Revised 3 point trailer hitch

[bitternut]

I revised the 3 point trailer hitch I made for my tractor so I could skid out logs with it. I welded a 1/2" x 1-1/2" bar onto the hitch. I slotted the bar so that a choker chain would lock into the bar. This again was welded with my HH175 using flux-core wire. I know I have seen a lot on this forum about the 175 having a limit of 1/4" but I have been using mine on much heavier stock with no problems. I think the key is that I am preparing the joint properly and using a wire that is suitable for multi-passes. I think proper joint design should be stressed a little more and not just using a higher amperage welder.

Anyways I have been using it on some pretty heavy loads with no problems. Even caught the hitch of logs on a stump once with no problem. Actually stalled the tractor.

Here is a picture of what I did.

[bitternut]

Here is a picture of a hitch of hard maple.

[Dan]

Bitternut,

The key ingredient here is the fact that you are using a self shielded fluxcore wire. The HH 175 is definitely an impressive unit, for its size, when a self shielded fluxcore wire is installed on the machine. I ve never used my HH 175 on 1/2" but I have welded 3/8" with it using an E71T-11, and was really impressed with how deep the weld was burning into the basemetal.

[Scott S]

Bitternut, What model Deere is that?

[bitternut]

That Deere is 2000 model 5210 with MFWD and a 541 loader. It has a 3 cyl diesel engine with the sync shuttle transmission. With the 16.9 x 28 loaded rear tires and double ring chains it goes through quite a bit. Its been a great tractor. I like it a lot. I bought it as a retirement gift for myself when I retired 3 years ago. Figured it was my last chance to get one.

[Scott S]

I like it. Good luck with it!

[zuiko]

That's a nice tractor. I got a JD 990 (35 pto hp, gear).

What kind of tubing did you use for the rest of the hitch? Did you salvage the receiver part from something you already had?

I wouldn't mind having a 3ph receiver for mine but they are such a ripoff to buy (every one i've seen is $100-200). Right now I just have one of those bars with all the 7/8" holes in it... works OK.

[customwelds]

Looks great. I agree with you, if you design the joint right and fit it up well, with the proper welding technique, you can do a great job on stuff. You just have to know what you're doing!

[bitternut]

What kind of tubing did you use for the rest of the hitch? Did you salvage the receiver part from something you already had?

I used rectangular tubing, 1/4" x 1-1/2" x 3" and some 5/8" bar stock for the hitch. The bar for locking the chains in was made from a hunk of 1/2" x 1-1/2". I had to radius the edges of the notches with a carbide burr so that the chain would slip into the notch. I use 3/8" chain and the link spacing would not allow the chain to fit with out some rework. I could have used 3/8" bar stock maybe but I did not think it would have been strong enough. All of this material I got from my local steel guys scrap trailer. He has a small trailer that he keeps stocked with drops that you can buy as scrap by the pound. I stop in every now and then just to browse. You never know what will be in there. Got a bunch of 1/4" x 3" x 6' bars that I cut up into chunks for practice.

The receiver I had to buy at the local TSC store. It cost more than the rest of the steel for the hitch. I think I paid $17 for it but I am not sure. If I was still working I probably would have made a broach to trim the weld off the inside of square tubing and made my own receiver. No longer have all the machines and material available for that kind of stuff anymore. Have to do a lot of improvising now.