Articulating hitch recommendations

A

A Sour Kraut

Rank I

Contributor III

124
United States
First Name
Eric
Last Name
Anon
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
 
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

I have the McHitch on my trailer and absolutely love it. You hook up by backing into it and it is 95% secured, unlike ball hitch or other articulating hitches that there is a lot of lineup and it has to be nearly perfect. This hitch leaves some wiggle room for hooking up. As far as towing it seems to pull better than ball hitches. I havent used any other articulating hitches personally so do not have anything to compare it to for towing specifically.

www.rvsofamerica.com

McHitch 4.5 TONNE "Easy Fit" Caravan Automatic Coupler | ROA

Get the McHitch 4.5-Tonne Easy Fit Caravan Automatic Coupler at RVs of America, offering a simple and secure towing solution.
www.rvsofamerica.com www.rvsofamerica.com
 
K12 said:
I have the McHitch on my trailer and absolutely love it. You hook up by backing into it and it is 95% secured, unlike ball hitch or other articulating hitches that there is a lot of lineup and it has to be nearly perfect. This hitch leaves some wiggle room for hooking up. As far as towing it seems to pull better than ball hitches. I havent used any other articulating hitches personally so do not have anything to compare it to for towing specifically.

www.rvsofamerica.com

McHitch 4.5 TONNE "Easy Fit" Caravan Automatic Coupler | ROA

Get the McHitch 4.5-Tonne Easy Fit Caravan Automatic Coupler at RVs of America, offering a simple and secure towing solution.
www.rvsofamerica.com www.rvsofamerica.com
Click to expand...
Thanks! I saw that one in one of the several videos I watched but forgot to include it as one of the options. You mentioned it is 95% secured when you back into it, how do you 100% secure it?

I noticed it has a mounting plate (circled in red):
1767124299919.png
The trailer I have only has the mount where the hitch slides inside the trailer. The black tube sticking out of the tongue (circled) runs through about half of the trailer under the cargo area and is needed for support, so I can't cut that off (nor would I want to) which means I can't mount this on the flat part behind it. I'm thinking this particular hitch won't work for me. I'm new to trailers, hitches and their attachments so there might be something that will work that I could piecemeal together.
1767124581694.png
 
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A Sour Kraut said:
K12 said:
I have the McHitch on my trailer and absolutely love it. You hook up by backing into it and it is 95% secured, unlike ball hitch or other articulating hitches that there is a lot of lineup and it has to be nearly perfect. This hitch leaves some wiggle room for hooking up. As far as towing it seems to pull better than ball hitches. I havent used any other articulating hitches personally so do not have anything to compare it to for towing specifically.

www.rvsofamerica.com

McHitch 4.5 TONNE "Easy Fit" Caravan Automatic Coupler | ROA

Get the McHitch 4.5-Tonne Easy Fit Caravan Automatic Coupler at RVs of America, offering a simple and secure towing solution.
www.rvsofamerica.com www.rvsofamerica.com
Click to expand...
Thanks! I saw that one in one of the several videos I watched but forgot to include it as one of the options. You mentioned it is 95% secured when you back into it, how do you 100% secure it?

I noticed it has a mounting plate (circled in red):
View attachment 297001
The trailer I have only has the mount where the hitch slides inside the trailer. The black tube sticking out of the tongue (circled) runs through about half of the trailer under the cargo area and is needed for support, so I can't cut that off (nor would I want to) which means I can't mount this on the flat part behind it. I'm thinking this particular hitch won't work for me. I'm new to trailers, hitches and their attachments so there might be something that will work that I could piecemeal together.
View attachment 297002
Click to expand...

There is a plate on the vehicle side that drops down on the "pin" from the trailer side. then you woild use a normal hitch pin for added security. this pin has always been loose for me, its a security element in case the plate comes undone.
 
I drug an expo trailer beginning in 2004 until last year when I sold it and sold the 80 series. If you want reliability, ease of use and a maintenance free hitch get an old fashioned pintle hook set up. Contrary to what marketers will tell you, the pintle is not noisy, provided there is at least 10% tonge weight. In 20 years I can count on one hand the number of times mine would bang with 150 lbs of tonge weight. You’ll get, at minimum, 45-50 degrees of articulation. And- you can do this kind of stuff without worry as it will not break apart. This vid gives you a good look at it all. The trailer weighs 1600lbs loaded down
 
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There are lots of really great hitches out there, this one I have had on two trailers and it works great in without failure.

www.cuoffroad.com

C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line

Cuamco, Azusa
www.cuoffroad.com www.cuoffroad.com
 
No need to reinvent the wheel. A sharkfin pintle still works fine.
 
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...
I want to be clear that this situation was entirely of your own making and I take zero responsibility for your bank balance. :sunglasses:
 
S4SQTCH said:
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...
I want to be clear that this situation was entirely of your own making and I take zero responsibility for your bank balance. :sunglasses:
Click to expand...

But, blaming others instead of taking personal accountability is the ‘murican way!
 
A Sour Kraut said:
S4SQTCH said:
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...
I want to be clear that this situation was entirely of your own making and I take zero responsibility for your bank balance. :sunglasses:
Click to expand...

But, blaming others instead of taking personal accountability is the ‘murican way!
Click to expand...

I thought the american way was putting it on the credit card and acting like the debt doesnt exist...
 
K12 said:
A Sour Kraut said:
S4SQTCH said:
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...
I want to be clear that this situation was entirely of your own making and I take zero responsibility for your bank balance. :sunglasses:
Click to expand...

But, blaming others instead of taking personal accountability is the ‘murican way!
Click to expand...

I thought the american way was putting it on the credit card and acting like the debt doesnt exist...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that too.
 
A Sour Kraut said:
But, blaming others instead of taking personal accountability is the ‘murican way!
Click to expand...
K12 said:
I thought the american way was putting it on the credit card and acting like the debt doesnt exist...
Click to expand...

Both statements can be true!

Ark off-road also makes an articulating ball for the trailer side. I'm not sure if this would fit your application, but it could be worth looking at.

 
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

I have the max coupler on my 4Runner to pull my Hiker Trailer EOR. I’ve had it for a couple of years and no issues.
 
traildog said:
A Sour Kraut said:
I randomly bought a roof top tent and realized it would be too much of a pain to put it on and remove it by myself. My brother, who is really good at helping me spend my money suggested a trailer. So, here I am. With a tent. And a trailer. And since I hate money, I decided to get the Overland Vehicle Systems offroad trailer. One thing I'd like to get is an articulating hitch so I can so some off roading with it and hopefully get to some campsites I wouldn't be able to. This will be towed by a 2008 Nissan Xterra.

I've been looking at the Cruisemaster DO45 (Cruisemaster DO45 Plus) as it seems to have good reviews. I don't know if it will mount to the OVS trailer because it seems to require a mounting plate, or space for one, which this trailer doesn't have.
Another option I saw is the Max Coupler hitch (C U Off Road - Max Coupler Line). I haven't seen as many reviews about this one as I have Cruisemaster, but those who have it seem to like it well enough.

Does anyone have experience with these and what are your thoughts on them? Are there any others I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

I have the max coupler on my 4Runner to pull my Hiker Trailer EOR. I’ve had it for a couple of years and no issues.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That is the one I’m leaning towards.
 
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