Pintle hitch bolt sizes

Drilldo · Aug 31, 2015

I just am finishing up adding a plate for a pintle hitch on my dump truck. I made it super stout with 3/4" plate, three huge gussets, and multiple 7018 passes. I have no concerns about the plate assembly strength.

My dump truck is a Kenworth heavy tandem and could probably pull a 50k trailer no problem. I don't have any trailers that big and will only be pulling 10-15 ton trailers with a backhoe but who knows what the future holds.

Anyway I ordered a 60k pintle hook http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Tow-Ready/63016.html

and it is stamped right on it 30 ton but it is supplied with and held on by four 1/2" bolts. Seems awful wimpy to me.

I spent three days and about twenty pounds of rods making a super hitch to have the final link be four dinky bolts. I am no engineer but is this adequate? I have a 15 ton Pintle hitch on my pickup and this one looks identical to it.

Sandy · Aug 31, 2015

Take a look at the proof load off this chart fo whatever grade and thread of bolt they furnished and see if it satisfies the load capacity you think you're gonna pull plus fudge factor.

http://www.almabolt.com/pages/catalog/bolts/proofloadtensile.htm

DSW · Aug 31, 2015

Hitch looks more like what would be on my F550 vs our old Mack. The one on the Mack had a couple small bolts on the outside, but the real connection was a massive 1 1/2" bolt that went thru the plate and got nutted on the back. Trying to swing a massive wrench was less than fun in tight quarters.

http://www.nueratrailerparts.com/p-...vBRCO0OLi2PfPkI8BEiQA8pdF4EaTltRzH003wAHSArssU2jNfpuBRRAv8OaHF8pn_2AaAuro8P8HAQ

http://www.zoro.com/buyers-products...kI8BEiQA8pdF4M53ho8ZKi4xPcVg301huKyV3XoqxluZJn9nSZWtXRMaAsM18P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.zoro.com/buyers-products...kI8BEiQA8pdF4ILoo-g2S5dpS153x3UNRsuSxulRE8J4olxj2Dj7Hq8aAuho8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Steve from SoCal · Aug 31, 2015

The hitch you bought is a medium duty, the tongue weight rating is a clue. I have these style hitches on my 1 ton, my big service truck has a hitch like the ones DSW linked. I have a 22 ton tag trailer and with a heavy forklift on it the smaller hitch would be inadequate. With a full trailer like a pup or converter dolly the tongue weight is not an issue. The shear load is what would determine the bolt size, at 6000 the 1/2 bolts are fine.

Drilldo · Sep 1, 2015

So should I be concerned with a backhoe and trailer that weigh around 20k combined or will it be fine?

I haven't drilled the holes yet to bolt it on and could find something heavier but don't want to throw away money if it will work just fine.

Pintle hitch bolt sizes

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