New International Standard On Connections Between Towed & Towing Vehicles

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) announced the completion of a new international standard on mechanical hitch devices. This new standard prescribes the dimensional requirements for the hitch rings of agricultural trailers and trailed implements designed to be attached to agricultural tractor clevis type drawbars.

ISO 21244:2008, “Agricultural equipment, Mechanical connections between towed and towing vehicles, Implement hitch rings and attachment to tractor drawbars” was recently published in English and French for the international community. Dimensions relative to the specifications found in the standard are divided into six categories based on tractor PTO power. Various specifications provide the necessary inputs to determine permissible mechanical connection combinations between towed and towing vehicles.

ISO 21244 was developed by Technical Committee ISO/TC 23, Tractors and Machinery for agriculture and forestry, Subcommittee SC 4, Tractors. The current international committee is chaired by Mr. Tom Tuttle, Project Engineer with CNH, Burr Ridge, Illinois USA. Publication and use of this document should result in safe operation of equipment built and connected as prescribed in the standard.

A current listing of all ASABE standards projects can be found online by going to: www.asabe.org/standards/proposed.html. ❖