Quick Hitch or Pat's Easy Change?

[cletus99]

I want to get one of the quick hitch systems. I have a Kodiak rotary mower I bought new a year or so ago. Pretty sure it's qh compatible because there's another hole on the float to change the hook up. I just bought a new Kodiak rear blade yesterday with the same setup so it should be compatible too. My box blade is a lot older and I can tell I'll have to get the top link adapter for it for sure. I've read numerous threads about each system and how both have their pros and cons. I don't want to spend a lot of money so I was looking at agri supplys $89 quick hitch. An employee told me I'd have to get a set of qh adapter pins which were like $17 to take up the slop in the hitch pins. I'm guessing each implement would have to have them installed? That will add up quick. Let me hear your inputs on this.

 

[vacman]

I was in this same position. I bought a quick hitch and then discovered I needed to buy cat 2 sleeves for every implement. I decided I didn't want to do that so I returned the QH and bought Pat's easy change. I have never looked back and think it is a great product. I have been using it for close to ten years now and find it pretty easy to use. You still have to manually line up the top link but lower ones connect very easily. I have all but forgotten the first year I had my tractor and had to manually connect the lower ball joints over the implement pins. I will never own a tractor without the Pats system. Good luck with your decision.

 

[greg_g]

If it makes any difference, I initially purchased the Harbor Freight Quick Hitch because of the price. Big PITA. Didn't take long for me to sell it in favor of a PEC system. PEC worked so good on my Cat1 tractor, that I bought a 2nd set for my Cat2

//greg//

 

[cletus99]

Are there any modifications that you typically have to make with Pat's? Does it fit snug on CAT 1 pins or do you have to put bushings or something to snug it up also?

 

[greg_g]

If you get a Cat1 PEC for a Cat1 lift, no bushings are needed for the pin. But not all lift arms have the same shape, so the PEC includes wedges that you insert between the PEC and the lift arm. They're used use to more accurately achieve the desired angle of operation relative to the implement pins.

//greg//

 

[Guesseral]

Well I do have the HF quick hitch and I love it, even though I do have to adapt my older equipment that isn't QH compatible it is way worth it to me. As far as the lower bushings yea you need them but you can just leave them loose but I think that would just make them ware out, I got mine from northern tool they are not as expensive that way you can also go to TSC and just get cat II lower pins with the reduced (to cat I) threaded end and they will work but they are about the same price. No with either one of these different types of hitch there is no 100% way that you will ever get away from never getting off of the tractor to hitch an implement up! The main reasons that I like the actual QH style is that there are time that you do not have to get off of the tractor at all with the pats you will always have to get off and with the QH the two lower arms or the QH hooks are always the same distance apart and as long as the implements are right the lower arms will always hook up. With both styles of course you always have to get off to connect the PTO but you always did. Both of these systems have an advantage over nothing at all heck I even saw a QH on my cousins 250HP CNH case that really surprised me but it really did make sense those implements are heavy!

 

[cletus99]

I don't mind getting off the tractor and that's not the reason I'm looking to but one. I just hate having to struggle to hook up the lift arms by myself. Seems like every time I need to change implements my son is not home to help. And he'll be out the house in the next couple years anyway. No way am I asking the wife to help hook them up :laughing:.

 

[Guesseral]

I don't mind getting off the tractor and that's not the reason I'm looking to but one. I just hate having to struggle to hook up the lift arms by myself. Seems like every time I need to change implements my son is not home to help. And he'll be out the house in the next couple years anyway. No way am I asking the wife to help hook them up :laughing:.

Either type should help with that problem. I really don't know the in's and outs for the pats just the concept of them. Everyone likes what they have and everyone thinks that what they have is the best thing since well what ever. I like the QH even though I have to adapt older equipment, I don't like the pats but I don't even know why. When I was looking I checked them out but I really didn't give them a second look I guess because I wanted a true three point all at once setup keck I don't really know. I read many different threads here on TBN plus and minus for each one, especially how older equipment needs to be adapted to fit a true QH, but that looked like a challenge to me and I like a challenge although adapting the equipment has been pretty easy so far. Like I said everyone likes what they have and you will like whatever you go with and you will have your reasons to get what ever you get. It's like the old saying to each his own (man now I feel old) it's all your decision not ours!

 

[Daver1963]

I have the Tractor Supply Company's version of the Pat's Easy Change. The majority of the equipment I use has a PTO so you have to get off anyway, its easier to hook up the PTO without the top link in the way, and it seems to me the quick hitch would be somewhat in the way.
On Saturday I started with a middle buster on and switched to the tiller, then the finish mower, and back to the tiller in the course of the day. I probably spent about 15 minutes hitching and unhitching total.

 

[FatTire]

I have a Quick Hitch but wish I had gone with the Pat's system instead. My QH is on the narrow end of the spec, so I have to get lined up perfectly to get it onto the implements. There is no flexibility when using a QH.

 

[k0ua]

I don't mind getting off the tractor and that's not the reason I'm looking to but one. I just hate having to struggle to hook up the lift arms by myself. Seems like every time I need to change implements my son is not home to help. And he'll be out the house in the next couple years anyway. No way am I asking the wife to help hook them up :laughing:.

Here is another option to consider. I used these for years when I had an L3400hst without telescoping lower links and stabilizers. the price is right and you do not have to extend your PTO shafts, as the sit on top of the lower lift links and do not add any length to the lower link.

Welcome to CARTER AND SON'S TOOL AND DIE

 

[stonypass]

Here is another option to consider.

I have his J-Hooks welded on top of my lift arms.
"J-HOOK"

The spreader arm he sells that goes through the lift arm balls, would not have worked on some of my attachments. The J-Hooks work perfect for me though, I use the tractor sway links and a rubber bungee to set the distance between the hooks.

All my attachments have the lifting pins set to the same width, some with adjustable pins or washers.
I just leave Lynch Pins on all attachments, back up to the attachment and pick it up slightly then hook up the top link and I'm done. Very easy and you still have access to the original balls if desired.

Depends on your tractor and attachments, but with this setup I can change to any implement in a few minutes easily and it wasn't expensive.
Distance from the tractor to the attachment is unchanged, you are lifting from a point just slightly higher but nothing a small lift link adjustment won't handle.

 

[k0ua]

The spreader arm he sells that goes through the lift arm balls, would not have worked on some of my attachments. The J-Hooks work perfect for me though, I use the tractor sway links and a rubber bungee to set the distance between the hooks.

That is exactly how I used them also.:thumbsup:

 

[Beltman60]

I love my Pat's
makes hitching a breeze for all my implements
and you have more room to attach your PTO shaft then you do with a QH
MY :2cents:

 

[94BULLITT]

I prefer a quick hitch. Some implements I don't even have to leave the seat to attach or detach from them. On something like a blade or rake I just have to raise the park stand. The quick hitch is also a good hydraulic toplink holder. Thursday I had to move 3 implements so a customer could park his trailer there. The quick hitch made moving the implements a breeze and the customer was amazed at how fast I moved them. I think he is going to get a quick hitch for his tractor now.

Here is my imatch in action.