Pick up hitch

zetor 4911

Maybe someone has a solution to this. When trying to pick up a trailer can't see the pick up hitch because of the PTO guard and have to get in and out of the tractor to check is it lined up, sometimes it works first time but on other occasions it could take 4/5 times in and out of the tractor which is very frustrating. When you are young jumping in and out of the tractor is not an issue but as you get older it can be a right pain.

Pod123

Had a zetor tractor and attached a mirror on to the bar that opened the back window which allowed me to see down on to the hitch.

Who2

I put a mirror on the window handle but it’s still blind. I was considering getting a cheap reversing camera and mounting a small screen in on the cab. You could just get a new extendable hitch either but I’d say they are mental money.

Sami23

Yeah a mirror is the only job - never have to get out with it.

zetor 4911

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122511789#Comment_122511789

That looks a very professional job. Is it bolted to the cab.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512090#Comment_122512090

No it's attached to the lever for letting up and down the lift.

All New Holland TL's have these mirrors

Grueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512354#Comment_122512354

Had these mirrors in my case.

emaherx

There is a mirror on my McCormick on the window when you open it too, it's in the operators manual so I presume fitted from the factory.

I line the tractor up as well as I can without the mirror, then just use it for the last few inches of actually reversing into the trailer. It works well, I thought it was a bit of balls at first but got used to it quick enough. With my old MF's you could just see the hook without mirrors or fancy telescopic hitches, which was just a better job.

Grueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512807#Comment_122512807

Would that not mean that the hitch was thrown out further from the back end, therefore making the tractor lighter in the front with a load on the hitch?

Jb1989

As much to do with cab and position.

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512921#Comment_122512921

As much to do with cab and position

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512921#Comment_122512921

Probably would, but never found it an issue towing any of the trailers I have, it's closer to the tractor than a clevis hitch would be. Picture below, you can see it just past the U-guard from the seat. I've had MF's with this hitch and the normal one in tight under the tractor, I'd prefer this one any day.

This is the mirror on the McCormick.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122511410#Comment_122511410

Could be almost the price of of a Zetor 4911. (assuming that is still the OP's tractor)

Telescopic hitch is a great job, but I had to on more than one occasion explain to helpful idiots that I don't need to be directed into the trailer and if you stand there the trailer is going to cross you when I pull it back in.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122511789#Comment_122511789

Your PTO guard looks like it flips up?

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122515506#Comment_122515506

It looks like it does alright, mine is the same but you still can't see the hook without a mirror. With the mirror it doesn't matter if the guard is up or down.

50HX

Use the top link as a guide

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122515841#Comment_122515841

Because mirrors are very expensive additions? Or ignore them where already fitted to tractor because it's cheating?

Or as well as I suppose, I use the PTO stub myself when the hook is not visible.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122513261#Comment_122513261

A good habit to get into is let the tractor slide into the hitch when pulling the hitch back rather than pulling the trailer with the ram of the hitch.

It's not going to happen 100% of the time but even if we do it 80% of the time it's less wear and pressure on the hitch.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122515868#Comment_122515868

True, but less likely to happen with some light trailers or implements. Letting the helpful idiots know to stand clear is probably still best practice. Even with a standard hitch I'd rather do it myself even if it took a couple of goes.

Say my name

A reminder here to anyone that knows @emaherx to direct him when he's hooking up the tractor to a trailer. He'll be gratefully appreciative of your assistance. 😆

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122516026#Comment_122516026

Exceptions can be made 🫣

50HX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122515856#Comment_122515856

Agree with the mirrors, was responding to OP who said pto was covered by guard

zetor 4911

Thanks all for your suggestions have tried the mirror option but to no avail. The PTO guard comes out very far to allow the mirror to work. Will have to put up with the inconvenience of getting in and out of the tractor.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122519293#Comment_122519293

As suggested by someone else, a cheap reversing camera could work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-Camera-Ease-Setup-Plug-Play-Black/dp/B09CCQFF8K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=27JV9JE5CKG3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XOygFoH4WLm5lS5BFwPW5LDDCQ2Xi2WOza9Edu9EQqMHGSq_CSZit8gRphK9O1H_pvtOYBsOH9bsVi-PpcyzX66NtZw0SUHVa2Rcit8v3tKxk6VOhOcjs9YbQm1mroSSNfoNpgGlysDPATacAeoa4yklwFtpq5IRfW303EY42aCO70wS7JYZLnmFWVnQN63eqcdJWKMppLQrTkKkE4IeGg.Y9xb3qQKccrEsoL0qjITv5XrxhLYs14BAMdQ4igsAP8&dib_tag=se&keywords=truck+reversing+camera&qid=1724070323&sprefix=truck+rever%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-3

grange mac

I have same issue... So I marked centre of pto guard to line me up centrally... It helps

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122519349#Comment_122519349

A line on PTO guard and a perpendicular line on trailer drawbar that matches edge of PTO guard when trailer is lined up might improve it too.

I'd definitely be too lazy to get in and out of the tractor checking alignment.

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122519293#Comment_122519293

Would a mirror that you could attach to the front of the trailer with a magnet work? Store it in the tractor to have it handy when needed..

Donald Trump

Not recommended, but when I was a kid I never remember there being a PTO guard on any tractor……….In later years I remember coming across a pristine PTO guard fecked into an old wooden box of bits and pieces………. I got the impression that one of the first things someone did with a new tractor back then was to remove the PTO guard. Madness

In terms of the problem though, maybe it's an issue if you haven't picked up a trailer in a while but surely you just remember how to judge it fairly quickly. You often have to get out anyway to attach a tipping pipe or lights, or even a PTO if it's a different form of trailed implement.

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122521457#Comment_122521457

The Hardi sprayer at home had the pump mounted directly onto the PTO (no PTO shaft required).

The pump was to big to fit past the PTO guards so the guards were removed off the tractors come spraying time & usually lost.