Is this wrong? How wrong? (trailer hitch setup)

I needed to tow a trailer in a hurry, and didn't have one of those locks to keep the bar from rolling, so I just bolted the top link to the drawbar with a 3/4" bolt. Seemed to work fine, and has the advantage of preventing the drawbar from pushing/lifting up.

Seems too easy though. What am I overlooking?
a92397.jpg
 
Well as long as your being careful it will maybe be ok. I have seen center links break and if that happens and the trailer is tail heavy you can be a dead man with a trailer hitch sticking out your chest
 
(quoted from post at 20:02:24 12/12/12)
What other arrangements would be safer to prevent the drawbar from moving up or down during the tow?

Thanks

Sw
op link is stronger than a pair of stay bars. I prefer the under belly draw bar myself, but don't know that it is safer.
 
(quoted from post at 20:02:24 12/12/12)
What other arrangements would be safer to prevent the drawbar from moving up or down during the tow?

Thanks

Sw

It's hard to tell from the picture but it looks like you have the OEM under axle clevis for a swinging drawbar. Might want to consider adding stay bars and a swinging drawbar. - made for just what you want to do.

TOH
 
If you stay with that I would make sure the PTO is off so you don't
bump the lever and try to lift it by accident.
It looks like you have a swinging drawbar hitch under the tractor.
Why not just add the drawbar and stay bars?

12830.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 20:48:02 12/12/12)
The arrangement above is exactly what I need. Thanks Royse.

Is that one store bought or home grown?

Thanks

Sw
The stay bars and drawbar can be bought from this site, or your local TSC, etc.
They were OEM equipment on some of the N's, but may have been an option??
Here's another version that I like better, because it leaves your
3pt hitch free to use, but it does add more pieces and cost.


12831.jpg
 
I used a receiver hitch blank welded to a plate and bolted it in place of the swinging drawbar hitch. That way I can use any number of different ball mounts and towing arrangements.
 
(quoted from post at 20:56:33 12/12/12)
(quoted from post at 20:48:02 12/12/12)
The arrangement above is exactly what I need. Thanks Royse.

Is that one store bought or home grown?

Thanks

Sw
The stay bars and drawbar can be bought from this site, or your local TSC, etc.
They were OEM equipment on some of the N's, but may have been an option??
Here's another version that I like better, because it leaves your
3pt hitch free to use, but it does add more pieces and cost.


12831.jpg

I do not think you can buy the older Dearborn style swinging drawbar or hitch new. A complete SDA6 aftermarket drawbar kit is roughly $125 and replaces the OEM style hitch used on the 8N with the improved design used on the NAA and later tractors.

TOH


wm_49A34R.jpg
 
Thanks for pointing that out TOH. :)
I didn't mean to say you could buy the OEM parts, I just meant that
similar ones were readily available. I didn't make that very clear.
Like 55deere70 mentioned, I also use what was a bumper mounted receiver,
flipped upside down and bolted to the top of a 13 hole drawbar on one of my tractors.
I welded on flat stock sticking upright to meet the top link.
I then use the 3pt to lower the hitch, back under the trailer tongue and lift it.
I use it to move my boats and empty trailers around the yard for mowing etc.
I wouldn't recommend that for much weight, but it's nice to be able to move
light stuff around the yard without climbing on and off every time.
 
Just be sure no one else gets on and pulls the lift lever to the up position. Don't ask me how I know that's a problem. ;0)
 

I would say that you did real good to think of that. I don't think that you are overlooking a thing, because if you are clever enough to think of that you are not likely to be dumb enough to drive it off a cliff, or take it down the interstate, or load 40,000 lbs of corrosive liquids on your trailer.
 
Ya but, does that setup prevent the drawbar from rotating ? Without a 'lock', I don't think so. I was wrong before, a Tuesday in 1974. ;*)
 
(quoted from post at 09:51:28 12/14/12) Ya but, does that setup prevent the drawbar from rotating ? Without a 'lock', I don't think so. I was wrong before, a Tuesday in 1974. ;*)

Me thinks you can remember this time also!! I don't see how it could rotate,
 

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