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Pintle hooks, drawbars and gooseneck hitches

Combination Vehicles5 minManual section 6.4.3–6.4.8

Not every trailer uses a fifth wheel. Straight trucks and dollies often use a pintle hook; some trailers use a ball-type drawbar or a gooseneck hitch. The steps differ, but the goal is the same: a locked, checked connection with safety devices attached.

Coupling and uncoupling a pintle hook (6.4.3–6.4.4)

A pintle hook is a hook on the towing vehicle; the trailer's drawbar has a round eye that drops over the hook's horn.

Coupling:

  • Step 1 – Inspect the pintle hook for worn, damaged or missing parts, and make sure the mount is secure. A pintle hook that is not secured to its mounting can separate from the vehicle and cause death or serious injury.
  • Step 2 – Unlock and open. Pull out the tethered lock pin (if there is one). Lift the lock handle outward, away from the vehicle, until the lock is free of its seat; swing the latch up toward the vehicle as far as it goes (fully upright); then release the handle.
  • Step 3 – Lower the drawbar eye over the horn of the pintle hook.
  • Step 4 – Lock it. Push the latch closed. When it is locked correctly, the lock handle rotates up until it is flush with the top of the latch. Put the tethered lock pin back through the latch and lock holes and close it. A latch that is not locked correctly can let the trailer separate.

Uncoupling:

  • Step 1 – Park on a firm, level surface and block the trailer tires.
  • Step 2 – Disconnect the electrical connector, the breakaway brake switch lanyard, and the safety chains.
  • Step 3 – Unlock the coupler and open it.
  • Step 4 – Before extending the jack, make sure the ground under the jack pad can hold the tongue load.
  • Step 5 – Turn the jack handle to extend the jack and move the tongue weight onto the jack.
  • Step 6 – Raise the trailer coupler above the tow vehicle hitch.
  • Step 7 – Drive the tow vehicle forward.

Coupling and uncoupling a ball-type drawbar (6.4.5–6.4.6)

This hitch uses a coupling ball on the truck and a ball cup in the trailer's drawbar eye, held by a safety cover bar and lock screws.

Coupling:

  • Step 1 – Remove the safety lock screw (keep its self-locking nut), loosen the second lock screw, and turn the adjustment screw out at least 5 turns. Rotate the safety cover bar outward until it is fully open.
  • Step 2 – Reverse the truck very slowly until the ball cup is exactly above the coupling ball.
  • Step 3 – Lower the drawbeam until the ball cup completely covers the ball.
  • Step 4 – Rotate the safety cover bar back in, refit the lock screw and nut, and tighten both lock screws to 350–400 Nm with a torque wrench.
  • Step 5 – Adjust the adjustment screw until there is 0.3–0.5 mm vertical clearance between the guard disk and the ball cup; lock it with the counter nut. If the safety cover bar will not seat properly, travel is strictly forbidden.
  • Step 6 – Cover the visible part of the ball with the rubber dust bellows and seat its edge on the ball.
  • Step 7 – Grease the inside of the ball cup through the grease nipple.

Uncoupling:

  • Step 1 – Make sure the trailer brake is on.
  • Step 2 – Remove the rubber cover; loosen the adjustment screw and counter nut; loosen and remove the lock screws.
  • Step 3 – Open the safety cover bar, lift the drawbeam until the ball is fully visible, then pull forward very slowly. Rotate the cover bar back into its housing.
  • Step 4 – Refit the safety lock screw and tighten its self-locking nut.

Coupling and uncoupling a gooseneck hitch (6.4.7–6.4.8)

A gooseneck hitch has a ball mounted in the truck bed. It is a little different from a receiver-and-ball hitch, but not harder.

Coupling:

  • Step 1 – Open the clamp latch on the gooseneck coupler and make sure the ball is lubricated.
  • Step 2 – Position the coupler directly over the ball, lower the trailer onto it, and latch the clamp.
  • Step 3 – Attach the safety chains. All trailers are required by law to have safety chains.
  • Step 4 – Connect the trailer light wiring and check all lights, including brake lights.
  • Step 5 – Fully lower and stow the trailer jacks, letting the weight settle onto the tow vehicle.

Uncoupling:

  • Step 1 – Remove the safety pin and clip.
  • Step 2 – Rotate the handle to the release position and raise the trailer off the ball. The coupler returns to the load position by itself.
  • Step 3 – Reinstall the safety pin and clip.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 6.4.3–6.4.8

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. When a pintle hook is correctly locked, the lock handle will:
    1. Hang straight down
    2. Rotate up until it is flush with the top of the latch
    3. Point toward the trailer
    4. Stay in the open position
    Show answer
    Rotate up until it is flush with the top of the latch

    When locked correctly, the lock handle rotates and moves up until it is flush with the top of the latch.

  2. What is the risk if a pintle hook is not secured to its mounting surface?
    1. The pintle hook could separate from the vehicle
    2. The ABS will turn off
    3. The glad hands will freeze
    4. The trailer will be too low
    Show answer
    The pintle hook could separate from the vehicle

    An unsecured pintle hook can separate from the vehicle and cause death or serious injury.

  3. When uncoupling a pintle-hitch trailer, what must you check before extending the jack?
    1. That the ABS lamp is off
    2. That the glad hands are crossed
    3. That the ground under the jack pad will support the tongue load
    4. That the safety chains are still attached
    Show answer
    That the ground under the jack pad will support the tongue load

    Make sure the ground below the jack pad will support the tongue load.

  4. Before unlocking the coupler of a pintle-hitch trailer, what should you disconnect?
    1. Only the air lines
    2. Nothing; disconnect after driving away
    3. The landing gear
    4. The electrical connector, breakaway brake switch lanyard and safety chains
    Show answer
    The electrical connector, breakaway brake switch lanyard and safety chains

    Disconnect the electrical connector, the breakaway switch lanyard and the safety chains first.

  5. On a ball-type drawbar, the lock screws are tightened to what torque setting?
    1. 35–40 Nm
    2. 350–400 Nm
    3. 3,500–4,000 Nm
    4. Hand tight only
    Show answer
    350–400 Nm

    Both lock screws are tightened to 350 to 400 Nm with a torque wrench.

  6. On a ball-type drawbar, what should you do if the safety cover bar will not seat properly?
    1. Drive slowly to a shop
    2. Tie it with wire
    3. Do not travel at all
    4. Remove it and drive
    Show answer
    Do not travel at all

    If the safety cover bar will not lodge correctly, travel is strictly forbidden.

  7. When coupling a gooseneck hitch, which statement is true?
    1. All trailers are required by law to have safety chains
    2. Safety chains are optional on goosenecks
    3. The ball should be kept dry, never lubricated
    4. You do not need to check the brake lights
    Show answer
    All trailers are required by law to have safety chains

    Attach safety chains; all trailers are required by law to have them. Also lubricate the ball and check all lights.

  8. When uncoupling a gooseneck hitch, after removing the safety pin and clip, what is next?
    1. Lower the trailer jacks onto the truck bed
    2. Disconnect the air lines
    3. Drive forward with the trailer still on the ball
    4. Rotate the handle to release and raise the trailer off the ball
    Show answer
    Rotate the handle to release and raise the trailer off the ball

    Rotate the handle and raise the trailer off the ball; the coupler returns to load position automatically. Then reinstall the pin and clip.

  9. When coupling a ball-type drawbar, how should you reverse the truck?
    1. Very slowly, until the ball cup is exactly above the coupling ball
    2. Quickly, so the ball snaps into the cup
    3. At an angle to the drawbar
    4. With the safety cover bar closed
    Show answer
    Very slowly, until the ball cup is exactly above the coupling ball

    Reverse very slowly until the ball cup drawbar eye is exactly above the coupling ball.

  10. When coupling a ball-type drawbar, the adjustment screw is set so the vertical clearance between the guard disk and the ball cup is:
    1. 0.3 to 0.5 mm
    2. 3 to 5 mm
    3. 0.3 to 0.5 inch
    4. No clearance at all
    Show answer
    0.3 to 0.5 mm

    Set the adjustment screw for 0.3–0.5 mm of vertical clearance, then lock it with the counter nut.

  11. Before coupling a ball-type drawbar, how far should you back out the adjustment screw?
    1. Half a turn
    2. One turn
    3. At least five turns
    4. Remove it completely
    Show answer
    At least five turns

    After removing the safety lock screw, turn the adjustment screw out at least five turns, then open the safety cover bar fully.