Hitch Question

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Rebuilding my hitch. I have a pin that I picked up from Tractor Supply. It is a hitch pin used to hook up implements to the tractor. I feel this pin is what I need, but a few friends said they weren't sure if it is hard enough. I called the store and asked them if they new it was hardened or not. They didn't know.<br /><br />The pin is 3/4 diameter by 6 inches long. I could make one out of a grade 8 bolt, but I want this to look professional. It also needs to be easily unpinned/pinned. I don't want to be getting the wrenches out to remove and replace the pin each time I load/launch my boat.<br /><br />So shouldn't I be safe with this drawbar pin?<br /><br />Note: this pin is not the primary pin to hold the receiver into the receiver tube. This pin will go through the receiver & tube to lock in my vertical height adjustment.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Hitch Question

SS if it is designed to be a hitch pin then it it is probably hardened. You could check it by comparing it with carbon mild steel. just use a file to see the diff. or a hack saw. There are other ways to check but this is one way to compare. If it is stainless then it is plenty hard. <br /><br />Also, it is very easy to harden steel. You could buy some casite from a welding shop, heat the steel to red hot, dip it in the casite powder, quinch in water. repeat to make harder.<br /><br />Or, heat pin red hot, cut off oxy. from torch and apply the carbon suit(sp) from the torch to the red hot steel and then quinch.

 

[tcube]

Re: Hitch Question

SS,<br /><br />The hitch pin you got from TSC is designed to hold heavy implements on the tractor's 3 point hitch. Given the stress and impact of plows, discs, augers, etc, I wouldn't have any concern about using it on my truck hitch. I've had to buy new ones for my tractor - not because the broke but because they got "lost."<br /><br />tcube

 

[dhammann]

Re: Hitch Question

Beware of hardened steel, it is more brittle...think about how easy a drill bit will break!!! Your looking for shear strength not tensile strength

 

[JB]

Re: Hitch Question

The hitch pin is surely tempered to deal with exactly that application with strength to spare.<br /><br />No worries, SSM.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hitch Question

Ayah......<br />That pin is No Doubt the part you've been Looking for..........

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Hitch Question

Cool, thanks guys. Just come in from almost finishing it up. Just got to hook up the wiring for the trailer lights. Tested it out and works great. <br /><br />I made my receiver into a draw bar that pivots close to the rear axle. I raise/lower it with the hydraulics from my truck. Makes it so nice now instead of having to crank up and down the trailer. I now back up with the draw bar lowered under the trailer and hit the up button. I then put the pin in, intall the retaining clip, and done!<br /><br />With my boat being a 27' it is a bear to load. Now I can lower my hitch down so I don't have to power up the engine while someone is cranking the winch. It is really going to help while launching it also.<br /><br />I bumped that pin against the grinder and I could tell that it is hardened. Drilling those 3/4 inch holes through 3/8 and 1/2 inch material has got me beaten to death. Done for the night. Tomorrow the wiring.. Piece of cake!