Articulating Hitch

[Buckaroo]

I am looking for a light duty articulating hitch for my 700 that would rotate on all 3 axis'. Thinking about hauling firewood utility trailer through the woods and over hills - want to help avoid binding, bending and roll over. There are some good (but expensive) heavy duty options available like Lock N Roll but I only need one good to 3500 lbs or less. Looking to purchase or DIY fabricate. Ideas?

 

[CID]

I am looking for a light duty articulating hitch for my 700 that would rotate on all 3 axis'. Thinking about hauling firewood utility trailer through the woods and over hills - want to help avoid binding, bending and roll over. There are some good (but expensive) heavy duty options available like Lock N Roll but I only need one good to 3500 lbs or less. Looking to purchase or DIY fabricate. Ideas?

The motorcycle guys use a standard u-joint between the receiver and trailer tongue.

 

[Prntckt]

Here's an articulating hitch that can be home built.

 

[TxDoc]

3.5 Ton Off Road Coupling Trailer Hitch Towing Swivel Coupling for Caravan ATV | eBay

3.5 Ton Capacity. We are providing the following warning for our products California requires the following notice Fresh Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables. WARNING: This product contains progesterone, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

www.ebay.com

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

 

[NewHere2]

3.5 Ton Off Road Coupling Trailer Hitch Towing Swivel Coupling for Caravan ATV | eBay

3.5 Ton Capacity. We are providing the following warning for our products California requires the following notice Fresh Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables. WARNING: This product contains progesterone, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

www.ebay.com

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

$60 in materials and 1/2 hour on the welder. The rest is Liability !

 

[JACKAL]

Why not use the standard pintel style hitch? Commonly available, inexpensive, and works. The example shown is way over weight needed but an example of how it can flex.

 

[DRZRon1]

Why not use the standard pintel style hitch? Commonly available, inexpensive, and works. The example shown is way over weight needed but an example of how it can flex.

View attachment 412849
View attachment 412850

making an engineering project out of it, need to be careful, I have seen many sxs's on the roof and side from hauling stuff in a trailer - things are so freaking light - need to be super careful going down the slightest of grades

 

[JMynes]

I was thinking pintle as well, but you need one that can twist also.

Something like this on the trailer.
KIMPEX Sleigh Pintle Hitch OEM# 0636-640 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055DMVPY?tag=sxsweb24-20

 

[NewHere2]

Why not use the standard pintel style hitch? Commonly available, inexpensive, and works. The example shown is way over weight needed but an example of how it can flex.

View attachment 412849
View attachment 412850

Very Heavy !

 

[Buckaroo]

The motorcycle guys use a standard u-joint between the receiver and trailer tongue.

I am looking for examples of that but haven't found any yet.

 

[Prntckt]

Here's another option

Tventuring Adventure Trailer Forum-Under $50 DIY 3-axis coupler

If you take your trailer off-road, you may find that an ordinary ball-type coupler doesn't provide enough flexibility of movement for some terrain obs

tventuring.com

 

[Buckaroo]

Here's another option

Tventuring Adventure Trailer Forum-Under $50 DIY 3-axis coupler

If you take your trailer off-road, you may find that an ordinary ball-type coupler doesn't provide enough flexibility of movement for some terrain obs

tventuring.com

I saw this one and liked it. Got the welding capability but it looked to me like machining required that I do not have equpment for. Will look at it again.

 

[Buckaroo]

making an engineering project out of it, need to be careful, I have seen many sxs's on the roof and side from hauling stuff in a trailer - things are so freaking light - need to be super careful going down the slightest of grades

I can see this happening which is why I wanted the articulating hitch.

 

[Prntckt]

At some point I plan to build an overlanding trailer. These two DIY articulating hitches were some of the info I found during the online research

 

[CID]

I saw this one and liked it. Got the welding capability but it looked to me like machining required that I do not have equpment for. Will look at it again.

His list of the tools needed is very basic. Since you can weld, you'll probably have what you need.

 

[Vikes79]

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/Lock-N-Roll/336VS501.html

 

[Dirtstiffs-1000]

Swivel hitch, the cat's meow on my MC Trailer. Swivel Hitch for Fulton Brand Coupler

 

[TxDoc]

Just since more information for your search of ideas...

Upgrade to the D035 Coupling / Hitch - Review / Unboxing / Install

Best Trailer Hitch - Hitch-Ezy - McHitch or DO35 | Why I sold my McHitch [2023]

 

[Buckaroo]

His list of the tools needed is very basic. Since you can weld, you'll probably have what you need.

I spent some time with the Tventuring Under $50 DIY thread today.

Tventuring Adventure Trailer Forum-Under $50 DIY 3-axis coupler

If you take your trailer off-road, you may find that an ordinary ball-type coupler doesn't provide enough flexibility of movement for some terrain obs

tventuring.com

What a great design and write up! It is do-able for me although my MIG welder is only 140 vs his suggested 180 amp. If I have to, I could dust off the old Lincoln AC/DC Tombstone stick welder and see if that still works. I tallied up all the parts I would need from his material list (again, very nicely done) and now, 10+ years later, it is about $130 vs his original less than $50 but still way cheaper than the ready made options everyone identified.

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments. I do not have immediate plans to pull the trigger on this project but hope to by early spring. Will post back with my results.

 

[Mopower58]

I spent some time with the Tventuring Under $50 DIY thread today.

Tventuring Adventure Trailer Forum-Under $50 DIY 3-axis coupler

If you take your trailer off-road, you may find that an ordinary ball-type coupler doesn't provide enough flexibility of movement for some terrain obs

tventuring.com

What a great design and write up! It is do-able for me although my MIG welder is only 140 vs his suggested 180 amp. If I have to, I could dust off the old Lincoln AC/DC Tombstone stick welder and see if that still works. I tallied up all the parts I would need from his material list (again, very nicely done) and now, 10+ years later, it is about $130 vs his original less than $50 but still way cheaper than the ready made options everyone identified.

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments. I do not have immediate plans to pull the trigger on this project but hope to by early spring. Will post back with my results.

How is this better than a pintle hitch? When I was in the military every vehicle was equipped with one.