Quick Hitches Survey on quick hitches

Boondox · Aug 19, 2002

After seeing the LP, the Freedom Hitch, and some generic wannabe at Empire Farm Days, I'm very interested in adding quick hitching capabilities to my rig. Didn't see the Jiffy Hitch. Of the three, the Freedom Hitch looked like the best and fastest way to go. The generic used channel iron, so you had to back up perfectly to get a fit like so ]]. The FH used angle iron on the female end and square tubing on the male angled so it fit like this >>. In my observations, this arrangement seemed to allow connections even if you were off about 10 degrees.

Comments?

Pete

bubenberg · Aug 19, 2002

the freedom hitch is great we had it for a few years now. i wish someone would come up with a better idea for hooking up the pto when needed ....this is at times a knuckleboster, cold finger, twisted body situation; and that is why we went with power trac ...what a breeze that is to hook up an attachment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GlennT · Aug 19, 2002

Mosey--You are correct in thinking that the rigid upper hook does not allow the flexibility that a shredder or finish mower requires to follow the contour of the area being mowed or shredded. I notice that in the picture posted by John Miller III he has an adapter with slots in it to permit this vertical movement. This wasn't available for the Land Pride when I purchased mine several years ago. I use a short length of heavy chain and a clevis to connect the upper link of the shredder or mower to the quick hitch--to the frame of the hitch itself and not to the hook. Actually, the mower or shredder would work just find without any upper connection if you were content to pull the implement behind on its wheel(s) and never lift it off the ground; however, if you hit a rock or a stump the implement can pivot upwards instantly on the lower pins and wind up upside down against the ROPS or on top of the operator if there is no ROPS. A substantial upper connection is needed to make sure that the implement stays on the ground where it belongs and to allow you to lift the implement for transport. By the way, I agree that the extra cost of the Land Pride in comparison with the SpeeCo is not justified. I bought my Land Pride because it was the only speed hitch available within 75 miles that I could see and measure and I also had faith in Land Pride products.

Anonymous Poster · Aug 19, 2002

The quick hitch is by far the most usefull attachment that I have. The pivot for the top link should be built into the mowere not on the tractor. The only time I have to get off of the tractor is when I need to hook up the drive shaft for my tiller and mower.

patrickg · Aug 20, 2002

I have been interested in quick hitching for a while, especialy while hooking up my brush hog or the morning after. It isn't the price of the Speeco and its bretheren that slows me down, it is my concern about robustness. Although I only have a Kubota L4610HSTC with a bit under 40HP to the PTO, I have fairly substantial 3PH implements (read heavy). My brush hog is a 6 ft Cimaron with single tail wheel but is the HD model with square tubing bracing on the deck, slipclutch, and a gearbox rated for 60 or 80 HP with chains front and back. Similarly, my Cammond box blade weighs over a thousand pounds.

The clerks at say, TSC, can give you a price and help you load it if you buy but have no idea how heavy an implement it is rated for. I tend to get, shall we say, "virorous" in my use of heavy implements and am concerned that an afordable hitch might not be strong enoug.

I have been tempted to JUST DO IT but why waste the time and money if it is likely to break.

Any experience to share along these lines?

Patrick

Inspector507 · Aug 20, 2002

I'd like to see when First Choice's hitch will be available

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 20, 2002

I wasn't aware they were making one. I heard rumor of a hydraulic top link that was supposedly at the Louisville show. Did they also have a quick hitch prototype there that you saw?

MarkV · Aug 20, 2002

Jerry, I am also interested in what First Choice comes up with and when it will be on the market. From what I have seen, Jim and Pieter have been trying to come up designs that address the shortcoming of existing attachments so it should be interesting.

Gary, somewhere on the forum there is a photo of both the prototypes of the First Choice quick hitch and hydraulic top link. Hopefully one of the more computer talented members will post a link.

MarkV

Inspector507 · Aug 20, 2002

Here it is. Yes the prototype there in Louisville was nice looking even though Jim said it looked real rough /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-175727-Hitch1.JPG>First Choice Prototype</A>