Tow Hitch Vs. Pintle Hitch
One of the most common uses of trucks is hauling. Hitches have advanced in safety and durability; however, their basic designs tend to change very little. Two of the most notable types of hitches are the traditional tow hitch and more modern pintle hitch.
-
Design
-
The traditional tow hitch is familiar to most people---it looks like a ball that is attached to the back end of a truck. The truck owner can then attach a trailer's coupler over the ball, enabling the trailer to be hauled.
The pintle hook is slightly more complicated in appearance---it contains a hook feature that has a "C-shaped" appearance.
Uses
-
Normally, traditional tow hitches are designed for highway and paved road uses. Pintle hitches are designed for off-road uses, but can be used on the highway as well.
Mobility
-
Pintle hitches allow for more "give" than traditional tow hitches, which allows them to be used for off-road purposes that might otherwise break or damage a traditional tow hitch.
Durability
-
Something that both types of hitches have in common is their durability. They both have relatively few problems with breaking or coming loose while hauling.
Installation
-
Traditional hitches are quick and easy to install, consisting of only a few nuts and bolts to latch on to a truck. Although not considered to be difficult to install, pintle hitches look more complicated, and therefore many truck owners have them installed at dealerships.
-
Related Searches
References
- Photo Credit pickup truck image by Tonda from Fotolia.com
