Why aren't pintle hitches more common?

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I wasn't refering to the Military, Fully rotational, multi capacity Pintels, I was talking about the Regular commercially available pintel/Lunnette hitch, which is only rotational to about 45°, whitch to me, along with the noise is UNSAT

If you're happy with yours--GOOGO--keepit

I've got lots of choices for my trailer and I'll stick with the Lock & Roll, it's served me faithfully off-road, for over two years and is still quiet, my preference !!

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I've got lots of choices for my trailer and I'll stick with the Lock & Roll, it's served me faithfully off-road, for over two years and is still quiet, my preference !!...

Go jack-knife down a tight technical trail and tell me your still happy with it

Why compare with off the shelf parts? LNR and Max-Coupler styles are not exactly over the counter either. Its like comparing 'commercially available' Blitz cans with Scepter MFC's, worth the hassle of getting them if you intend to put them through hell. If one wants a rotational pintle they are easy enough to order, will work in a 2" receiver and offer a rating in excessive of the vehicle mounting. I have 100% zero worry about wear or breaking with my pintle setup, its likely 40 years old already and has zero wear, I expect it to outlive me

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I don't understand you, whatever you mean by "not over the counter" all you gotta do is order them and pay forem--simple

You're happy with your pintle and i'm happy with my L&R, and I am aware of the incline/decline dangers and KNOW how to drive

If my L&R ever failed, I've got three backups with me so-

Let it go !!

I'm done and I hope your Pintel/lunnette outlives you too !!

--JIMBO

 

[cruiseroutfit]

:sombrero: I don't understand you, whatever you mean by "not over the counter" all you gotta do is order them and pay forem--simple

Your proving my point. Your method is the same procedure to obtaining a 360* pintle setup. Pick up the phone and order. Done. I think the new Max Coupler is a great unit and I would try one if/when I had a reason to ditch the pintle. I'm not arguing one is better than the other, just that your logic in choosing is flawed. With proper sizing they can be tolerably quiet and with the right parts selection they can offer you all the rotation you desire.

...Let it go !!...

Pot, meet kettle. Your the top poster on both of the recent pintle threads :sombrero:

Edit: Now I'm beating you.

 

[Martyn]

I think coupler preference is a little like the debate over an ice chest or a fridge.

It's a hard thing to get people to switch over to the fridge......until they try one, or after drinking a cold beer out of someone else's fridge when it's 120'F in Death Valley

 

[jesusgatos]

My question is, if you're building/modifying a tow vehicle and/or trailer for off-road use, why wouldn't you use a military-style rotating pintle-hitch? You can buy them dirt cheap through mil-surplus outlets and military truck junkyards. I'm only wondering why anyone would buy non-rotating pintles. I've got one, but only because it's mounted on a 2" receiver so I can tow my military trailers with civilian trucks. Maybe your vehicle already has the standard pintle bolt pattern on the rear bumper/crossmember? In that case, they make swiveling lunette eyes too. I used one of those to build a towbar for one of my Jeeps a long long time ago.

 

[jesusgatos]

100% zero

So... how much is that?

 

[Outback]

For off road use I dont use a ball hitch if I can avoid it. One of our Wells Fargo trailers popped off the ball when I got a bit twisted up. Talk about a pain in the ********! Some people complain about the noise a pintle makes. I would rather hear that noise than deal with trying to jack up the front of a trailer in some weird angled position and reattach it to the tow vehicle. NOT FUN. The Pintles are also unbelievably strong. In fact I believe they are the strongest type of trailer conection possible and allow for extreme break over angle compared to any other type of system. I have seen some of the newer 360 degree ball hitches. But there strength cannot be compared to a Pintle setup. Those types are very quiet though. I still preffer the strength. When the Military changes then that is what I will go with. The Pintle simply works off road better than anything else. Ill live with what noise they make off road which really isnt that bad anyway. Someone also stated once that the handeling of the trailer is not as good with a pintle. I completed a 6 day run from Nevada down to Texas, over into Arkansas and then through OK NE WY UT and then back home to Nevada. Never once did my Military trailer ever give me any concern of any kind. So that is not an issue either. Bottom line is use what you have. If you have a problem then change it.

 

[I Leak Oil]

I don't think so. A Hook and a ring? That is very cheap. From all I read, the noise issue is the biggest complaint, followed by the slop (stop-start movement). Kinda like a box car coupler on a train.

The hook and the ring are forged and machined. Atleast the good ones are. Even the cheap cast junk is more expensive. With the exception of the ball, the other components are just tube, bar stock, and stampings. That is all extremely inexpensive to make compared to a forging. Not only process wise but material wise as well.

I agree that the noise is probably most common reason why pintles aren't used but the fact that they are overkill for most applications and more expensive are factors in the trailer manufacturers not to use them vs. a ball.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Big heavy machined forgings (if mil spec), castings if not, vs. a couple of stampings and a little forging?

Steel isn't free. Neither is machining. A ball coupler is good enough and a LOT cheaper: Remember that the military pays a lot more for the pintle hook/lunette new than you do surplus.

As far as noise goes, if you have appropriately sized components, they make little noise. A big lunette ring opening on a big hook allows slop and noise.

 

[hugh]

I have both types on my trailer but would be interested in learning more about a rotating type and where to purchase such a unit.

 

[cwsqbm]

Different weight classes. I have a pintle for a 40,000# trailer on my truck. What ball would I use for that?

2 5/16. Fairly common on the toterhomes built on class 8 trucks, to pull big stacker race car trailers.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

2 5/16. Fairly common on the toterhomes built on class 8 trucks, to pull big stacker race car trailers.

Most I could find in a quick online search is 14-20k for a 2-5/16"

Not that I will ever have anything over 10k to pull myself

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I have both types on my trailer but would be interested in learning more about a rotating type and where to purchase such a unit.

More info on the newest Max Coupler here:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47555