Pivot coupler/tongue for an offroad ATV trailer. questions now, project later

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Has anyone built one of these? I'm not willing to pay almost double the cost of the trailer for a coupler that I'm sure I can figure out a way to make myself. Please feel free to post pictures of what you've made.The trailer in question is a 10 cf trailer with a max weight of 650 lbs. So I don't need something that will haul 3k lbs. or anything like that. I'm thinking square tubing, some flat plate and some good sized bolts.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:google image search bike trailer coupler...there are some clever ones there
Reply:Trust me I have. and those that are for sale are $150-$300+ My initial design (non-greasable) should cost me about $30 to build.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:You looking for a full 360 degrees or just partial rotation? I thought for sure we've seen what you're talking about on here before but derned if I can recall for positive."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Try this site;http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/...railer-Coupleror;
Reply:http://tventuring.com/trailerforum/thread-65.html
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Reply:another design;http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/d...hitch-1039649/
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Reply:Interesting. Is this for an atv only? Or does it need to be highway safe?
Reply:Here is one I seen online.__________________Miller MM252Lincoln AC Buzz BoxCentury 155Victor O/A
Reply:The ones I have seen (for ATV trailers, AKA "meat trailers" up here...) simply use a piece of heavy allthread (1" or so) for the pivot and a couple of rod couplings.  Mount a coupling inside the tongue of the trailer and then another in a stubby piece where the hitch is mounted.  Just screw the allthread into the tongue and tack it, then thread the hitch on.  As long as you don't roll the trailer over multiple times, it will give you rotation and is plenty strong for what you will be pulling with an average ATV.Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller 252 Miller 250xMiller Syncrowave 250Miller AEAD200 LegendMiller 375 Xtreme plasmaLincoln WeldPak 100Victor O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by AKmudThe ones I have seen (for ATV trailers, AKA "meat trailers" up here...) simply use a piece of heavy allthread (1" or so) for the pivot and a couple of rod couplings.  Mount a coupling inside the tongue of the trailer and then another in a stubby piece where the hitch is mounted.  Just screw the allthread into the tongue and tack it, then thread the hitch on.  As long as you don't roll the trailer over multiple times, it will give you rotation and is plenty strong for what you will be pulling with an average ATV.
Reply:Originally Posted by a1998z3another design;http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/d...hitch-1039649/
Reply:If you can scrounge up an old u-joint, it could save you a good amount of work....if you mount it right, you'd just need a bushing to take care of the side-side 'roll' of the trailer with respect to the tow vehicle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I don't have one just laying around so the cost of a complete U joint with yokes would make that a no-go. If I were making this for a full sized off road trailer, I'd do that with a Rear Pinion U joint and drive shaft. Mate the pinion housing to some tubing, and the drive shaft side to a section of 2" square heavy wall and you're set. though I'm not sure if the U joint itself would be up to the task of towing....?Last edited by ThorsHammer; 03-20-2015 at 01:17 PM.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:What's wrong with a simple Pintle hitch set up?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Cost. simple as that. and not necessary for a build of this size. if I was doing a heavy equipment trailer, definitely but for less than 700 lbs no need.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-tongue-swivelTry this thread. It uses a threaded rod as suggested by AKmud.
Reply:that's good, but it lacks the Horizontal pivot that you get from the true U joint set up. But it does prove that what I plan to do will work. Just with a third axis.The vertical pivot, like in that link allows for left or right turns and the bolt allows for the twist, but it doesn't allow for steep transitions from hills/longs/rocks that the Horizontal pivot point allows for. fine for a snow mobile or lawn tractor where they aren't going over crazy obstacles but on an ATV you've got to be prepared for all the angles. turning right down a hill off camber all at the same time. That's what the three axis set up allows for. Yes all couplers allow for this to a point, but it's when that point is reached and the coupler binds up that tongues get bent/twisted or something else breaks.Last edited by ThorsHammer; 03-20-2015 at 03:16 PM.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Well the pars have been purchased. New steel, Grade 8 hardware for $25 and some change. Now to find time to actually build it. lol. Thanks for the help and suggestions guys.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerthat's good, but it lacks the Horizontal pivot that you get from the true U joint set up. But it does prove that what I plan to do will work. Just with a third axis.The vertical pivot, like in that link allows for left or right turns and the bolt allows for the twist, but it doesn't allow for steep transitions from hills/longs/rocks that the Horizontal pivot point allows for. fine for a snow mobile or lawn tractor where they aren't going over crazy obstacles but on an ATV you've got to be prepared for all the angles. turning right down a hill off camber all at the same time. That's what the three axis set up allows for. Yes all couplers allow for this to a point, but it's when that point is reached and the coupler binds up that tongues get bent/twisted or something else breaks.
Reply:yea I have been in some ugly, steep, muddy, watery.... stuff with just a ball with no problems.  I would like to see what you are engineering as well
Reply:Well ya already purchased the stuff but I was just suggesting build a Pintle style, not buy a 30,000lb one Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Part of the reason for the pivot/twist pin is in case the trail tries to roll, it doesn't take the ATV with it. it just rolls at the coupler and the ATV doesn't end up upside down with anyone underneath it. The other articulation will hopefully never reach it's max while connecting the trailer and the ATV. if it does, something has gone VERY VERY wrong.could have done the Pintle. This just seemed easier in my head.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM StingerI think the standard ball is plenty good enough. I personally have never had a single moment when I wished for a 3rd axis....but, it looks like a cool project.