NATO hitch

[Bigdog]

Why does a nato hitch rotate, one came with my Land Rover that was seized but after half hour it is moving very freely now , but just wondered why they rotate, thanks

[chipbury]

I think because a military towing eye doesn't rotate the hitch has to allow for rotation over rough ground.

[Alan Drover]

If the trailer hitch doesn't rotate then the NATO is set to rotate for safety reasons.

[autorover1]

Fixed eye goes with rotating hook, rotating eye goes with fixed hook.  If you have a fixed eye with fixed hook you can bend either the chassis or trailer hitch, over uneven ground  and a rotating hitch with rotating eye you can end up tying them in knots at extreme angles.