Trailer ball on a drawbar

Hay hay hay · Aug 9, 2013

I thought this was OK to do, for pulling very light trailers at low speed around the farm. I am talking about bolting a ball thru the single 30" drawbar that extends up under my MF65.

Then I read in the archives many cautioning that this is dangerous and that I need a complex system of anti-sway, anti-lift, and anti-rotate hardware that will take longer to install than the time the trailer will be hooked to the tractor.

I want this to be safe....who is right?

Roger in Iowa · Aug 9, 2013

They are talking about the drawbar that you would put between the three point lift arms, not the drawbar that comes out underneath your tractor.

jhilyer · Aug 9, 2013

Not an expert but I've done this...what's the differnce, really, between a ball hook up and any other hook up, like a pulling a manure spreader with a pin?

Maybe the comments you looked at were about an aftermarket drawbar to go between the lower 2 points of your 3-point hitch - in which case, you probably would need anti-sway bars, etc.

But I don't see a problem with using the drawbar that sticks out from under the back of your tractor.

Carlyle hoffman · Aug 9, 2013

With the draw bar in its shortish position we have never had a problem, and do it regularly . PS: Keep the load and weight reasonable.

buickanddeere · Aug 9, 2013

Tongue weight can bend a drawbar.
In some justifications using a ball hitch changes your hailed load from farm status to licensed highway vehicle status.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 9, 2013

That's how I use mine on a 2N and I do not have any problems. Just keep the weight as forward as practical. I have hauled the trailer loaded with heavy clay and it was fine.

John T · Aug 9, 2013

If you mean a regular drawbar that extends out where you normally pull a wagon or a pull type plow or implement etc NO PROBLEM its designed for tongue weight and dead pulling.

HOWEVER if you mount a cross bar side to side onto the 3 pt lift arms and stick your ball hitch in one of the holes, those are bad to sway side to side and/or raise even. (I have towed some that way) If you had anti sway bars that would help but all in all its NOT my preferred method and some trailer tongues may not clear the cross bar well

USE THE DRAWBAR, NOT A SIDE TO SIDE CROSS BAR IN THE 3 PT is my advice, others may agree or maybe not????

John T

old · Aug 9, 2013

It is true it is not safe to hook a trailer to the 3 point type draw bar because they will sway side to side and can even come up and have the trailer pop off the ball and then get the tongue of the trailer in your back.
That said if your talking about the swing draw bar that sits under the rear end and does not move any where but to the side that is safe but you do need the stop pins in so the trailer stay straight behind you

Dave Sherburne NY · Aug 9, 2013

There seems to be some confusion as to what drawbar you are using.
If you are using the drawbar which is fastened under the differential. Its safe as long as you have the pins in to keep it from moving side to side. Sounds to me you mean this one.

If you are using the 11 hole drawbar between the lift arms, it can move side to side and up and down, not safe.

Hay hay hay · Aug 9, 2013

It is exactly like the top drawbar photo and fastens under the diffrential.

John T · Aug 9, 2013

Great, if its like the top drawbar and the vertical pins are in place so its no longer a "swinging" drawbar YOURE MUCH BETTER OFF.

Its the bottom unit that attaches to the 3 pt lift arms that (unless stabilized) can sway side to side and Id prefer NOT to use it, although its possible and Ive done it........

Pictures worth a thousand words

John T

Ken Macfarlane · Aug 9, 2013

Pin type connection such as 5th wheel or ag type in most areas doesn't require safety chains because if it is connected incorrectly it will come apart immediately when pulling away with trailer.

Ball type with incorrect attachment will usually stay on and may come unhitched at high speed.

Leroy · Aug 9, 2013

Must be a Canadian thing.

old · Aug 9, 2013

The top one is what is called a swinging draw bar and the bottom is the 3 point type draw bar that needs the stay bars etc. So as long as you lock the swinging bar so it does not swing side to side your good to go

Mike (WA) · Aug 9, 2013

I've got a little doovisary that fits over the 3 point drawbar, and over the pin on the side, to keep it from turning, so you can put a ball on it. I cinch the sway turnbuckles up tight, so everything is stable.

Dick L · Aug 9, 2013

If it is unsafe to pull a trailer I will have to quit hauling manure.

SDE · Aug 9, 2013

I use a piece of rectangular tube stock and mounted a ball to that. It slides over the end of the draw-bar and has a pin that holds it in place. I can move it from tractor to another by pulling the pin.
SDE

buickanddeere · Aug 9, 2013

I seen somebody put a ball hitch in a 4020 drawbar and connect to a 16ftX60 mobile home. The drawbar bent halfway to the ground and did not return to full height when the trailer was unhooked.

HCooke · Aug 9, 2013

I use this setup on a 2N. I like it because the trailer is farther aft and the tongue is less likely to hit the wheels when turning. It is very secure and I use it to move all my boats and trailers on the farm.

D beatty · Aug 9, 2013

Moved a 14ftX 60 mobile home with it everything in it with a Case 1070 and it didn't effect the drawbar at all.

ericlb · Aug 10, 2013

ive got the top pic setup on my old ford, ive pulled up to around 3500 pbs of trailer with it in 1st or 2nd gear around the place never had any problems, the 3 point setup is ok but its far enough behind the tractors tires that weight is a factor , more than 4 or 500 lbs on a light tractor and your front wheels are going to be up flapping in the breeze

GVSII · Aug 10, 2013

(quoted from post at 16:15:41 08/09/13) I use this setup on a 2N. I like it because the trailer is farther aft and the tongue is less likely to hit the wheels when turning. It is very secure and I use it to move all my boats and trailers on the farm.

I've pulled trailers with this set up.It is safe but I was never comfortable with it.I'd much rather pull with a swinging drawbar and my 860.

Trailer ball on a drawbar

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