3 point quick hitch - Harbor freight?

Garcia · 04-25-2022, 10:45 AM

i'm looking to get a 3 point quick hitch for my tractor - tired of wrestling with implements!

Harbor Freight sells them for quite a bit less than anyone else around here. What do people know about Harbor Freight - is what they sell good quality or is it poorly made junk?

Poor Richard · 04-25-2022, 06:06 PM

HF is touch and go, IMO. My dead blow hammer that was a year old just exploded yet the engine lift I've had for about 5 yrs is perfectly fine.

When I consider the stresses that a 3pt hitch is subjected to, I would take a close look at the gauge of steel and quality of the welds on the HF version and compare that to an example from anyone...JD, MB Tractor, Chappell, heck even TSC.

It may be just as robust as any of the others or may end up being scrap metal. For this specific application, I'd likely avoid HF and find either a quality used one or go new and file the purchase under "buy once cry once"

tummyman · 04-25-2022, 06:24 PM

Buy MADE IN USA....Not HF and all its cheap China tools.

SAB1 · 04-25-2022, 06:44 PM

Agree with PR. You get what you pay for. A lot of it is junk.

fatlazyless · 04-26-2022, 07:37 AM

Are you aware that Harbor Freight now has a great big store in Gilford, close to Walmart, that is totally loaded with inventory so's you can probably get a good look at it, there.

Have heard that Harbor Freight takes 75-year old International Farm-All's from a big junk yard in Des Moines, grinds up their excellent tough steel, and redo's it into their Harbor Freight three-point hitch, and for a very low price!

Slickcraft · 04-26-2022, 08:52 AM

I agree with getting a quality quick hitch. I have a Deere IMatch which is well made. It fits my Land Pride implements as well as my Frontier snow blower. I think that Land Pride also makes a good quick hitch.

In any case make sure it fits your implements. Most modern implements are quick hitch compatible, but some older implements may not be.

BTW, while the Deere iMatch is a cat 1 hitch, it is made to fit cat 2 pins hence bushings are required at least on the lower pins.

Alan

Garcia · 04-26-2022, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I agree with getting a quality quick hitch. I have a Deere IMatch which is well made. It fits my Land Pride implements as well as my Frontier snow blower. I think that Land Pride also makes a good quick hitch.

In any case make sure it fits your implements. Most modern implements are quick hitch compatible, but some older implements may not be.

BTW, while the Deere iMatch is a cat 1 hitch, it is made to fit cat 2 pins hence bushings are required at least on the lower pins.

Alan

Thanks! I am looking at the Speeco quick hitch (twice the price of the Harbor Freight) which does not require bushings and looking at the measurements, all my implements (box blade, bush hog, plow, and York rake) will fit.

Appreciate all the feedback!

TiltonBB · 04-26-2022, 06:34 PM

Not everything at Harbor Freight is junk and depending upon how much use something will get an inexpensive item might work for you.

Last month I needed a pipe wrench to flip the ball on a trailer hitch and change it from a 2 inch drop to a 2 inch rise. $13.95 for the wrench, a little WD40, and it worked.

I got tired of hand cranking docks up with a trailer winch attached to a tree. A 5,000 pound Harbor Freight 12 volt electric winch bolted to a tree makes that easy. I only wish I had thought of it 10 years ago!

If I were a mechanic or a carpenter, who was depending on my tools every day, it might not be the right choice. But for a few projects it seems like they are OK.

Juiced06GTO · 04-26-2022, 07:46 PM

Their KH gets good reviews on the tractor forums I am on. I went with Pat's quick hitches on my Kubota.

Garcia · 04-30-2022, 10:01 AM

I ended up going with Pat's Quick hitch. Many of my implements are older and I think it will end up being more work to make the SpeeCo hitch work. Once I get it installed and start using it I'll share my thoughts.

Appreciate the input.

04-25-2022, 10:45 AM	#1
Garcia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 610 Thanks: 137 Thanked 278 Times in 170 Posts	3 point quick hitch - Harbor freight? i'm looking to get a 3 point quick hitch for my tractor - tired of wrestling with implements! Harbor Freight sells them for quite a bit less than anyone else around here. What do people know about Harbor Freight - is what they sell good quality or is it poorly made junk?

04-26-2022, 07:37 AM	#5
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,773 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,019 Times in 741 Posts	Are you aware that Harbor Freight now has a great big store in Gilford, close to Walmart, that is totally loaded with inventory so's you can probably get a good look at it, there. Have heard that Harbor Freight takes 75-year old International Farm-All's from a big junk yard in Des Moines, grinds up their excellent tough steel, and redo's it into their Harbor Freight three-point hitch, and for a very low price! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-25-2022, 06:06 PM	#2
Poor Richard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: The humbling river Posts: 304 Thanks: 42 Thanked 80 Times in 57 Posts	HF is touch and go, IMO. My dead blow hammer that was a year old just exploded yet the engine lift I've had for about 5 yrs is perfectly fine. When I consider the stresses that a 3pt hitch is subjected to, I would take a close look at the gauge of steel and quality of the welds on the HF version and compare that to an example from anyone...JD, MB Tractor, Chappell, heck even TSC. It may be just as robust as any of the others or may end up being scrap metal. For this specific application, I'd likely avoid HF and find either a quality used one or go new and file the purchase under "buy once cry once"

04-25-2022, 06:24 PM	#3
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 842 Thanks: 259 Thanked 687 Times in 244 Posts	Buy MADE IN USA....Not HF and all its cheap China tools.

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (04-26-2022)

04-25-2022, 06:44 PM	#4
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,238 Thanks: 192 Thanked 328 Times in 238 Posts	Agree with PR. You get what you pay for. A lot of it is junk.

04-26-2022, 08:52 AM	#6
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,310 Thanks: 1,230 Thanked 2,098 Times in 957 Posts	I agree with getting a quality quick hitch. I have a Deere IMatch which is well made. It fits my Land Pride implements as well as my Frontier snow blower. I think that Land Pride also makes a good quick hitch. In any case make sure it fits your implements. Most modern implements are quick hitch compatible, but some older implements may not be. BTW, while the Deere iMatch is a cat 1 hitch, it is made to fit cat 2 pins hence bushings are required at least on the lower pins. Alan

04-26-2022, 06:34 PM	#8
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,021 Thanks: 703 Thanked 2,203 Times in 937 Posts	Not everything at Harbor Freight is junk and depending upon how much use something will get an inexpensive item might work for you. Last month I needed a pipe wrench to flip the ball on a trailer hitch and change it from a 2 inch drop to a 2 inch rise. $13.95 for the wrench, a little WD40, and it worked. I got tired of hand cranking docks up with a trailer winch attached to a tree. A 5,000 pound Harbor Freight 12 volt electric winch bolted to a tree makes that easy. I only wish I had thought of it 10 years ago! If I were a mechanic or a carpenter, who was depending on my tools every day, it might not be the right choice. But for a few projects it seems like they are OK.

04-26-2022, 07:46 PM	#9
Juiced06GTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 213 Thanks: 9 Thanked 84 Times in 49 Posts	Their KH gets good reviews on the tractor forums I am on. I went with Pat's quick hitches on my Kubota.

04-30-2022, 10:01 AM	#10
Garcia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 610 Thanks: 137 Thanked 278 Times in 170 Posts	I ended up going with Pat's Quick hitch. Many of my implements are older and I think it will end up being more work to make the SpeeCo hitch work. Once I get it installed and start using it I'll share my thoughts. Appreciate the input.