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I have the same issue as Richard. I own a typical lawn and garden dump trailer, and a large utility trailer used for various over the road hauling tasks. Ocassionally it's convenient for me to move the utility tailer with the four wheel tractor. To do so a 2" ball has to be installed on the standard Gravely rear hitch plate. What a pain. But since I only do this a couple times a year I've just lived with the inconvenience. The rest of the time I use the lawn and garden trailer for simple hauling tasks around the property, and for property maintenance.
When I move the utility trailer its empty and on level ground (I don't consider the Gravely heavy enough to move any significant weight in that trailer). The tounge weight is about 80 lbs. I've often thought it would be easier to move that trailer with the 2" ball mounted on the front of the tractor. The thing is so wide it's very difficult to put it back in it's designated parking space while twisting and looking over your shoulder. It would be easy to mount a ball on the front, and I've even seen fabricated kits for Gravely riders for sale on ebay for just this purpose, that mount on the front latches. I would think that's the way to go, especially if you own a 24G with power steering! You could leave the stock rear hitch plate for the standard lawn trailer.
Another comment I have about the stock rider trailer hitch plate is that it's too close to the engine. On the 8179KT I moved the hitch away from the engine 2" by installing a 2" piece of 3/16" thick wall square steel tubing (oriented parrallel to the rear axels). All you have to do is cross drill it in the standard hole locations (4) and use 3" long high tensile strength bolts to remount the hitch with the tubing sandwiched between the hitch plate and the rear hitch arms. 2" makes all the difference when you are hooking up a trailer and dealing with not perfectly level surfaces. I still turn off the engine every time (I like my fingers).
When I move the utility trailer its empty and on level ground (I don't consider the Gravely heavy enough to move any significant weight in that trailer). The tounge weight is about 80 lbs. I've often thought it would be easier to move that trailer with the 2" ball mounted on the front of the tractor. The thing is so wide it's very difficult to put it back in it's designated parking space while twisting and looking over your shoulder. It would be easy to mount a ball on the front, and I've even seen fabricated kits for Gravely riders for sale on ebay for just this purpose, that mount on the front latches. I would think that's the way to go, especially if you own a 24G with power steering! You could leave the stock rear hitch plate for the standard lawn trailer.
Another comment I have about the stock rider trailer hitch plate is that it's too close to the engine. On the 8179KT I moved the hitch away from the engine 2" by installing a 2" piece of 3/16" thick wall square steel tubing (oriented parrallel to the rear axels). All you have to do is cross drill it in the standard hole locations (4) and use 3" long high tensile strength bolts to remount the hitch with the tubing sandwiched between the hitch plate and the rear hitch arms. 2" makes all the difference when you are hooking up a trailer and dealing with not perfectly level surfaces. I still turn off the engine every time (I like my fingers).
