Stabilizer for a rear hitch

A hitch for a work vehicle, the hitch configured to connected to a chassis of the work vehicle and configured to rotate with respect to the chassis, the chassis defines one of a protrusion and a recess, the hitch comprising:

• a first bracket defining the other of the protrusion and the recess, the first bracket configured to be connected to a first portion of the chassis via the protrusion and the recess, such that rotation of the first bracket with respect to the first portion of the chassis is inhibited while the protrusion extends into the recess;
• a first stabilizer bar connected to the first bracket;
• a first hitch arm connected to the first stabilizer bar, the first hitch arm having a free end configured to selectively engage a work implement;
• a second bracket configured to be connected to a second portion of the chassis, the second portion of the chassis being spaced from the first portion of the chassis, such that the second bracket is spaced apart from and independent of the first bracket;
• a second stabilizer bar connected to the second bracket;
• and
• a second hitch arm connected to the first stabilizer bar, the second hitch having a free end configured to selectively engage the work implement.

A work vehicle comprising:

• a ground-engaging implement;
• a chassis supported on the ground-engaging implement, the chassis including a first side portion and a second side portion, opposite the first side portion;
• a prime mover configured to move the chassis along a ground surface on the ground-engaging implement;
• a hitch connected to the chassis and configured to rotate with respect to the chassis, the hitch having
• a first bracket including a first end portion and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion, the first end portion being connected to the first side portion of the chassis,
• a first stabilizer bar connected to the second end portion of the first bracket,
• a first hitch arm connected to the first stabilizer bar, the first hitch arm having a free end configured to selectively engage a work implement,
• a first lift arm connected to the chassis and connected to the first hitch arm, the first hitch arm being moveable with respect to the first bracket by the first lift arm,
• a second bracket including a first end portion and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion, the first end portion being connected to the second side portion of the chassis, the second portion of the chassis being spaced from the first portion of the chassis, such that the first end portion of the first bracket is spaced from the first end portion of the second bracket, and the second end portion of the second bracket is spaced from the second end portion of the second bracket, the first bracket being connected to the second bracket only indirectly through the chassis,
• a second stabilizer bar connected to the second end portion of the second bracket, and
• a second hitch arm connected to the first stabilizer bar, the second hitch having a free end configured to selectively engage the work implement,
• a second lift arm connected to the chassis and connected to the second hitch arm, the second hitch arm being moveable with respect to the second bracket by the second lift arm,
• a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners extending through a portion of the chassis and through a portion of the first bracket to connect the first bracket to the chassis;
• wherein the chassis includes one of a first mating recess and a first mating protrusion and the first bracket includes the other of the first mating recess and the first mating protrusion, wherein the first mating protrusion is configured to be contained within the first mating recess while the first bracket is connected to the chassis to thereby inhibit rotation of the first bracket with respect to the chassis, and
• wherein the chassis includes one of a second mating recess and a second mating protrusion and the second bracket includes the other of the second mating recess and the second mating protrusion, wherein the second mating protrusion is configured to be contained within the second mating recess while the second bracket is connected to the chassis to thereby inhibit rotation of the second bracket with respect to the chassis.