Homemade Hitch Simplifies Feeding

Homemade Hitch Simplifies Feeding HITCHES “I built a hitch that hooks my TMR mixer to my skid steer loader so I can use the skid steer to feed dairy cows ” says Wisconsin dairyman Richard Huth “This setup lets me use the skid steer for two jobs saves me hundreds of steps and more than 30 min of time every day ”     Before building his custom hitch Huth was using a tractor to pull his TMR mixer to three different locations then walking back to get his skid steer to load grain and silage Then he’d jump on the tractor to feed the cattle Doing this once or twice a day wouldn’t have been a problem but Huth has more than 100 cows and young stock that require 9 mixer loads of feed every day “It was a time-consuming process and always a hassle in muddy or snowy conditions ” Huth says     Huth’s invention is made like a typical 5th wheel gooseneck hitch for a pickup The 4-in steel tube frame for the hitch is bolted to the TMR mixer and extends forward about 18 in in a U shape The front of the hitch holds a ball socket that mounts on the bucket of Huth’s 45 hp skid steer     “Now I can pull the mixer to the silos or silage bags with the skid steer unhook the mixer fill it with the feed that I need then grab the mixer with the skid steer and unload it and never leave the seat ” Huth says     Huth rigged up a 10 hp electric motor to run the mixer and bought a 12-volt hydraulic power pack to operate the mixer unloading door and the scale Switches to turn the mixer on and off and raise the unloading gate are accessible from his skid steer “It operates just like a pto model but it runs off the electric motor ” Huth says When he’s done feeding for the day Huth plugs the batteries into a charger so they’re ready for the next day’s use When he mixes his main batch of feed the electric motor is plugged in and doesn’t use battery power     Huth says the hitch which was built by local blacksmith George Edmond cost him about $300     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Richard Huth 1469 23rd St Cameron Wis 54822 ph 715 458-2732; khuth@chibardun net

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