JD 318 With Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

mrbeef · Oct 21, 2012

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.

EDIT: Forgot some Pictures

mrbeef · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

Part 2: Loadlifter:

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

mrbeef · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

To preview the rest.....

Tomorrow....

walter g · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

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?

mrbeef · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

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.

D-Dogg · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

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.

Very good review, btw!

k91 · Oct 21, 2012

Re: 318 Redlandhill w/loadlifter review

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?

mrbeef · Oct 21, 2012