Bull Dog Trailer Couplers

[Jackhackle]

I find the trailer coupler on my 2018 Escape 19 to be finicky and hard to unhook. Has anyone out there replaced their factory coupler with a Bull Dog brand? This coupler requires a "50 degree A-frame trailer" Is the Escape 19 built on a 50 degree A-frame? The 2 inch Bulldog model I am looking at is rated for 7,000 LBS GTW which should be enough for the Escape 19 right?

Thank You,
JackHackle

 

[Rockhead]

I replaced the factory hitch with a bulldog hitch. Easy hitching and unhitching. No fighting to unhitch anymore. More secure hookup n smoother tow.

 

[diannelgraham]

I replaced the coupler on my 19 and 21 with the bulldog:eggrv:

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

the 'trick' with the stock hitch is to pull the vehicle slightly forward after chocking your trailer tires, that takes the pressure off the latching mechanism. Ditto, after dropping the hitch on the ball, if it doesn't easily slide down and latch, then pull the vehicle about 1/2" forward, and boom done.

 

[Ron in BC]

the 'trick' with the stock hitch is to pull the vehicle slightly forward after chocking your trailer tires, that takes the pressure off the latching mechanism. Ditto, after dropping the hitch on the ball, if it doesn't easily slide down and latch, then pull the vehicle about 1/2" forward, and boom done.

I wish that was a 100% solution but unfortunately there are times when even that doesn't work.

Ron

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

huh, its always worked for me. had the escape 8 years now, put many 10s of 1000s of miles on it (heck, 9900 miles jan-may this year alone, with about 50 camping sites all over Mexico, ooh la lah!).

 

[Ron in BC]

huh, its always worked for me. had the escape 8 years now,

Well try towing trailers for another 50 plus years and you'll find that it doesn't always work.

Ron

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Well try towing trailers for another 50 plus years and you'll find that it doesn't always work.

phew, 50 years, and I'd be 120... I figure I have max 10 more years of trailering in me.

 

[Mark B1]

I have found if I am pulling the release leaver up and back and it will not move that pushing the leaver side to side as I am lifting it very often does the trick for me.

 

[Jackhackle]

Ron: I agree with you many times it doesn't work. Glad my post sparked so much interest. thanks to all but Bulldog here I come!
JackHackle

 

[DT6]

Here is a post regarding the Bulldog from 2021. You might find some good info here on finding a welder and what they they typically charged. There is also mention of a RAM coupler, similar to the Bulldog and might be worth a look. Best of luck!

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f10/bulldog-hitch-upgrade-20156.html

 

[Chasing Trials]

I drove Horse Trailer for years ALL have bulldog couplers. I didn't change it on my 2013, as I planned on ordering a new one. But, I did change out to a Bull dog type on my 2023 E19. There is a LOT more ease with using one. Don't have to be aiming for the front of the coupler hooking or unhooking, as to NOT catch that piece underneath & in the back. I have to do my hitching off/up on a downhill slope, which makes it hard, as the trailer's weight push against that piece, & will NOT let it go. They are so heavy built, you can "Miss", & have part of it resting ON top of the ball(flat spot on mine). Then kick over to slide on, with no worries of catching the wrong piece. The Olivers use a Bulldog.

 

[Ron in BC]

I looked up Bulldog on Amazon. About $200 CDN. But Vevor has a knock off one for $85. Looks good but for an item like that I'd probably stay with a name brand.

Ron

 

[tractors1]

Bulldog works great when the trailer and tow are not on the same plane. I have had to unhook/rehook when the tow and the rig are on slopes with the tow maybe 5-10 degrees off-plane with the trailer.


Pretty much impossible with the OEM from Escape.

 

[IanC]

One other tip on hitching/unhitching: Put the trailer in park, but don't engage the parking break. This allows the tow vehicle to rock forward and backward a bit and find the sweet spot. If on a hill, I chock the tow vehicle after chocking the trailer for an added layer of security in leu of the parking brake.

 

[IanC]

Meant to say “tow vehicle” not “trailer”.

 

[Dcgrout@icloud.com]

I had same issues with stock hitch. I switched to a Denco EZlat h coupler. Had to have a welding shop cut off the stock coupler and weld on the new denco, but since then hook up and unhook has beenn a breeze. I moved up to a 2&5/16 size ball and coupler as well. Very happy now.

 

[Ampman2016]

You can order a “Curt” brand side latch (bulldog style) 7k rated hitch from Amazon for about $75. Just had one replaced on one of my rigs. All my ranch trailers use side latch hitches and are very robust and easy to operate.
Most of the hitches out there are imported like the Curt brand but still they are a US company.

 

[Chainplate]

I know this thread is a little old but when I had searched for solutions for the issues my wife and I were having with the Ram hitch, this thread caught my eye. Even though we're relatively new to RVing, we have about 5,000 miles under our belts and probably a couple of dozen hitching/unhitching episodes which gave us motivation to seek out alternatives. I was all ready to order the Bulldog style but an article on etrailer.com shifted my interest to the Demco, which I ordered.

I had ordered the bolt-on style and I was ready to do the project myself but, on our 17B, it's not possible to install a bolt-on coupler (the landing gear support is in the way). Since I don't know any AWS-certified welders, I was forced to search for welders in my area and I think I contacted about 8 of them by email which included photos of what I wanted to have done. Only three replied, with quotes of $460. $525 and $1,850 (really). I towed the trailer over to the guy with the lowest quote. In one of my former careers as a heavy equipment mechanic, I did enough welding to know an expert craftsman when I see one and the guy who welded on our trailer was very good.

But, beyond his control, was the fact that the Demco coupler sat further aft on the trailer's tongue than the Ram did and this forced the landing gear to press on the propane tank cover, which, in turn, presses up against the front storage box. It's not so big an issue with the propane tanks but it is annoying to have to force the lid of the storage box open and closed every time we access it. Now, we're questioning our decision to make the change.

Safe travels.

 

[Chasing Trials]

I know this thread is a little old but when I had searched for solutions for the issues my wife and I were having with the Ram hitch, this thread caught my eye. Even though we're relatively new to RVing, we have about 5,000 miles under our belts and probably a couple of dozen hitching/unhitching episodes which gave us motivation to seek out alternatives. I was all ready to order the Bulldog style but an article on etrailer.com shifted my interest to the Demco, which I ordered.

I had ordered the bolt-on style and I was ready to do the project myself but, on our 17B, it's not possible to install a bolt-on coupler (the landing gear support is in the way). Since I don't know any AWS-certified welders, I was forced to search for welders in my area and I think I contacted about 8 of them by email which included photos of what I wanted to have done. Only three replied, with quotes of $460. $525 and $1,850 (really). I towed the trailer over to the guy with the lowest quote. In one of my former careers as a heavy equipment mechanic, I did enough welding to know an expert craftsman when I see one and the guy who welded on our trailer was very good.

But, beyond his control, was the fact that the Demco coupler sat further aft on the trailer's tongue than the Ram did and this forced the landing gear to press on the propane tank cover, which, in turn, presses up against the front storage box. It's not so big an issue with the propane tanks but it is annoying to have to force the lid of the storage box open and closed every time we access it. Now, we're questioning our decision to make the change.

Safe travels.