Forum Discussion

joebedford's avatar
joebedford
Nomad II
Aug 31, 2017

Does your hitch / pin box creak like mine?

This is a video I took of unhooking my 3950 yesterday.

Pin / hitch video

What do you think? It didn't usta make this noise and one time it was much worse.

Wondering if the hitch needs more lube?

Joe
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    Next time I unhook I'll pay attention, but I'm pretty sure mine doesn't creak.
  • Sounds in your video are just like my fiver makes when extending the landing gear
  • Sounds exactly like mine. Since new. I've never worried about it, except for about 30 seconds after reading another broken Lippert frame thread. :)

    I actually don't think it is the hitch or the pin box that is making the noise. I believe it is the frame flexing as the load shifts from the pin to the landing gear. All the attachments to the frame, like the walls, the cover under the overhang, it all has to move a little as the frame flexes. That's where the noise comes from.

    All truck and trailer frames flex as the load changes.
  • ACZL wrote:
    Sounds normal to me. However, what I didn't like was that the pinbox didn't seem to come off the truck hitch thus the 5er was picking up rear end of truck.
    The video didn't show it well, but the pin box did lift off the hitch about 1/8". I've been taught to keep the pin low when hooking / unhooking to prevent high hooking. In fact, that was a specific test item for my Class A (CDL) driver's license so I could legally drive this RV.

    The 5er isn't picking up the truck but the suspension does lift a bit as the load comes off.
  • Sounds normal to me. However, what I didn't like was that the pinbox didn't seem to come off the truck hitch thus the 5er was picking up rear end of truck.
  • When first raising 5vr the TRUCKS suspension gets unloaded before the pin weight comes off of hitch

    So some of that noise is probably from truck rear suspension and then some from king pin/hitch

    There does NOT appear to be ANY movement in pin box so that is GOOD

    Creaking noise.....nothing that I would be concerned with.

    Now popping noises and pin box movement...YIKES!
  • As you extend the landing gear the pin box is rotating rearwards a little. This may be the hitch plate sliding on the pin box plate while under pressure. I would try a teflon lube plate and see if that helps.

    Maybe try it again with the truck in neutral with the e brake off and see if the noise subsides.
  • Yep, the 5th wheel frame creak! Doesn't bother me. That's a lot of frame moving up and down so you're bound to hear things give a little.