Trailer hitches - ball vs pintle

[IronWing]

How come civilian vehicles tend to use ball hitches and military vehicles use pintle/lunette hitches?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Pintle/lunette hitches are for heavier equipment.

 

[Rifter]

Pintle has a much much higher weight limit than balls, balls are generalls used for smaller utility trailers and smaller camper style trailers. While pintle is used for heavy equipment like dump truck pup trailers, generators, and large flatdecks for hauling equipment such as forklifts and bobcats/excavators. Then there is the 5th wheel hitch for full size van trailers and the like.