ScottW
Bronze Member
I'd like to move a utility trailer short distances without having to take the BH off. Is there a good way to temporarily attach a ball to the BH or front loader bucket? Maybe a clamp with a stem and ball attached?
Want to move a trailer with BH on; GC2410
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dcyrilc
Elite Member
I've seen this done in two primary ways. Either drill a hole through the center of the bucket about an inch in from the edge and put a ball in it, or mount a two inch receiver to the top edge of the bucket where you can uncurl the bucket and use a hitch in the receiver.
I don't consider either option to be great, but they do work. A better option, IMO, would be to modify a hitch so that it clamped onto the bucket cutting edge. I would still drill the bucket so that a bolt could go through the bucket to secure the clamp without risk of it coming loose/off while moving the trailer.
Keep us posted on what you end up doing and how it works.:thumbsup:
I put both on my FEL; sometimes it's handier to have a low-mounted ball, sometimes higher up. If you look closely, you'll see the hole I drilled in the bottom of the bucket....
But I remember seeing a very clever trailer-hitch set-up for the backhoe bucket. I placed it on my "Things to do in the future" list!
Just searched it out- posted by BXTex on 3/9/09, page 3 of the thread...
"Anyone mounted a trailer hitch ball on FEL?" is the title of the thread. (Guess I don't know how to add a link...:ashamed
Really neat idea.
But I remember seeing a very clever trailer-hitch set-up for the backhoe bucket. I placed it on my "Things to do in the future" list!
Just searched it out- posted by BXTex on 3/9/09, page 3 of the thread...
"Anyone mounted a trailer hitch ball on FEL?" is the title of the thread. (Guess I don't know how to add a link...:ashamed
Really neat idea.Attachments
OP
ScottW
Bronze Member
Cyril, Irving, Ray, thanks for the ideas and tips. Simply using a C clamp with the FEL bucket and relaying on friction to hold it under the mild drawing force I expect sounds like it might work, though the posts mentioning bucket flex concern me. I could really use something right now, as we are in the middle of moving into our new house, so this may be good enough short term. Someone also suggested just hanging the trailer hitch by its safety chains from the bucket--I do have hooks welded on both sides of the FEL bucket top, so this might work. Keeping the end of the hitch from banging the inside the bucket may be impossible though, especially in push mode.
Thinking longer term, when I'll use the trailer to move materials into our garden, I like the solutions you pointed me to in that previous thread. Here's the link to the solution by BXtex in 2009, who devised a very nice welded bracket that hangs from his orange BH bucket:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/138725-anyone-mounted-trailer-hitch-ball.html#post1612142
This solution with the ball bolted to the foot-step on the BH body also seems nice, but is obviously meant to stay there, and might lead to some bumped shins getting on and off the seat: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/138725-anyone-mounted-trailer-hitch-ball.html#post1610006.
I think I'll ask around about making a welded bracket that hangs from the BH bucket. If those cost estimates seem too much, I'll consider trying to make one from lumber and steel parts. Getting the angles right and having strong enough hooks look like the hardest aspects to it. I'll post with what I find out . . .
Thinking longer term, when I'll use the trailer to move materials into our garden, I like the solutions you pointed me to in that previous thread. Here's the link to the solution by BXtex in 2009, who devised a very nice welded bracket that hangs from his orange BH bucket:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/138725-anyone-mounted-trailer-hitch-ball.html#post1612142
This solution with the ball bolted to the foot-step on the BH body also seems nice, but is obviously meant to stay there, and might lead to some bumped shins getting on and off the seat: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/138725-anyone-mounted-trailer-hitch-ball.html#post1610006.
I think I'll ask around about making a welded bracket that hangs from the BH bucket. If those cost estimates seem too much, I'll consider trying to make one from lumber and steel parts. Getting the angles right and having strong enough hooks look like the hardest aspects to it. I'll post with what I find out . . .
dcyrilc
Elite Member
Hey Scott,
Is that a QA bucket on your tractor? What about having a receiver built into the back (tractor side) of the QA? Then you would just need to drop the bucket and put in your hitch. A quick and easy change and shouldn't be very expensive to have fabricated either. I keep thinking about having my tractor converted to QA and this idea has been in the back of my mind for a while now. Might make for a good long term solution?
How much force do you think it takes to move a utility trailer? Unless its unusual circumstances, not much. If you clamp the draw bar to the cutting edge, which is where it is thickest, it's not going to be a problem, as I said, I have done it.
Assuming your trailer is in good condition, your land is navigable, and not going to drive like a manic, I can assure you there will be no damage.
OP
ScottW
Bronze Member
Cyril, sorry, I'm not following you. I'm guessing a QA is a Quick Attach--not sure what that is. I do have a front-mounting Quick Hitch/Subframe to use with my snowthrower, but so far anyway I've left those together as one unit. Plus, I don't see an obvious place to bolt the ball to it. Anyway, I would prefer to leave the FEL attached to save time, since there will be tasks where I need to alternate between working the FEL and trailer.
To mount the subframe, I took the weight hanger bar off from the front bumper and have just left it off--don't need it. It occurs to me that if I keep the bucket lifted up high, I can see under it for driving and could hitch the trailer to a ball mounted off the front bumper. I would just need a L-shaped bar that bolts or clamps to the bumper, and has a hole for bolting the ball.
I'll start with Ray's solution of clamping to the front bucket. First I need to get a flat bar with a hole in it.
dcyrilc
Elite Member
I was refering to a Skid Steer style Quick Attach bucket on the FEL. Two levers to release the bucket for switching to forks, etc.
Anyway, the bumper idea sounds interesting. Keep us posted on what things you try and how they end up working.:thumbsup:
crash325
Elite Member
Pulling a trailer with the back hoe is not a good idea. Unless it is really light and what ever you put in it is very light, you could bend or break a very expensive part. :2cents:
It is very easy to drill or burn a hole in you FEL front lip. Other than the cost of the ball it is very cheap.
With just a little practice you will find it easy to push the trailer and that will let you get in and out of very tight spaces. With the ball in the bucket, I move my 18' around, have a good sized roller that I almost always push. Same with my cement mixer. I have moved Mobile homes up to about 40+' and travel type trailers.
It is very easy to drill or burn a hole in you FEL front lip. Other than the cost of the ball it is very cheap.
With just a little practice you will find it easy to push the trailer and that will let you get in and out of very tight spaces. With the ball in the bucket, I move my 18' around, have a good sized roller that I almost always push. Same with my cement mixer. I have moved Mobile homes up to about 40+' and travel type trailers.
