Within a Nappanee, Indiana facility, Gen-Y Hitch employees are bundling numerous cardboard boxes to ship across the world. The corrugated packages will arrive at distributor, dealer and original equipment manufacturer doors. Expansive shipping results from the supplier’s Executive product sales climbing 134.5% from more than 12,000 sales since the 2019 Executive line introduction. The sales spiked after the debut of a renovated product.
The supplier enhanced safety and convenience through the Gooseneck SnapLatch Coupler upgrade. The coupler is integrated into the company’s Executive fifth wheel pin box replacement.
Gen-Y Hitch Director of Wholesale Luke Stump said the SnapLatch Coupler automatically locks onto the gooseneck ball.
“We introduced the safest and most efficient coupler (in the industry),” Stump said. “The coupler will be standard on all the fifth wheel goose conversions.”
The SnapLatch is located at the bottom of the pin box replacement that connects to the gooseneck ball. Stump said the coupler provides wiggle room to consumers while hitching. When the hitch is off by an inch or two, the coupler will lock into place on the ball mount due to its funnel design. The probability of human error is diminished because of the automatic connection.
Stump said, “The customer no longer needs to remember to lock the latch or position the lever.”
According to Stump, Gen-Y is incorporating the SnapLatch Coupler into a bumper hitch for travel trailers. The bumper coupler will be released around the second quarter of 2024. Soon, Gen-Y will incorporate Bluetooth abilities into the coupler’s features. The mobile app will facilitate locking and unlocking the coupler remotely.
The SnapLatch Coupler underwent extensive testing over the last year. SnapLatch sustained 5,000 revolutions of connecting and disconnecting without internal wear or usability reduction. The coupler proved a high level of corrosion resistance through salt-spray testing. Both on and off-road field testing was also conducted.
Pin boxes with the new design have shipped to distributors, dealers and original equipment manufacturers. The upgraded coupler will be offered on both the company’s Executive fifth wheel hitch and Spartan gooseneck hitch.
The product will be displayed at the NTP-Stag and Meyer Distributing shows and the Grand Rapids, Michigan consumer show in January.
Gen-Y showcased the redesigned pin box at the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) Trailer Show in Nashville, Aug. 30-31, and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, in Las Vegas, Oct. 31- Nov. 3.
Stump said the Executive line is only getting warmed up, “and we are super ecstatic to continue experiencing the growth at an exponential rate with everyone.”
To access a video of the SnapLatch Coupler, click here.
