Drawbar or pickup hitch
- Thread starter texeltup
- Start date
Pick up hitch and bottom link arms right down, back tyres hitting the drawbar is the limiter of turn angle for us.
alomy75
Member
Yes but if your drill was on your link arms you would turn tighter before your tyres hit
- Location
- Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos
Had a tractor driver (now retired) who converted our baler from draw bar hitch jaws to a pick up hitch.
It was such a disaster due to not being able to turn sharp enough on the headlands that he converted it back, the very next wet day he had a chance to!
Without which it would ‘bang’ like crazy when the PTO was engaged until any forward motion happened.
It was such a disaster due to not being able to turn sharp enough on the headlands that he converted it back, the very next wet day he had a chance to!
Without which it would ‘bang’ like crazy when the PTO was engaged until any forward motion happened.
May be...It's a SImba Freeflow yoked to a JD 7810 which has the turning circle of the Ever Given, so there's probably not much in it in reality!
Is the drawbar adjustable in length on drill? Obviously the longer it is the tighter you can turn.
Our Kuhn Espro can be jackknifed so link arm goes against drawbar without wheels or anything catching and can turn straight back in tight to next run, I've adjusted steering stops on tractor to give more lock as well.
Our Kuhn Espro can be jackknifed so link arm goes against drawbar without wheels or anything catching and can turn straight back in tight to next run, I've adjusted steering stops on tractor to give more lock as well.
Oliveau
Member
- Location
- Indre et Loire, France
Long drawbar on tractor. I always used to drill 6 turns of the headland for a 20 row drill. Plenty of turning room.
clbarclay
Member
- Location
- Worcestershire
Wheelbase of the drill makes a big difference. I had no bother with an old unidrill on a pickup hitch. That was pretty short.
My other trailed drills have been too long from the hitch point to the axle though and need to go on a drawbar to avoid hitting the tyres while turning.
The GD caddy is a big lump and someone's it is very noticeable when turning how it pulls on the back of the tractor.
My other trailed drills have been too long from the hitch point to the axle though and need to go on a drawbar to avoid hitting the tyres while turning.
The GD caddy is a big lump and someone's it is very noticeable when turning how it pulls on the back of the tractor.
clbarclay
Member
- Location
- Worcestershire
What is the noise weight of a rapid with a full hopper?
One downside to drawbars is they aren't rated to carry the same nose weight as a pickup hitch. I suspect my GD exceeds the maximum rated downward load on the drawbar, but only while it is in work, not during transport.
One downside to drawbars is they aren't rated to carry the same nose weight as a pickup hitch. I suspect my GD exceeds the maximum rated downward load on the drawbar, but only while it is in work, not during transport.
Front press keeps her nose down.
Another thing that hasn't helped turning circle is it was a 4 metre wrap it that I have converted to a 3 metre, because of power requirements, availability, price, and how many bent and missing bits that were on the drill. I was able to get a good 3 metre out the 4
Another thing that hasn't helped turning circle is it was a 4 metre wrap it that I have converted to a 3 metre, because of power requirements, availability, price, and how many bent and missing bits that were on the drill. I was able to get a good 3 metre out the 4
clbarclay
Member
- Location
- Worcestershire
It's not balance of the tractor, just what downwards force the drawbar is made to carry.
The rapids look like most of their weight is carried on their press wheels though when raised, but I've no experience of them.
I just checked a manual for my big tractor. It's rated to carry 3000kg on the pick up hitch, but if I swap the pickup hook for the drawbar then that drops significantly, down to only 800kg.
This will of course carry a lot between tractors and the types of drawbar they have.
The rapids look like most of their weight is carried on their press wheels though when raised, but I've no experience of them.
I just checked a manual for my big tractor. It's rated to carry 3000kg on the pick up hitch, but if I swap the pickup hook for the drawbar then that drops significantly, down to only 800kg.
This will of course carry a lot between tractors and the types of drawbar they have.
Last edited:
- Location
- Wiltshire
I’ve had 3 rapid drills all with different hitches. The 1st was on link arms and press wheels, this was great. Easy to hitch on and on steep ground you can raise the links a little to transfer weight to the tractor for grip.
Then moved to a 4m with pickup hitch this really did not turn right enough so changed it to a clevis which was much better. If you have the reversible vaddy hitch they can snap in half! The big problem with a fendt clevis and heavy drill is the tractor needs to be millimetre perfect to get the pin in and i don’t often go more than a couple of days with the drill on.
Now on a 6m with pickup hitch, the extra width does make life easier and i don’t fancy the hassle of the clevis.
The alternative is to use the sat nav to drill in lands which i have to on my steepest fields. Sometimes i think i’ll do this on every field it’s just the risk of cocking up the tramlines. And having had the drill tractor out of action for a week this spring i don’t want to rely totally on sat nav yet.
Bg
Then moved to a 4m with pickup hitch this really did not turn right enough so changed it to a clevis which was much better. If you have the reversible vaddy hitch they can snap in half! The big problem with a fendt clevis and heavy drill is the tractor needs to be millimetre perfect to get the pin in and i don’t often go more than a couple of days with the drill on.
Now on a 6m with pickup hitch, the extra width does make life easier and i don’t fancy the hassle of the clevis.
The alternative is to use the sat nav to drill in lands which i have to on my steepest fields. Sometimes i think i’ll do this on every field it’s just the risk of cocking up the tramlines. And having had the drill tractor out of action for a week this spring i don’t want to rely totally on sat nav yet.
Bg
deleted user 837354
Member
Ball and spoon job so you can grease the thing. 
clbarclay
Member
- Location
- Worcestershire
I thought the main reason for changing to those was so your neighbours couldn't borrow your trailers.Ball and spoon job so you can grease the thing.
They do look to extend the hitch point back a few inches compared to pickup hooks though.
ball and spoon on sumo trailed trio , fantastic!
- Location
- Yorkshire coast
Our 4 meter Vaderstad is
on the tractor drawbar. About 14" further out than pickup hitch. Usually go 5 times around headlands in a good shaped field or 6 if headlands a difficult shape..
on the tractor drawbar. About 14" further out than pickup hitch. Usually go 5 times around headlands in a good shaped field or 6 if headlands a difficult shape..
The London Palladium event “BPR Seminar”
This is our next step following the London rally 
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
lwtheatres.co.uk
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
BPR Summit | LW Theatres
lwtheatres.co.uk