In today’s earthmoving industry, every minute counts. Whether you’re working in civil construction, quarrying, demolition or general earthworks, reducing downtime while improving operator safety and machine productivity can have a significant impact on your project’s profitability.
One of the simplest yet most effective upgrades you can make to an excavator is fitting a hydraulic quick hitch or tilting hitch. Rather than manually changing attachments with hammers and pins, operators can safely swap buckets and work tools from the comfort of the cab in a matter of seconds. The result is less downtime, greater versatility, improved safety and more productive machines.
At SBA Earthmoving Attachments, we offer three industry-leading solutions to suit different applications: the Geith Quick Hitch, Geith Tilting Quick Hitch, and the Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch. While each performs the same fundamental role of connecting attachments to your excavator, they are designed for very different working environments.
Why Fit a Hydraulic Hitch?
Modern excavators rarely use just the one attachment to complete a job. An operator may move between a trench bucket, mud bucket, ripper, hydraulic hammer, grab or compaction wheel several times throughout a job.
With a direct-pinned bucket, every change requires the operator to leave the machine, remove pins and manually fit the next attachment. A hydraulic hitch eliminates this process, allowing attachment changes in seconds without leaving the cab, significantly reducing machine downtime and improving site safety. SBA estimates this can reduce attachment change time by around 25% compared with direct-pinned attachments.
Beyond speed, hydraulic hitches improve machine utilisation. Operators are more likely to use the correct attachment for each task rather than continuing with the “good enough” option simply because changing tools is time consuming.
Safety Comes First
When selecting any hydraulic hitch, safety should never be compromised.
Both the Geith Quick Hitch, Geith Tilting Quick Hitch and the Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch utilise the proven Geith triple-locking safety system at the hitch base. This incorporates front and rear safety locks, spring-assisted locking mechanisms and hydraulic check valves to provide multiple layers of attachment security while meeting ISO 13031 safety standards.
This gives operators confidence that attachments remain securely connected, even in demanding applications such as demolition, rock excavation and quarry work.
Geith Quick Hitch
The Geith Quick Hitch is the ideal solution for operators wanting maximum versatility with minimal complexity.
Available for 1 to 85 tonne excavators.
Its compact design maintains an excellent tip radius, helping preserve breakout force while allowing fast attachment changes throughout the day. The variable pin centre design also enables compatibility with a wide range of existing buckets and attachments, making fleet upgrades straightforward.
Best suited for:
- General civil construction
- Earthmoving contractors
- Residential subdivisions
- Pipe laying
- Bulk excavation
- Contractors regularly changing between attachments
Recommended attachments:
- GP buckets
- Mud buckets
- Trenching buckets
- Rippers
- Hydraulic grabs
- Hydraulic hammers
- Compaction wheels
If your work regularly involves demolition hammers, quarry buckets or other high breakout-force applications, the hydraulic quick hitch is often the preferred option because it keeps the attachment close to the machine, maximising digging performance while remaining extremely versatile.
Geith Tilting Quick Hitch
Sometimes productivity isn’t about changing attachments – it’s about reducing machine repositioning.
The Geith Tilting Quick Hitch provides up to 180° of total tilt (90° each way) on 1 to 14 tonne machines, and 134° of total tilt (67° each way) on 14 to 35 tonne machines, allowing operators to angle virtually any attachment without moving the excavator.
Available for 1 to 35 tonne excavators.
This dramatically increases efficiency when grading batters, trimming drains, shaping embankments or working around obstacles.
Rather than constantly tracking the machine into position, operators simply tilt the attachment to achieve the required angle.
Additional benefits include:
- Ability to use buckets in reverse for backfilling against walls and foundations.
- Reduced site disturbance.
- Improved finish quality.
- Increased operator comfort.
- Greater productivity in confined spaces.
Best suited for:
- Final trim work
- Batter shaping
- Drain construction
- Landscaping
- Road construction
- Utility installation
- General civil contractors
Recommended attachments:
- Mud buckets
- Grading buckets
- Trenching buckets
- Skeleton buckets
- Grabs
While capable of handling many attachments, tilting quick hitches are generally better suited to light-to-medium digging and finishing work rather than constant heavy rock excavation.
Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch
For contractors who require maximum strength while retaining the flexibility of a tilting attachment, the Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch is the premium solution.
Available for 13 to 50 tonne excavators, the twin-cylinder design provides 60° of total tilt (30° each way) while maintaining exceptional structural strength. Its compact geometry produces a shorter tip radius than many competing designs, helping preserve breakout force and lifting performance.
Unlike lighter tilting hitches, the twin-cylinder tilt hitch is engineered for demanding environments where operators still require the ability to angle attachments without sacrificing durability.
Best suited for:
- Heavy civil construction
- Quarry operations
- Mining support
- Bulk earthworks
- Large infrastructure projects
- High-production contractors
Recommended attachments:
- Heavy-duty GP buckets
- Quarry buckets
- Mud buckets
- Demolition attachments
- Grapples
- Compaction wheels
The twin-cylinder design provides excellent control while remaining robust enough for larger machines working in harsh conditions.
The Three Hitches at a Glance
Geith Quick Hitch
1 to 85 tonne. No tilt.
Best for maximum digging performance, simplicity and frequent attachment changes. Its compact design keeps attachments close to the machine to preserve breakout force, making it ideal for heavy digging, hammers, demolition and quarry applications.
Geith Tilting Quick Hitch
1 to 35 tonne. Up to 180° total tilt (90° each way).
Best for versatility and reducing machine repositioning, with up to 180° of total tilt for working at different angles. Ideal for grading, drainage, batter work, landscaping and general civil applications where flexibility and finish are key.
Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch
13 to 50 tonne. 60° total tilt (30° each way).
Best for heavy-duty applications that still require tilt capability, combining 60° of tilt with a robust twin-cylinder design. Ideal for larger excavators in civil, quarry and mining environments where strength, breakout performance and precise attachment control are required.
Which Hitch Is Right for You?
Choosing the right hitch ultimately comes down to your application.
If your work involves frequent attachment changes, hydraulic hammers, demolition tools or heavy quarry buckets where maximum breakout force is essential, a Geith Quick Hitch is often the best choice. Its compact design keeps attachments close to the machine while delivering fast, safe attachment changes.
If your projects focus on drainage, roadworks, landscaping or detailed finishing where reducing machine repositioning saves significant time, the Geith Tilting Quick Hitch offers outstanding versatility by allowing operators to tilt almost any attachment and work at a variety of angles.
For larger excavators working in demanding civil, quarry or mining environments where both strength and tilt capability are required, the Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch delivers the durability, breakout performance and precision needed for heavy-duty applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a quick hitch and a tilt hitch?
A quick hitch connects attachments to the excavator and allows fast changes from the cab, keeping the attachment close to the machine for maximum breakout force. A tilt hitch does the same job but adds the ability to angle the attachment, so operators can work at different angles without repositioning the machine. A quick hitch suits heavy digging and frequent changes. A tilt hitch suits grading, drainage and finishing work.
Will a quick hitch fit my existing buckets?
In most cases, yes. SBA offer a variety of slide options across every hitch model to suit all OEM pin centres, so your existing buckets and attachments can generally be retained. If you are unsure, our team can confirm compatibility for your specific machine and attachments.
Does a quick hitch need greasing?
No greasing is required on the hitch slide or chassis, as it works on a lineal slide. The only hitch that requires grease is the tilt hitch, where the actuator needs greasing.
What warranty comes with an SBA hitch?
SBA hitches come with a 3 year warranty on the hitch chassis and a 1 year warranty on all moving parts.
Can hitch parts be replaced?
Yes. SBA stock a large range of hitch parts, all of which are easily replaceable.
Invest in Productivity
The right hitch does far more than simplify attachment changes – it transforms how an excavator works throughout the day. Faster attachment swaps, improved operator safety, reduced machine movement and increased versatility all contribute to lower operating costs and higher productivity.
Whether you’re after the proven simplicity of the Geith Quick Hitch, the versatility of the Geith Tilting Quick Hitch, or the heavy-duty performance of the Twin Cylinder Tilt Hitch, investing in the right system ensures your excavator is equipped to tackle every job efficiently, safely and productively.
Not sure which hitch suits your machine?
Machine size, pin centres and the attachments you run all affect which hitch is right for the job. Talk to the SBA team and we’ll match the right system to your excavator and your application.
Call 1800 BUCKET or get in touch with our team today.
