Atv hitch.

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Iaff113

Iaff113

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
336
Location
Frederick
Anyone buy a better atv hitch for their atv? I have a 2006 honda Forman 500 and the regular hitch always bends down when I pull my firewood trailer. I just bend it back up and use it again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
sirbuildalot

sirbuildalot

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 16, 2015
Messages
4,663
Location
New England
Not an ATV, but my garden tractor has an OEM hitch that is basically a 1/4" thick piece of angle iron that bolts to the rear housing. Like yours, it bends if pulling a heavy trailer. Most of the used hitches I have seen on places like Ebay are also bent. I ended up making one out of 3/8" thick stock. I also made it longer with two holes. One accepts a ball with a 3/4" shank, and the other is a 5/8" hole to pull pin hitch trailers/carts, rollers, etc. I think I have pictures of them side by side.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
29,518
Location
MN
Some are built better than others. My Yamaha has a cast piece that mounts to the axle. I have never broken mine but my buddy did on his identical ATV and basically had to cobble something together to fit the same mounting holes. I think that is what you would need to do or reinforce the one you have.

Some of the newer ones have an actual receiver style hitch which is nice.
 
sirbuildalot

sirbuildalot

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 16, 2015
Messages
4,663
Location
New England
Here are some pictures of my hitch. Both the old OEM ones and the newer heavier ones. Again, I realize ATV's are different, but just for ideas.
















The new hitch has handled 3000 lb loads without issue.
 
Hoosk

Hoosk

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2016
Messages
69
Location
Michigan
The Kawasaki hitch is pretty solid. Not sure how it might help you, but this setup has taken abuse and holds up well for me. Added the three way for flexibility w/ trailer and towing etc.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0182.JPG
    IMG_0182.JPG
    198.9 KB · Views: 48
  • IMG_0184.JPG
    IMG_0184.JPG
    26.8 KB · Views: 38
tla100

tla100

Addicted to ArboristSite
. AS Supporting Member.
Joined
May 12, 2014
Messages
1,971
Location
bfe
My Polaris Sportsman has the dinky receiver hitch on it. Have pulled my 16' fishin boat around with no issues. It has quite a bit of tong weight, it got 24 volt troller on front with 2 batteries towards the front. No issues with it. I did add a rear winch on the ATV a while back and it ties in to the frame and the lower control arm mounts. Mount was made from angle iron and a little cutting, welding and drilling.
 
Iaff113

Iaff113

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
336
Location
Frederick
The Kawasaki hitch is pretty solid. Not sure how it might help you, but this setup has taken abuse and holds up well for me. Added the three way for flexibility w/ trailer and towing etc.

Yeah that's what I have now with a 2inch receiver. I just bends down every time I load it. I can buy heavy duty hitches for around 100 just wanted to see if anyone made any. I'll post a picture of my set up soon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
NSMaple1

NSMaple1

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
2,150
Location
Nova Scotia
My Arctic Cat hitch looks a lot like Jeres above - has a bracketed/half-boxed type of construction. Have hauled a lot of heavy loads with it & not had any hitch problems (maybe I should knock on wood). Just a plain tongue doesn't have much resistance to bending. Getting the load balanced is key - you don't want the back of the trailer loaded too much or you will lose rear wheel traction, but you don't want it all on the front either. Hard on hitches, and axles.
 
sledge&wedge

sledge&wedge

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
195
Location
Southern IN
Anyone buy a better atv hitch for their atv? I have a 2006 honda Forman 500 and the regular hitch always bends down when I pull my firewood trailer. I just bend it back up and use it again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I put one on my Rincon. I have loaded it way up and beat the hell out of it several times and never seen any deflection or issues. Let me dig through emails and find you a link.

Here you go:

http://www.atvparthub.com/45040041_...N_Receiver_Hitches_Receiver_Hitch_2_34_Rincon
 
2012outdoorsman

2012outdoorsman

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Dec 5, 2015
Messages
35
Location
Hudson valley ny
Anyone buy a better atv hitch for their atv? I have a 2006 honda Forman 500 and the regular hitch always bends down when I pull my firewood trailer. I just bend it back up and use it again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is your quad a solid axles? Has the small oem piece with a hole for a ball?

If so ill try to grab some pics of mine. My father made a piece that fit on the old bolt holes and now takes a 2" receiver. The piece he made is strong but the way it mounts to the atv is poor. Most Hondas have the same receiver. Mines a 2007 rancher 420es
 
Iaff113

Iaff113

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
336
Location
Frederick
Is your quad a solid axles? Has the small oem piece with a hole for a ball?

If so ill try to grab some pics of mine. My father made a piece that fit on the old bolt holes and now takes a 2" receiver. The piece he made is strong but the way it mounts to the atv is poor. Most Hondas have the same receiver. Mines a 2007 rancher 420es

Yeah hear it is. Just the oem one bend anytime I put a load on it.

556395c4120a44aabad2eceab2d8a931.jpg
c069c291897ccc94a9cac9e9ae1d34da.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hoosk

Hoosk

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2016
Messages
69
Location
Michigan
That's a pretty long lever arm..from where the bolts are on the axle tube to the ball (where the weight is applied). Most of the examples above put the ball just a couple of inches from the bolts. I think that is the biggest problem....although it helps with sharp turns, keeping the tounge away from the tires.
 
Iaff113

Iaff113

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
336
Location
Frederick
That's a pretty long lever arm..from where the bolts are on the axle tube to the ball (where the weight is applied). Most of the examples above put the ball just a couple of inches from the bolts. I think that is the biggest problem....although it helps with sharp turns, keeping the tounge away from the tires.

Yeah it is. I have it long so I can get around my stealth exhaust


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hoosk

Hoosk

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2016
Messages
69
Location
Michigan
Just my opinion but any hitch like the one on my Kawasaki Mule that ties in at the axle........is junk and when overloaded is going to result is a lot of expensive to fix bent parts.

For sure. I wouldn't push it when it is tied into the tube like that.
 
Top