I know that this question has come up a million times before, but usually comes up within the context of a 1-ton (class 3) truck. What about a class 5 truck such as a F550? A 1-ton DRW has a GVWR of 13,300 and a payload of 5900 lbs. vs. a F550 which has a GVWR of 19,500 & payload of 12,300 lbs. I know that a gooseneck would 'pull' better, but is not as convenient (give up the bed). Larger dumps and construction trucks have pintle hook trailers, but these are typically class 7 or larger trucks.

 

I used to pull my skidsteer on a bumper pull, did it for years. I made the jump to a GN and I'll never go back. I agree loosing the bed space with the trailer attached kinda sucks but for me the trade off is worth it. Another point, on the 550 I believe you can get more pin weight with the GN than you can hitch weight with the under bed hitch.

 

Nothing wrong with a pintle. I actually prefer them to a ball. You can get them in different sizes/ratings.

The last company I was at had all of their fleet trailers converted in pintles. Even the small single axle landscape trailers. This eliminated the need to stock different size hitch *****. The pinteles stand up better over time and require less maintenance.

 

And they are easier to sell too. Not everyone can haul a gooseneck.

 

I have a 2009 F550 and I frequently pull 25k + on the pintle hook. I used to do it with my Ram 3500, that was just stupid. I would rather the GN for going down the highway but when in really tight quarters or for visibility I prefer pintle. I haul boats on heavy hydraulic trailers BTW.

 

Every single piece of equipment my last company had was a pintle hitch, I hated them but the convenience of being able to move the equipment with anything was by far the most popular reason they had pintles. Since the beginning of time the pintle hitch was used and I guess they just kept going with it, never thinking to change.

 

i run both. the pintle has many advantages over the ball. when we get a new piece of equipment ot small trailer ,if it has a ball hitch, we cut it off and install a pintle hitch and change the trailer or equipment plug to a 7 pin. would never think of wanting to change. the goos neck has the advantage over the pintle on longer and long haul trailers, more stable and can haul more weight. you do not have to loose the bed. b&w makes a turnover and we use one that has a cam lock that you take out and turn upside down and place back in. you have to look very hard to even see the cutout in the bed and the base fills the cutout flush with the bed. the last group of them we bought was in 06 from clark equipment but i can not remember the brand

 

i have the 8ton pintle/ball combo and tow multiple trailers some have a 2/516 ball some have pintles, the pintle r real safe, once that top is droped on it theres no getting loose, ive seen trailers pop off of worn *****....the only thing i dont like is the play in the pintle setup i have when stoping and starting it jars u and is ng for the drivetrain, if u go with a pintle make sure its properly sized for the ring. my work truck is class 5 dumper, around here the only people using goosnecks is horse transports and car carriers