pintle vs off-road hitch

[waterboy222]

Im to the stage now of deciding what to do with the coupler on my trailer build. Does anyone have recommendations? The pintle/lunette eye seems to be the standard for the longest time but now theres a wide selection of more technical off-road based couplers. What experiences have you had with them? It would seem the lunette eye might be a little safer in off-camber situations because it limits the trailer from turning completely over.

Opinions/Recommendations?

 

[Box Rocket]

Downside to a lunette/pintle is noise and slop in the connection. IIf you have a rotating pintle (which is desireable) then it won't limit the roll angle. Personally I don't see any benefit of going with a pintle setup over a quality offroad coupler like the Lock-n-Roll or Max Coupler.

 

[Hilldweller]

What's your towpig and trailer?
Size & weight matter.

 

[luk4mud]

I prefer swivel lunette for simplicity and proven ability. My in the process of being built by AT frame would only accept a fixed lunette ... no bueno. So it's Max coupler for me this time. Call Mario at AT and talk to him about the Lock n Roll before you buy one.

 

[waterboy222]

Tow vehicle is a 10th Anniversary Rubicon pulling a ???lb utility bed trailer.. Jeep has 35's and stock gearing with auto trans. I don't think the trailer will be more than 3500lbs when its all finished..

 

[proper4wd]

After seeing too many photos of trailers with lock-n-roll style couplers flipped over I don't think I would ever buy one. A normal lunette ring will not really limit you off road.

 

[CUoffroad]

You must think about what will happen if whatever coupler you use limits the trailer from rolling over and then pulls the towing vehicle over with it. It is a whole bunch easier to flip a trailer back over and lick your wounds versus having to use multiple vehicles to flip both back over.

 

[Hilldweller]

Tow vehicle is a 10th Anniversary Rubicon pulling a ???lb utility bed trailer.. Jeep has 35's and stock gearing with auto trans. I don't think the trailer will be more than 3500lbs when its all finished..

Maxx Coupler then.
Lunette/pintle works okay on a heavier vehicle. You wouldn't like the driveline input from that. The Maxx is like velvet with a JK.

Nice Jeep, btw.

 

[Box Rocket]

I prefer swivel lunette for simplicity and proven ability. My in the process of being built by AT frame would only accept a fixed lunette ... no bueno. So it's Max coupler for me this time. Call Mario at AT and talk to him about the Lock n Roll before you buy one.

Nothing against Mario or the Max-Coupler but you will get a very biased opinion from him about the Lock-n-Roll since he makes/sells a product in direct competition with the Lock-n-Roll. Also, the reported issues with the Lock-n-Roll issues have been addressed and remedied. I.E. binding/bending while reversed and Jackknifed. And for what it's worth the Max-Coupler has similar issues.

 

[Box Rocket]

Useful thread for this discussion. Should be familiar to many of you that have commented.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/68664-Pintle-vs-Lock-amp-Roll-vs-Max-Coupler

 

[ert01]

Max coupler here.

I personally wouldn't use anything else, but I tow my trail down some fairly gnarly trails behind my XJ on 35's. It's more of a trail toy vehicle than an expo rig so I wanted a hitch that could follow my jeep and not hinder me on the trail.

It's quiet, moves nice and is very predictable with no bad habits or mannerisms.

However, if you have a stock or mildly built truck and expect to log lots of highway miles with the occasional gravel or rough dirt road, then the max coupler is overkill (unless you want to waste money like many on here seem to do). Just run a regular ball. Cheap and plentiful.

If you plan to get a bit twisty maybe a pintle is a better choice.

It really simply comes down to what do you expect to use your trailer for?

I don't really understand how this is a discussion that keeps coming up. It you want an inexpensive but still very capable option, go with a standard pintle. You want a universal option for gravel roads and highway, use a ball. You want a purpose made specific solution (albeit a bit expensive), buy a max coupler.

Each hitch has +'s and -'s. Buy what will suit your budget and use.

 

[hesterj]

The lock-n-roll and max-coupler both are the better mouse trap for their own reasons but when it comes to the "where's the beef" side,you just can't beat the pintle hitch.
The only downside is the banging sound IF not loaded correctly. I found with my trailer that if you keep it 60/40 (front/back) then the banging goes almost all away. Good luck with the build.

 

[CUoffroad]

Nothing against Mario or the Max-Coupler but you will get a very biased opinion from him about the Lock-n-Roll since he makes/sells a product in direct competition with the Lock-n-Roll. Also, the reported issues with the Lock-n-Roll issues have been addressed and remedied. I.E. binding/bending while reversed and Jackknifed. And for what it's worth the Max-Coupler has similar issues.

The Max Coupler will not bind, period! And as far as Mario's comments from Adventure Trailers, he does not build the Max Coupler, but he is very aware of how reliable either coupler is, or isn't.

 

[skersfan]

I have used both, I like the quietness of the max coupler, have never had a problem with my max coupler. About 250 miles with the Max Coupler, over 15K with the Lock and Roll.

The only negative with either that I have found, and not a deal breaker is the near impossibility of connecting a tongue heavy trailer while off road. If you can line it up on pavement, no problems, but when you have to disconnect for some reason on other than flat level ground, you have real problems getting it back together. But it is very solid and a easier design.

If you get yourself in to real off road trail while exploring, have to make a disconnect and turn around the lock and roll is much easier for sure.

Turning the trailer over, or close to is part of the real adventure to off roading. lol. Much cheaper and less dangerous than pulling the vehicle over with it. I can not handle the banging of pintle, so I recommend both, depending on your off road runs. Staying known trails, no matter how rough, I like the Max Coupler. Exploring, rock crawling, I like my Rock and Roll.

 

[waterboy222]

As of right now, my trailer is very nose heavy. I can't pick it up by myself. The tongue and front box are way overbuilt. But with the addition of a rear spare tire carrier on the trailer, I hope it helps a little. Most of the offroading will be camping, trails, beach's and fire roads. The trailer will be too heavy to do much rock crawling with. By the time I load it with tents, fridge, genny, tools and kitchen gear, it'll be more than I'm comfortable with rock crawling.


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