What type of trailer hitch styles to choose is based on its intended application.
A ball hitch is common for personal and recreational towing. A gooseneck is common for heavy towing like a flatbed or horse trailer. A fifth-wheel is common for large camper trailers and commercial hauling. Finally, a pintle hitch is common for off-road hauling over rough terrain.
We explore the uses of each hitch style in this article.
Ball Hitch Advantages and Limitations
The ball hitch is the most common and familiar of all hitch types. It is what is used for boat trailers, utility trailers, and medium heavy-duty trailers. Common ball sizes are 1 7/8 inch, 2 inches, and 2 5/16 inch. The 1 7/8 inch ball is used for light-duty towing up to about 3500 lbs. Examples include a utility trailer or a small boat trailer.
A 2-inch ball is the most common size for medium-duty applications. Examples include hauling a speedboat on a trailer or towing a small to a medium-sized camper trailer. A 2 5/16 inch ball is utilized for heavier-duty applications like a small flatbed trailer, a heavy powerboat, or a large-sized camper.
The ball is mounted on the hitch at the rear of the vehicle. It is essential to match the diameter of the threaded shank of the ball to the hole size in the vehicle hitch. If the hole is larger than the shank, the ball nut will inevitably come loose.
The trailer is connected to the vehicle with a coupler. The coupler is the trailer component that the ball fits inside of and is clamped closed with a latch to secure it. Most every coupler will have the correct ball size stamped on it.
The correct ball size must be used with the coupler. For instance, if you have a 2-inch coupler and a 1 7/8 inch ball, it creates a hazardous connection where the trailer can come detached from the tow vehicle.
Advantages of the ball hitch setup are that it is an easy connection to make, and it provides smooth towing with a wide range of motion.
There are, however, limitations to a ball hitch. One limitation is the amount of tongue weight that can be safely carried at the rear or bumper of the vehicle. For this reason, ball hitches are not the best choice for the most-heavy duty towing applications. That being said, you can haul a pretty large flatbed with a ball hitch.
A ball hitch is located at the rear of the tow vehicle, well behind the rear axle. Too much tongue weight at the rear of the vehicle makes the rear springs squat, and adversely affects the tow vehicle steering.
Another limitation of a ball hitch is the range of motion required for off-road applications. Off-road trailering may require angles and twisting that are not best suited for a ball hitch. These applications are best suited by a pintle hitch.
What is a Pintle Hitch? Uses, Advantages, and Disadvantages
A pintle hitch or pintle hook is recognizable as a heavy U-shaped device with a clamp mechanism on the top half of it. It receives a lunette ring, which is a ring of steel located at the tip of the trailer tongue that fits within the U-shaped hook.
The pintle hitch is located at the rear of the tow vehicle and is oftentimes connected by a receiver hitch. Other times, the plate to which the hitch is mounted is bolted or welded directly to heavy steel like at the back of a dump truck or the bumper of a military vehicle.
The primary advantage of a pintle hitch system is a huge range of motion for the trailer being towed. This is essential in rough off-road applications where the tow vehicle and trailer may be at odd angles to one another.
The other advantage is that a pintle hitch is rated to carry more weight than a ball hitch. The similarity they share is that they are both mounted at the rear of the tow vehicle.
Pintle hitches are very easy to connect to the trailer. The applications where the pintle hooks are most commonly used in construction, industrial, agricultural, and military.
The big disadvantage is that there is so much play within the system, the hitch bangs every time there is sharp braking, acceleration, or bumps. It tends to send a shock wave through the tow vehicle when the hitch rattles around. Therefore a pintle hitch system is not the ideal choice for recreational towing where passenger comfort is valued.
One interesting difference to note between a ball hitch and a pintle hitch is the location of the moving part that clamps to secure the vehicle and the trailer. With a ball hitch, the clamp on the trailer receives the fixed ball on the vehicle. With a pintle hitch, the hook and clamp are on the vehicle and receive the fixed ring on the trailer.
Gooseneck Trailer vs. Fifth-Wheel
Gooseneck trailers and fifth-wheel trailers share one thing in common. Their point of connection to the trailer is directly above the rear axle of the tow vehicle. Compared to a rear-mount hitch, this greatly increases the maximum tongue weight, and greatly increases the overall towing capacity.
Both gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitches are designed for heavy hauling. A gooseneck is recognized by its shape which looks like the bend in the neck of a goose.
At the end of the long downward protruding steel structure is a clamping
the mechanism that connects to a three-inch ball that is mounted in the center of the bed of the pickup truck or tow vehicle directly above the rear axle.
This is a common setup for a heavy-duty flatbed trailer designed to carry heavy equipment. It is also a common setup for livestock trailers and horse trailers.
One advantage of a gooseneck trailer hitch system is that the ball can be easily removed from the bed of the pickup truck leaving the truck bed clear to be fully utilized.
To learn how to distinguish a gooseneck from a fifth-wheel, the easiest place to recognize a fifth-wheel hookup is on a semi-truck. Note how the solid fixed piece called the kingpin extends down vertically from the front of the trailer. Then the large plate with the clamping mechanism is attached to the frame of the tow vehicle.
This same type of fifth-wheel hitch system can be mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. Usually, the truck is going to be a one-ton truck or heavier. This hitch system is the most heavy-duty of all.
The fifth-wheel hitch system is commonly talked about in the world of large heavy camping trailers. Since these massive trailers have heavy tongue weight and are huge in size, the fifth-wheel hitch is advantageous.
A fifth-wheel hitch system gives a smooth and secure towing experience, while at the same time minimizing the side-to-side movement of the trailer. This is especially important in heavy crosswinds because it helps to prevent the trailer from tipping.
When it comes to the heaviest loads like massive heavy equipment, or huge heavy cargo trailers, the fifth-wheel hitch is the perfect system.
However, one major drawback for the owner of a pickup truck is that the fifth-wheel apparatus mounted in the bed of the pickup truck takes up a huge amount of space.
Since it is centered, it is really in the way of effectively being able to carry any cargo in your truck without removing the large heavy hitch.
Conclusion:
Which trailer hitch styles you choose depends on the use of the trailer. For recreational and personal use a ball hitch is the standard choice, and it tows smoothly.
A pintle hitch is a great choice for off-road, construction, agricultural, or military use.
A gooseneck or the fifth-wheel hitch is useful for the heaviest loads and requires a special setup in the rear bed of the pickup truck.
Trailers and Transport is a company located in Gainesville, Georgia that specializes in trailer sales, trailer rentals, and overland boat transport. Call Trailers and Transport at (678) 680-4423 or email us at service@trailersandtransport.com to learn more about trailers.