Tractor Quick Hitch help needed.

[Warren in SC]

Hey Everyone,

What I am hoping to find is help from those people that have bought these Tractor "Quick Hitches" concerning how well they work and which ones to consider buying? I have found in general 2 main categories, FIRST kind that slides over your lower lift arms on each side, and SECOND is shaped in an upside down U shape or sometimes in an A-frame that hooks onto all three lift arms. So can anyone please let me know the experiences they have had and with what brands, etc. Also, it still seems like you may find yourself getting off the tractor to get either kind lined up underneath the lift pins. Finally, if these are supposed to lift from the Cat. 1 pins, then why do some of these talk about needing to put quick hitch "Bushings" on the implement pins??? Also where are people seeing these hydraulic top arms I have seen referred to? Thanks for all of your help!!!

If people could reply with links to the brands I should check out/consider and what their thoughts were, that would be perfect!!! I am looking to put them on a 1940 Ford 9N tractor and on a 65 HP New Holland. Thanks!!

Warren in SC

Photo of 1st type:

Photos of 2nd Type:

 

[Hard]

I have one that looks just like the Landpride quick hitch. It's a Speeco brand that I bought at TSC. It fits right up with my Woods landscape rake, Woods boxblade, Woods rear blade and King Kutter Carry All. It sure makes hooking up these implements a breeze.

The Speeco would not fit up to my King Kutter box blade or KK rear blade. I sold those implements and bought the Woods. It was definately worth it.

 

[Neophyte]

What type of attachments will you be using?

Are your attachments already Quick Hitch or iMatch compatible?

I have the iMatch and I love it. With that said, I had to modify many of my attachments to be compatible. Now that it's done, it's a real time saver. I'm able to connect and disconnect attachments without ever leaving my tractor. With that said, you still need to get off of the tractor to hook up the driveline for PTO implements.

You can get an iMatch from any JD dealer and they should cost around $215. You can get bushing kits for each of your attachments for around $28 each. There are less expensive ways to accomplish the bushings but I found the JD kits to be quick and easy.

The LandPride and Speeco units have an adjustable top link, which means less attachment modification up front. However, it also means that you still need to get off of your tractor to adjust the top hook before connecting it to a particular attachment, which defeats the purpose a bit.

The one other nice thing about the Speeco is that it comes with a floating top link bracket, if you have an implement that needs one such as an RFM. You will need to purchase a similar bracket for the LandPride or JD quick hitches.

If you are willing to modify your attachments, then go with a Quick Hitch.

If you are not willing to modify your attachments, then go with an lower link Easy Change type system.

A hydraulic top link will definitely enhance the functionality and ease of a Quick Hitch. If you have hydraulics for both (top and tilt), it would be even better. Either would enable you to easily tilt the Quick Hitch to adapt to different attachments, which may have different approach angles. It is also extremely helpful if you are attaching to implements on uneven ground.

 

[Warren in SC]

Neo,

Thanks for the post. I just took a look at those iMatch systems, and they look almost identical to the other similarly shaped "Quick Hitch" systems. But anyway, if you are interested in what implements I may be hooking up to, I think my implements page contains most of them. Also, the double roller cultipacker is going to converted to a 3pt hitch pick up as well. Thanks for the useful information!!

My photobucket page:
Farm Equip-Implements - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

 

[firemanpat2910]

i have used the Freedom Hitch, A frame style. It is great, the only time I have to get off the seat is to hook up a pto shaft. All the implements are stored outside,on unlevel ground. If you get the tractor triangle anywhere in the implement triangle, it centers it self and you hear it click in place.

 

[ctpres]

Have had Land Pride QH for about 9 months. LOVE it. Presently used to switch from carry all to bush hog to nothing for trailer towing. U shape frame offers bonus for easy log hauling.

 

[Warren in SC]

Also, before I forget......what do the Land Pride quick hitches usually run.....with and/or without the floating attachment or whatever? thanks.

W

 

[canoetrpr]

My dealer let me try out the LP quick hitch for a week. He was going to let me have it for a darn good deal as it was just sitting in his warehouse.

It did not work out for me. I only had a Woods BB60 rotary cutter and a Kubota ballast box. It was fine with the cutter but did not fit the ballast box (or more correctly the ballast box did not fit it).

I considered getting the ballast box modified but also being a short guy (5' 6'") found that it was very hard for me to see the lower hooks be in the right position to lift and lock with the top half of the LP frame obscuring the view. Would not be an issue if I had a few more in inches on me .

I've just ordered a Pat's (similar to the first picture) and expect that to work better. We'll see . It does not have the top part obscuring my view. Does not matter to me that I need to hook up the top link. The pain in the neck about hooking up for me are the bottom links - having to use a wrench to widen them to get them over the bush hog pins and so on.

 

[Neophyte]

i have used the Freedom Hitch, A frame style. It is great, the only time I have to get off the seat is to hook up a pto shaft. All the implements are stored outside,on unlevel ground. If you get the tractor triangle anywhere in the implement triangle, it centers it self and you hear it click in place.

Where could we get more information on the Freedom Hitch? I'm not sure I have ever seen something along these lines.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I just tried the web page and its not working but do a google for freedom hitch and there are several sites that show pictures of it

Or contact Freedom Hitch Ida Grove Ia 800 859 3028

DISCLAIMER I am not affiliated in any way besides being a satisfied user,.
I have no idea how much they cost they are on the implements I share with one of my buddies and I use the tractor end off his spare tractor.

 

[Neophyte]

I just tried the web page and its not working but do a google for freedom hitch and there are several sites that show pictures of it

Or contact Freedom Hitch Ida Grove Ia 800 859 3028

Thanks for the information.

I checked as well and their site seems to be down. Freedom Hitch is made by Midwest Industries, Inc., which is well known for manufacturing ShoreLand'r Boat/PWC trailers and ShoreStation Boat Hoists. I sent them a quick e-mail to see what happened to their Freedom Hitch website. I will let you know what they say.

Midwest Industries

I found two other companies that make similar hitches. Jiffy Hitch has a nice video on their website, which also has some basic overview information on hydraulic top links. They have some other interesting products as well, such as a hydraulic top link that does not require a rear remote, which is also discussed in the video.

Jiffy Hitch Systems

Bubco

The A-frame is a slick concept. John Deere even used the concept on their new front mount attachments. With that said, it seems to be the most expensive route by far.

 

[texasjohn]

I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned PAT'S EASY CHANGE SYSTEM:

Home

He is a supporter of TBN, which gets a cut of sales thru TBN. He is a great guy to deal with. I got a catagory 2 set of his attachments and they work on all my implements without any modifications, unlike some of the alternatives mentioned. It's a very rugged quality product he stands behind.

This topic has been discussed extensively previously in TBN threads... a search should turn up lots of user comments. Sometimes, people need a longer top link when using his system, not always.

I'm a very satisfied user... unaffiliated in any way with Greenwell manufacturing.

 

[Warren in SC]

Thanks Neo and John. I thought I had already mentioned Pats hitch but maybe I forgot. Actually I think I already decided to get this for my 9N tractor because I don't want all the added weight on my rear end. Now I am just considering what to do on my family's 65HP New Holland??

W

 

[StevenPaul]

You may want to try this website Delta Hook Rapid Hitch System - Home

These are made in SC and they look pretty good and about as easy as it gets for hooking up stuff. Only reason I know about them is we have a friend that just started working at a company that does a part of the production process. They aren't cheap though, at least not for me anyways.

Steve

 

[firemanpat2910]

steve that is very simular to the one I use. The biggest difference I see is that mine is open in the middle of the tractor end giving more room for pto shafts. Thanks for the video though, I never thought of hooking a cable onto my disconnect lever. That will make it even easier to un hook

 

[Warren in SC]

Holy cow! $1000 for the kit? Man it looks great, but as you can tell, the major draw back is spending $340 for each implement you want to hook up. That I think is the major downside of these multipart systems.....the price. Otherwise it really looks like a sweet rig!

 

[dirtrod]

I’m a very happy Speeco owner. I purchased it over similar units because of the adjustable top hook, having said that I went ahead and picked the location that matched most of my implements and modified my other implements to accommodate that height.
I can back up and connect without getting off of the tractor, unless I have a PTO to connect.

I wouldn’t leave the barn without it!

 

[MajMac392]

I've been looking at these as well. I called Midwest who makes the Freedom Hitch and they no longer make them, probably why their site is down. He referred me to a Freedom Hitch.

 

[4sarge]

You may want to try this website Delta Hook Rapid Hitch System - Home

These are made in SC and they look pretty good and about as easy as it gets for hooking up stuff. Only reason I know about them is we have a friend that just started working at a company that does a part of the production process. They aren't cheap though, at least not for me anyways.

Steve

I like this one, pretty slick !!! but too salty for me also. I guess that I'll just have do it the old fashioned way

 

[Neophyte]

So if the initial two implement kit costs $1000 and it costs $370 for each additional receiver plate, then for six implements the total cost would be roughly $2500!

It's a slick system but not that slick. I prefer the idea of a $200 (approx.) quick hitch with a few minor modifications to the implements.

As firemanpat2910 mentioned, the PTO shaft clearance seems extremely tight on the Delta Hook system.