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Posted by D Sherman [72.47.153.24] on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 12:06:56 :
In Reply to: i got two massive pintle hooks posted by clueless [186.15.42.98] on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 11:44:22 :
You have to have a ball hitch for most light trailers, but I'm with you that a pintle hitch, locked down and with the pin in it solidly is a mighty secure arrangement. I always worry that a ball hitch will pop loose, though apparently they never do. Still, with the pintle, you know it's on and it ain't comin' off. I know guys pull big heavy trailers with 2" balls (wait, that didn't sound right), but I'd sure feel better about it with a pintle.
Don't the WCs have those old-style pintles where the bottom part, the part that takes the strain, can pivot down? I've heard those are unsafe and even illegal for highway use these days.
Whatever you do, definitely use safety chains. I once backed a small, heavy trailer down a steep driveway, with a house across the street at the bottom of the driveway, and when I got to the bottom I found that only the safety chain had kept it from getting away and rolling into that house. I had neglected to lock the pintle hitch down solidly. Live and learn, and fortunately no damage done by that lesson.
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