Disclaimer(s): I will update this thread as I use this set up more extensively. I did not buy this 3 point by itself, it came NIB with a 318 I purchased for parts. So I would consider myself pretty unbiased. Apologies for lack of technical terms..... some of them I just cannot think of.
This review is broken down into 3 parts, (Redlandhill 3 point itself, Loadlifter, and the entire set up) it might take me a couple of posts to get it all up. Please keep in mind it is always easy to pick apart something.
Part 1: Redlandhill Hitch.
- In the box the kit seems straight forward.
- Initial impression of quality is good, the welds seem good.
- Of note, this kit did sit for a while so it was a little stiff.
Pros:
- Easy install (it took about 25 mins)
- Nice easy to read directions
- Lots of set up choices for better geometry (as mentioned on the website)
- It has a good range of motion
- To install nothing has to be taken off... I put this kit on with the deck and the fender pan on.
Cons:
- The sticker is upside down (not a huge deal but during the installation it seems it would be right side up, so this added about 3 mins to the install).
- The top portion attaches to the lift straps and will need spacers to properly attach. I needed to rummage around the garage for a few minutes to find the needed washers.
- The biggest problem to date is the middle position for the top link is too small to accept the top link pin... So unless I want to take it back off and put it in the drill press to drill it out I will only have two or the three "geometry" positions.
- One picky item (I think this comes from my use of cat II and III hitches, the kit comes with bolts to attach the lift links to the lift arms so the links cannot be adjusted without removing bolts.... This was solved with a trip to the hardware store and $12)
Either Pro or Con, you decide:
- The sway chains are on the outside of the lift arms. This means your tires may need to be turned to the wider stance in some cases.
I purchased the Cat 0 Loadlifter from Alzwelding.com. Alan is super easy to work with and answers email very quickly. It took about a week to get here.
Initial impressions:
- Besides being excited....
- Nice heavy set up
Pros:
- Nice easy design.
- Basically it is a rear weight bracket and a set of forks.
Cons:
- None that I can find so far
- It is a little hard to install but that might be the stiffness of the hitch.
- I did drop one of the forks on the toe of my boot.... it is heavy :banghead3
I really want a loadlifter. I can see where it would get alot of use. As for the hitch, I'm not sure I want the chains on the outside.Actually I'm pretty sure I don't.
I'm curious to see what you think after you use it awhile.
I went on the Redlandhill website and the price for this hitch is $576, compared to a Ruegg at $395.
I wonder why the big price difference?
Something I was thinking about last night. I thought I should mention why I did not get a Heavy Hitch and forks and really no reason in particular...The Heavy Hitch with the forks (189+249) might have even been a better choice.
Who knows, when I get the next 318 finished I might get a Reugg and a Heavy Hitch.
Part 3: The whole set up.
Pros:
- I like it, it is functional and easy to set up.
Cons:
- Minor... To get the forks all the way on the ground the deck lift height set must be all the way in... all the way to the stop.... I might be able to play with the set up a little. The only reason this is a little bit of an issue is if you are on a small bump and are trying to pick up a pallet you cannot get the forks low enough... like I said MINOR and it might be my problem not the set up.
Review:
Test Conditions:
- The deck lift height set was all the way in
- Weights included 3 suitcase weights (44 lbs), 2 concrete wheel weights (100 lbs), and 2 buckets of kitty litter (70 lbs), I got the stink eye from the cats when I borrowed their litter.... Total weight ~305 lbs.
- Engine was running to eliminate hydro leak down
- No operator on the machine. With the weights the front of the machine was just light to be easily picked up. I considered this as a good starting point. I chose not to sit on the tractor since the weight of the operator would vary and I am on the heavy end. I am not good a physics, but it would seem the rear wheel are the pivot point so operator weight may only have a minimal impact.
- No front weights or weight bracket was installed. I will be conducting those test as time allows.
On To the test:
First in the inner set up.
- Initial height is 11 inches of lift
- With the weight lift height was 8 inches.
NOTE: There is no kitty litter on the load but there as no difference with the additional 70 lbs.
Outer Set Up:
Initial height was 15 inches
With weight 11 inches
So what do I think....
- I think there is a little to much sag personally but maybe this is normal. There are a lot of links where sag could occur.
I will update this as I use it more frequently. I did more a couple of decks around on a pallet and it performed well.
I believe I woudl recommend crossing your sway chains and mounting them from the inside. Shouldn't be hard to do.
Your loadlifter looks a bit different than mine. Mine was one of the older ones. I imagine Al has change the design in response to customer comments. It's still the handiest attachment I have and rarely leaves the tractor.
As to your sag, I don't really see any with my setup. You can determine where in the system you see it though. Measure the height at the draft arms loaded and unloaded, and compare that to height at the end of the pallet forks.
While I have had 700lbs on my Ruegg 3PH plus ALZ Loadlifter, in retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do and I don't recommend you ever do much over 400lbs.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a good review I'm sure it will help a lot of members out when they want to buy a 3PT :fing32: Like Drake says it looks easy enough to flip the sway chain mounts to the inside. It looks like they bolt on from your pictures right?
I believe I woudl recommend crossing your sway chains and mounting them from the inside. Shouldn't be hard to do.
Your loadlifter looks a bit different than mine. Mine was one of the older ones. I imagine Al has change the design in response to customer comments. It's still the handiest attachment I have and rarely leaves the tractor.
As to your sag, I don't really see any with my setup. You can determine where in the system you see it though. Measure the height at the draft arms loaded and unloaded, and compare that to height at the end of the pallet forks.
While I have had 700lbs on my Ruegg 3PH plus ALZ Loadlifter, in retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do and I don't recommend you ever do much over 400lbs.
I think you are very correct about the chains.... I got to measuring last night and I do not want to flip the tires around. I have the perfect little hole to back it in and I only have 2 inches to spare so flipping the tires is out.... unless of course I want to rearrange the work flow of the garage AGAIN..... I just got it to where I like it. I will need to buy some more chain but very worth it to keep the tires where they are.
I will have to spend a little time tracking down the sag. From some quick measurements yesterday I do not think it is the loadlifter or forks itself. I think it is somewhere in the 3 point set up... but I am unsure of where yet. Maybe I have hooked something up incorrectly. I thought about it being load on the tires but it is a little extreme to do that. I need to measure the distance from the rear of the fender to the Loadlifter. D-Dogg could you provide some dimensions from your fender deck to the loadlifter?
Yes the design has changed some. I think the design is a little more simplified. The top link attaches underneath the top bar, which might be in response to the length of the top link. With the attachment point on the top I would only have about an inch of adjustment left in my top link.I now have about 2. I have not put any weights on mine yet So I can attest to the weight carrying ability yet. That will come this winter once the white stuff blower goes on.... :lalala: If I dont say the word it will never come....
Thanks for taking the time to write such a good review I'm sure it will help a lot of members out when they want to buy a 3PT :fing32: Like Drake says it looks easy enough to flip the sway chain mounts to the inside. It looks like they bolt on from your pictures right?
I will have to spend a little time tracking down the sag. From some quick measurements yesterday I do not think it is the loadlifter or forks itself. I think it is somewhere in the 3 point set up... but I am unsure of where yet. Maybe I have hooked something up incorrectly. I thought about it being load on the tires but it is a little extreme to do that. I need to measure the distance from the rear of the fender to the Loadlifter. D-Dogg could you provide some dimensions from your fender deck to the loadlifter?
Part of the sag will be from the tires "squishing." You were also correct earlier about the pivot point of the tractor being the rear wheels.
So, if the front is coming up a little bit (load on the front tires reduced) then the rear will tip down a little bit. You should be able to measure from a reference point on the front to see if the front is lifting up any.
With that much weight on, the components of the 3pt and the LL will also flex a very little bit.
Looks like a good setup, you'll get plenty of use out of that, I'm sure!
Figure I would give this thread and update. I finally got some time to get the chains switched around and investigate the sag.
Well, the sag is entirely in the rockshaft.... The next time I find some time I will investigate this a little more with some actual weights not just me.
Here are some pictures of the crossed sway chains, I loke this set up much better. Excuse the extra chain. I want to get out and test them out, but with it getting dark so early it is tough to do.
Figure I would give this thread and update. I finally got some time to get the chains switched around and investigate the sag.
Well, the sag is entirely in the rockshaft.... The next time I find some time I will investigate this a little more with some actual weights not just me.
Here are some pictures of the crossed sway chains, I loke this set up much better. Excuse the extra chain. I want to get out and test them out, but with it getting dark so early it is tough to do.
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