M101A2 Hitch question

[Cummins guy]

Has anyone had any problems with bending a pintle-hitch mount when towing with a M101A2?

I'm using an Inventive XD hitch system and have now bent two hitch platforms. Spoke to someone on trailers and they said my pintle hook may be too small- It's about 2" from opening to opening. The lunette ring fits in the hitch and closes with no problems and no issues are due to the weight or load distribution.

Does anyone have any suggestions or does anyone know the pintle hitch opening on a M1008 or M1009 truck to compare to?

 

[Bob H]

yikes!

You overloading it?

The one I use with my Cherokee came from Tractor Supply and it ain't gonna bend with 3500lbs behind it.

 

[strycnine]

Can you post pictures?

 

[therealsundance]

Does it bind when you are turning or backing?

I have never bent one.

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[treeguy]

If the LUNETTE ring is too tight on the PINTLE hitch then it could twist when the trailer goes over (left and right) bumps in the road. Some people say, just cause it fits doesn't mean its right. I've noticed that mil. lunette rings are pretty big, so is you hitch to small or are you off roading without a swivel pintle hitch? BTW, what vehicle are you towing it with?

 

[quickfarms]

Please post some pictures and explain when it bends or if you hear anything.

I have towed a loaded M101 many miles without bending anything

 

[3dAngus]

I can't even imagine a military M101 trailer pintle getting bent. That's gotta take some doing. I would love to see a picture of it.

 

[treeguy]

From what I interperate, he bent the frame that the pintle hitch attaches to the truck. If he bent the lunette on the trailer then I Definitly want to see the pictures of that.

 

[Cummins guy]

Ok I will post some pics tomorrow, But I am towing it with a 2010 Ram 4X4 2500. The trailer has not be modified other than larger tires (285/70/17 the same size as my truck so I don't have to carry a spare for the trailer). Yes the platform the that pintle hitch mounts to on the truck. It is rated at 10k pounds. I think it is binding when I am turning and reversing. The first 1 I bent was on the street in front of my house with no wieght in the trailer, the second one was 2 days later on a trip from Viginia to Michigans UP. I did hear some poping but nother that I have not heard when towing other trailers with hog rings.
Thanks

 

[Cummins guy]

Does anyone know what size Pintle the government uses on there CUCV trucks? The opening on the one I have is about 2".

 

[Nonotagain]

Has anyone had any problems with bending a pinto-hitch mount when towing with a M101A2?

I'm using an Inventive XD hitch system and have now bent two hitch platforms. Spoke to someone on trailers and they said my pinto hook may be too small- It's about 2" from opening to opening. The liutenant ring fits in the hitch and closes with no problems and no issues are due to the weight or load distribution.

Does anyone have any suggestions or does anyone know the pinto hitch opening on a M1008 or M1009 truck to compare to?

It's PINTLE and LUNETTE.

Spelling aside, the hitch design leaves a lot to be desired.

There is nothing keeping the pintle mount to riser bar together. Just slapping a 3/8" plate with a couple of captive pins in the pintle does nothing to transfer the side load into the riser bar.

 

[3dAngus]

Oh, OK. Then if I have it correctly, and didn't misunderstand (it happens) what you just said, you jack knifed it. Easy on the turns and problem is solved if I understand correctly. And that goes double for when backing up.

 

[Cummins guy]

Ok I did not jack knife it I thought I did when the first one bent, but I didn't. It would have hit the bumper of the truck and it did not hit....

 

[doghead]

Is your pintle hitch at the same height as the trailer pintle ring(with trailer level)? Were you backing up on a level location?

 

[Cummins guy]

Yes they are both level. The hitch and the pintle. also the street is flat..

 

[Ripcord01]

Sounds like maybe there is some cheap metals being used. On my setup for towing.,I have a military grade pintle hook that is attached to a riser hitch. I have never had any problems with twisting or bending whether it be under load or not. You might try a different setup.. Good luck.

 

[koolex11]

GREASE. They do pinch and twist the riser plate. It happened to my brother. Harleyhouse came up with a good solution. I copied it and it has been great so far. Take off the lunette then find a trailer shop and have them weld an adjustable coupler channel. It will cost you $150 or so, but then you can use a ball hitch and lower the coupler to fit your truck.

 

[treeguy]

Don't the 105 trailers have a swiveling lunette, or do they just flip to get different heights? The point is, something in the link has to swivel. The ball set up works to a point because the ball can accept a certain degree of L/R twisting. This is probably why the BIG rig pintles swivel, ever seen you local electric co or excavating trucks with theim. AW direct and many other distributers offer them, but if your Ram is using a 2" receiver then I don't know what to say. Maybe a larger pintle or smaller lunette.

 

[quickfarms]

The lunette on the m101 does not swivel.

The pintle hook on the trucks from 3/4 ton up swivel

The only luentte that swivels is on the 1/4 ton trailer

The pintle hook on the jeep is fixed.

 

[Chief_919]

Are you using a real pintle hook, or one of those pintle/ball combos?

The combo ones will bind up at unusual angles, and can cause a lot of strees when they pop loose from the bind.