Offroad trailer hitch

[Rio_Grande]

I have very hilly off camber property and want to build a hitch that will work better in this environment. I had a pointless hitch on my jeep atone timeout found it reaching its limits and binding while crossing creeks and the like. I picked up a threaded pointless with the thought of putting a retainer on each side of a pivot point but it isint working out as expected. I wanted to check with the folks here to see what ideas they may have.

 

[bcp]

I don't know what you call a pointless hitch, but the popular off-road hitch seems to be a rotating universal joint style.

Some choices are shown here:

couplings

https://locknroll.com/gallery/gallery-category/

http://www.lets-getaway.com/caravan-trailer-couplings.htm

Bruce

 

[Rio_Grande]

That should have read pintle hitch, spell check helped a bit too much.

The Orc (I think it was) looks good except I don't see how it would turn iritis bolted down.

If I could make the lunette eye swivel and then return flat I think I could make the parts I have work.

Thanks for the links.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would think that an old style bulldog hitch like military uses would give you as much swivel as you needed without binding; They can be bought with a swivel on the bull dog clamp on the tow vehicle. They should be much cheaper than any of those listed couplings in the bcp reply.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I agree gray that an old style military hitch would be perfect but due to this being on the jeep the gas tank is in the way of any hitch that is deeper than the bumper. I even have to. Use a modified length hitch in the receiver. So I need the swivel to occur on the trailer side of the connection.

I noticed the big trailers bolt the lunette eye into place and it can swivel. My only concern with that is I want it to return flat after it flexes.

 

[bcp]

A pintle hitch will bind in some situations, especialy combinations of twisting, turning, and backing. Also if the sizes aren't right for each other.

G503.com Message Forums • View topic - Trailer Hitch Bind

M101A1 Trailer - Pintle Hook Binding

Pintle Mount Twisted! Is it the ball? [Archive] - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Bruce

 

[bcp]

You could use one like this and weld some stops to limit rotation:

View attachment 347434

From:
Lunette Ring Trailer Coupler | etrailer.com

Bruce

 

[adventure bob]

Pintle hook on a swivel base. Wont bind no matter what you do to it. I drug a camp trailer over the triple threat in moab and never had an issue even through the Golden Crack. Also drug it over behind the rocks without issue. I did disconnect at Whit Knuckle though cause I didn't want the trailer to end up in the jeep. You can get them for a regular 2" receiver mount so they pop right into the jeep hitch.

 

[Rio_Grande]

Cool bob, I couldn't find anything that went into the receiver and swiveled.

 

[adventure bob]

Theres quite a few places but they aint cheap, around $300 for a decent one. If you have an aftermarket bumper Id get a mil style swivel one and bolt it on.

 

[Looking4new]

I've got a pintle hitch on my Jeep and a swivel lunette on the M101 military trailer. It works good off camber and all. The weight of the trailer makes it come back to level after the off camber ride.

 

[9fingers]

I have very hilly off camber property and want to build a hitch that will work better in this environment. I had a pointless hitch on my jeep atone timeout found it reaching its limits and binding while crossing creeks and the like. I picked up a threaded pointless with the thought of putting a retainer on each side of a pivot point but it isint working out as expected. I wanted to check with the folks here to see what ideas they may have.

Here is a cheapie I made from a large eye bolt. I welded the eye at the end of the loop and filled up the threads with nuts. Welded them together and added some angle iron along the nuts. I have pulled my trailer with a cord of firewood with no problems. Just don't try backing it up unless you are really good at backing.

 

[tessiers]

We have a hitch along these lines connecting a logging arch to the back of an old crawler dozer, It never binds, never.

50-Ton Heavy Duty Swivel Pintle Hook #BP880

I think it has about 180 degrees of vertical swing and a full 360 degrees of horizontal. I have had it roll completely over trying to winch off the side, and climb high enough so the top of the arch hit the back of the roll cage and never seen any sign of the hitch binding.