Hitch for lawn vacuum

[Mattb]

Help! Bought a used DR Power equipment leaf vacuum and it didn’t come with the tow hitch plate. Even if it did, I have a 3 point hitch installed and I think I’d need to remove that to use the standard hitch, which isn’t ideal.

Conceptually I know what I need (a plate which uses the receiver on the 3 point hitch) but I cannot find one/work out what to search for.

Does this exist? Should I be using something else?

Picture shows the vacuum resting on the hitch. There is a hole where I could use a pin, but does not seem strong enough.

Thanks!

 

[Ktrim]

Weld 2" square stock to it. Drill hole for hitch pin

 

[GreensvilleJay]

add a 2" ball coupler to the DRmower frame ?

what model is the vac ? all current ones are 'pin hitch', so 2 flat bars on that front cross piece could work, add a 2nd cross bar bolted into those rear holes on the frames for 'rear' support.

 

[Mattb]

Weld 2" square stock to it. Drill hole for hitch pin

I don’t have access to a welder, but that’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll see if I can borrow one!

 

[Mattb]

add a 2" ball coupler to the DRmower frame ?

what model is the vac ? all current ones are 'pin hitch', so 2 flat bars on that front cross piece could work, add a 2nd cross bar bolted into those rear holes on the frames for 'rear' support.

Its the older model with hard black plastic sides.

That’s along the lines I was thinking - my tow behind dethatcher has a similar setup with 2 flat bars bolted together. Thanks!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

You can also use 1 1/2" angle iron, 1/8" thick is strong enough for the job, BTDT.
Just do NOT try to use bed rails ! Dang things are heat treated and will destroy drill bits. !!

 

[Outnumbered]

What type of wheels does the blower have? I ask as I have a DR Vacuum and it came with wheels on a fixed axle which was great behind the old lawn tractor and just pinned at the single point connection. When I purchased a zero turn years ago, I ordered the swivel wheels and hitch which uses a fixed mount with two mounting holes to keep it from swinging on the rear of the zero turn. From the picture of your vacuum it looks like it may be meant for the fixed mount. If the is the case all I did was add a piece of angle iron to the back of the zero turn and drilled two holes the matched the frame of the vacuum and lastly two 3/8 quick hitch pins.

 

[Mattb]

What type of wheels does the blower have? I ask as I have a DR Vacuum and it came with wheels on a fixed axle which was great behind the old lawn tractor and just pinned at the single point connection. When I purchased a zero turn years ago, I ordered the swivel wheels and hitch which uses a fixed mount with two mounting holes to keep it from swinging on the rear of the zero turn. From the picture of your vacuum it looks like it may be meant for the fixed mount. If the is the case all I did was add a piece of angle iron to the back of the zero turn and drilled two holes the matched the frame of the vacuum and lastly two 3/8 quick hitch pins.

Yes, the wheels swivel. I hadn’t connected that the wheels would need a fixed mount, but that makes sense now you mention it.

Agreed that I could add a mount to be back of the mower, but was hoping to add something to the 3 point hitch receiver; maybe that’s not an option either with a fixed mount being required.

 

[Outnumbered]

Sounds like you should be able to use a drawbar between the lower link arms of your 3 point hitch as you are just towing the vacuum. They come in Cat 0, 1 or 2. Here is a pic of one for reference.

 

[Bugzilla46310]

If you go to the Dr site, they have manuals for old unit. Find yours and see what originally was on it. If you can fit your hitch between the legs of the front c channel and drop a pin in and still be able to turn I feel it should be strong enough. The times I called Dr, they were always helpful.

Just saw your wheels swivel. That would be a 2 point hitch that mounts solidly to the tractor and the vac turns with the tractor, thus the swivel wheels. You will need the 2 point hitch or swap out to non swivel wheels to be able to tow as a normal trailer.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Curious, went to their site, found this manual may not be your exact model, but similar...
Page 10 shows how it's mounted, parts say 'hitch bracket' is #26.
Simple L bent plate of steel......
One possible option... have a welded add 2 'tabs' onto your 3PH horizontal bar.Maybe 3-4" long sections of 2" x 3/8" bar stock ?? Obviously holes drilled to match the DR ones.

oopsy, file too big....so best goto the website with your model #.

 

[Dustball]

oopsy, file too big....so best goto the website with your model #.

I got you.

Use the drawbar posted by Outnumbered and drill holes in the leaf vacuum frame to match.

 

[Dustball]

I found this- https://www.mytractorforum.com/posts/3944322/

 

[Mattb]

Thanks all! I bought the draw bar recommended above, hopefully that does the trick.