3pt Hitch On An F350 4WD Pickup Truck With Fisher Snowplow Frame

[Hardacrefarm]

Well, I'm adapting a set of 9N lower lift arms to make a 3pt hitch for the front of my truck for use with a loader bucket, boom pole,
forks,....whatever's needed.
It should be helpful when the tractor isn't available or is tied up.
Mostly, I had the parts, and I just like the idea.

Picks up an HD 8 foot plow with ease...probably good for around 1000# lifting.
As set up in these pics it lifts to 19 inches, but I'm "estimating" it'll get to about 26 inches with just minor improvement, and could possibly get to about 30 inches with a bit of adjustments (very time consuming for those top end extra few inches, we'll wait to see if it's really needed).
But those heights are BEFORE a load is applied...Spring compression under load will drop it some-just the same way as picking up the
snowplow.
Also, "might" not use the quick hitch in daily use, as it adds about 65-75 pounds that could be dedicated towards the actual load itself, plus extends the leverage an extra 4 inches outwards that the truck springs and ball joints have to hold. That may not sound like a lot, but for a unit that wasn't built with this in mind, it could prove disasterous when nearing the upper end of it's capabilities.
Time will tell as it gets used and I can see more clearly how I use it.
For right now though, the quick hitch makes measurements and the hitch's potential a lot easier to see and imagine.

Haven't got a lot of time to dedicate to the intracates of it right now, but it should start to be ready/or at least usable within a couple of weeks-

LOTS of welding & cooling times involved, not to mention the engineering aspect of making it all work and hold up, and going over all the existing welds of the plow frame itself.
The upper end weight capability and safety are what takes time, but the basic lift is already there.
Obviously there's no down pressure, but tilt is very do-able.

The truck is starting to get a bit old, and is destined to become a woods truck on the property, so it's being altered little by little to work in unison with my 9N & 8N tractors, but still has to be used over the road presently, so only small advances toward that can be made for right now.

 

[JB4310]

Interesting concept, with the lift arms mounted to the under carriage like that, I think your half way there, simple idea using the plow lift. Alls you need is a way to connect lift hook to top link pin and some sway chains. Using the quick hitch will make it all easier IMO.

The only thing I question is, what rear tractor implement do you want to use on the front of your truck? I can't think of a use for a 3 pt on the front of the truck. I think the rear of the truck might be better, of course that would take alot of work.

Don't want to discourage you, I like the use of existing under carriage and lift cylinder in your plans. I've come up with a few inventions myself, just to see if it would work

JB.

 

[Hardacrefarm]

Pictures were from last weeks basic setup.
Some fabing was started for making a crosspiece that should provide both sway control and the lift point.
Snowstorms coming here the next few days, so I'm not certain how much time I can dedicate to it, but a little each day should get me there soon I hope!

As for which implements...as I say, boom pole, perhaps a bucket for carrying rocks to the stone wall and providing lift for the heavier ones to the second level, plus it's good for mobile needs in case a heavy lift is needed at a distant location.

Plans to eventually do the same to the rear are in the works, but as you said, it's more difficult, so since the basic framework already existed up front, I decided why not start there for a learning process?

Just before winter I put the same setup on my 8N, but it has a different headgear (which I don't like), so that's slated to change to the Fisher style over the winter.

I would have thought that there'd be a bunch of these setups out there since almost all is ready made when you put a plow on......go figure?

 

[MarkV]

Are you concerned at all with the strength of the 3pt arms in a pushing situation like a snow plow? There have been a number of stories here on the forum where people have broke/bent 3pt arm by using a boxblade in reverse to push material. Guess my thinking is that 3pt arms are engineered to with stand tension more so than compression. Cool idea by the way.


MarkV

 

[JB4310]

I would have thought that there'd be a bunch of these setups out there since almost all is ready made when you put a plow on......go figure?

Yeah I like the idea of boom pole or maybe forks on the front.
Maybe you're gonna start a trend here, there are a few options there with the older style plow set up like you have. Not with the new ones though, where the whole works comes off the front of the truck when you remove the plow.

Are you concerned at all with the strength of the 3pt arms in a pushing situation like a snow plow? There have been a number of stories here on the forum where people have broke/bent 3pt arm by using a boxblade in reverse to push material. Guess my thinking is that 3pt arms are engineered to with stand tension more so than compression. Cool idea by the way.
MarkV

I did bend mine ever so slightly doing just that, I reinforced mine, it wasn't easy due to the shape and close clearances. But for his older straight ones it would be easy to reinforce, he could make them like I-beams.

JB.

 

[Hardacrefarm]

Yep, I know they're not like loader arms (Thanks though, I appreciate ALL input!), but the lift arms will me strengthened a bit for lateral support as well as lifting and carrying (which is it's main reason for existing anyway in my particular case).
Plus the crosspiece when finished "should" aid some in stiffening the arms also.
Deep ground engagement is probably minimal at best-But if it happens to be able to push my rake I'd be pretty tickled!
I've several ideas/fixes if it comes to using it for scraping operations anyway.
But like I say, the trucks function will be to assist-not replace the tractors.

One of the main reasons in doing this project is that it's a low cost-or even no cost setup.
For many in my same situation, I suspect the dollar figures are quite low also, if they happen to have the setup for it.

On the tractor one, my total added cost over existing items so far amounts to two 7/8" pins (Picture shows the first trial, where the lift arms are in the plow frame snowplow mounting holes, but then decided to put in the pins in just behind that where the steel is much thicker-PLUS "may" make a good starting point for at least one of the mid-mount inventions that I have in mind).

The truck one hasn't had any dollar investment yet, but "might" cost me two shackles if my crosspiece idea doesn't work, and a piston cylinder if I decide to add tilt (Which can be used on both setups anyway-At least until the truck is taken off the road).

 

[Hardacrefarm]

I figured others might like one also, that's why I posted....
Well, that and my truck ideas got booted from another tractor site for not being on a tractor...go figure?

Thanks for the pics though, still trying to settle on ideas for sway control and strengthening of the lift arms.
Thinking I'm going to run the add-on steel the entire length of the arm though since it may at times lift large rocks from a hole, and doesn't add much weight or time over the shortened version.

My truck style is of the vintage where both the Minute Mount & Conventional Plow Systems both fit, so I deliberately chose to look for the Fisher Old Style so as to be able to do things like this....plus when this is finished I've other plans for more add-ons to it.
The MM styles are VERY limited in possibilities, and pretty much dead-end any advancement.

I'd thought of the I-Beam liftarm setup, but the lower part will interfere with the tractor ones setup when raising/lowering past the snowplow mounts, as the same set of arms will be used for both setups untill I find a cheap or free set (see other picture posts in this thread).
But I "think" that just one on the upper side of the arm "may" clear when the arm is lowered....have to take a closer look before I weld.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Ive seen a Unimog set up with a fron hitch and several farm tractors for running a mower on the front. I got the same style lift that came on my 87 Ford F350 dump truck. I cut it off be cause we get less snow than Hawaii. Im thinking of making a fron 3 point for my Yanmar for hauling stacks of mulching straw on a buck rake. I also had the idea of making a trailed 3 point set up for hauling a bale mover, oneway rake, or a grader blade maintaining a haul road. That old set up was sure looks versatile with the pin set up and the lift cylinder and all.

 

[Hardacrefarm]

Yep, versatile as anythin you'd ever see!!
I kept one setup from a chevy half ton for just that reason too.

The trailer 3pt hich is pretty cool. I've seen some pictures as well.
With some forethought, they can be made in such a way as to come off it's wheels and be mounted with relative ease to tractors/trucks/buckets or whatever....

One trick to as many of my projects as I can, is to ALWAYS TRY TO ADD THEM TO EXISTING ADD-ON'S....NOT THE VEHICLE!!
That way, when the vehicle is no longer seviceable (Or sold off), the add-ons come off all in one shot, and move as a unit to the next in an ever growing unit.
The main difference then is only in mounting widths/heights/depths/clearances.
A torch and welder along with an un-polluted brain will get you back in business in short order.

 

[GPintheMitten]

About 10 years ago, I started working on an idea to put a 3 point lift on the back of my 4wd truck so I could attach my back blade and clear snow from the driveway inside a warm truck. Didn't want to spend thousands on a conventional truck snow plow.

The welding and mechanical part worked out fine, but I didn't have the money to put hydraulics on it. I tried using a 12 volt winch and it worked but not ideal. But it would have worked great if I had bought old snow plow motor/hydraulic pump and a small cylinder.

 

[Hardacrefarm]

I can't believe you said that!!
That's the primary reasoning I wanted a 3pt on the back too...lol
Now at least I know it's not just another far out idea of mine...Thanks!

Thinking that a few parking lot jobs would go quickly with double plows on and bring in a few bucks for building more projects.

As for the hydraulics...
It could run off the same pump...volume doesn't have to be doubled since only one direction can be used at a time
Probably best to have separate valves and controls, otherwise a switching valve would have to be installed and switched each time....what a pain that'd be!
Fittings & hoses long enough to reach the back end can be had on the auction site fairly cheaply.

Probably the best way is to simply buy an entire setup off an old truck (Or whole dead truck) and simply buy the two long hoses needed. Get's you a spare pump, push beam and set of push plates for other uses too!
Maybe $200.00 total if very lucky...upwards from there if not.

 

[JB4310]

They make rear snow plow/box things to use in unison with front plow. for getting in front of garages etc, I think they slide in receiver hitch.

Couldn't find a picture of what I was talking about.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I also picked up a snow plow blade at the scrap yard that came down on a northern parts truck for 20 bucks. Its been abused a bit, I put it back to put a spare quick tach I have on it for my skid steer just incase we have a snow over 3 inches. No one else here has a plow but the city has one for the roads. They arent allowed to plow the private stores. For a seperate pump on a plow howbout use an old Power steering pump to run the extra attachment.
My dump truck the plow frame came off of is an 87 Ford 350 4x4 with a 6.9. Its got a transplanted 97 cab on it. I bought it for a job and had to take the plow sub frame off over night. I torched the mounts that the truck spring hangers bolted through instead of having to pull it all off. I m thining about building a 2 wheel trailer lie I mentioned before to make my tool bar/ carrier for maintaining a mile long logging road with a friends old power wagon.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I thought I was going to get rich designing a rear receiver mounted 3 point hitch, and have someone manufacture them. Then you could use an inexpensive back blade to move snow. All the folks with a rear receiver and 4wd would be the market.

But after I got into it I found the hydraulics (purchased new, retail) was looking expensive. And then I found out there was already a supplier of receiver mounted plows.

I gave up my idea of being rich.

 

[Hardacrefarm]

Well, I doubt very seriously if anyone would get rich off this front 3 point hitch either.

I'm sure there's some idiot's out there that'd pay big money, but anyone having an existing old style plow system simply needs about 6 feet of flat stock and a drill. Tilt piston is optional.

Of course, there are always those who are unsure of how to go about it or unable to think for themselves....Maybe I'll sell plans...lol