This is a question closely aligned to another thread. Pintle hitches are rated by trailer weight. Mine is not labeled. My trailer is a 9 ton. I presume the ring on the front of the trailer is good for the rated capacity. I hope it was engineered to be adequate. The hitch came on the truck. There is no rating printed on it. I loan it occasionally to professional excavators who have been in the business since 1953. They are amused that I am concerned. They have towed 46000 with my truck, something I will NEVER do! I'm confident that the hitch can handle 23000, but worry about tongue weight. Last weekend we had a 9000 LB tractor as far forward as possible, with a 6000 behind it. Can the hitch be trusted with extra tongue weight, or is balance important? The rig handles best with lots of weight on the truck. Am I being a puss as my friends suggest, or are my concerns valid? I want to stay out of the evening news. My conscience won't handle killing a family. Willie
Pintle hitches are usually rated by size, what size is the opening on yours? Most of the shank ones are 6-8 ton, I know there are different size rings and different size hooks.
Can u post a pic of the hook? When I was working with my dad, we had hooks that were rated for 60,000 lb. vertical load. They had 8 bolts. I would venture a guess that if your hook has at least 6 three-quarter inch bolts, it would be more than enough for anything you can put on the trailer. This is what we ran.
Where are the other 2 bolts to make 8? That's basically the same as my pintle also, 6 bolts, rated for 30T I believe.
It would be best to post a pic of your hitch, I'm sure someone will recognize it. The most likely weak link will be how the hitch attaches to the plate. I think if you've confirmed they are grade 8 bolts you'd be safe. For what it's worth, although I'm sure it's happened at some point I've never seen a hitch pull from the plate.
it's not always going to break at the time you overload. it will stress it then break later. I have broken them on a pickup truck because I got it in a bind. I have seen the swivel military style pull the threads off the nut years ago on a pup trailer because it had no tongue weight and no spring on the tongue. I don't trust a pintle hitch with any thing over #30,000 gross trailer weight seen to many break or turn over.
I knew someone would comment. I'm not sure if they've changed the hooks or what, but I can take a pic sometime. My old man's have 8 bolts. It looks like they just trimmed off the top holes to make 6. After I've done a bit of searching, I may have been mistaken on the vertical load number, unless they are rated less than they used to be with 8 bolts.
Hahaha! My mounting plate has 2 holes above where the pintle is mounted like it replaced an 8 hole version.
I need to learn to post pictures. When I try I download to computer, then spend an hour finding it in the computer. Then it won't post. Mine is four 3/4" grade 8 bolts, (fine thread) through 3/4" plate. The plate is in turn, heavily reinforced with channel. It has a professional look about it. It has held up OK thus far, but I'm concerned. Willie
Sometimes you just gotta learn to let go...
You can get an idea here with how many mounting bolts and ratings. I've installed lots of these made by Premier. http://www.premier-mfg.com/products/couplings Truck Shop
Thank you. None of these looks like a match, but it gives a sense of the probable ranges it might be rated. I recruited some expert help to post a picture. It sure ain't easy! Thanks again! Willie
I believe that hitch falls in the 30,000 lb range. IMO Truck Shop
Thank you very much! Willie
I'd agree... 15 ton buyers pintle is good for 6,000 lb vertical.
I was going to say the same thing Truck Shop, looks just like the one on my truck.
Thanks guys. I'm a little less concerned now. Tongue weight is important, I was concerned about having too much. I think we'll beef up the tongue tool box lid some. With the front wheels of a Farmall M forward on the tongue, (the whole tractor weighs 4000 LBS.) The heavy tractor can sit where balance requires over the axles. Willie
Just be sure your bolts are Grade 8, there are hash marks on the head that will identify them.
My son & I discussed that a year ago. I thought they were grade 8. Now I realize they are only grade 5. They at least, will be changed. Willie