To pintle or not to pintle?
- Thread starter tx-jeremy
- Start date
rnArmy
Adventurer
Actually, you do want some slop in there. That's what gives it the side-to-side (or "twisting") capability if using a fixed pintle and a fixed lunette ring. You want movement in there. There probably is a defined proper size for the two - I just don't know what that is. I'm sure there's a too-big and a too-small.
It would be interesting to compare the size of the lunette ring off an old WWII trailer to the 2" receiver hitch lunette ring some of us are using instead.
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rnArmy
Adventurer
It has been a few years since I seriously looked for a Dixon Bate (NRC2051) hitch. I've been wanting one for years, but really hasn't been a priority, and my current old military pintle hitch is working fine on and off road. But being bored (and kinda on lockdown with having Covid) I did a little bit of renewed looking. Found these in England:
NATO TOWING HOOK FV (NRC2051)| BUCKLEY BROTHERS (landroverspares.co.uk)
Dixon Bate NRC2051 Pintle Assembly, NATO Type Rotating Tow Hitch-Land Rover NRC2 | eBay (cheapest at $216.80 US plus unknown shipping and I don't know what else - VAT?)
Buy Towing Pintle, Fron/Rear, Military Part NRC2051G (pablanchard.co.uk)
So I contacted these places to see what it would cost total in US dollars with shipping to the USA (I'm in WA - if you're on the east coast it might be cheaper for you). I'll let you know. If I can get one delivered about or below $300 I'm pulling the trigger for sure. Don't know if I'm wishful thinking or not.
NATO TOWING HOOK FV (NRC2051)| BUCKLEY BROTHERS (landroverspares.co.uk)
Dixon Bate NRC2051 Pintle Assembly, NATO Type Rotating Tow Hitch-Land Rover NRC2 | eBay (cheapest at $216.80 US plus unknown shipping and I don't know what else - VAT?)
Buy Towing Pintle, Fron/Rear, Military Part NRC2051G (pablanchard.co.uk)
So I contacted these places to see what it would cost total in US dollars with shipping to the USA (I'm in WA - if you're on the east coast it might be cheaper for you). I'll let you know. If I can get one delivered about or below $300 I'm pulling the trigger for sure. Don't know if I'm wishful thinking or not.
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rnArmy
Adventurer
That is pretty cool. Same idea as the Dixon Bate without the ability to fix it in place so it doesn't rotate. Haven't really figured out the advantage though of why you wouldn't want it to rotate (given the option) other than maybe when initially hooking up the trailer's lunette ring?
Does anyone out there have one of these from Red Neck Trailers?
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Tudor Tanase
Active member
Yes used to be the standard fix years ago when pintle was popular, lost of kids scooter tyres and various plain rubber rings habitually hanging from the pintles. Cheap and easy fix.
rnArmy
Adventurer
Ok; so I ordered the Dixon Bate hitch from the ebay seller in England (they got back to me pretty quick). Came to a total with tax and shipping of $296 in US dollars. Should get here early March (today is 25 January). I haven't heard back yet from the other two sellers I contacted.
I'll keep you posted.
I'll keep you posted.
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Red90
Adventurer
You never want both fixed. One must rotate. Always.
Huh, never knew that?!
I always thought the slop was enough. Have I been doing it wrong or have I been getting away with it for a time period? Haven’t rolled a trailer yet though so there is that!?
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rnArmy
Adventurer
Both ends of mine are currently fixed. The lunette ring is fixed on the end of the tongue, and the pintle is fixed in the receiver. Nothing rotates by itself. I depend on the slop between the two to allow the trailer to twist on its axis. Figure the more slop (side-to-side twisting movement of the ring inside the pintle), the better flexibility (or range of motion) I have without ripping something apart.
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mep1811
Gentleman Adventurer
I, of course do.
rnArmy
Adventurer
I ordered it (Dixon Bate hitch) this morning. And then this afternoon I got an email from the seller/eBay saying:
"Hi, full refund. Uk delivery only. US customs may charge 50 to 100 GBP plus. Will re-list. But if you have a UK delivery address. Sorry for any inconvenience."
Bummer. Strike one. Oh well... still waiting to hear from one of the other sellers. It isn't a showstopper (sniff sniff...).
I was THIS CLOSE to getting one.
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rnArmy
Adventurer
To the best of my knowledge, I have never overextended the limits of my pintle hitch/lunette ring set-up in all the years I've been running it. And I've taken my trailer on some pretty wild off-camber off-roading/overlanding trips. I just think it would be nice to have the option of having either a fixed in place pintle hitch, or the option to allow the pintle to rotate 360-degrees. Which is what the Dixon Bate hitch allows. If I never get one, oh well... I've gone this long.
I'm not going for the "cool overland look"; I'm going for the "rugged ex-military overland look".
Is that a thing?
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