A little engineering help on this on gang.

[High Compression]

Ok, so one of my favorite mods on past tractors, was welding a 2" trailer receiver tube to the top of my bucket. Actually I frenched it in. Now that I have the skid loader quick connect I can use my pallet forks for most of my lifting. I still wanted the flexibility of the 2" receiver. Therefore this little project. I typically over engineer everything, but this time I kinda feel less is more. 4shorts, I'll be looking for your input here as well as everyone else. Should I add either some tension cords from the angle iron that the tube is welded to up to the bar above? Or weld in some triangular gussets between the bottom angle and the side plates? Or just leave it alone? I know that the machine doesn't have enough lifting cap. to destroy that frame, but I also prefer to be extremely safe, especially when picking. I did do a shear load test afterwards with my winch and a 6000#+ piece of machinery with no concerns. So here are some pix so you all can give me your 2 cents. Thanks for your time. P.S. All safety measures were not in place in the winch pictures, so please do not use those pictures as guidelines for proper winch safety.:ashamed:

 

[dusty3030]

I would think the skid steer connection would be a weaker link that what you put together / it would let go before the tube would.

 

[Rancher Ed]

I wouldn't worry about it pulling, like how you tested it. One thing that I would be a little concerned about, depending on how much you lift and how long of a drawbar you put in the receiver, is having the back lip on the angle it is welded to bend. Hopefully the picture makes sense. I don't know how easily you could weld a gusset on the under side of the angle, so the whole piece would have to rotate, and the top lip couldn't just bend up? Or maybe a 1x2 or 2x2 square tube going from the top of the receiver (at the back edge) to the frame about it that the forks hang on?

Ed

 

[tcartwri]

Would not take much of a trailer to have your rear end dangling in the air. Could be an interesting ride.

 

[Baby Grand]

Looks pretty solid, but if you're in doubt, I'd weld a plate from tip to tip of the ell section for the length between the uprights to box it in and prevent bending/buckling of the top flat to which the receiver's welded.

 

[4shorts]

Well I would defiantly add gussets just for peace of mind. Four of them, two forward and two rearward but that's just me

It would also give it that factory look as well.

 

[High Compression]

I wouldn't worry about it pulling, like how you tested it. One thing that I would be a little concerned about, depending on how much you lift and how long of a drawbar you put in the receiver, is having the back lip on the angle it is welded to bend. Hopefully the picture makes sense. I don't know how easily you could weld a gusset on the under side of the angle, so the whole piece would have to rotate, and the top lip couldn't just bend up? Or maybe a 1x2 or 2x2 square tube going from the top of the receiver (at the back edge) to the frame about it that the forks hang on?

Ed

Ed. That was my exact concern. :thumbsup:

 

[High Compression]

Would not take much of a trailer to have your rear end dangling in the air. Could be an interesting ride.

I have 1300 lbs of RimGuard in the rear tires, and generally have something on the 3pt. The loader doesn't have enough umphf to dangle my rear.:laughing:

 

[High Compression]

Well I would defiantly add gussets just for peace of mind. Four of them, two forward and two rearward but that's just me

It would also give it that factory look as well.

Right on Paul. Thanks.:thumbsup: I was thinking one set, but two might be good. I'll have to figure what that "factory look" will be.

 

[High Compression]

Guess it's back to the shop for a little cutting, grinding and welding.