farmer 1,075 #1 Posted July 18, 2018 Bit of a misleading title for this modification, but it’s a continuation of the ‘Beefing up’ series. The standard hitch although low is pretty much good enough for most towing jobs that a garden tractor is expected to carry out. I have also seen on RS heavy duty 2” receiver hitches that are ‘bolt up’ and raise the towing height allowing car/ boat trailers to be moved. If you have the need, this type of hitch is probably be best solution. The intention of this little build is to use the standard hitch with heavier tongue weights whilst not having to worry about possible damage to the transaxle (where the hitch could crack or break up through from the bottom). The chosen tractor would also need to be fitted with the tiller/ blade rear bracket. Materials 310mm length of solid bar 19mm diameter (washers welded at the ends) 100 x 50 x 5mm flat bar. When mounted the extention on the hitch comes up against the bar and this takes all the pressure off the transaxle, there is approximately 5mm clearance between bar and axle case. Pictures express better than words. Painted off white because I seem to have quite a bit of that left over !! 7 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractor boy 239 #2 Posted July 18, 2018 @farmer is that white rod welded to the frame of the hitch or is it held on some other way? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farmer 1,075 #3 Posted July 18, 2018 Hi Tractor boy the rod is a separate part latched up in the rear bracket used normally for the blade or tiller. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,817 #4 Posted July 18, 2018 21 minutes ago, Tractor boy said: @farmer is that white rod welded to the frame of the hitch or is it held on some other way? I believe it is just inserted into the rear axle hitch where the snowplow would normally insert. Then the new hitch just rides on the bottom of the rod freely. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 26,148 #5 Posted July 19, 2018 Very nice! I have often wondered about the strength of the bottom of the transmission with the pressure from the hitch... Good Job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #6 Posted July 19, 2018 That would make me feel better! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 56,165 #7 Posted July 19, 2018 14 hours ago, farmer said: Painted off white because I seem to have quite a bit of that left over !! Nice job! And here I thought it was painted white so us older members wouldn't have difficulty seeing it! 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,464 #8 Posted July 19, 2018 I've glued pieces of 1/4" rubber to the ends of those hitches on mine to give it a cushion to prevent possibly cracking the trans case - seems to work well but I do like your idea with steel braced to another object better. If one were to use a front blade - that modification should still work fine using the cross rod on the rear of the blade frame instead. Good job ! Sarge 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farmer 1,075 #9 Posted July 19, 2018 6 hours ago, 953 nut said: Nice job! And here I thought it was painted white so us older members wouldn't have difficulty seeing it! @953 nut Is that would or wouldn’t, sorry but I couldn’t resist. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
posifour11 723 #10 Posted July 19, 2018 14 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Very nice! I have often wondered about the strength of the bottom of the transmission with the pressure from the hitch... Good Job! I have, too! @farmer may have changed how I look at a good hitch. I've never had issues with my drawbars, but this is a good thing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,874 #11 Posted July 19, 2018 I like it! I've done some really dumb stuff with mine. Never had any problems. Just lucky. Does anyone know of some one that broke their case on the tow hitch? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,464 #12 Posted July 20, 2018 I cracked one 8spd years ago on a Work Horse - but in all fairness, it was a 750lb engine block that fell over onto the very end of that tongue. It literally drove the other end up into the trans almost 1/4". Good news was, it broke the cross pin free enough to split the case and weld it, lol. Sarge 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oneroadkingman 53 #13 Posted August 1, 2018 i though of welding a 2in.square receiver under the white piece do u think that would work? by the way nice job on your project.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,374 #14 Posted August 2, 2018 14 hours ago, oneroadkingman said: i though of welding a 2in.square receiver under the white piece do u think that would work? by the way nice job on your project.. Here's the correct way... @wheelhorseman... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
