it to remedy that. But then I found that it didn't take much resistance when pushing and turning the trailer to have the hitch cock sideways on me. It's much handier sometimes to be hooked onto the front of the tractor as far as vision goes, but the clamp on idea just didn't work for me personally. But then I was pushing a 7x14 enclosed with a seamless gutter machine and all kinds of tools, materials, etc inside. A clamp on style just might work fine for someone with a very light, unloaded trailer just to jockey it around the yard.

 

[the_g]

Have a look at this on. You just need to have the 3pt hitch drawbar with 2" hole centers.
EMP Tractor Draw Bar Stabilizer for Category 1 Tractors, Model# 7350-1 | 3-Point + PTO Hardware | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Bob77064]

How far are you going to move them around?

If you are talking about only very short distances to jockey them in a yard, Payne's makes a receiver which clamps onto your FEL bucket. This allows you to raise and lower the ball at will.

Just a short distance, thanks for the idea.

 

[Don87]

Theres a few ideas in this thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/204936-my-easy-front-end-loader.html

 

[BRB Hand]

I am not sure what your drawbar configuration is but...... On my massey it has 3 holes (counting the one for a ball or pin in the end). I bought a long; about 12" reciever tube and bolted on top of the drawbar using all 3 holes. It is a little close to the tires when turning and the ball ends up cantelievered pretty far. It does work great for most moderate tounge weights. I can post picture later if you like

 

[CurlyDave]

...As CurlyDave says, you can also get a clamp on style. They can be had on ebay for cheaper than Payne's. But I will tell you that my experience with them has been less than stellar. First, the screw on them will dent your bucket bottom in. So I put a piece of steel under it to remedy that. But then I found that it didn't take much resistance when pushing and turning the trailer to have the hitch cock sideways on me. It's much handier sometimes to be hooked onto the front of the tractor as far as vision goes, but the clamp on idea just didn't work for me personally. But then I was pushing a 7x14 enclosed with a seamless gutter machine and all kinds of tools, materials, etc inside. A clamp on style just might work fine for someone with a very light, unloaded trailer just to jockey it around the yard.

I have to agree, the results I got were also less than stellar.

In fact, they were downright life-threatening. Somewhere there is an older thread on how I had one cock sideways on a hill and the only way to straighten it out was to get in between the trailer and the tractor FEL.

On a level surface and for short distances, they are OK, but once there is any slope at all involved they can be dangerous.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Here's a couple. With your skill set, I would just buy the 3 point version. I made the one for the Kubota drawbar with parts purchased from Tractor supply and McMaster Carr. The one for the 11 hole drawbar on the 8N was also make from parts from TSC and MMC. Takes a little thinking and drilling, but it is not that difficult. Philip.

 

[JJZ 109]

I have to agree, the results I got were also less than stellar.

In fact, they were downright life-threatening. Somewhere there is an older thread on how I had one cock sideways on a hill and the only way to straighten it out was to get in between the trailer and the tractor FEL.

On a level surface and for short distances, they are OK, but once there is any slope at all involved they can be dangerous.

I had an old step bumper mount receiver laying around for years. I wound up cutting a square hole into the back of my ballast box. Put the receiver inside the ballast box and poked it out through the square hole, which was slightly larger than the receiver tube. Drilled and bolted it along with a little welding and that's what I use most of the time now.