Excavator Quick Hitches

Excavator quick hitches, also called quick couplers, let you swap buckets and attachments in minutes instead of knocking pins in and out. We supply manual and Springlock hitches for 1 to 8 tonne machines and Miller hydraulic couplers for 1 to 27 tonne excavators, each made to fit your machine and attachments.

Hitch Type Excavator sizes How it locks Hydraulics
Manual quick hitch Manual 1–8 tonnes Rear pin inserted and locked by hand None
Springlock quick hitch Semi-automatic 2–8 tonnes Spring latch locks the rear pin, then you fit the safety pin None
Miller GTS hydraulic coupler Hydraulic 1–6 tonnes From the cab, with ISO 13031 locking Supply to the hitch
Miller Powerlatch hydraulic hitch Hydraulic 6–27 tonnes From the cab, with the Automatic Blocking System Supply to the hitch

Our guide to excavator quick hitch types explains how each one locks and which to choose. Browse all our excavator tools.
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Which Quick Hitch Do You Need?

  • Manual: the cheapest and simplest. You hook the front pin from the cab, then insert and lock the rear pin by hand. See the manual quick hitch.
  • Semi-automatic: a spring latch locks the rear pin for you, then you fit the safety pin before work. See the Springlock quick hitch.
  • Hydraulic coupler: change attachments from the cab. The Miller GTS suits 1 to 6 tonne machines and the Miller Powerlatch 6 to 27 tonnes.

If you work on contractors' sites, check their rules before you buy: some don't allow manual or semi-automatic hitches at all. Our quick hitch guide explains more.

Measurements We Need

  • Excavator make, model and operating weight
  • Dipper pin and link pin diameters, pin centres and dipper width
  • The pin diameters and pin centres of the buckets and attachments you want to pick up

Our guide on how to measure an excavator for a new bucket shows how to take them. If you can't measure, send us photos and we'll help.

Using a Quick Hitch Safely

HSE's industry guidance on quick hitches found that the common theme in fatal incidents was a missing retaining pin or bar, and warns that a hitch may still work for some time without the pin, then swing open or fall off without warning.

  • Check the attachment is locked before you start work and every time you change it: crowd it in, lift it clear of the ground to test it, and look at the locking mechanism.
  • If you can't see the hitch from the cab, check it from the ground.
  • Never replace a safety pin with a bolt, wire or anything else.
  • Keep people away from the bucket while you're coupling and working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a quick hitch the same as a quick coupler?

Yes. They're two names for the same thing.

Will a quick hitch pick up my existing buckets?

Only if the hitch suits their pin diameters and pin centres, which is why we ask for them. The Miller Powerlatch's pin-grabber design picks up a range of pin centres.

Does a hydraulic coupler need its own hydraulics?

It needs a hydraulic supply from your excavator to open and close. Many machines come piped for a hitch; if yours isn't, it will need an installation kit, and we'll confirm what's needed.

How long does delivery take?

Usually 7 to 10 working days. Each one is made to fit your machine, so we confirm your measurements first. Ask us if you need it for a fixed date.