Pintle receiver Danger

[nobull1]

Twice in the last year I have had my pintle ring come off my trailer while driving down the road. Both times I did not hook up or check that it was properly connected which makes it my fault. The problem is when you drop the lock down to secure the ring there is a pin that goes through a hole on both sides and through the lock lever. The problem is if a person pulls forward on the lever you can install the pin behind the lever and make it unlocked but closed to make it appear it is locked. I thought it was just my receiver that could do that but today I was at a dealer and showed him what could happen and his eyes just about bulged out. I can't believe these are legal anywhere. Have you checked yours lately.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Do you have a picture showing what you mean? I have an idea but am curious if its just the particular brand you have or if its a common design issue since I don't currently have a pintle hitch but have contemplated them in the past.

 

[crazyal]

I always check, not just pintle receivers but all of them. I've had too many different style ball hitches look like they were latched but weren't. At least with the Pintle hitches you can easily see if it's in the open position.

 

[nobull1]

I always check, not just pintle receivers but all of them. I've had too many different style ball hitches look like they were latched but weren't. At least with the Pintle hitches you can easily see if it's in the open position.

You can see if it in the open position but not if it is the unlocked position and closed

 

[nobull1]

I will post a couple of pic's tomorrow as I have it hooked up for tomorrow anyways. Pictures make it a lot easier to explain what i mean. I prefer the pintle as they are easier to hook up imo.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have never had one come open but for that matter I do not use many Pintle Hitches.

As for guys having ball mounts coming open, never had that one either and I have a trailer behind my truck well over 60% of the time. I probably have 5 different trailers hitched up during the week. Maybe I am just luck. I have broken a hitch before but that was my fault for overloading it by 5,000#

Chris

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have never had one come open but for that matter I do not use many Pintle Hitches.

As for guys having ball mounts coming open, never had that one either and I have a trailer behind my truck well over 60% of the time. I probably have 5 different trailers hitched up during the week. Maybe I am just luck. I have broken a hitch before but that was my fault for overloading it by 5,000#

Chris

We never had the hitch come unlocked on our trailers with 2 5/16 ball hitches but did have the trailer come off before. One of our employees was backing my father up to the trailer and by the time my dad got out to the truck to help hook up the employee already had the trailer lowered down and it was all locked. So my dad was coming through the town and the trailer hit a bump and came off the hitch. The safety chains did their job and kept the trailer behind the truck and the only damage was the road and the jack stand. The hitch was still locked, the employee never unlocked it when he lowered it down so it sat on top of the ball and my dad never noticed it since this employee pulls trailers all the time. He later said he didn't know you were suppose to pull the pin and lift the latch to allow the trailer to sit down over the ball then lock it down :ashamed: So no harm to anyone thankfully and it was a lesson for us to always double check our hitches to make sure their attached (triple check if its someone else lowering down and attaching for us).

 

[Diamondpilot]

It may be overkill but I always stop at the first light/stop sign and jump out and check everything. Hitch, chains, load, ect.

Chris

 

[psj12]

I am aware of what he is saying. If the locking lever is able to move longitudinaly enough to allow the safety pin to be installed behind the lock then your pintle is very worn or defective. The lock lever should also be spring loaded in the down or locked position so it shouldn't allow the pintle to open even without the pin (always use the pin).

 

[powerstroke444e]

It may be overkill but I always stop at the first light/stop sign and jump out and check everything. Hitch, chains, load, ect.

Chris

I have a 1/4 mile drive way that is a little rought I always stop at the end and check everything and there is always atleast one chain/strap that is loose.

I am trying to figure out the OP statement on the pintle coming loose as I have several trailers that are Pintle and would trust them over a ball any day.