hey does anyone have a pic (or have one at all) of one of those really cool square-ended couplers? not a round style that looks like the ball itself?....it has a square end, that slips over the tow ball. ive only seen it on new boat trailers that come w/ the boat itself...i cant seem to find one at all, im re-doing my trailer as we speak, and would love to have one of those blingin couplers on it. thanx for your help!

Reid

someone over on PB was looking for these as well in the v-drive section.....you probably wont find one new because i believe someone chimed in and said that they are unsafe and are deemed illegal now by CHP. ill see if i can find the thread.

here is the thread i was talking about....

http://www.performanceboats.com/html/forums/showthread.php?t=6106

yeah, they look cooler then the standard ones, but after reading peoples reviews that have dealt with them, i'd stick with a standard one.....it looks like its unsafe for towing and lots of blood blisters from getting pinched by it.

here is the thread i was talking about....

http://www.performanceboats.com/html/forums/showthread.php?t=6106

yeah, they look cooler then the standard ones, but after reading peoples reviews that have dealt with them, i'd stick with a standard one.....it looks like its unsafe for towing and lots of blood blisters from getting pinched by it.

When I bought my current boat it came on a Competitive trailer with the tubular slide-in coupler. Thought it would be a pain. Boy, was I wrong. It is a breeze to back right into it. Never had any problems at all. A hell of a lot easier to hook up to than the drop-on style. BTW, the biggest complainer about that style coupler ( in the v-drive thread about them)  hasn't even towed to the water with it as far as I can tell....

Sorry for the thread jack but i have been contemplating on changing my coupler to a more updated model........

Looks like i will be doing it sooner than i thought! Are they really illegal?

2sav

IF, and I repeat IF, they are "illegal", I'm sure its like Brad said. At some point they were probably not legal to install by a manufacturer. That said, back in about 2004, I was looking for parts for one during a trailer resto project. I spoke with Competitive and a few other trailer builders and not one said anything about that style coupler being illegal. Just stated they had not been produced for years and parts weren't available. Honestly, I bet they are a lot more expensive to manufacture than the typical "drop-on" style. They use two forgings, a welded tube and then an arm welded on. Compare that to the typical one-piece stamping of the newer style that has only one forged piece(if that).

2sav, measure that trailer tube before you go jumping into a coupler swap. I bet it is 3.5" square. There aren't any modern couplers that are designed for that. 3", 2.5", 2" are all I could ever find.

Remember, , your current coupler is on top of the tube. The other style will drop it down a couple inches so you will need adifferent drop for your hitch. I was contemplating the smaller tube inside the trailer tongue avenue........but then a new trailer showed up for that project. I've also seen a few where a section of 3", just tall enough to fit the coupler, was welded on top of the main tube with the tail end sloping down and blending into the main tube that looked pretty decent.

If you make the change, can I have your old coupler?

Is this the style you are looking for? If so I've never seen one that wasn't for a trailer with brakes. The pic is from Extreme Trailers. If I rememeber right, you have a Competitive trailer. If so, be forewarned that the tube size of the front of the trailer wont match any of the commonly available replacement couplers. If you are removing one of the slip-in style tubular couplers, can I have it? Thanks.

i have this style on the trailer for forkedup, i love it, very easy to use and clean, i do have brakes as oldsquirt said but mine was custom made by zieman

Kind of pointles at this point but , I have one on my new trailer that I had built by competative last year . ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTLY awsome ! I do have one complaint though . When I go to unhitch , it does not like to let go of the ball . I have to pull the truck forward to unload the coupler and then i'm good . Since I got it fingered out it's not much of a problem anymore .



-beerjet-

Nice job!, Modern/new stuff is cool

Sorry for the thread jack but i have been contemplating on changing my coupler to a more updated model........

Looks like i will be doing it sooner than i thought! Are they really illegal?

2sav

A lot of v-drive guys really like this style (myself included). I heard they can be bought brand new in nor cal.

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LB Superjet, is it leagal to run the chain like that?  I need to put chains on my trailer but I dont weld! I'v seen them bolted on. I'll also be changing my toung, I just hate drilling holes on any trailer! But hell I need to paint it any way!