old style drag hitch

[Soundguy]

I saw a pic the other day of an old hitch that is used on old ford N and fergies. it actually connects under the axles to the brackets that the stabilizer bars attach to.

Then the toplink is attached to it. The old 9n and 2n did not have a swinging drawbar, as the differential base was not tapped for it, like the 8n and + were. Thus, if you wanted to pull a utility trailer you had to pull it on a 3pt drawbar.. which can be dangerous unless done right.

I thought it looked neat, and needed an excuse to burn some more rods on my new hobart sticjmate welder.. so here is the repop hitch I made. I included the original that I copied it from.

I still need to wire wheel it, then prime, then paint.

Soundguy

 

[R W]

Looks like a neat job, should be safer than a 3PL type drawbar.

 

[3RRL]

Pretty cool Chris.
Under the axle you say? That sounds like the best place to tow from. So this is now a dedicated tow hitch, right?
Show us the finished pics after painting, please.

 

[Soundguy]

Yes, it is a dedicated tow hitch now.

Pics of it painted, and with trailer.

Soundguy

Pretty cool Chris.
Under the axle you say? That sounds like the best place to tow from. So this is now a dedicated tow hitch, right?
Show us the finished pics after painting, please.

 

[flusher]

Yes, it is a dedicated tow hitch now.

Pics of it painted, and with trailer.

Soundguy

Nice looking job.
As you say, this hitch is a lot safer than the 3pt hitch bar on the lower lift arms.
Too bad the attach points for your custom tow hitch couldn't be a bit ahead of the rear axle like the swinging drawbar on my MF-135.

 

[Birdhunter1]

When pulling I can see where alot of the weight being drug will be under the axles, but won't the majority of the tongue weight be hung from where the top link join the tractor at a point well above and far behind the axles thus pulling up on the front end of the tractor?

I do realize that back in the day when these machines were the farm tracors of choice you were probably going to hitch up to a 7' drag disc or a couple of harrow sections and not have alot of tongue weight.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't see it as being any more weight than any other 3pt 'reciever' type hitch. For straight dragging.. like an implement with it's own wheels.. you could eliminate the toplink.

In it's config.. if excess tounge weight did lift the front wheels.. based on geometry o fthe hitch..that is, it's length rear o fthe tractor, and set attach height unde the axles.. then the front can only come up a few inches before the hitch is planted into the ground making a furrow. Seems pretty safe to me... safer than the 3pt drawbar, which can be snatched up, unless you use stays...

Soundguy

 

[EddieWalker]

Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[BTDT]

Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

Hey, Eddie, an old tractor and an old hay wagon would be good for your RV park for hayrides.

 

[willfick]

Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

Eddie,
The trailers are just what I got my old tractor for.
For dumping, dogging, or just messin' around. Works (and plays) great.
Wm
http://www.wimmark.com/dumping_manure.jpg
http://www.wimmark.com/DSCF0015.JPG
http://www.wimmark.com/MrHonthe_beach1.jpg

An edit to get it closer back to the original thread (by the way, nice job on that, Soundguy, both the idea and , the part where I usually drop the ball, the work,) I redid the drawbar on the H to make it better for tongue load and backing than the roller on the swinging drawbar would have been.
http://www.wimmark.com/hitch2.jpg
Wm

 

[Soundguy]

Get one. The dedicated implement thing is nice.. no 'hitching'.. just hop on and go.

I'm kinda doing that with all my implements... a tractor per that is.. (GRIN)

Soundguy

Soudguy,

Looks like another great idea!!

You've also inspired me to want an old tractor. I've always wanted one, but never really knew what I'd do with it. Just something to have. But now that I see yours with a trailer, I see something I gotta have!!!!

A tractor with a dedicated trailer would be very useful!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[RobT]

... Seems pretty safe to me... safer than the 3pt drawbar, which can be snatched up, unless you use stays...

Soundguy

Soundguy: Could you explain why it is unsafe to use the 3PT drawbar for towing? My father has an old Ford that he uses the drawbar for towing. I would like to warn him against doing so, but would like more info if possible.

Thank you!
RobT

 

[BarryinMN]

Soundguy, same here semi-retired the old JD A to trailer pulling duty. Only negative is the hyd PSI is only 1000 with 5 qt capacity, limits the weight on trips to the rock pile.

 

[BTDT]

Soundguy: Could you explain why it is unsafe to use the 3PT drawbar for towing? My father has an old Ford that he uses the drawbar for towing. I would like to warn him against doing so, but would like more info if possible.

Thank you!
RobT

It has been my experience that if you set your 3ph at 12" off the ground, it will stay 12" off the ground if there is downward weight/pressure on it. Reach down and grab drawbar and you can pick it up. You can raise it up till it hits the end of its travel, which will be the full "up" position. If you are pulling a trailer and have to stop suddenly with tractor, trailer will/can continue forward. May or may not hurt someone if this happens, but why chance it. I hope this explains my thinking on subject, and my apologies to Soundguy for jumping in here.

 

[Soundguy]

Good explanation.. That fast stop can let the towing point rise above the rear axle, and then unweight the rear axle. in many cases.. that means no brakes...

Soundguy

 

[RobT]

BTDT and Soundguy:

Thank you for the explanations. Makes perfect sense now that you explain it!

Now if I can convince my 64 year old father of the reasons...

Thanks.
RobT

 

[MesquiteThorn]

I am going to stop reading these posts. They give me too many ideas. There is an old International tricycle down on the ranch I hunt on. It has an old under belly drag linksage. I am going to have to remove it an make some use of it now!

 

[Soundguy]

Lets see some pics!

Soundguy

 

[Nuru]

I saw a pic the other day of an old hitch that is used on old ford N and fergies. it actually connects under the axles to the brackets that the stabilizer bars attach to.

Then the toplink is attached to it. The old 9n and 2n did not have a swinging drawbar, as the differential base was not tapped for it, like the 8n and + were. Thus, if you wanted to pull a utility trailer you had to pull it on a 3pt drawbar.. which can be dangerous unless done right.

I thought it looked neat, and needed an excuse to burn some more rods on my new hobart sticjmate welder.. so here is the repop hitch I made. I included the original that I copied it from.

I still need to wire wheel it, then prime, then paint.

Soundguy

Yeah that is a good job on those.