bsauter
Silver Member
I've been following this thread with interest due to my wanting to have a better way to hook up my implements. For seven plus years I have wondered about quick hitchs. Lately I have had a renewed interest in them. I take implements on and off probably three times a week on average. Used to be much more before I got my ZD28 but now I don't have to mess with the finish mower. Now I switch between a 6' KK box blade, 5'KK rotary, 6' Farm Star grader blade, drag harrow and manure spreader.
I looked at the videos from Freedom Hitch and Jiffy Hitch several times over the past week and both are impressive. Freedom Hitch looks (on the video) to be a little better built and designed than Jiffy but I have not seen them in the flesh like some of you. I really like the way Jiffy designed a trailer hitch receiver into their product so you can slide in the hitch right off your truck for moving trailers. To move trailers with the Freedom you have to buy there trailer hitch attachment for $69. Still not bad but not as slick in my opinion.
I was quoted $1025 for a tractor and three implement attachments from Jiffy Hitch. Ouch. I was quoted $780 from Freedom Hitch for the same setup. A little better to digest.
I then went to TSC and looked at the Speeco Quick Hitch. $169 for the unit with the adapter attachment plus one set of bushings. I measured my implements and the Quick Hitch and it looked like everything would work. I talked to the retired farmer who works the yard there and he said he has seen a few come back with people saying they couldn't get it to work with their implements. He said a couple of those were people wanting to put them on Cat 0 tractors. We debated the pro and cons and he said to just try it and if it doesn't work with everything then just return it. Sounds good to me.
So I took it home today and put it on my L3010. I immediately took the top hook off and set up the adapter. I just don't trust the hook (maybe I should), don't want to take the time to mess it and I can't use it on my grader blade anyway.
I have never hooked up stuff so fast! Very impressive. The bushhog was on in a minute and the PTO shaft was long enough to reach the tractor. Took it out and everything was rock solid. The grader blade was very easy also.
The box blade needed a little alteration so the quick hitch could fully engage the lift pins. I had to cut a 1/8 inch off a little brace right behind the right lift pin. Now it slips right on.
Now, for me $169 has bought a lot of ease for me. Instead of dreading to have to change implements I was able to switch between my three easily this evening without breaking a sweat.
If I was a professional landscaper and switch several times a day all week I think I would look at the Freedom or Jiffy a little more because they do look easier to use by a little bit but for the money the Speeco looks like it will turn out to be a good investment.
So there you go. Just my humble thoughts on saving a little money and hoping it would work. I was skeptical when I walked out of TSC and really thought I'd end up ordering the Freedom Hitch tonight but the Speeco worked for me and my implements very well. Your milage may vary.
I looked at the videos from Freedom Hitch and Jiffy Hitch several times over the past week and both are impressive. Freedom Hitch looks (on the video) to be a little better built and designed than Jiffy but I have not seen them in the flesh like some of you. I really like the way Jiffy designed a trailer hitch receiver into their product so you can slide in the hitch right off your truck for moving trailers. To move trailers with the Freedom you have to buy there trailer hitch attachment for $69. Still not bad but not as slick in my opinion.
I was quoted $1025 for a tractor and three implement attachments from Jiffy Hitch. Ouch. I was quoted $780 from Freedom Hitch for the same setup. A little better to digest.
I then went to TSC and looked at the Speeco Quick Hitch. $169 for the unit with the adapter attachment plus one set of bushings. I measured my implements and the Quick Hitch and it looked like everything would work. I talked to the retired farmer who works the yard there and he said he has seen a few come back with people saying they couldn't get it to work with their implements. He said a couple of those were people wanting to put them on Cat 0 tractors. We debated the pro and cons and he said to just try it and if it doesn't work with everything then just return it. Sounds good to me.
So I took it home today and put it on my L3010. I immediately took the top hook off and set up the adapter. I just don't trust the hook (maybe I should), don't want to take the time to mess it and I can't use it on my grader blade anyway.
I have never hooked up stuff so fast! Very impressive. The bushhog was on in a minute and the PTO shaft was long enough to reach the tractor. Took it out and everything was rock solid. The grader blade was very easy also.
The box blade needed a little alteration so the quick hitch could fully engage the lift pins. I had to cut a 1/8 inch off a little brace right behind the right lift pin. Now it slips right on.
Now, for me $169 has bought a lot of ease for me. Instead of dreading to have to change implements I was able to switch between my three easily this evening without breaking a sweat.
If I was a professional landscaper and switch several times a day all week I think I would look at the Freedom or Jiffy a little more because they do look easier to use by a little bit but for the money the Speeco looks like it will turn out to be a good investment.
So there you go. Just my humble thoughts on saving a little money and hoping it would work. I was skeptical when I walked out of TSC and really thought I'd end up ordering the Freedom Hitch tonight but the Speeco worked for me and my implements very well. Your milage may vary.
