Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
But a question I have is why not just a pintle style set up? Not that a camp trailer needs the unbelievable strength of a pintle.
The pintle has a number of issues beyond the noise factor.
There is no solid connection between the trailer and tow vehicle and this can set up trailer sway at speeds greater than 55 mph.
The backlash from the movement within the pintle is transmitted to the tow vehicles transmission and drive train.
A regular pintle only has 45° before it binds. (non-rotational)
I know people are going to point out that their trailer set up with a pintle doesn't sway, but the proof is in the pudding. Until you have towed with a multi axis coupler you'll never realize how bad a pintle is. It's the same as people who use coolers and then buy an Engle fridge. It's only then that they realize how bad coolers were.
The transmission of stress to the transmission and drive train is somewhat mitigated by a spring loaded pintle. The spring loaded pintle seems to be evidence in itself that the stress is an issue.
The pintle, like the leaf spring, has a history going back to horse drawn carts and stage coaches. The technology hasn't advanced much in over a hundred years.
The reason pintles are still used is that they are inter-changable between vehicles, they are a standard, they are available, and they are inexpensive. I can't see one reason from a design perspective why they are still in use.
The military uses them because they are a NATO standard and NATO wants every vehicle from every member's military to be able to tow each others trailers.