Why a pintle hitch?

[Jay4200]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the advantage of a pintle hook/hitch? They seem used in heavyweight applications, so there must be an advantage, but it seems to be that they'd be loosey-goosey and just bang around all over the place.

Just curious - JayC

 

[firemanpat2910]

they are great for off road applications, they can flex to way more angles than a ball hitch.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Strength. I have never seen a ball hitch rated over 25K for both bumper and GN applications.

Chris

 

[powerstroke444e]

Easy of use and you know you have it on the truck when you have many operators and trucks with differant balls if it has pintle no doubt that it won't fall of the truck. And they are rated to handle more than most pickups can handle thus hitch won't be the weak point.

 

[farmboy12]

They're also easier to hitch up, as you have more like 4-5" as opposed to as small as 2" or so of room.


Kyle

 

[JB4310]

All of the above and you don't really get all that much "loosey-goosey" as you might think, at least it never bothered me. You'll get a little fore and aft movement but I've never felt ant side to side instability.

 

[Steve C]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the advantage of a pintle hook/hitch? They seem used in heavyweight applications, so there must be an advantage, but it seems to be that they'd be loosey-goosey and just bang around all over the place.

Just curious - JayC

Another advantage is you don't have to worry about some low life towing your trailer away with his little compact beater truck......he is going to have to bring something a little more noticible.

 

[Slippy]

I would say it is mostly weight capacity. My dump truck will pull probably 30-40 ton and I can't imagine a ball that could handle that much weight. You can get a pentle hitch that is made for a 2" insert. I will use that occassionaly if I just want to move my empty trailer.
On the truck itself, the hitch is spring loaded that allows it to move in and out slightly to allow some flex which really absorbs any of the clunky feeling you might expect.

 

[Dargo]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the advantage of a pintle hook/hitch? They seem used in heavyweight applications, so there must be an advantage, but it seems to be that they'd be loosey-goosey and just bang around all over the place.

Just curious - JayC

It is sorta loosey-goosey and always seems to grind around when cornering. I've never had one fail, but I would agree that they just don't seem as smooth as a ball hitch. Given my 'druthers, I like my GN trailer. But, that's just my personal preference and not based on any strength or flex factors.

 

[Cami]

Anybody ever used the off highway/military type pintle hitch? It revolves and allows a lot more articulation than the fixed highway type; I had one on my old deuce and a half. If a careless driver managed to dump a trailer on its side, it didn't necessarily take the truck with it.