What was that hitch called?

[mkirsch]

There is a hitch system that mounts underneath the truck, which has a long swinging drawbar mounted underneath the truck. The trailer is attached rigidly to the long drawbar, which puts the pull point and pivot point for the trailer up near the axle, like a gooseneck.

The only name I'm coming up with is Kelderman, but either they don't offer it anymore or I've got the wrong name.

[mkirsch]

Seon wrote:
Wow, that would be a nightmare towing in tight areas.
I couldn't even find a video.

It does not pivot in two places, if that is what you are thinking.

Spring bars keep the trailer tongue and the swinging drawbar on the truck straight with each other.

[mkirsch]

Lynnmor wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
You will hate it the first time you pull into a gas station and take out the first pump.

Only if the driver is a complete blithering idiot.

Every 5th wheel and gooseneck in existence will do the same thing if the driver doesn't swing wide.

Did you happen to notice that it pivots at the axle AND at the coupler?

No, I did not notice, because it doesn't pivot in both places, unless the driver again is a complete blithering idiot...

[JRscooby]

Seon wrote:
Wow, that would be a nightmare towing in tight areas.
I couldn't even find a video.

Where does this nightmare come from? For most drivers, a long trailer, compared to length of TV is easier to maneuver. But most times a 4 foot longer trailer will increase overall length by 4 feet.
This hitch acts as a tongue extension, of about 4 ft IIRC, but the OAL only increases about a foot. (The extra long distance ball to bumper)
A uncle, from the time I could remember until he could no longer buy them would every 2 years trade in a 4 YO Vista Cruiser and have one installed. The new 1 was his sales car thru the week. Weekends and vacations one pulled boat, other TT. I don't remember aunt having any issues in tight places.
As a farm hand, I would laugh at the way he would hook up. He would swing the ball all the way to the left side of station wagon so could see it in mirror. Drop coupler on ball, and pull forward until TT/TV in straight line, finish hooking up.

[dblr]

I found a old 91 3/4 ton Suburban with one of these hitches at a Chevy used car a lot years ago and jumped to buy it, dealer did not know it was on the truck and insisted on selling me a hitch. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I unlocked the hitch form the stowed position after I had a paid receipt in hand. By the way once you got used to how the hitch towed it was a great set up, but will say you need to pay attention as the trailer tracks about 6" inside the tow vehicle.

[BarneyS]

If you would like to see a post about the installation of a Pullrite hitch, complete with detailed photos, click here.

I found the link to that site from searching the archives of this forum and found it in a post from way back in 2010. 🙂
Barney

[Seon]

Wow, that would be a nightmare towing in tight areas.
I couldn't even find a video.

[JRscooby]

BenK wrote:
Ditto and that with an OEM 42 gallon fuel tank, this reduced ground clearance by several inches.

That broke the deal and decided to pass.

Buddies who had the Pullrite on their 2WD pickups loved them.

Also gets in the way of the spare tire mounted under the bed, another dealbreaker for my Silverado pickup.

JRscooby wrote:
Brother had the same hitch on 4 Suburbans, and it was a witch to change vehicles. And because it had to swing past the ends of bumper, it stuck out a long way when it was in center.
Bolting tight to a channel shaped frame, just drill and bolt. Box section? Harder to drill, and need a sleeve to be sure the box does not distort when torque the bolt.
As for the way it tracks; It tracks more like a 5th wheel. The part between ball and pivot becomes a trailer extension/longer trailer. And the pivot close to axle near same as 5th

Was I quoted so you could show a picture of what I was saying?

IIRC, on at least 1 of the 'burbs we had to cut the bottom out of the spare tire well. When the hole was patched the spare would no longer hide in the quarter panel. We mounted it to the owner installed bulkhead behind the driver.

[BenK]

Ditto and that with an OEM 42 gallon fuel tank, this reduced ground clearance by several inches.

That broke the deal and decided to pass.

Buddies who had the Pullrite on their 2WD pickups loved them.

Also gets in the way of the spare tire mounted under the bed, another dealbreaker for my Silverado pickup.

JRscooby wrote:
Brother had the same hitch on 4 Suburbans, and it was a witch to change vehicles. And because it had to swing past the ends of bumper, it stuck out a long way when it was in center.
Bolting tight to a channel shaped frame, just drill and bolt. Box section? Harder to drill, and need a sleeve to be sure the box does not distort when torque the bolt.
As for the way it tracks; It tracks more like a 5th wheel. The part between ball and pivot becomes a trailer extension/longer trailer. And the pivot close to axle near same as 5th

[JRscooby]

Lynnmor wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
You will hate it the first time you pull into a gas station and take out the first pump.

Only if the driver is a complete blithering idiot.

Every 5th wheel and gooseneck in existence will do the same thing if the driver doesn't swing wide.

Did you happen to notice that it pivots at the axle AND at the coupler?

Check that. When pulling a light trailer, where sway is unlikely to be a issue, the hitch is pinned in the center, so only pivots on coupler. A heavy trailer, you get it straight behind the TV, and clamp down friction bars to the point the coupler can only pivot up and down on the ball, and unpin the hitch so all horizonal motion is right behind the axle.

[Lynnmor]

mkirsch wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
You will hate it the first time you pull into a gas station and take out the first pump.

Only if the driver is a complete blithering idiot.

Every 5th wheel and gooseneck in existence will do the same thing if the driver doesn't swing wide.

Did you happen to notice that it pivots at the axle AND at the coupler?

[mkirsch]

Lynnmor wrote:
You will hate it the first time you pull into a gas station and take out the first pump.

Only if the driver is a complete blithering idiot.

Every 5th wheel and gooseneck in existence will do the same thing if the driver doesn't swing wide.

[JRscooby]

Brother had the same hitch on 4 Suburbans, and it was a witch to change vehicles. And because it had to swing past the ends of bumper, it stuck out a long way when it was in center.
Bolting tight to a channel shaped frame, just drill and bolt. Box section? Harder to drill, and need a sleeve to be sure the box does not distort when torque the bolt.
As for the way it tracks; It tracks more like a 5th wheel. The part between ball and pivot becomes a trailer extension/longer trailer. And the pivot close to axle near same as 5th

[Lynnmor]

You will hate it the first time you pull into a gas station and take out the first pump.

[smthbros]

If I recall correctly, the Pullrite was developed around 1955. Installation is/was complicated by the need to alter the vehicle exhaust system and routing the electrical supply along the drawbar. Backing the trailer involved different dynamics due to the pivot point being closer to the rear axle. I think it was forum member L Adams who posted his preference for the Pullright over the Hensley, having towed with both. I suspect that the disparity between sales of fifth wheel hitches and travel trailer hitches resulted in the special order only sales.