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Pintle Hitches

kwschumm Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon   Pics

2005-10-10          117712

I was trying to back the chipper through some tight areas in the woods and the pintle hitch sure made it a frustrating experience. There is a lot of slop in the pintle hitch between the ball and ring and every time I turn one way the hitch seemed to swivel the other. This made it a bear to control. Is there any advantage to the pintle style hitch? That's what came on the chipper but it seems to me a ball hitch would give better control in tight areas.

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Pintle Hitches

Peters Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL   Pics

2005-10-10          117715

Normally the pintle(prindle CDN)hitch is used on larger weight trailers up to 30,000 lbs. It is really an older style hitch. I would not think you would have any problem with the chipper. They probably installed that style chipper as they are normally towed behind larger trucks which would have that style hitch. I have an old pin style trailer with some slop and there is significant difference in traversing tight areas vs the large equipment trailer with a normal ball. ....

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Pintle Hitches

Murf Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada   Pics

2005-10-11          117728

Ken, from your short description it sounds like you are trying to move the chipper with a regular ball hitch stuck up through the lunette ring (a pintle hook is the truck side, a lunette ring is the trailer side).

If this is the case, yes it will be VERY sloppy. A ball has a very narrow shank so that the coupler can grab it securely.

A lunette ring usually has an I.D. of 2.25" to 3", this is a lot larger than the neck of even a 2 5/16" ball.

The primary reason for using a Pintle Hook / Lunette Ring combination is that it is not only a very stout hitch, but it is the only hitch setup which will take tremndous NEGATIVE hitch weight, such as when backing something heavy off the trailer, the leverage then forces the back of the truck upwards. A ball hitch would merely come unhitched.

Best of luck. ....

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Pintle Hitches

kwschumm Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon   Pics

2005-10-11          117733

Thanks for the terminology lesson Murf! The pintle hook I'm using has a ball on the bottom and a hook that closes it up on the top. Is there a better style hook? The I.D. of the lunette ring is at least 3", I'm thinking it might even be larger. There's a ton of slop in this setup. I do need a hitch that won't come unhitched in any condition since I back up/down hills and go over some pretty rough ground with the chipper. ....

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Pintle Hitches

Murf Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada   Pics

2005-10-11          117734

Ken, a 3" i.d. is at the big end of the scale and that isn't helping any.

The combination setups are becoming very popular, but they are definitely a compromise. The important thing about those style hitches is that they have the correct ball moun ted in them. It must have a very large diameter shoulder at the bottom where it meets the coupler. The shoulder should be at least 2" high if not 3", and 2"+ in diameter.

If it has a regular trailer ball on it, that's the problem.

The best solution would be to get a proper, matched set of pintle hook and lunette ring. Usually the lunette ring is adjustable, that means it's also removeable. You can either buy a 'regular' ball hitch to bolt back on, or just get a lunette ring with a smaller I.D. to put on.

On tough terrain, the pintle is a good style of hitch.

Best of luck. ....

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Pintle Hitches

kwschumm Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon   Pics

2005-10-11          117750

Thanks for the tips, Murf. I just bought what the guy at the trailer place said I needed. The hook came with a ball as an assembly so I didn't question if it was correct or not. the hook may not latch closed with a taller ball on it, but measurements will tell the tale. A smaller lunette ring will surely help too. ....

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