I am the proud new owner of an '08 Sportsman. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

My '03 had a hole in the rear to mount a 2" ball. The new machine has a 1 1/4" receiver. I know they make receivers for this but all of the ones I have found stick out pretty far. I don't want the hassle of draging it down hills but don't want to have to remove it either.

I won't be towing much weight, just a small trailer. I'm sure it will also be used to pull some Honda and Artic Cat's out of the mud [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Ideas? Pics?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I know they make receivers for this but all of the ones I have found stick out pretty far.</end quote></div>

You mean hitch rather than receiver? If so...A friend recently ran into the same "issue", he found the shortest hitch he could find which was 9" I think. He felt it stuck out to far. He took the sawzall to it, redrilled the pin hole and took the grinder to it to clean it up. It fits nice in the reciever, it sticks out about 3" less than stock. Looks good and works fine.

 

I got the reciever and was going to cut the end that goes into the reciever off and drill a new hole, but i've found that ive had no clearance issues, and it allows you to turn the trailer sharper
thats what id do if i had clearance issues

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Wenty

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>I know they make receivers for this but all of the ones I have found stick out pretty far.</end quote></div>



You mean hitch rather than receiver? If so...A friend recently ran into the same "issue", he found the shortest hitch he could find which was 9" I think. He felt it stuck out to far. He took the sawzall to it, redrilled the pin hole and took the grinder to it to clean it up. It fits nice in the reciever, it sticks out about 3" less than stock. Looks good and works fine.</end quote></div>

I did the same thing to mine and is the best way to do it. Out of the way and I'd have to be pointed straight up to hit the ball or drawbar.

 

I got a hitch that fits in the receiver that has about a 2 inch drop on it. When I'm not pulling a trailer I flip it upside down so the ball is pointing down. Never snagged it yet. I think it was made by MadDog.

 

I have a Polaris Ranger drawbar. The dealer screwed up and sold me that instead of the cheaper quad drawbar. I think he still owes me difference in price for that. [img]i/expressions/brokenheart.gif[/img]

I can turn a lot farther without jacknifing than my buddy on a Griz. If you shorten the bar it would cut down how far you can turn, just like that. I use the Polaris ball with a bolt on the bottom, instead of the standard long shank going through with a nut on the bottom. It has less protrusion. I took the hitch pin out and have it bolted into the reciever and haven't had any kind of trouble with it. I'll unbolt it and put it on the next quad when I trade this one in.

 

The found a hitch from Valley and redrilled the hole so it didn't stick out so much. It tucks underneath the rear bumper really nice.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

What about the 3-way hitches from Maddog? This gives the option of the ball mount and the clevis pin type. It doesn't appear to stick out too much.

 

I have the MadDog three way on my X2, but, I mounted it "upside down" from the picture. Needed the additional clearance (I tow a regular 5x10 utility trailer) for the trailer and to keep it level. Anything steep enough for me to drag the bar and that would be the least of my problems as I'd only see it as I'm going over [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

PS - I use the Convert-A-Ball system...nothing out there that I can't drag around the farm by switching the ***** around.

 

I welded a steel "U" onto the bottom of my drawbar so I can hook tow ropes and chains on behind the ball. I already had this steel scrap lying around so it didn't cost me anything. I always wondered if the trailer tongue will hit on a a 3-way hitch if you pull a small trailer up and down all the hills on a quad trail. So far I haven't seen that on the trail, just a plain hitch and 2" ball.