European Tractors

DRussell · Oct 26, 2021

Tractors in Europe often have a hitch higher up in addition to the drawbar and the three point. It seems to be more of a pintle style hitch than a drawbar pin. What is the purpose of this hitch? Safety? Something else? Just a European thing?

Tx Jim · Oct 26, 2021

The higher the hitch location is on the tractor then the easier it will be for ft tires to be raised off the ground when a load is attached to hitch.

Russ from MN · Oct 26, 2021

Maybe because they pull big 2 wheel trailers with pintle hitches on the highway to town, instead of driving a pickup truck, very few pickup trucks in Europe.

Cash4Toys · Oct 26, 2021

They use what is refered to as a Rockinger hitch. Not pintel hitches. The hitch attached to the power unit has the swivel's built in, very tight fitting, no slop, designed for vertical, horizontal and rotation.
The hitch is made with a vertical pin, actuated by a lever on the side, this pin is precision fit in an upper and lower pin boss. The towed unit has the proper sized tang, that will insert into the hitch, and cannot be uncoupled through pin loss. Use the lever to raise the pin, insert the tang then lower the pin and it absolutely can not come unhooked.
In the US, or actually everywhere I guess, the towed heavy transport trailers (dual lane) and platform trailers(multi-axle hydraulic suspension), such as Goldhofer use this hitch as well. There is no requirements for safety chains with style hitch, and their used with loads in excess of 1,000,000 +. Here is a link to to video of a large transport, towed by a Rockinger.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Perkins+michigan+transport+video&view=detail&mid=0EF5E0C9A27994FA14740EF5E0C9A27994FA1474&FORM=VIRE

Athol Carr · Oct 26, 2021

The higher hitch will have nothing to to front tyre load with weight of drawbar load but will affect front tyre load with drawbar pull. The weight effect will be due to lever-arm about rear axle which is horizontal distance. The higher hitch seen on European tractors is a trailer hitch.

Roger in Iowa · Oct 26, 2021

I have seen a tractor the size of a Ferguson 30 pulling a silage wagon, in France. The tractor was grossly overloaded and the front wheels were mostly off the ground with the operator steering by brakes. It took several tries to cross a waterway and the front wheels were off the ground, just short on power too.

Only advantage it seems, the style of hitch prevents or limits overturning to the rear.

Yes they use wagons and tractors in place of trucks.

SVcummins · Oct 26, 2021

From my d1000 manual .

CyrusNoble · Oct 26, 2021

I am new to Yesterdaytractors but very glade to find, here tractors are discussed very deeply.

DRussell · Oct 27, 2021

SVCummins, wasn't your baler primarily sold in Europe? I've never seen any other baler with that type of hitch option.

European Tractors

DRussell

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Tx Jim

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Russ from MN

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Cash4Toys

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Athol Carr

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Roger in Iowa

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SVcummins

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CyrusNoble

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DRussell

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