Tie down points on your tractor

21047 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by jenkinsph, May 15, 2012

Will

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2011

How do you guys 'hook' to your tractor ?

I'm pretty satisfied with my front connection, just a simple shackle in the frame hole. (pic 1)

Never been to happy about the rears though. I've done it two ways up till now.

One was a large shackle on the center drawbar. That was OK, but the whole rear relied on that one shackle. And god forbid should one side chain fail the other would become really loose. (I didn't get a pic of this way)

Second way was a shackle around the same shaft the draw bars connect to. It felt more secure but man, what a pain to reach in attach, Almost had to crawl in on my back. (pic 2)

This weekend I took that draw bar and glued a large sling ring to the end and replaced my chain ends to slip hooks w/ spring retainers. (pic 3+4)

I did a test load and tie down and I'm liking it already. Very easy to reach in and hook and un-hook.

Would love to see how others do it.

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Brian

· #2 · Jun 27, 2011

When I tow mine, I remove the draw bar. That allows me to get 2 chains hooked up to the rear. The hole is large enough for 3 chains. Its nice if you need to strap down an implement also.

The front I use the black bumper that the loader sits on. I run a chain to each side of that. :thumbup1gif: I don't have pictures but I will take them next time I load up.

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Uncle Wayne

· #3 · Jun 27, 2011

Will said:
This weekend I took that draw bar and glued a large sling ring to the end and replaced my chain ends to slip hooks w/ spring retainers. (pic 3+4)

That's good idea but why didn't you move the ring a little farther back so the drawbar could still be used for pulling / towing i.e. as a trailer hitch?

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Will

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 28, 2011

Uncle Wayne said:
why didn't you move the ring a little farther back so the drawbar could still be used for pulling / towing i.e. as a trailer hitch?

Hi Wayne, mostly cause this bar only gets used as a tie down point. I just have no use for it as a 'hitch'.

To move trailers around short distances, I use my front hitch gizmo. (see photobucket link)

Secondly, to move far enough for hitch hole use, it would kill the use of hole "pin 1" and force the use of hole "pin 2". (see pic)

These pin holes are the only 2 that can be used for location. And pin 2 really sticks the bar out there and thinking it may could induce "bad" leverage.

That said, I'm thinking of ordering a replacement just to have one unmodified.

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Uncle Wayne

· #5 · Jun 28, 2011

Will said:
Hi Wayne, mostly cause this bar only gets used as a tie down point. I just have no use for it as a 'hitch'.

You've got a very good idea here and it's better and easier than the way I've been doing it. I'll probably copy your idea except I think I'll move the ring out to the very end (narrow part) of the drawbar and weld it across there. Then weld the other side of the ring to the flat part of the drawbar like you did. It won't set level with the drawbar like yours but it will allow me to still use the drawbar as a trailer hitch.

Thanks for sharing that idea with us Will. :thumbup1gif:

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dmay

· #6 · Jun 28, 2011

With the tractor facing forward on the trailer I first connect a nylon tow strap with hooks to a shackle in the rear drawbar and rear trailer sides in a triangle orientation. I hook this up then drive the tractor forward to take up slack. Then I use 6, 2" wide x 2 ft long nylon axle straps wrapped around the front and rear axles. Two go to a center forward ratchet strap. Tractor is now secured for forward/backward movement. Then 4 straps around the axles at each wheel which connect to ratchet tie down straps to the side of the trailer. This holds the tractor for roll. Also for forward/backward movement.

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Will

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 29, 2011

Uncle Wayne said:
I'll move the ring out to the very end (narrow part) of the drawbar and weld it across there. Then weld the other side of the ring to the flat part of the drawbar like you did. It won't set level with the drawbar like yours but it will allow me to still use the drawbar as a trailer hitch.

Ah, OK, I understand now. That might have been the better way to go.

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t613

· #8 · Jan 25, 2012

Clevis through the front frame mount (on weight rack) and a clevis shackle in the 1" hole in the drawbar. I loop the front chain through the clevis secure to the two front corner tie-down areas on the trailer with a binder, and both rear chains from the drawbar to the two rear corners(tightened when the front chain is tightened). All grade 70 chain, 5/16".

Never had a problem. Tied multiple cars down on it the same way with no issues.

Basically the same way you did it, but without welding the loop on the drawbar.

A good topic for discussion!

Tim

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jenkinsph

· #9 · May 15, 2012

When I tie down the rear of my 4520 I so the same as Brian, remove the drawbar and run the chains through the frame opening. The front tiedown points I do differently, I added two steel plates with eyes to run the chains through, these are pictured below.

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Tie down points on your tractor

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Will

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