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Multi-Hitch Toolbar Also Made To Push
There is very little Dale McLaen can’t push, pull or tow with his multi-hitch skid steer toolbar. Three receiver hitches accept a variety of tools, most of which can be stored in place on the quick-tach plate until needed.
    “The self-contained hitch allows us to hook up to and move any trailer or implement, regardless of the type of hitch, pole or tongue on it,” says McLaen. “If we need to push something, we’ve got 3 push bumpers that can be mounted as needed. We’ve lifted and moved implements with tongue weights of 7,000 lbs. using this hitch.”
    The toolbar itself is 4 by 4-in. square, 1/4-in. steel tubing. It is attached to a 20 by 48-in., 5/16-in. thick steel plate with the 2 by 2-in., 1/4-in. thick steel receiver tubes. They are cut into and welded into the toolbar for strength. Gusset plates between each receiver tube and the toolbar add even more strength.
    The toolbar holds an array of hitching devices. They include receiver-hitch ready straight hitches, various size ball hitches, pintle and clevis hitches, chain hooks, holders for large and small hitch pins, and push bars.
    The push or bumper bars are made from 4-in. channel iron that hold pieces of oak recycled from a pallet. The oak was cut down and bolted to the back of the channel iron, which in turn had 2 by 2-in. tubing butt-welded to it.
    “We added rubber facing to the front and sides of the push bars, using pieces of a conveyor belt recycled from a construction company replacing gravel conveyors,” says McLaen.
    McLaen made 3 of them. He can use all 3 at once, or just use 2 when pushing a car to avoid hitting the license plate. If there is a mounted tire or other situation where he can’t use the side ones, he can just use one bumper in the center receiver hitch.
    “We use the hitch bar fully assembled about 90 percent of the time,” says McLaen. “I built it for an older 23 hp. Bobcat, but it is strong enough that we now use it on a 90 hp. T750 Bobcat. We used it on a 16-row corn planter, and the hitch weight tipped the 10,000-lb. skid steer off its rear wheels, but it didn’t hurt the toolbar.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dale McLaen, McLaen’s Service, 13756 Hwy. 11, Rutland, N. Dak. 58067 (ph 701 724-6232; mclaen@drtel.net).



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2019 - Volume #43, Issue #3