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Bulldog
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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 coupler is designed for 50-degree trailer tongues only. It is not compatible with other tongue angles.
Use two grade 5 bolts, 5/8" × 4.5", tightened to 100–110 ft. lbs. with nylon nuts. The coupler must be secured using two sets of holes in the mounting bracket.
Yes. All welding must be performed by an AWS certified welder. This applies to weld-on couplers, variable height brackets, and any welded installation.
A minimum overlap of 6.5" is required between the coupler and trailer tongue members.
A minimum 3/16" fillet weld is required on both sides and the top of the coupler where it joins the trailer tongue.
Mounting bracket hardware must be tightened to 75–100 ft. lbs. and checked for proper tightness before towing. Use only grade 5 hardware.
Maintenance procedures should be performed at least annually: check set screw torque, grease the ball pocket, oil pivot points with SAE 30 wt. motor oil, and inspect and replace the retaining pin if necessary.
Before towing, verify that the hitch ball is fully seated in the coupler ball pocket, the locking lever is closed and the latch is engaged, the ball clamp is below the ball, the coupler handle opens and closes freely, and all mounting bracket hardware is tight. Do not tow if any of these conditions are not met.
The Wedge-Latch® Coupler is a trailer coupler manufactured by Cequent Performance Products. It is available in multiple mounting configurations: bolting, weld-on, variable height bracket, and flat mount. The coupler is designed to connect a trailer to a towing vehicle via a hitch ball and is rated for use with 50-degree trailer tongues.
No. The coupler is designed exclusively for 50-degree trailer tongues. Using it with a different tongue angle will not provide proper fit or safe operation.
The proper ball size is indicated on the coupler body. If you are uncertain which ball to use, contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-521-0510 or visit www.cequentgroup.com.
Only grade 5 bolts and hardware must be used. Grade 5 hardware is required for all bolting installations, including mounting bracket hardware.
Four grade 5 bolts, 5/8" × 11", are required. They must be tightened to 150 ft. lbs.
Yes. Before mounting the coupler, confirm that 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 open and closed positions before installation and again after installation is complete.
A variable height bracket must be centered on the trailer tongue and remain vertical after installation. If the tongue height is 6" or less, gussets are required. A 1/4" minimum fillet weld is required all around. All welding must be performed by an AWS certified welder.
No. If the coupler is primed or painted after installation, all excess paint or primer buildup must be removed from the ball pocket and latching mechanism. Paint buildup can impair coupler operation.
1) Block the trailer wheels. 2) Align the hitch ball beneath the coupler. 3) Open the coupler locking lever and hold it fully open. 4) Lower the coupler over the hitch ball until the ball is fully seated in the ball pocket. 5) If the locking lever was pinned open, remove the pin. 6) Move the locking lever to the closed position. 7) Verify that the latch is engaged by lifting up on the back of the locking lever. 8) Confirm that the hitch ball is fully seated and the ball clamp is below the ball. Do not tow if the ball is not fully seated with the lever closed and latch engaged.
Yes. A 5/16" diameter pin can be used to hold the locking lever open during coupling. The pin should be removed before closing the locking lever.
Yes. After the coupler is fully coupled and the latch is engaged, you may optionally place a 5/16" pin or lock in the designated hole for additional security. This step is not required.
Before towing, verify three conditions: 1) The hitch ball is fully seated in the coupler ball pocket, 2) The locking lever is closed and the latch is engaged (confirmed by lifting up on the back of the locking lever), and 3) The ball clamp is positioned below the ball. Do not tow if any of these conditions are not met.
If the latch is not engaged, the coupler is not properly closed and the trailer is not safely connected. Do not tow. The latch is engaged when the locking lever is fully closed and you can confirm engagement by lifting up on the back of the locking lever. If the latch does not engage, repeat the coupling procedure.
Do not tow. If the hitch ball is not fully seated in the coupler ball pocket with the locking lever closed and latch engaged, the connection is unsafe. Repeat the coupling procedure: block the wheels, open the locking lever fully, lower the coupler over the ball until it is fully seated, close the lever, and verify that the latch is engaged.
Use caution when uncoupling because the trailer 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 locking lever open if needed.
1) Block the trailer wheels. 2) Open the locking lever fully. 3) While holding the locking lever fully open, raise the trailer off the hitch ball. A 5/16" diameter pin can be used to hold the locking lever open. 4) After uncoupling, return the locking lever to the closed position.
Do not exceed the lesser of the weight ratings for the mounting bracket, coupler, hitch, towing vehicle, hitch ball, or trailer (including load). Weigh your trailer plus any added load before towing to ensure you do not exceed any component's rating.
Do not use the coupler. If coupler operation has been impaired in any way after installation, the coupler must not be used until the problem is corrected. This includes any obstruction of the ball pocket, latching mechanism, or locking lever movement.
After installation, verify that: 1) Coupler operation is not impaired in any way, 2) The coupler handle opens and closes freely, 3) All mounting bracket hardware is tight and shows no signs of wear or damage, 4) There is no interference from the tow vehicle, tongue, ground, or accessories in both open and closed positions, and 5) The coupler is rigidly attached to the trailer.
The ball pocket must be kept clean and greased. At least annually, grease the ball pocket and oil the pivot points with SAE 30 wt. motor oil. When parking or storing the trailer, keep the coupler off the ground to prevent dirt and foreign material from accumulating in the ball pocket.
The set screw torque must be checked at least annually as part of routine maintenance.
Yes. The retaining pin should be inspected at least annually and replaced if necessary.
Use SAE 30 wt. motor oil on the pivot points. This should be done at least annually.
If the locking lever will not close, the hitch ball may not be fully seated in the coupler ball pocket. Verify that the ball is fully seated by opening the lever, repositioning the coupler over the ball, and lowering it until the ball is completely seated. Then close the lever. If the lever still will not close, do not tow and contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-521-0510.
If the ball clamp is not positioned below the ball when the locking lever is closed, the ball is not fully seated. Do not tow. Repeat the coupling procedure: open the locking lever fully, raise the trailer, reposition the coupler, and lower it until the ball is fully seated and the ball clamp is below the ball.
Keep the ball pocket clean by removing any dirt or debris. When parking or storing the trailer, keep the coupler off the ground to prevent dirt and foreign material from accumulating. If debris is present, clean the ball pocket before coupling. Maintain the coupler by greasing the ball pocket at least annually.
If the coupler handle does not open and close freely, coupler operation may be impaired. Do not use the coupler. Check for dirt, debris, or damage in the latching mechanism and ball pocket. Clean the coupler and verify that the locking lever moves freely. If the problem persists, contact Cequent Performance Products at 1-800-521-0510.
If the coupler or mounting bracket is deformed or damaged, replace the complete coupler and mounting bracket. Do not attempt to repair or use a damaged coupler.
Replace bent, broken, or worn hardware before using the coupler. Use only grade 5 replacement hardware. Tighten all hardware to 75–100 ft. lbs. before towing.
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Jennifer
Ordered online. Shipment arrived on time and with all the correct parts. Great customer service and friendly staff. Also, pricing was great!
May 22, 2023
