Air hitch vs Air Pin Box

I have both, nothing like overkill, Love the way it pulls and rides.

I have the B&W Companion and with one leg and some back problems I can still get it in and out by my self. I use the plastic covered edge of the tailgate to tip and slide the base in and out. Works for me.

I replaced the pin box on my 5er with the Demco Ride-Glide. After a couple of hours with out the DW commenting on the jerking I knew I had made the right move.

A guy in the park here just bought a new dually and had a hitch installed. Even though it's rated higher than my 18,000 lb B&W he commented on how much thicker the jaws were on my hitch.

Even though our 5er is only 10,000 lb loaded, we chose to add the standard TrailAire pin box. The difference towing compared to the OEM standard pinbox is considerable. If I had to make this choice agin, I would do it in a heartbeat. I do have airbags on the truck too by the way.

I would choose airbags under the truck. With on the hitch or trailer you limit yourself to just that. With under the truck can be used when hauling stuff in the bed, with a 5th wheel, and with a bumper pull trailer.

I use the TrailAir with Tri-Glide on a B&W Companion hitch. I didn't go that route for cost (less), but, went with the KISS principle. I can remove the B&W Companion by myself and it is, IMHO, one of the finest hitches available. While the air hitches are perfectly fine, they are not a "one man job" at removal, at least not by my 145 lb. arthritic carcass. They also leave rails in the bed of the truck, while the B&W does not. I also have infrequent use for the goose ball portion since I live in the hinterlands and gooseneck AG trailers are as common as any other form.

As for the TrailAir Tri-Glide unit... I won't tow a fifth wheel RV (that I own) without one. It does handle all the motions of the trailer, something the air hitch doesn't do, and it does it quite well. The truck hits a bump, then the trailer hits a bump, but, one does not affect the other. It is, however, a bit of danger during the first few times you use it...the desire to watch it doing its thing instead of paying attention to the road can be dangerous... You can't get around the fact that the pin weight is in the bed of the truck, but, that's all I feel; a loaded pickup truck, no different that having a load of mulch or gravel in the bed. No tugging back and forth, no up and down pounding; just a loaded pickup truck.

The added benefit? It is, as you noted, less cost. :)

Have had 2 5ers one with Mor-Ryde and one with 5th Airborne. Towed both with solid Reese hitch in my truck. The Mor-ryde was far superior IMO. Have not used air hitch.

we have the easyrider/reese airhitch since 2001. Awesome product for a smooth ride for the alpenlite. Late 2000 was when the trailair pin box was introduced and it has been a good product.
My choice would be the airhitch because we have it but either is great.
chevman

I tow tandem and get a fair amount of chucking when I am towing my boat. I bought the TrailAir pin box (Tri Glide wasn't available for my 5er) and I would not do it again. Neither myself or my wife notice a significant difference towing the trailer now vs when we were towing it before without the new king pin.

That said, the trailer tows very nicely when I am not towing tandem. With a trailer that has a GVWR of only 11,500 I don't think you need the air ride.

A Prime Time Crusader 296BHS. The RV will be a vacation thing with the kids, not full time. Full length is 35' and it has a max weight (fully loaded) of 11,500 and it has a dry pin weight of 1300 lbs. So, not a heavy trailer like some units. I'm looking at a GMC 2500HD Denali for the tow vehicle.

I like the idea of one person removal as you said. I want to be able to easily remove the hitch and have a flat/empty bed.

I have a B&W hitch with TrailAir air bag pin box with TriGlide. My RV weighs 18K+ with 4,500# pin weight. The ride is great. Hitch is noise free and very easy to hitch and unhitch. Also leaves the bed clear. One person removal with the B&W also.

What RV and TV are you thinking about?