Trailer hitch pin

The old 1 & 1/4” hitches used a thinner pin.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Guy Roan wrote:
My worry has never been the hitch pin, but I always have worried about the safety pin that holds the hitch pin from sliding out.

Guy

There is virtually no side load/pressure that would cause clip to fail

Operator error 9not installing it correctly) ------ YES

May not just be an "Operator error" if the clip "disappears" via a third party "prankster" that happens along when you are away from your vehicle..

Have heard of that happening, fortunately have never had that happen to me.. But I do typically do a quick walk around and check to make sure everything is in it's proper place as it should be when taking rest stops and such before I get back on the road..

As far as strength of the hitch pin goes, don't know exactly, but the same diameter pin is used for 2x2 and 2.5x2.5 hitches.. Just the length of the pin is longer for the 2.5 hitches.. Can't say for sure on the 3x3 hitches but I suspect most likely the same diameter to allow compatibility for using an smaller hitch accessory like a bike rack or lighter weight hitch via adapter sleeves.

Guy Roan wrote:
My worry has never been the hitch pin, but I always have worried about the safety pin that holds the hitch pin from sliding out.

Guy

There is virtually no side load/pressure that would cause clip to fail

Operator error 9not installing it correctly) ------ YES

My worry has never been the hitch pin, but I always have worried about the safety pin that holds the hitch pin from sliding out.

Guy

Most hitch pins and locking hitch pins are rated by class, just like the hitch which provides the weight rating.

90klbs? Your math is off by orders of magnitude.
Shear strengths of mild steel is similar and shear on a 5/8 bolt is about 18-19kips.
Given they’re in double shear, min shear strength is >36kips.
I’d be surprised if anyone has ever seen one sheared in normal use or even in an incident.

Standard hitch pin is rated for 19,000+ pounds, no bumper pull RV is even close as far as I've seen. etrailer had the question asked and two different manufacturers said they've never bothered to get them tested because everything around the pin is significantly lower and so will break first. If you're using a pintle hitch on a dump trailer and think the pin might be the weak link go for a grade 8 bolt instead, that'll get you 90k pounds of sheer strength =)