McHitch couplings shuts up shop

One of the trailblazers of the Australian off-road coupling market has ceased production after around 15 years in business.

A statement on the McHitch Uniglide Trailer Coupling website says that the Lithgow, NSW-based manufacturer “has chosen to close up shop... due to unforeseen circumstances”.

“We want to thank all of our valued customers, as well as everyone that supported us all these years. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this has caused,” the statement says.

It’s not clear whether the owner is looking to sell the business or has stopped production for good.

Popular with off-road towing enthusiasts due to its ease of use and rugged construction, the McHitch Uniglide trailer couplings were fitted to a variety of caravan and camper models over the years, from serious off-road brands like Kedron to the the latest imported hybrids from Austrack.

McHitch Trailer Couplings owner Joe McGinnes says he invented the unique coupling after concerns about towball wear and safety when towing his race car trailer behind a motorhome. As he explains in a 2021 video (below) he adapted a LandCruiser Universal Joint to provide up to 360-degree rotation for extreme off-road use.

Along with its local engineering and development, the award-winning McHitch was praised for the precise nature of its positive locking mechanism and smooth ride, with less shunting and rattling that is often experienced with other trailer couplings. The McHitch couplings were rated from 3500kg to 6000kg to suit a range of applications.

On the other hand, the McHitch coupling was seen as being a bit ‘clunky’ compared to some of its competitors, while its premium pricing put it up against the popular Cruisemaster DO-35 as well as 50mm ball off-road models.

The family-owned company’s mission statement was to “make the safest, most reliable, and robust trailer coupling the world has ever [known].”