Pintle Vs. Standard ball Hitch what are your thoughts?

[Finatic Angler]

For now I have no need for a max coupler type setup on my trailer. As a disclaimer I never wheeled a trailer.

I will use the M101 for mostly fire roads and highways.

What are your thoughts on Pintle set ups vs a regular ball hitch?

All insight is appreciated

 

[erk469]

It depends on where you are going with it, I use a ball hitch because of a few things, I don't wheel that much, I only go on beaches, campgrounds and mostly flat grounds. Just my .02

 

[pugslyyy]

ball hitch = on road
pintle hitch = off road

For fire roads and highways, I would go with the ball hitch.

 

[Mark Harley]

Both 2" ball for road travel Lunette for off road.

My Pintle of choice has a cast in 2" ball.

 

[VDBAZFJ]

Short of having the option to change like above (very cool) I would not want a ball. I thought I would switch to max coupler or similar but I have grown used to the pintle. It does not bother me at all on the road I rarely hear it. Off road...yes. It clunks. A lot. But I'm used to it. And it's paid for. And it works. That's why I keep it!

 

[Phoenix]

Short of having the option to change like above (very cool) I would not want a ball. I thought I would switch to max coupler or similar but I have grown used to the pintle. It does not bother me at all on the road I rarely hear it. Off road...yes. It clunks. A lot. But I'm used to it. And it's paid for. And it works. That's why I keep it!

I endorse this message. Some day I'll move to a max coupler, but there are other priorities and the pintle hitch works.

My apologies for not answering the question. Pintle gives you both options at the cost of some clunking.

 

[Titanpat57]

Went through some struggle in the beginning as well.....post #12 has an interesting photo relating to articulation with a Bulldog coupler that I ended up using on my utility trailer. The camper has a Max Coupler. Although I haven't towed in into extreme conditions, I would rather have than not need it vs. need it and not have it.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/42627-Missing-the-Mark


No clunking for this kid.

Here is the utility trailer as it sits with the tongue modification and the Bulldog coupler

 

[highdesertranger]

I use both also. the lunette is mounted on my trailer and under it I have a receiver tube that i have a standard 2" hitch on that i can quickly remove and go to pintle. sorry no pics, i have to take more pics of my rig. highdesertranger

 

[luk4mud]

If you are absolutely positive that you will never hit a bump at speed and never be on any sort of twisty off camber grade that might cause a ball to pop off, stick with the ball. Ball is fine on pavement ... usually.

 

[brussum]

Short of having the option to change like above (very cool) I would not want a ball. I thought I would switch to max coupler or similar but I have grown used to the pintle. It does not bother me at all on the road I rarely hear it. Off road...yes. It clunks. A lot. But I'm used to it. And it's paid for. And it works. That's why I keep it!

I'm with this as well^^. I have a pintle and it works great. It's over-engineered and leaves me worry-free regardless of terrain or conditions. My setup is similar to Mark Harley's where I can swap out to a ball if I want. But for now, the pintle works and the occasional banging doesn't bother me. The trailer brakes do a good job of keeping tension on the hitch so it doesn't bang around too much.

 

[JPNCA]

Grew up camping out of a Bantom trailer with a 2" ball coupler. Never had any trouble with it. Even rolled the trailer on the dusey trail in the 80s.
I have a 416 with a call coupler that my family uses.
Our off roading is california mountains and deserts
I will say the military trailers I referred to have a rotation built into the tounge which helps with side to side movement
Just my opinion

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I have a custom coupler that will rotate in a similar fashion to a max coupler...but I need to tweak it a little. In the meantime I use a ball hitch on my extended lunette custom tow thingy (not really sure what to call it)?? Frankenhitch?

I agree with what JPNCA said, the lunette on the military trailers rotates in the housing, and will rotate even with the 2" ball hitch. I use it in this configuration most of the time, as I am Captain Fire Road so far. lol I also have the Frakencoupler to re-install as soon as I work out the washer issue (need it machined down a little for free rotation).

For now, this works out good.

For now setup



Frakencoupler





I used the Lunette for a year or so. Works good, LOUD and annoying to back up. I think they are an excellent and rugged design, and if you dont "need" to change it, dont. I needed to lengthen the tongue so I could open my rear tire swing out with the trailer attached, so using the stock lunette was not an option. I did hack the end off of one to make the Frankencoupler...so I am sort of using a stock lunette still. lol

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Grew up camping out of a Bantom trailer with a 2" ball coupler. Never had any trouble with it. Even rolled the trailer on the dusey trail in the 80s.
I have a 416 with a call coupler that my family uses.
Our off roading is california mountains and deserts
I will say the military trailers I referred to have a rotation built into the tounge which helps with side to side movement
Just my opinion

This is nicely done.

 

[JPNCA]

This is nicely done.

Thanks
My idea but not my welding

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I've been using the "Lock-&-Roll" hitch for over 8 years and I can't see the advisability of any standard "Ball Hitch"-

Unless you have a on-road vehicle and notta off-road vehicle-

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO