trailer hith/backhoe

[mdbarb]

Perhaps i mistakingly posted this in attachements:
trailer hitch on backhoe?
08/17/05 02:03 PM Edit Reply Quote



I see many ads for trailer hitches on drawbars at the rear but I use the backhoe all the time and don't want to take it off just to move a trailer.
We have an enclosed trailer that gets storedin a very tight spot that requires every ounce of my backing up going forward skills when attached to the pickup.
I'm thinking if I could attache the trailer to a ball somewhere on the backhoe bucket - the tractor is shorter and MUCH more manuverable - I should be able to place that puppy on a dime.
But where, how to mount a ball on the backhoe without interferance problems?
Perhaps some sort of a slot/sleeve that the ball hitch could easily slide into when needed.
I know there are brilliant solutions out there amongst the TBN fabricators

 

[JerryG]

I don't see how you would be able to install a functionally hitch on a small backhoe. Maybe I am missing something. If someone has done it I to would like to see it. It looks like you would be able to put a trailer into a much tighter place with the hitch on the loader since the front wheels are so much closer to the hitch point.

 

[Casco1]

Mine is on the loader bucket. I bought a 12" receiver shaft and had a friend cut & weld it at an angle to the top of my FEL bucket.
When I curl down it lines up with my trailer, I take my ball mount off of my truck and put in the bucket receiver. I find it very easy to place my trailers by driving forward. I got the idea from someone on this forum but I don't remember where.

 

[JerryG]

My receivers

 

[gugy]

I also put the receiver in the front. much easier to operate.

 

[mdbarb]

hmm wheels being closer makes sense
Wouldn't the hitch be way high on top of the loader?
I was just visualizing how easy it would be to use the backhoe to guide the ball right up to the hitch and move things around with the boom.

 

[escavader]

I WRAP THE SAFETY CHAINS AROUND MY HOOK ON THE BACK OF MY FRONT BUCKET.STEERS PRETTY GOOD TOO
ESCAVADER

 

[rjok]

We bought a clamp on receiver for the fel on our TC-33 to move
a 17ft enclosed trailer. Works good and easy to install and remove.

 

[dltimmons]

This is a copy of my reply to your other post in the "Build it Yourself" topic.


On my backhoe, I bolted a tow hook, from an old four wheel drive winch bumber I no longer used, to the back of the bucket. It is up at the top of the bucket, on the back, and doesn't interfere with digging at all. I use this hook to pick up items with the backhoe, like a small crane.
I can also back up to my trailers, and running the backhoe from the drivers seat, I can hook the hitch on my trailers, pick up the hitch, and move the trailer around. Works well on the flat parking area where I keep the trailers. I would not try to move one up or down any hills like this. For that, I have a bumper mount receiver hitch that I bought at Wally World, mounted to the top center of my front loader bucket. I use a long drop hitch in it, and can move trailers with the front loader that way. I also made my own three point hitch using a draw bar, receiver tube with angle iron uprights welded to it, and move the bigger trailers with it when I need to take them very far.
The tow hook, (large slip hook) has two bolt holes in it, about 1/2" diameter, and can easily be removed from the backhoe bucket if I need to take it off. So far, year and a half, it has not been necessary.
Sorry, no pictures.
Try it, you'll like it.

DT

 

[jim_wilson]

Do some searches here on TBN - there have been other people asking the same question. A few months back JimMorrisey was trying to figure out how to do this with his L39 so he could tow a dump trailer without having to remove the backhoe. The other option you might want to think of is putting a receiver on the FRONT of your pickup. My father did this on his Ford Expedition because he has a utility trailer that needs to get stored down at the end of a long narrow driveway, around the house, and under the deck. Again not an easy backing up job. Going forwards with truck (using a ball on the front) is MUCH easier.