Pintle Hitches: Heavy-Duty Towing Starts Here

A pintle hitch is built for work that a standard ball hitch can't handle. Construction equipment, agricultural implements, military trailers, dump trailers, heavy livestock haulers - these applications demand a connection that stays secure under shock loads, handles rough terrain, and carries weight ratings that standard ball mounts simply aren't rated for.

This collection covers the complete pintle hitch system: receiver-mount pintle hooks in 2" and 2-1/2" shank configurations, combination pintle-and-ball hooks, adjustable mounting plates, tow rings and lunette rings for the trailer side, drawbars, security locks, and premium systems including the B&W Tow & Stow Dual Ball Pintle and the GEN-Y Mega-Duty. Brands include Buyers Products, B&W, Wallace Forge, CURT, Rigid Hitch, and GEN-Y.

What Is a Pintle Hitch?

A pintle hitch connects a tow vehicle to a trailer using two components: a pintle hook mounted on the vehicle and a lunette ring (also called a tow ring or pintle ring) attached to the trailer's drawbar or tongue. The hook opens, the lunette ring drops into it, and the hook closes and locks around the ring - secured with a safety pin.

That hook-and-ring design does two things a ball hitch can't: it allows significantly more articulation in all directions (vertical, horizontal, and rotational), and it handles much higher weight ratings. Standard Class V ball hitches top out around 20,000-25,000 lbs GTW. Pintle hooks in this collection are rated from 5 tons up to 50 tons depending on the hook and mounting configuration.

The tradeoff is noise. The lunette ring has clearance to move inside the pintle hook, which means rattling on smooth road. On a job site, in a field, or over rough terrain, that play is exactly what makes the system work. For mixed-use situations where you tow both lunette-ring trailers and ball-coupler trailers, combination pintle-and-ball hooks solve the problem without swapping hardware.

Pintle Hitch vs. Ball Hitch

Use a pintle hitch when your trailer has a lunette ring, loads exceed Class V ball hitch ratings, you're operating on rough or off-road terrain, or the application is agricultural, construction, industrial, or military.

Use a ball hitch when your trailer has a standard ball coupler - which covers the majority of RV trailers, boat trailers, and utility trailers - and you're towing primarily on paved roads.

Use a combination pintle-and-ball hook when you regularly tow both trailer types from the same truck and want one mount that handles either connection.

How a Pintle Hitch Works

Back the tow vehicle until the pintle hook is positioned over the trailer's lunette ring. Open the hook jaw. Lower the ring into the hook, close the jaw, and insert the safety pin through the locking slot. Attach safety chains. To disconnect, remove the safety pin, open the jaw, and lift the ring free.

The lunette ring doesn't need to sit precisely centered the way a ball coupler does, which makes hitching faster in field conditions. The safety pin is non-negotiable - without it, the hook can open under load.

Receiver-Mount Pintle Hooks

Receiver-mount pintle hooks slide into a standard receiver tube the same way a ball mount does, making them the most accessible entry point for pickup trucks already equipped with a hitch.

5-ton and 6-ton hooks for 2" receivers - The Buyers 5-Ton Mount Pintle Hook and the 6-Ton Pintle Hook with Mounting Plate and Hardware Kit cover lighter-duty lunette-ring towing up to 10,000-12,000 lbs GTW on standard Class III/IV receivers.

Combination hooks - The Buyers RM62516 6-Ton Combination Pintle Hook with 2-5/16" Ball (2-1/2" receiver), the Buyers 12-Ton Combination Hitch (2-1/2" receiver), the Wallace Forge Combination Pintle Hook with 2-5/16" Ball, the OneMount Combination Pintle Hook (two capacity configurations), and the Combination Pintle Hitch with 15,000 lb rating all add a hitch ball alongside the pintle hook. You don't swap anything - the ball is there for ball-coupler trailers, the hook for lunette-ring trailers. A combination hook with a 2" ball is also available for lighter ball-coupler trailers.

Cushioned combination hook - The Cushioned Pintle Hook with Interchangeable Nickel-Plated Trailer Hitch Balls for 2" Receiver integrates shock cushioning between the hook and the mount, absorbing road vibration and towing jolt. The interchangeable ball system lets you swap ball sizes by popping a pin rather than re-torquing.

2-1/2" receiver combination hook - The 2-1/2" Receiver-Mounted Combination Pintle Hook with 2-5/16" Ball at 30,000 lbs is a direct-insert unit for trucks with Class V receivers - no separate mounting plate required.

Pintle Mounting Plates and Adjustable Mounts

Rigid Hitch Mounting Plates (Made in USA)

Three Rigid Hitch pintle mount plates cover the main receiver configurations:

• RPM-8 - 15,000 lb capacity, 2" solid shank, 7" plate

• RPM-825 - 16,000 lb capacity, 2-1/2" hollow shank, 7" plate

• RPM-825-S - 18,000 lb capacity, 2-1/2" solid shank, 7" plate

The 2" Shank Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate - 3 Position, 9" Shank at 17,000 lbs provides three height adjustment positions for setups where there's significant height difference between the receiver and the trailer drawbar.

CURT Adjustable Mounts

Two CURT adjustable pintle mounts with 2-1/2" shanks and 20,000 lb ratings are available - one at 12-1/2" height for taller clearance needs, one at 7-1/4" height for lower-profile setups. The 10-Ton Pintle Hook with CURT Adjustable Pintle Mount (PH-10-T-48348) bundles the hook and the shorter mount as a matched package.

Ford OEM 3" Receiver Mount

The Rigid Hitch RPM-73 (25,000 lb capacity, 11-1/4" plate, made in USA) fits Ford OEM 3" trailer hitches found on heavy-duty Super Duty trucks spec'd for maximum towing. If your Ford runs a 3" receiver, this is the correct mounting plate.

Premium Multi-Function Systems

B&W Tow & Stow Dual Ball Pintle Hitch (6" drop, 4" rise, 16,000 lb GTW, 2" receivers) combines a pintle hook with both a 2" and 2-5/16" ball on a single adjustable mount. When the pintle hook isn't in use it folds and stows beneath the mount; unused balls rotate clear. For a fleet truck or farm truck pulling a rotating mix of trailers, this eliminates hardware swapping entirely. B&W is one of the most trusted names in premium towing hardware.

GEN-Y Hitch Mega-Duty (2-1/2" shank, 6" drop, 21,000 lb capacity) bundled with the GH-061 Versa-Ball and GH-062 Pintle Lock covers the upper end of what a pickup receiver can handle. GEN-Y builds in the US and holds up well under daily-use heavy towing loads.

Rebellion XD Accessory Pintle Mount Attachment is a modular add-on for existing Rebellion XD hitch systems, converting a compatible setup to accept a pintle hook without replacing the full hitch.

Commercial-Grade Bolt-On Pintle Hooks

For trucks and equipment with welded or bolted commercial bumper mounts rather than receiver hitches:

The 15-Ton Spring Mount Swivel Pintle Hook (commercial mount, 30,000 lb GTW) uses a spring-loaded mechanism that absorbs shock during coupling - standard on heavy dump trucks and equipment haulers where impact during hookup is routine.

The Buyers 30-Ton Heavy-Duty Swivel Type Pintle Hook (60,000 lb GTW) and Buyers 50-Ton Air-Compensated Pintle Hook with Air Chamber and Plunger (100,000 lb GTW, 10-bolt pattern) are commercial and industrial hardware for applications well beyond recreational towing. The air-compensated design uses an air chamber to absorb coupling shock - standard on serious commercial haulers.

Tow Rings and Lunette Rings (Trailer Side)

The pintle hook is only half the equation. The lunette ring mounts to the trailer's drawbar and is what the hook latches onto.

Forged Adjustable Tow Ring - 2-1/2" ID is the standard-duty tow ring for trailers needing a lunette ring for pintle connection. The 2-1/2" inside diameter fits most receiver-mount pintle hooks in this collection.

Swivel Mount Tow Ring adds a pivot at the trailer mounting point for applications where the ring needs rotational freedom relative to the drawbar.

Wallace Forge Adjustable Forged Tow Ring with 3-Position Channel Assembly (30,000 lb capacity) provides height adjustment for the ring position, useful when the trailer drawbar height doesn't align perfectly with the hook height.

Buyers 4-Bolt Mount Tow Ring (42,000 lb capacity) and Buyers 10-Ton Plain Forged Steel Tow Eye (3" I.D.) cover higher-capacity and larger-ring-diameter applications respectively.

Trailer Nose Plates, Drawbars, and Hardware

Trailer Nose Plates (standard and 1-inch-thick heavy-duty versions) bolt to the front of the trailer frame and provide the structural mounting surface for the lunette ring. The 1-inch version is for heavier trailers and higher-capacity configurations.

Convert-A-Ball Pintle Sleeve converts a Convert-A-Ball shank into a pintle-compatible connection point - useful if you're already running the Convert-A-Ball interchangeable ball system and want to add pintle capability to the same shank.

Buyers Replacement 2-5/16" Ball for BH-10 Series Combination Pintle Hooks (20,000 lb capacity) is the direct replacement ball for worn or damaged BH-10 series hooks - replaces just the ball rather than the full assembly.

Forged 1/2" Tie-Down D-Ring - Weld-On Clip is a weld-on cargo anchor for flatbeds and equipment trailers. Not a pintle component, but squarely in the same audience.

Security

The Pintle Drawbar Tow Ring Lock (fits 2-1/2" to 3" lunette eye) prevents unauthorized connection of a pintle hook to the trailer's lunette ring. When the ring is locked, the hook can't enter and engage - straightforward theft deterrent for trailers stored away from the tow vehicle.

How to Choose the Right Pintle Setup

Match capacity to your load. Start with the trailer's GTW and work backward through every component - hook, mounting plate, and receiver hitch. The lowest-rated item in the chain sets the limit.

Match the shank to your receiver. 2" shanks for Class III/IV receivers, 2-1/2" for Class V. Confirm your receiver opening before ordering.

Know your trailer's connection point. If the trailer already has a lunette ring, you need a pintle hook on the vehicle side. If you're retrofitting a trailer, you also need a nose plate and tow ring.

Decide between dedicated pintle and combination. All lunette-ring trailers - straight pintle hook. Mix of trailer types - combination hook.

FAQ

What is a pintle hitch? A heavy-duty towing connection using a hook on the tow vehicle and a lunette ring on the trailer. The hook closes around the ring and locks with a safety pin, allowing more articulation and higher weight ratings than standard ball hitches.

What is a pintle hitch used for? Construction equipment, dump trailers, agricultural implements, military trailers, livestock haulers, and any application where loads exceed ball hitch ratings or rough terrain demands maximum articulation at the tow point.

How does a pintle hitch work? The hook jaw opens, the lunette ring seats inside, the jaw closes, and the safety pin locks it. The ring can pivot in all directions within the closed hook, giving the trailer freedom of movement over uneven ground without stressing the connection.

Is a pintle hitch better than a ball hitch? For heavy loads, rough terrain, and trailers built with lunette rings - yes. For standard recreational and utility trailers on paved roads, a ball hitch is quieter, smoother, and the correct fitment. They serve different applications.

Are pintle hitches stronger than ball hitches? Generally yes. Class V ball hitches cap around 20,000-25,000 lbs GTW. Receiver-mount pintle hooks in this collection run from 10,000 lbs to 24,000 lbs; commercial bolt-on hooks reach 60,000+ lbs. The hook-and-ring design distributes load forces differently, enabling higher ratings.

Are pintle hitches safe? Yes, when properly specified and used. The safety pin is non-negotiable - the hook can open under load without it. The hook, mounting plate, and receiver hitch all need weight ratings at or above the trailer's GTW.

Can you use a pintle hitch with a regular trailer? Only if the trailer has a lunette ring. Most recreational trailers use ball couplers and can't connect to a pintle hook. Combination hooks handle both connection types from the same mount.

How do you lock a pintle hitch? The safety pin locks the hook jaw after the lunette ring is seated. For theft prevention, the Pintle Drawbar Tow Ring Lock in this collection prevents the hook from engaging the ring entirely.

Why use a pintle hitch instead of a ball? Weight capacity, terrain capability, and trailer design. If the trailer is built with a lunette ring, pintle is the correct match. If the load exceeds ball hitch limits, pintle handles the weight. If rough terrain demands maximum articulation, the hook-and-ring design provides it.

Browse related towing hardware in our ball mounts, gooseneck hitches, and trailer hitches collections. For a broader overview of hitch types and ratings, the RVTrader.com hitch guide covers the full picture.