Trailer hitch/loop thingy...what the hell is it?

[Kekoa]

I'm afraid to even ask this question but....What is the hitchball called, that isn't a hitchball but a loop? I saw one on a Discovery that was yellow. What would you use it for? Sorry for the NOOB question, but I drive in DC.

[davegonz]

Pintle.

[97 FZJ80]

Pintle is the hook part of the connector that is usually on the tow vehicle. Lunette Ring is the ring usually mounted on the tongue of the trailer.

[calamaridog]

Or do you mean this, which is used as a recovey point:

[Snook]

Originally Posted by 97 FZJ80

Pintle is the hook part of the connector that is usually on the tow vehicle. Lunette Ring is the ring usually mounted on the tongue of the trailer.

Here is what it looks like.

Regards,

[NMuzj100]

Receiver Shackle

[FirstToy]

The dumbest thing I ever saw was a Mercedes ML w/ a giant carabiner in the hitch reciever. Wish I had a camera handy. He probably saw a reciever shackle and thought, "Close enough"

[Kekoa]

Thanks for the replies, I like the MB ML story. I admit I drive in DC (far from off roading) but I always ask you guys before doing anything to my LC. That way I don't drive around with an hullahoop hanging off my hitch. Thanks again!

I like the one NMuzj100 posted.

[LabRat11]

Originally Posted by Snook

Here is what it looks like.

Regards,

Sorry to nit pick Snook. However, what you show is a combination ball - pintle hook. I'll never use one - an uncle of mine had one shear off the ball. The trailer disconnected and (according to him) it was a real rodeo ride to get it stopped. And yes, he was well within the weight rating.

Just a word of caution........


This is a pintle hook...

[stayalert]

hi jack - labrat - was this accident associated with using the towing vehicle combo (Pintle/ball) while towing a trailer set up for use with a ball or a pintle?

[honk]

OEM Toyota BJ40 Pintle hook.

Military uses them, and if I have a choice I'll never use a ball again. My trailer has the ring and I bought a receiver mount for another pintle hook that I can use on either truck.
The connection is solid, it swivels every which-a-way without a chance of popping off as a ball hitch could do if stressed.

And, I agree with labrat about those combo things. Looks universal and thereby a convenience but I think the lunette ring moves too much against only the shaft under the ball causing a possible breakage (or considering labrat's post, an assured breakage)

[stayalert]

Was it a lunette that was involved in the accident?

[LabRat11]

Originally Posted by stayalert

hi jack - labrat - was this accident associated with using the towing vehicle combo (Pintle/ball) while towing a trailer set up for use with a ball or a pintle?


Was it a lunette that was involved in the accident?

It was a lunette - the trailer was an 8 foot single axle flat bed trailer (weight approx 800 - 1000 lbs) loaded with approx 2000 lbs of building material (plywood, 2x4s, 2x6s, concrete, etc). Combo hitch was an 8 ton unit.

According to my uncle (as I recall) he was going about 45mph - primary road (not interstate) - road takes a gentle left bend - pothole ahead - uncle steered to avoid - truck misses - trailer hits it - the jolt sheared the ball off - trailer tried to go straight while the truck is still turning - trailer hits the safety chains - truck's rear end is jerked hard to the right - trailer nose bounces off the chains to the left - trucks rear end gets jerked hard to the left - trailer pendulums a few more times all while my uncle is trying to keep the truck on the road which is still turning left - he eventually rode it out and stopped it.

To his credit the load was very well secured and didn't shift but an inch or so. However, he did admit later that he had too much slack in the chains and he didn't cross them under the trailer tongue. He also had almost no weight in the back of the truck - he was delivering the supplies and just wanted to drop the trailer and leave rather than unload the back. He got lucky - lesson learned.

[semlin]

if lunette/pintles are superior is there any reason why the ball hitch is the standard? is it just a cost thing? do the ball hitches work better at highway speed?

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by semlin

if lunette/pintles are superior is there any reason why the ball hitch is the standard? is it just a cost thing? do the ball hitches work better at highway speed?

I'll give you my impressions, having trailered thousands of miles with both types.

The ball hitch is usually secured by a indented metal plate in the tongue that locks up against the ball when the lever on the coupler is secured in the down or locked position. In normal operation, this works pretty well, and is quiet even at low speeds. In tougher situations or under very heavy loads - like a larger boat, these can come loose with enough upward pressure applied to the trailer tongue. I have had this happen, and it is a PITA at best.

After about 5000 miles of pulling my OR trailer over all types of roads (and non-roads) using the pintle and lunette arrangement, I cannot find a reason why I would not prefer it in ALL towing situations. It is more secure, stronger, has a much greater range of motion, and is only noisy at low speeds on uneven surfaces - but even this is a minor issue.

For heavy duty, military, and off-highway use the intle and lunette is much better. It is also more secure on the highway, IMHO.

Mike

[e9999]

I imagine there may also be a culture thing about this, the pintle hooks and lunettes being big and industrial-looking. Not to mention that once the industry has settled on a standard it's just plain hard to change cuz everybody has already invested in it. Yes, I love my pintle arrangement. But I also have a receiver on.

[Gold Finger]

The NATO pintle is probably one of the best towing hooks around and is designed to allow articulation of the trailer with the the towing vehicle, if the twing ring on the trailer is fixed that is does not rotate then the pintle can be unlocked to allow it to rotate, this not only allows articulation but also prevents the trailer from forcing the vehicle over in the event of a capsise.

http://www.dixonbate.co.uk/html/pintles.htm

Compatibility:
Suitable for
Towing eyes: I.D. 75.00 mm
Section: 28.6 mm


Rotation:
Lower lock designed to secure jaw in one position or allow it to rotate 360°. Lock secured with steel pin & clip.

Towing Capacity
4.07 tonnes
Tensile strength 22 tonnes

Approval:
TUV No TP4 1308
NATO Stock No: 2540-99-825-6119

[dieseldog]

The pintle/lunette setup is FAR superior in every way. Much more heavy-duty and actually easier to hitch up. When towing, you get more articulation between tow rig and trailer. Hell, we pay good money so that our truck's suspension articulates, why not give our towing combination the same advantage? (Rhetorical question)

Some will point to specialty tow setups that have the regular ball, and the hitch articulates by twisting; however, IMHO, these are more failure prone than the military setup.

All four of my cruisers have pintles, and one of them (HJ45) has the combo pintle (as pictured in Snook's post #5). I've never had any trouble with it.

[semlin]

anyone got a preferred brand pintle for a receiver mount? i can get a generic one locally for about $70 but i have not idea if it is "nato" rated or if that means very much.

[Mark W]

That sounds kinda spendy. Brand new one retail for $50 in Anchorage. I KNOW that shipping to your local is less than to here. Mil surplus shops here get about $20-$30 for them.

There is no "NATO" or other rating for Pintles. Forget worries about brand names and just pick one up at your local truck or farm supply store.


Mark...

[e9999]

Northern Tools has several.
After some painful research I was able to find one that cleared my hitch receiver so I have both on now.

[honk]

You'll find them rated for different weights. 5000 and 10000 lbs. seem to be the chinese made choices.
To use in a 2" square receiver you can buy or make a simple heavy plate/square tubing slide-in adapter to mount the pintle, like so:

[semlin]

thanks, what i had in mind was item B below with its own dedicated receiver bar. I no longer have a pintle mount on my 80 since i cut off the rear cross bar and added a bumper from 4x4labs. this is princess auto here and the price is $C. a bar that bolts up to bolt on pintly is about $40 so slightly cheaper if I could find a good price on a pintle but the dedicated bar suits me now.

[Godwin]

The B style above is what I've been using for a number of years. Easy to swap between vehicles with a 2" reciever if you need. It's a solid heavy unit.

[GulfShoresFJ60]

I bought the B style at an Academy sports. They had two and looks like they were trying to get rid of them, I got it for like $50, JC Whitney also has a small selection of the pintles. Might want to look locally at some outdoor stores to see if they have anything like you want because these are pretty heavy and shuipping might be expensive.

[GulfShoresFJ60]

Sorry, it's late. I actually bought two inch reciever style like the one snook has pictured. Time for bed, Later.

[REZARF]

I have been using the D style above, but now I need to sell it as it doesn't fit with my new rear tire carrier.

It is the best of both worlds it has a two inch ball built into the hook of the pintle.

Rezarf <><

[Mark W]

I'm not comfortable with the trailerball/pintle hybrid. The shank of the ball is still the weak point. While any