Need a trailer coupling for the Claas Ares 556? That is one of the groups among the more than 60 parts collected here for this Ares series tractor.
When an Ares 556 does a lot of road and trailer work, the hitch takes the punishment. That is reflected in the more than 60 parts on this page that fit the tractor: most are about coupling a trailer securely, and the rest are about a seat you can sit on all day. Suppliers include Scharmüller, Walterscheid, Rockinger, Grammer and GRANIT.
The pick-up rail on the Ares 556 can take several systems. On this page there are drawbars with a ball, loose balls and ball inserts, automatic and manual hitch jaws, Piton Fix and a Pick-Up Hitch, a flange hitch and a top drawbar. Drawbar frames, adapter plates and support plates let you mount them at the right height, and forced steering components are there for trailers with a steered axle.
Whatever you choose, start at the rail. Measure its width and the diameter of the locking pin, then compare those with the figures given with each product. A drawbar that is a few millimetres out simply will not go in.
The deciding factor is what sits on the end of your trailer drawbar. A drawbar eye goes on a pin such as the Piton Fix or into a hitch jaw, while a ball eye needs a ball. If several different trailers run behind the Ares 556, ball inserts and adapter plates let you switch between them without changing the whole drawbar each time.
The coupling pin and bush in a hitch jaw wear with every trip. A knock you feel when pulling away or braking means play has crept in and the parts need checking. Grease the pin regularly and make sure the lock drops fully home, because a pin that does not close properly is a safety issue on the road.
For the driver there are tractor seats, including the Grammer Maximo Professional and an air suspended seat. An air seat has its own compressor running off the tractor electrics, so check there is a suitable power socket in the cab before fitting one.
The data plate tells you for certain that you are working on an Ares 556. Other Ares models each have a page of their own:
The Ares 656 and Ares 816 belong to the same range. For those and the rest of the brand, use the overview of Claas parts.