Anyone use a swivel hitch for their trailer?

[Golden Dakota]

I would be interested to hear what you think of using a swivel hitch on a trike trailer. I was told that it makes the ride on the trike a little smoother when the trailer goes over bumps and only one wheel hits the bump or depression.

Some real-world feed back would be appreciated! Also, did you have the swivel hitch connected to the bike, or to the tongue of the trailer.

I'm also thinking of putting one on my car for towing the trike. Wondering weather it would reduce wear on my car tires when towing, which seems extensive on long trips. Any feedback?

 

[msocko3]

I'm not a swivel hitch fan, I've pulled my Aluma MCT with a Triglide, my 2012 Wing 2 wheels and now the same wing a Hannigan. I've never felt the trailer back there, I will say when I pulled it using 2 wheels I had a long neck ball to account for leaning. I've read stories where folks with a swivel hitch went over a curb with their trailer which caused the trailer to turn on it side.

 

[Veritas44]

Swivel Hitch or Swivel-Safe Insert on Trailer Tongue is a worthless waste of Cash on a Trailer pulled by a Trike.
Like the proverbial "Teets" on a Boar Hog"

A Trike doesn't camber or lean as a 2-wheeler does. It stays flat in the rear so there is absolutely ZERO Need for a "swivel" connection.
Conversely, I wouldn't pull a Trailer (except a Uni-Go style design) behind a 2-wheeler without a Swiveling Connection.
*except possibly, as Mike points out above, I was to use a looonnnggg necked/stemmed Ball.

 

[slick rick]

I have one on my Bushtec and yes it swivels on the trailer tongue . I've had no problem at all with it , necessary on a trike , I wouldn't think so . The trailer before this one had a regular tongue and it pulled well too . I do however feel safer with the connection of the swivel but than again TO EACH HIS OWN !!!!!!!ThumbUp

 

[Lucky]

Friend of mine installed one on his that he pulls with a trike. He used it on one day trip and removed it. Don't know, but he said he felt like it made his trailer push in the curves. RIDE SAFE

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

My Bunkhouse camper and my Breeze cargo trailer have swivels.
That's what I wanted even though I have a Trike.
I would highly recommend it for a 2 wheeler as I found out the hard way.

 

[Golden Dakota]

Thanks for the replies. I think however that I didn't explain clear enough what I was looking for. I understand the tipping angle and that it is not a problem on a trike.
What I was asking was if anyone had any experience of whether it was a smoother ride on a trike when you were pulling a trailer and was on a bumpy road and you had a swivel hitch or not. Strictly quality of ride on the trike, nothing else.
Thanks.

 

[3rdwheel]

I have a swivel on the used CycleMate trailer I bought last year, and on the long trip we did last summer I don't think I could have told one way or another. It never had a problem in a lot of different conditions, and the trailer was pretty heavily loaded.
I was thankful to have the trailer when I did hydroplane a couple of times. It was a serious downpour in Kalispell, Mt. I also had a different non swivel behind my 2 wheel Goldwing, and never had an issue there either.
They both rode so well I had to remind myself they were back there.

 

[Keystone]

On two wheels I used a swivel hitch. No need on a trike.

 

[Livin2Ride]

Thanks for the replies. I think however that I didn't explain clear enough what I was looking for. I understand the tipping angle and that it is not a problem on a trike.
What I was asking was if anyone had any experience of whether it was a smoother ride on a trike when you were pulling a trailer and was on a bumpy road and you had a swivel hitch or not. Strictly quality of ride on the trike, nothing else.
Thanks.

I've had 3 different trailers that I pulled thousands of miles behind my 2012 TriGlide. 2 of them had the standard style hitch and the current trailer (Bushtec) has a swivel hitch. I don't think the hitch has much if any impact on the ride quality on a trike. The trailer suspension makes a big difference though. As far as tire wear, I've never worn out a set of trailer tires, I just change them because of age.

 

[StorminNormin]

I have pulled several different trailers with by 2-wheeler and now the trike. The only thing that I believe may impact the smoothness of the ride, with the trailer attached, is if the hitch attachment had any amount of play in it. Then it could move by itself during rough roads. Other than that, most of the time I really was not aware of it back there. JMHO.

 

[hopefullysoon]

I was looking for this information, as the Escapade trailer that came with the trike has a swivel tongue hitch and was wondering if this was a "no no" to use with a trike. Have driven over 1k with and have not noticed anything unusual about the swivel. Guess I will keep it as I care not to spend the money on the rigid type. Thanks!

 

[stacebg]

Thanks for the replies. I think however that I didn't explain clear enough what I was looking for. I understand the tipping angle and that it is not a problem on a trike.
What I was asking was if anyone had any experience of whether it was a smoother ride on a trike when you were pulling a trailer and was on a bumpy road and you had a swivel hitch or not. Strictly quality of ride on the trike, nothing else.
Thanks.

i cant see how an extra "connection" will make any difference what so ever....
unless the is some slop in the bolt that the swivel pivots on, then there might be front to back slot on the trailer... which you might feel... but i think the bolt would have to be pretty loose to even feel that..

 

[Condor]

I have three scoots... 1 triked.. and two tow behind trailers. One stinger with a tilt ball, the trike has a permanent non-tilt ball, and trailers have stock couplers. Got it all covered....

 

[sparky1597]

I have a Bushtec. They come with a Heim joint on the trailer tongue. Not really needed on it with a trike, but, I think it would be beneficial with a 2 wheeler. I do like their lock system. It is not a padlock, but, goes over the "spindle" which is instead of the ball on a traditional hitch.