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Articulated Coupler Keeps Trailer Hitch From Binding
Anyone who’s ever pulled a trailer over rough ground knows that severe bending can occur, resulting in damage to the coupler, hitch, or trailer tongue. A new “multi-axis” trailer coupler is designed to prevent the problem by remaining flexible on the roughest terrain without binding.
  The Max Coupler has a multi-axis offset design that provides the trailer hitch with virtually unrestricted movement on 3 planes of operation at the same time.
  The unit consists of two components - one that replaces the ball coupler on back of your vehicle and rotates horizontally within a sleeve; and a 2-in. receiver tube that pins onto it. The pin allows the receiver tube to pivot up or down, while a center-mounted shaft allows the coupler to rotate along its axis.
  The Max Coupler has a rating of 7,500 lbs.
  “It lets the trailer twist and turn behind your vehicle without binding at all,” says Martyn Davies, Adventure Trailers, Prescott, Ariz. “On a conventional ball coupler, once the trailer hitch gets more than 15 degrees off vertical the chances of the ball coming off the coupler go way up. But with the Max Coupler, the trailer hitch won’t come off the vehicle even when the trailer gets into really tight situations.”
  Installation will vary from trailer to trailer, says Davies. “The easiest way is to unbolt or cut off or grind off the trailer’s ball coupler. Then install the 2-in. receiver tube by welding it onto the tongue.
  “Most offroad trailers now come with a receiver tube instead of a welded-on ball coupler on the tongue, which allows you to use a variety of different types of couplers. So if you have a pintle hitch on back of your vehicle you can pull out the Max Coupler and put a regular lunette eye on the trailer side. Or, if you have a tow ball on back of the vehicle you can pull out the Max Coupler and put in a regular ball coupler on the trailer side.”
  The Max Coupler sells for $250 plus S&H. “The price may seem high, but if you’ve ever had a trailer come off your vehicle’s ball coupler you know what a hassle it can be,” says Davies. “You have to get out and jack the trailer back up onto the ball, and hope the trailer’s tongue doesn’t get damaged. Do that once or twice, and suddenly $250 doesn’t seem like that much.”
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Martyn Davies, Adventure Trailers, 3035 N. Tarra Ave. # 3, Prescott, Ariz. 86301 (ph 877 661-8097; atprescottaz@gmail.com; www.adventuretrailers.com).


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2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1