Trailers...How do you connect?

[Funrover]

I am rebuiling a trailer I have, currently it has 1 7/8" ball oon it, I have taken it off road but I know it wont last long... What have others done, what is common on AT's and any other info would be great...Thanks!

[Skylinerider]

Either a pintle and lunette, or the lock n roll (http://www.locknroll.com/).

[Funrover]

That Lock and roll is SWEET!!!!

[Tucson T4R]

Yep, for offroad, I would use either a Treg hitch which is mostly from outside the US or the US made Lock-n-roll. Both work perfectly offroad. The Pintle works fine, it just has enough play to cause some clunking which can be irritating.

[Skylinerider]

I agree the pintle is annoying, that's why on my trailer I am goin to go with the locknroll. much more pricey but very worth it IMO.

[Funrover]

Lock n' roll here also!! That is a great set up!!! and they have an amazing aray of weights/style.. I have more options now!

[Martyn]

AT offers the Lock-N-Roll as an option for all of our trailers. It has very few issues with binding as the 3 axis of rotation are well spaced apart.

We primarily offer the P/N 303 and P/N 212 as it best fits our application.

The two sections are a snug fit with very little unnecessary movement between them. In addition we use a Silent Hitch Pin that takes out any movement between the receiver tube and the draw bar or coupler. So there is no movement or noise from the coupler at all.

[Steve Curren]

Martyn, where do you weld the 202 to?

[Martyn]

Martyn, where do you weld the 202 to?

Sorry that was a misprint I meant to type 212 which fits into the 2" receiver tube. I have edited my original post.

Steve, so far you are doing very well on the test
:)

[cruiseroutfit]

Can the Lock/Roll be locked to prevent it from rotating (so it still has the freedoms of a standard pintle setup?)

[Martyn]

Can the Lock/Roll be locked to prevent it from rotating (so it still has the freedoms of a standard pintle setup?)

The lock-n-roll can not be locked as it needs all three axis to rotate.

A non rotating pintle has a single axis of rotation and all the other movement it allowed by the free play between the lunette eye and the pintle. I don’t have exact number in front of me but from memory articulation is 45’ versus 15’ with a regular ball.

A standard pintle has a limited amount of articulation and when that it achieved it will bind.

Lock-n-roll does have a lightweight coupler with a rotational limiter (45') but it's designed for ATV and Jet Ski trailers. I for one wouldn't feel happy having a rotational limiter on a regular trailer.

[Steve Curren]

Martyn, Thanks I have been hitting the books and I see that I NEED a Lock-N-Roll as well as the "room" for the Chaser... Expect a phone call real soon.

[Martyn]

Martyn, Thanks I have been hitting the books and I see that I NEED a Lock-N-Roll as well as the "room" for the Chaser... Expect a phone call real soon.

Steve, make sure we award extra points for the room. I'd say an A+ was in order :)

[Steve Curren]

Martyn, I need all the help I can get and will eagerly accept the extra points..
Gonna be leaving for a week camping soon and I just can't see going without either item.:gunt:

[Mc Taco]

Martyn,

Does the Lock n Roll provide extra saftey for on highway travel as well? Like if a trailer is getting squirley (technical term) it won't roll the tow vehicle?

Thanks,
Stuart

[Martyn]

Martyn,

Does the Lock n Roll provide extra saftey for on highway travel as well? Like if a trailer is getting squirley (technical term) it won't roll the tow vehicle?

Thanks,
Stuart

Stuart

That would be our take exactly. There are some situations with a regular coupler where the trailer can apply torque to the tow vehicle If the tow vehicle is in an unbalanced state that extra torque may be enough to roll the vehicle.

I can think of three instances where this has occurred and the Lock-n-Roll has saved the vehicle from rolling. No scientific proof just the opinion of the drivers.

[cruiseroutfit]

The lock-n-roll can not be locked as it needs all three axis to rotate.

Off-Road yes... but some might argue that on the road you might want to bind the hitch in one axis (so that the trailer cannot roll among its length with respect to the vehicle).


A non rotating pintle has a single axis of rotation and all the other movement it allowed by the free play between the lunette eye and the pintle. I don’t have exact number in front of me but from memory articulation is 45’ versus 15’ with a regular ball.

I think a non-rotation pintle would have two axis of rotation, with a 3rd if using a rotating pintle. I have a rotating pintle with a lock in the axis I describled above. Though I have zero data to prove it helps with any handling issues? There must have been a logical reason why they were designed as such but not one I can think of.

Excellent info on the Lock/Roll... I've been extremely pleased with my rotating pintle - lunette setup, but I think my next trailer design will use a Lock and Roll if for nothing else to eliminate the noise! Great info regardless :cool:


Lock-n-roll does have a lightweight coupler with a rotational limiter (45') but it's designed for ATV and Jet Ski trailers. I for one wouldn't feel happy having a rotational limiter on a regular trailer.

Any idea why they would include this? Do they think it might actually prevent a trailer from flipping in some circumstances? Again, I have zero data either way, just intersting that Lock-n-Roll would design a setup.

[Willman]

I am rebuiling a trailer I have, currently it has 1 7/8" ball oon it, I have taken it off road but I know it wont last long... What have others done, what is common on AT's and any other info would be great...Thanks!

Here is a great thread that will help

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5875

:)

[ntsqd]

A feature that I designed into my similar coupler (b4 I discovered the Lock-n-Roll patent) was a shear pin. My idea was that if the wieght of the tow rig could prevent the trailer from rolling, then it should. If, however, the trailer's inertia threatened to roll the tow rig then the pin should shear and save the tow rig from rolling.

Since then I'm starting to think that the way that the rotating lunette's work is a better idea. Set up correctly the spring would provide damping in the roll axis while still allowing motion. Does both functions with no broken parts!

[Martyn]

A feature that I designed into my similar coupler (b4 I discovered the Lock-n-Roll patent) was a shear pin. My idea was that if the wieght of the tow rig could prevent the trailer from rolling, then it should. If, however, the trailer's inertia threatened to roll the tow rig then the pin should shear and save the tow rig from rolling.

Since then I'm starting to think that the way that the rotating lunette's work is a better idea. Set up correctly the spring would provide damping in the roll axis while still allowing motion. Does both functions with no broken parts!

Interesting thought. How would any dampening be effected by trailer mass, and momentum?

My first though would be that the spring dampening effect, as the spring is in the same axis are the rotation, would be overcome by the mass of the trailer, rotational inertia and momentum.

I think I need to think about this over a cold one! :beer: