Backhoe receiver hitch (Light duty)

[davel8257]

I'm finding more uses for my backhoe -- using the bucket with a chain and logging tongs draped over the back to pickup firewood and put onto the log splitter has been really helpful. I can reach over and pick up several pieces of firewood while leaving the tractor sit in one place.

However -- my last tree project is down behind the house and it's been a challenge to get the log splitter down there. The backhoe covers up the draw hitch on the back of the tractor.

I took a scrap piece of 2 3/16" square tubing and noticed that it fit right over the tooth on the backhoe bucket. I bought a short length of tubing, welded on a section of tubing on top of it, drilled holes for the receiver pin -- and I now have a light duty (e.g. not road-worthy) trailer hitch suitable for towing my log splitter around the property. Here are some photos of the project.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Hey - why not. Looks handy and clever too !!

gg

 

[cmyoung2]

Very clever, you can put the log splitter almost anywhere. Is there something that keeps the hitch on the bucket if you are pushing?

 

[davel8257]

That could be a problem - I may need to jam in a piece of wood to wedge the tube in tight. But my main use will be to pull the splitter out and back.

 

[billwleod]

That could be a problem - I may need to jam in a piece of wood to wedge the tube in tight. But my main use will be to pull the splitter out and back.

Drill a hole and weld a nut on the top at an angle. Wells a bar across some ready rod and thread down to catch the edge of the tooth flat. This will hold it on the tooth.

 

[ddbackhoe]

Drill a hole and weld a nut on the top at an angle. Wells a bar across some ready rod and thread down to catch the edge of the tooth flat. This will hold it on the tooth.

Or one could drill a hole that lines up between the tooth and bucket, drop in a pin and done. Another handy gadget is a flat plate that slips over all the teeth for when you want to smooth something out, some call it a crumbing or cleanout blade.

Squeegee, Crumbing Blades Reduce Backfill Time, Eliminate… | Pumper

 

[cmyoung2]

I was just thinking a chain to the top of the bucket, something quick, no tools after the first install, and cheap,

 

[ruffdog]

Maybe a good c-clamp right behind the tooth, for light duty though.

 

[davel8257]

I added a small bit of weld to the front edge of the tube on the inside that should catch on the sharp edge of the backhoe tooth. It's been too wet to get back into the woods and give it a good test.

 

[Skip77]

That should work out nicely once you get the pin behind the tooth to keep it from coming off. The flat plate to go over all the teeth would come in handy for me when I'm cleaning out the cattle guard crossing as it has a concrete bottom leaving me to had shovel the remaining 2 or 3 inches of silt out by hand. I will have to see about making me one before the next yearly cleaning.