PM90 - 2 Inch Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate - 3 Position, 9 Inch Shank

Buyers Products 2 Inch Pintle Hook Mounting Plate slides into a 2 in. receiver to provide a mounting plate for a variety of pintle hooks and combination hitches. You can mount a pintle hook at either a high or low position to accommodate trailer height. The strong, durable construction features continuous welds and a black powder-coated finish for corrosion resistance.

Specifications

Advanced Technical Overview: 2 Inch Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate - 3 Position, 9 Inch Solid Shank for Demanding Towing Operations

The Buyers Products 2 Inch Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate with a 3-position adjustability and a robust 9-inch solid shank represents a highly engineered solution designed for the rigorous demands of commercial, industrial, and heavy-duty recreational towing. This component is specifically fabricated to integrate seamlessly with standard 2-inch receiver hitches, providing a supremely strong and versatile interface for attaching a broad spectrum of pintle hooks and combination hitches. Its design focuses on maximizing operational flexibility, enhancing safety, and ensuring enduring performance across diverse and challenging towing scenarios.

Precision Engineering for Optimal Functionality and Compatibility

At the core of its utility, this mounting plate serves as a critical intermediary between the tow vehicle's receiver hitch and the chosen pintle or combination hitch assembly. Its shank is precisely dimensioned at 2 inches to ensure a snug and secure fit within any standard Class III, IV, or V 2-inch receiver. The 8.94-inch length (nominally 9 inches as per the title) of the solid shank provides adequate extension for clearance with the vehicle's bumper and other rear-mounted accessories, while ensuring the pintle hook itself is positioned effectively for optimal trailer coupling and maneuverability. The inherent simplicity of its slide-in installation, secured by a standard hitch pin and clip (not included), minimizes setup time and facilitates rapid interchangeability with other hitch accessories.

Compatibility extends to a wide array of pintle hooks and combination hitches. The mounting plate features a standardized hole pattern engineered to accommodate virtually all major manufacturers' pintle and combination hitch offerings. Specifically, it offers four pairs of mounting holes, with precise horizontal spacing of 3.375 inches and vertical spacing of 1.75 inches. Each mounting hole possesses a diameter of 0.562 inches, ensuring a precise fit for industry-standard mounting hardware, typically Grade 8 bolts for high-strength applications. This meticulous adherence to universal dimensions guarantees broad applicability, allowing operators to select the optimal pintle hook or combination hitch based on their specific trailer coupling requirements (e.g., ring-type lunette eyes or standard ball couplers).

Unparalleled Adjustability: Three-Position Height Optimization

One of the distinguishing features of this mounting plate is its integrated 3-position adjustability. This design element directly addresses the critical need for precise trailer leveling, which is paramount for both towing stability and operational safety. Trailers vary significantly in tongue height depending on their type, load, and suspension characteristics. Without appropriate height adjustment, an improperly leveled trailer can lead to several adverse conditions, including:

1. Uneven Tire Wear: Excessive load on one axle set due to an angled trailer.
2. Reduced Braking Efficiency: Improper weight distribution can compromise trailer brake performance.
3. Increased Sway Potential: An unbalanced trailer is inherently more susceptible to dangerous sway, particularly at higher speeds or in crosswinds.
4. Compromised Ground Clearance: An excessively low hitch point can lead to the trailer striking the ground on uneven terrain or inclines.
5. Inefficient Load Distribution: Reduces the effective capacity and stability of both the tow vehicle and the trailer.

The 7.25-inch overall height of the mounting plate, combined with its multiple mounting hole positions, enables operators to mount a pintle hook at various vertical displacements relative to the receiver hitch. This flexibility allows for a precise alignment between the tow vehicle's receiver height and the trailer's lunette eye or coupler height, accommodating a diverse range of trailers from small utility and landscape trailers to heavy-duty construction, agricultural, and specialized equipment trailers. The three distinct mounting positions ensure that the trailer can be towed in a level orientation, optimizing weight distribution across all axles, minimizing stress on the hitch system, and enhancing the overall safety and stability of the towing combination.

Superior Materials and Robust Construction

The structural integrity and long-term durability of this pintle hitch mounting plate are founded upon its choice of materials and advanced manufacturing processes:

High-Strength Carbon Steel

Manufactured from high-grade carbon steel, this mounting plate is engineered to withstand the extreme dynamic loads and stresses inherent in heavy-duty towing applications. Carbon steel is selected for its exceptional mechanical properties, which include:

• High Tensile Strength: The ability to resist breaking under tension, crucial for resisting the longitudinal forces of towing.
• Excellent Yield Strength: The capacity to withstand significant stress before permanent deformation occurs, ensuring the component retains its structural geometry even under peak loads.
• Superior Fatigue Resistance: The ability to endure repeated cycles of loading and unloading (common in towing over varying terrain) without developing cracks or structural failure.
• Impact Toughness: Resistance to fracturing under sudden impacts or shock loads, providing a crucial safety margin.

The specific grade of carbon steel utilized is carefully chosen to meet or exceed industry standards for towing components, ensuring reliable performance and a substantial safety factor beyond the rated capacities. This material choice is critical in preventing material yielding, bending, or fracturing under the immense forces exerted during acceleration, braking, and navigating uneven terrain.

Solid Shank Design

In contrast to hollow-tube shanks, this mounting plate features a solid shank. This design choice is a deliberate engineering decision to enhance strength and durability significantly:

• Increased Bending Strength: A solid shank offers superior resistance to bending moments, particularly important given the cantilevered nature of the hitch extending from the receiver.
• Enhanced Torsional Rigidity: It provides greater resistance to twisting forces, which can occur during cornering, uneven weight distribution, or sudden maneuvers.
• Reduced Stress Concentrations: Unlike hollow sections, solid components generally exhibit more uniform stress distribution, reducing the likelihood of fatigue crack initiation.
• Corrosion Protection: While coated, a solid mass provides an additional layer of resistance against internal corrosion that could compromise the structural integrity of a hollow component if the coating were breached.

The solid shank construction contributes directly to the impressive Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (M.G.T.W.) rating of 17,000 lbs and a Maximum Vertical Load (M.V.L.) rating of 3,400 lbs, underscoring its suitability for the most demanding towing tasks.

Continuous Welds

The fabrication process employs continuous welding techniques rather than intermittent or spot welds. Continuous welds create a monolithic bond between the various steel components of the mounting plate, offering several critical advantages:

• Maximized Load Transfer: Ensures uniform distribution of towing forces across the entire joint, preventing localized stress concentrations.
• Enhanced Structural Integrity: Creates a stronger, more rigid structure that is highly resistant to deformation and failure under dynamic loads.
• Improved Fatigue Life: Eliminates potential initiation points for fatigue cracks that can occur at the ends of intermittent welds.
• Complete Sealing: Provides a fully sealed joint, preventing moisture ingress that could lead to internal corrosion, particularly relevant in harsh environments.

This commitment to high-quality welding is a testament to the product's design philosophy, prioritizing safety and long-term reliability in strenuous applications.

Advanced Corrosion Resistance: Black Powder-Coat Finish

To ensure prolonged service life and aesthetic retention in demanding outdoor and commercial environments, the mounting plate is treated with a durable black powder-coat finish. Powder coating is an advanced dry finishing process offering superior performance characteristics compared to traditional liquid paints:

• Enhanced Durability: The powder coat creates a much thicker and harder finish that is highly resistant to chipping, scratching, abrasion, and general wear and tear from road debris, impacts, and frequent handling.
• Superior Corrosion Protection: It forms an impervious barrier against moisture, road salts, chemicals, UV radiation, and other environmental aggressors that can lead to rust and material degradation. This is particularly crucial for components exposed to variable weather conditions and harsh road treatments.
• UV Stability: The finish resists fading and degradation from prolonged exposure to sunlight, maintaining its aesthetic appeal and protective properties over time.
• Environmental Friendliness: The powder coating process is more environmentally friendly than traditional solvent-based paints, as it produces fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Aesthetic Appeal: The uniform black finish provides a professional and integrated look that complements most tow vehicles and trailers.

This comprehensive protection ensures that the pintle hitch mounting plate maintains its structural integrity and operational effectiveness over an extended operational lifespan, minimizing maintenance requirements and maximizing return on investment.

Performance Specifications and Safety Adherence

The detailed specifications of this mounting plate are critical indicators of its capabilities and are engineered to meet stringent performance requirements:

• Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (M.G.T.W.): 17,000 lbs: This rating signifies the maximum combined weight of the trailer and its cargo that the mounting plate is safely designed to tow. This capacity positions the product firmly within the heavy-duty segment, suitable for large utility trailers, multi-axle equipment trailers, agricultural implements, and other substantial loads. Adherence to this rating is paramount for operational safety and compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., SAE J684).
• Maximum Vertical Load (M.V.L.): 3,400 lbs: Also known as tongue weight, M.V.L. represents the maximum downward force that the trailer's tongue can exert on the hitch system. Maintaining an appropriate tongue weight (typically 10-15% of the GTW for conventional trailers, and often higher for pintle applications due to differing coupling dynamics) is crucial for vehicle stability, preventing dangerous trailer sway, and ensuring effective braking. The 3,400 lbs rating provides ample capacity for the vertical forces exerted by heavy trailers.
• Receiver Size: 2.0 inches: This widely adopted standard ensures compatibility with the vast majority of medium to heavy-duty trucks, SUVs, and commercial vehicles equipped with Class III, IV, or V receiver hitches.
• Dimensions: With a height of 7.25 inches and a length (shank) of 8.94 inches, the plate is dimensioned to provide optimal clearance and leverage while remaining compact enough to minimize overhang and maintain maneuverability.

These specifications are not merely numbers; they represent the culmination of rigorous engineering analysis, material selection, and testing to ensure that the product performs reliably and safely under its rated conditions. Users are strongly advised to always match the hitch system capacity to the lower of the tow vehicle's rating, the trailer's rating, or the hitch component's rating.

Versatile Applications

The robust design, high capacity, and adjustability of the 2 Inch Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate make it an indispensable component across a multitude of industries and applications:

• Construction: Towing heavy equipment trailers, dump trailers, concrete mixers, and scaffolding.
• Agriculture: Transporting farm implements, livestock trailers, and irrigation equipment.
• Municipal & Government: Used by public works departments for towing specialized equipment, brush chippers, and maintenance trailers.
• Commercial & Fleet Operations: Ideal for landscaping companies, utility services, and delivery fleets requiring robust towing capabilities.
• Heavy-Duty Recreation: For enthusiasts towing oversized toy haulers, multi-sport trailers, or specialized off-road vehicles.
• Military & Emergency Services: Where reliability and strength are paramount for logistical support and rapid deployment.

Its ability to accommodate various trailer heights and types of pintle or combination hitches makes it a highly adaptable solution for fleets with diverse towing needs.

Conclusion

The Buyers Products 2 Inch Pintle Hitch Mounting Plate with its 3-position adjustability and 9-inch solid shank is a professionally engineered and meticulously manufactured towing component. Its design prioritizes strength, versatility, and longevity through the use of high-grade carbon steel, continuous welding, a solid shank configuration, and a durable powder-coat finish. With robust M.G.T.W. and M.V.L. ratings of 17,000 lbs and 3,400 lbs respectively, it offers the reliable performance required for the most demanding towing applications. For operators seeking a heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant, and adaptable mounting solution that ensures optimal trailer leveling and maximizes towing safety and efficiency, this pintle hitch mounting plate stands as an exemplary choice.