Ford 2000 3 Point Hitch Setup

Alright first post here, I picked up a Ford 2000 diesel 8 speed, power steering, live PTO.... to use as a garden tractor and some light bush hog work. I've got some bigger machines to do more serious jobs.

I need to setup the hitch, but was wanting to setup just a quick hitch on it. Exhaust is turned under so that's blowing in my face. I just need something that is easier to deal with in terms of hook up.

Does not have stablizers on it so need to add some type of setup there. I supposed I can get the flat bar that came from the factory, but not sure those are likely to create issues with a quick hitch?

Thinking Harbor Freight for the quick hitch. Any thoughts?

Let me know what I need or any advice is appreciated, I have never owned a tractor under about 120 hp before.

Here's what I'm working with:

Probably a good idea to check the quick hitch to see if it will work with all the implements you have. I was considering one for my 4630, but there's at least one implement I have it may not work with, so that idea is on hold.

With the exhaust fumes, shut it off LOL, I know sometimes you may have to be near the back when its running. My 4630 has a underslung exhaust too, and I use a 6' piece of flex pipe to redirect it when I park it in the garage or otherwise. On this one the fold down rops allows me to just rest the pipe against it in the down position. It does serve a good purpose to direct the exhaust away when I need to. I then take it off and keep it nearby, I could make a better arrangement, its not the right size or anything, just something that I had on hand.

The stabilizers, I forget what these came with or what was standard, but the telescoping multi-hole tube steel on the 4630 is really handy and works well. Nice you can adjust them by just moving the pin in the holes. I'm not sure if there is any out there for these tractors, they sure do work well for me. Maybe some of your larger tractors have this type on the lift arms ?

That's a real good little tractor you've got there.

Had the Harbor freight quick hitch on one of the smaller tractors here. The large majority of implements will not hook up to it. Mainly only the newer stuff as they
seem to make it quick hitch compatable. That was one of those waste of money good ideas.

As Billy said, you can put even just a little piece of something on the end of the exhaust pipe to point it a little off to the side.

Keep a couple of pins in your tool box, and you'll find hooking things up to the plain old 3 point isn't really that hard at all.

Looks like you have the bracket under the fender bolts for the left side stabilizer. If you have the one on the right side all you need are the long flat links and a couple of lynch pins to install a fast hitch. One disadvantage to the fast hitch is you are moving your load back 2 to 4 inches and adding weight also.
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I appreciate the replies... now y'all got me thinking maybe quick hitch isn't such a good idea. I have to pick up some small implements for this thing
and I'll likely buy them used, so maybe I'm just creating more headache than it's worth dealing with making everything fit the hitch. I've got a 5ft.
Squealer Bush Hog that will be behind it most of the time unless I am working the garden. I was thinking the factory stabilizers would be a pain to
hook up since they don't telescope, but maybe they aren't. Maybe I should just give them a try they aren't expensive.

I got the tractor for a good price and I know these things were tough little guys... so I'm trying to be be realistic about what it will do and
hopefully it will work out because it has been kinda hard to deal with a IH 1486 in the garden/woods... like a lot of folks around here the farm is
about gone to pines so I'm dealing with a lot more narrow places. I was looking at a 3600 but it was twice the price. These tractors are fairly
expensive in Alabama because they make good food plot machines and you can pull them with a 1/2 ton pickup and car hauler.

I got a pair of stabilizers from this site, love 'em. Tractor had only the left bracket when we got it. Right side had the pulley bracket for a snow plow. Made a bracket from a piece of angle iron.

The down-fall of that type of hitch is not all implements are all the same. If a guy could make it adjustable maybe he could live with it.

I have Pat's on my bota and this guy is working on making them fit a N... Its doable...

http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1271400&highlight=pats

Suggest checking out Pat's Quick Hitch. Mounts right on lift arms. We've put them on 3 tractors...yes, we like 'em. Any implement will fit, no re-doing linkage pins or frame. My personal-best time was 3 drops & re-hooks in 5 min...in the dark (was moving some implements around). Made in the USA, can get them direct from factory or from Northern Tool or Agrisupply.

You will need the stabilizer bars with the curve to them not the straight bars. The straight ones will hit the square axles.

Ford 2000, 3 cyl.; 4/1 trans....I got the straight stabilizer bars from Tractor Supply and they seem to work fine. Agri Supply also has them and probably cheaper. I'm thinking about getting the Pat's quick hitch to help me attach implements. Note...the stabilizer bars are a pain and easily bent if you back up with the unattached end down in the dirt. I made some hangers to keep them up while I back around to my implements, then unhook them and attach to the pins once the lift arms are attached. They make a big difference. Haven't noticed that they hit the axles when lifted way up. I will try to load a pic of the hangers that I am using. If the pic loads, you will see that the yellow end of the sway bar has been curved by the implement loads over time. Painted yellow so I can see the ends in the dirt.

Ford 2000, 3 cyl.; 4/1 trans....I got the straight stabilizer bars from Tractor Supply and they seem to work fine. Agri Supply also has them and probably cheaper. I'm thinking about getting the Pat's quick hitch to help me attach implements. Note...the stabilizer bars are a pain and easily bent if you back up with the unattached end down in the dirt. I made some hangers to keep them up while I back around to my implements, then unhook them and attach to the pins once the lift arms are attached. They make a big difference. Haven't noticed that they hit the axles when lifted way up. I will try to load a pic of the hangers that I am using. If the pic loads, you will see that the yellow end of the sway bar has been curved by the implement loads over time. Painted yellow so I can see the ends in the dirt.

I got mine direct and they stuck it to me... agri supply has the best deal... All you need is in the agri kit, direct you pay extra for the setting rod :shock:

I should have done my research...

Whut ever works 8) ... You need the curved stabilizers... Its the nature of the beast...