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Bulldog
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We know our products
Quality Products
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Founded in 1920, Bulldog has become the standard for heavy-duty trailer connection hardware in agricultural, military and utility service. The line covers gooseneck hitches and couplers, A-frame and channel-mount trailer couplers with the Wedge-Latch mechanism, and heavy-duty jacks, built for unmatched strength, reliability and safety under demanding loads.
Bulldog was founded in 1920 and has spent more than a century supplying the connection hardware that heavy trailers depend on. Its market has always been the demanding end: agricultural, military and utility applications where a coupler failure is not an inconvenience but a serious incident. The brand summarises its position as Tough and Tested, and it sits within the Horizon Global towing group alongside Reese, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Tekonsha, Bargman and Wesbar.
Gooseneck equipment is the brand's signature. Gooseneck hitches mount in the truck bed over the rear axle, which places the load where the chassis can carry it properly and allows far tighter turning than a receiver hitch permits. Matching gooseneck couplers attach at the trailer end, in round tube and square configurations across the capacity range used by livestock, equipment and flatbed trailers.
The conventional trailer coupler range is built around the Wedge-Latch mechanism, which uses a wedge to take up wear between coupler and ball rather than relying on a fixed clamp that loosens over time. That matters on a trailer accumulating hard miles, where slack in the coupling shows up as noise and shock loading. Couplers are offered in A-frame form for standard tongues and in channel-mount form for straight tongue and fabricated frames, with adjustable channel versions that let a coupler be positioned to suit the tongue height.
Heavy-duty jacks complete the line, sized for the tongue weights that gooseneck and equipment trailers generate. Across the range the emphasis is consistent: forged and heavy-section components, load ratings backed by testing, and hardware specified for agricultural, military and heavy-duty commercial use rather than occasional recreational towing.
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The Wedge-Latch® Coupler is a trailer coupler manufactured by Cequent Performance Products that connects a trailer tongue to a towing vehicle's hitch ball. It features a locking lever mechanism that secures the ball in the coupler's ball pocket. The coupler is available in two configurations: A-Frame (bolted to tongue members) and Flat-Mount (bolted to a mounting plate). It is designed for use with 50-degree trailer tongues only.
The Wedge-Latch® Coupler can only be used with 50-degree trailer tongues. This angle specification is critical for proper fit and operation. If your trailer tongue is not 50 degrees, this coupler is not compatible.
You must use only the proper ball size for your specific coupler as indicated on the coupler body itself. The correct ball size is marked on the product. If you are uncertain which ball size is correct, contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-632-3290 or visit www.cequentgroup.com.
Yes. All welding must be performed by an AWS (American Welding Society) certified welder. This is a mandatory requirement stated multiple times in the manual. If you choose the bolt-on installation method instead, you do not need welding.
A minimum coupler/tongue overlap of 6.5 inches is required. Before securing the coupler, ensure that the coupler's internal stop is butted against the end of the trailer tongue to achieve maximum overlap. This overlap is critical for proper load support.
For welded installations, weld on both sides and the top of the coupler using a 3/16 inch minimum fillet weld. If the coupler will be primed or painted after installation, you must remove all excess paint and primer buildup from the ball pocket and latching mechanism to ensure proper operation.
The coupler offers two bolt-on configurations: (1) A-Frame Couplers: bolt to tongue members using grade 5 hardware with locknuts; the number and size of fasteners must be specified by the trailer manufacturer. (2) Flat-Mount Couplers: insert four 5/8" grade 5 bolts through the coupler and mount plate, then tighten to 150 ft. lbs. Both methods require the coupler's internal stop to be butted against the trailer tongue end for maximum overlap, and no deformation of the tongue end is allowed.
Torque specifications for grade 5 bolts are: 3/8" diameter – 23 ft. lbs.; 1/2" diameter – 55 ft. lbs.; 5/8" diameter – 110 ft. lbs. For Flat-Mount Couplers, the four 5/8" bolts are torqued to 150 ft. lbs. For Adjustable Height Channel mounting brackets, the two 5/8" × 5" bolts are torqued to 100–110 ft. lbs. Always use grade 5 hardware only.
Gussets are required if the trailer tongue height is 6 inches or less. When gussets are used with an Adjustable Height Channel mounting bracket, the bracket must be centered on the tongue and remain vertical after installation. A 1/4 inch minimum fillet weld is required all around the gussets.
Follow these steps: (1) Block the trailer wheels. (2) Align the hitch ball beneath the coupler. (3) Open the coupler locking lever fully. (4) While holding the lever open, lower the coupler over the hitch ball until the ball is fully seated in the ball pocket. (5) If a pin was holding the lever open, remove it. Move the locking lever to the closed position. (6) Verify the latch is engaged by lifting up on the back of the locking lever. Confirm the hitch ball is fully seated and the ball clamp is below the ball. (7) Optionally, place a 5/16" pin or lock in the hole provided. Do not tow if the ball is not fully seated or the latch is not engaged.
Follow these steps: (1) Block the trailer wheels. (2) Open the locking lever fully. A 5/16" diameter pin can be used to hold the lever open if needed. (3) While holding the lever fully open, raise the trailer off the hitch ball. (4) Return the handle to the closed position.
Before towing, perform these checks: (1) Inspect the vehicle, mounting bracket, hitch, hitch ball, and coupler for signs of wear or damage. (2) Verify the coupler handle opens and closes freely. (3) If the coupler or mounting bracket is deformed or damaged, replace both completely. (4) Replace any bent, broken, or worn parts. (5) Close the coupler securely, ensuring the hitch ball is fully seated in the ball pocket and the pin is inserted behind the collar or through the latch. (6) Check mounting bracket hardware for wear and proper tightness; tighten to appropriate SAE proof load specifications using grade 5 hardware only. (7) Verify trailer safety chains are properly connected to both the towing vehicle and trailer per SAE J684. (8) Confirm all trailer lighting is connected and working properly.
Do not use the coupler. If coupler operation has been impaired in any way after installing the mounting bracket and/or coupler, stop using it immediately. The coupler must operate freely and correctly to safely support the trailer load. Contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-632-3290 for assistance.
No. Do not tow if the ball is not fully seated and/or the coupler is not closed. Before towing, verify that the hitch ball is fully seated in the coupler ball pocket, the locking lever is in the closed position, and the latch is engaged. If these conditions are not met, do not tow.
Do not exceed the lesser of the weight ratings for the mounting bracket, coupler, hitch, vehicle, ball, or trailer (including load). You must weigh your trailer plus any added load and ensure the total does not exceed any of these component ratings. Exceeding weight limits can result in failure and serious injury or death.
Use caution when uncoupling because the tongue may rise suddenly due to negative tongue load. Always block the trailer wheels before uncoupling. Open the locking lever fully and hold it open while raising the trailer off the hitch ball. A 5/16" diameter pin can be used to hold the lever open if needed.
Perform the following maintenance at least annually: (1) Check set screw torque. (2) Grease the ball pocket. (3) Oil pivot points with SAE 30 weight motor oil. (4) Inspect the retaining pin and replace if necessary. Additionally, keep the ball pocket and mechanism clean at all times. When parking or storing the trailer, keep the coupler off the ground so dirt and other foreign material do not accumulate in the ball pocket.
When parking or storing your trailer, keep the coupler off the ground so dirt and other foreign material will not build up in the coupler ball pocket. Keep the ball pocket and mechanism clean at all times.
Before mounting the coupler, confirm there will be no interference from the tow vehicle, tongue, ground, or any other mounted accessories while stationary or in motion. Check for interference in both the open and closed positions before installing. After installation is complete, check for interference again. The coupler must operate freely without obstruction in both positions.
If the coupler is to be primed or painted after installation, you must remove all excess paint and primer buildup from the ball pocket and latching mechanism. Paint buildup can impair coupler operation and prevent proper ball seating and latch engagement.
The Wedge-Latch® Coupler is designed for 50-degree trailer tongues only. You must also use the correct hitch ball size as marked on the coupler body. If your tongue angle or ball size does not match, this coupler is not compatible. Contact Cequent at 1-800-632-3290 to confirm fitment.
Welding is required only if you choose the weld-on installation method. All welding must be performed by an AWS certified welder using a 3/16" minimum fillet weld on both sides and the top. Alternatively, you can use the bolt-on installation method, which does not require welding.
Flat-Mount installation requires four 5/8" grade 5 bolts, which are inserted through the coupler and mount plate, then tightened to 150 ft. lbs. The manual does not specify whether these bolts are included or must be purchased separately.
For standard grade 5 bolts, 5/8" diameter bolts are torqued to 110 ft. lbs. For Flat-Mount Couplers, the four 5/8" bolts are torqued to 150 ft. lbs. For Adjustable Height Channel mounting brackets, the two 5/8" × 5" bolts are torqued to 100–110 ft. lbs.
Before towing, verify: (1) the hitch ball is fully seated in the coupler ball pocket, (2) the locking lever is closed and the latch is engaged, (3) the ball clamp is below the ball, (4) the coupler handle opens and closes freely, (5) mounting bracket hardware is tight, and (6) trailer safety chains and lights are properly connected. Do not tow if any of these conditions are not met.
Perform maintenance at least annually: check set screw torque, grease the ball pocket, oil pivot points with SAE 30 weight motor oil, and inspect the retaining pin. Keep the ball pocket and mechanism clean at all times, and store the trailer with the coupler off the ground.
If the latch is not engaged, the coupler is not properly secured to the hitch ball. Do not tow. Verify the latch is engaged by lifting up on the back of the locking lever—it should resist the lift. If the latch does not engage, repeat the coupling steps: open the locking lever fully, lower the coupler over the hitch ball until fully seated, close the lever, and verify engagement again.
If the hitch ball is not fully seated in the ball pocket, do not tow. The ball must be fully seated for safe towing. Repeat the coupling steps: block the trailer wheels, align the hitch ball beneath the coupler, open the locking lever fully, lower the coupler over the ball until it seats completely, close the lever, and verify the ball is fully seated and the latch is engaged.
If the locking lever will not close, do not tow. The lever must close fully and the latch must engage. Possible causes include the hitch ball not being fully seated in the ball pocket or the coupler being misaligned. Repeat the coupling steps: open the lever fully, ensure the hitch ball is properly aligned beneath the coupler, lower the coupler until the ball is fully seated, then close the lever. If the lever still will not close, do not use the coupler and contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-632-3290.
If the coupler handle does not open and close freely, do not use the coupler. This indicates the coupler operation has been impaired. Possible causes include dirt or debris in the ball pocket or latching mechanism, or damage to the coupler. Clean the ball pocket and mechanism thoroughly. If the handle still does not operate freely after cleaning, the coupler may be damaged and should be replaced. Contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-632-3290.
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May 22, 2023
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