How to secure empty hitch?

[osweetman]

Then simply set the stabilizer bars to their longest setting, unless they are the non-adjustable flat bars. Those are fastened under the axle with clinch pins. Remove the pin, remove the bars, then use a bungee cord to hold the lift arms to their narrowest. OR buy a standard drawbar for a 3-pt hitch to hold everything together at the same time.

Yes, just solid flat bars with nothing to secure them. I actually have a drawbar, but would prefer something that's easier to "stash", as the typical scenario is that I'm driving down the road to/from a neighbor to borrow an implement, so would then need to leave the drawbar behind or secure it to the implement.

 

[Jim.ME]

Yes, just solid flat bars with nothing to secure them. I actually have a drawbar, but would prefer something that's easier to "stash", as the typical scenario is that I'm driving down the road to/from a neighbor to borrow an implement, so would then need to leave the drawbar behind or secure it to the implement.

If your lift arms with holes in them between the ball ends and lift links, you may be able to shorten your stabilizers and hook the in a hole ahead of the ball ends, like the ones in the picture below. you likely can drill holes to use to attach the stabilizers in, if there aren't any. Tey will stay on you unless you have to unhook the to hitch up an implement. Use locknuts on the bolts so you can allow them th be slightly loose so they can pivot as the arms go up and down.

 

[Ray,IN]

Yes, just solid flat bars with nothing to secure them. I actually have a drawbar, but would prefer something that's easier to "stash", as the typical scenario is that I'm driving down the road to/from a neighbor to borrow an implement, so would then need to leave the drawbar behind or secure it to the implement.

Got it! Then the easiest option is a bungee strap to hold things together.

 

[Dick L]

This seems like a really basic question but I haven't found any good answers yet. When driving a tractor that has an empty hitch, how do people secure the lift arms from swinging into the tires, along with stabilizer bars? I figure I'll just buy a couple implement pins (aka draw pins) for this purpose, but maybe there's a better solution?

I like to carry log chains wrapped around the lift arms on the smaller tractors that they tend to swing out to the tires.

 

[hurleyjd]

1959 Ford 641 - it just has solid stabilizer bars, and nothing on them or the lift arms to secure them when the hitch is empty.

You solved your problem with your original post. I have ford tractors and that is the way I do it.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I use a piece of cheap chain with a karabiner on both ends on the John Deere’s new generation and above that have a hole for the previously mentioned spring . Every once and awhile you have to replace a karabiner but it’s simple enough

The A and b conversions don’t seem to smack the tires they stay where they need too and almost always have something hooked to them anyway. The other thing that works is a quick coupler if you are setup for that. I am not setup for that on the little stuff.

 

[Texasmark]

Olivers and Whites have a tab welded on each arm, then there's a real stout spring that holds them together. I used a 3pt drawbar to hold them together on my 4040 Deere. A rubber strap isn't stout enough for heavy arms. My biggest White doesn't have the tabs, so when the quick hitch isn't on it, I use a small ratchet strap around the links between the rock shaft arms and the lift arms so it's positioned where it dosn't interfere with the PTO or remotes.

.........and CIH...I have 2.