I just picked up my new 2013 Keystone Montana High Country. - I'm guessing they call it a High Country on account of what they were smokin' when they decided to install a Lippert 1716 Extended Pin Box on this unit as the standard pin box. - or Maybe they forgot to mention to their dealer network that the pin box connected to a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado with a hitch set at a 'standard height' 17-1/2" above the truck's bed floor will SMASH INTO THE BED RAILS! - just a small detail I guess. Heck, that's what insurance is for, right? Anyone else experience this combination of math gone wrong? I contacted two hitch dealers and both recommended the SuperGlide 2700 with the low profile feet to match the hitch head height to the trailer king pin level. - The truck and trailer sit level alright. The truck bed rails to the bottom of the trailer overhand have 7 1/2" of clearance. - Everything seemed to be setup up perfectly. The SuperGlide keeps the trailer plenty far enough from the rear window of the truck, so what could possibly go wrong? The trailer even came with a large round sticker advertising the 'Industry Best Turning Radius' 90 degree turn, no problem. -- Enter our dear old friend Murphy and BAM! - One dented bed rail later it became obvious that the real measurement to be concerned about was the ridiculously long extended Lippert 1716 Pin Box. - 29 1/8" long from "tip to tail". Just long enough to make it a 'bad day'. Being the skeptic that I sometimes am, I'm guessing this is just the tip of the ice berg so to speak. There are sure to be lots of folks out there with this combination. ...We are not alone. So who knows how to fix this issue permanently?

I'm considering a shorter Pin Box - Anyone have any advice about the best way to fix this problem. I'm getting the truck repaired and I'd hate to have a repeat of the same issue...The only other option I have at this time is to install the teller 'standard' feet on the SuperGlide 2700 to raise the hitch head height by 1-1/2" (which I probably should have done in the first place despite what the dealer told me). - But, I'm afraid that that may just give me slightly more clearance and not really solve the real problem. - Just until I make a 90 degree turn on an uneven surface again and I have a repeat injury to the truck's bed rails. UUUUGH!!!!HELP!

You might get more help in the Montana forums.What did the Montana dealer think of your setup when you picked it up? Think they may have had some thoughts on how to set it up correctly.

Thanks. I didn't realize there was a Montana Forum. - I'll check that out. The dealer (who's name I won't mention here) was terrible! - I specifically asked them if they thought I had any clearance issues, since this was my FIRST time hooking up to a fifth wheel. Their response was "Yeah, you have plenty of clearance..." - Obviously, they didn't know their wahoo from a whatsit. I'm still a little sore about that exchange. I would have thought that they would have known to check ALL of the clearances before letting me drive off the lot! - I know the last dealer before them would have done so. - It's just too bad they didn't have the unit I was looking for. This dealer didn't seem to care two hoots if the trailer fell off the back of my truck so long as I was off their lot when it happened. I'm wondering if I should contact the dealer or Keystone about this?

I took the sawsall to the back corners of the plates that hang down out of the 5th wheels over hang for the pin box to mount to. That is what will run into the side of the pickup bed, not the actual pin box in my case. This is a know issue that has been around for a long time. It was mnay years ago that I cut the back corners off.Chris

7 1/2 inches is plenty of clearance, that must have some pretty uneven terrain.Chock it up to a Rookie mistake, learn from this and go on from there. Don't blame others, life is too short.Travelon

Lippert 1716 vs. Chevy 2500 Bed Rails | Good Sam Community

36 Replies

Us_out_West
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
So where is the OP?
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2013
Why is this issue so complex for some people. I stuck the cut off piece back where it came from in this picture. If you measure from the center of the king pin to the back of the pin box mount and compare that to the measurement from the center of the hitch in the truck to the bed rail you can see if you are going to have a problem or not. The two wings as someone called them do nothing to add to the integrity of the pin box and/or the mount. The only down side is not being able at a later date to set the pin box real low on the trailer and still have all 4 bolts on both sides.

You can see that Lippert angled the corner out of concern for this issue on my 2005 Cardinal. Some might have a full square corner. How about some pictures of other pin boxes?

Chris
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
TubaPete wrote:
I think maybe Vulcaneer works for Lippert. I called them and they said they had never heard of the problem.

As for me, I am considering trying the smaller Lippert pin box.

I don't know how you did it. You got me figured out. I am chief executive of the welding, sheet metal developments and frame QA division. At Lippert WE don't have a problem. It is you customers with the problem. And you are right to buy a shorter pinbox. Just be aware that may give you other problems. But there again, those are YOUR problems. Thank you for buying another one of our pinboxes. We fully stand behind your decision.

Next time you call Lippert, make sure you ask to speak to Vulcaneer. Then we can speak one on one. Just hit 1 for english, then 2 for "representative". If they say they don't know who I am, just tell them you know they are lying. They'll connect you right away. Don't hit 4 if you want the conversation recorded. That will cause an instant hang up. Hit 3 and it will go to Voice mail. I'll be sure to call you right back, as soon as I get out of my very important meeting (about how we will spend our bonus) with the board of directors.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2013
hbensley wrote:

Is this Apache Junction?

Nope, Gold Canyon to the East! Canyon Vistas RV Resort! Looking at Flat Iron from the South side!!!! AJ is a bit to rustic for our liking! Or is that VERY Rustic???

Chris
hbensley
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Me Again wrote:
In this photo you can see that the square corner is gone from the plate hanging out of the 5th wheel overhang, as I cut it off at the same angle as the extended pin box. I lost one unused bolt hole in the rear. Chris

Another view.

Is this Apache Junction?
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2013
FYI. This problem is not reserved to GM pickups! It can happen to other manufacturer's trucks also under certain conditions. GM's deeper bed might make them more apt to have the problem. If you are going to complain to someone why aren't you complaining to them(GM). Chris
TubaPete
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
I try to be respectful, but I don't think Vulcaneer fully understands the problem. He says the manufacturer can't anticipate every problem. With the number of Silverado / GMC 2500 and 3500 HD trucks pulling fifth wheels, I think it is not unreasonable to expect Lippert to have considered this interference problem.

I have the same truck with the same pin box. The pin box hits the side of the bed at a relatively short angle. With the long wheelbase of my 5er, I hit the side of the truck just turning the corner. There is nothing you can do about it short of cutting the mounting box attached to the fifth wheel, something that would certainly compromise the integrity of the pin box assembly.

I think maybe Vulcaneer works for Lippert. I called them and they said they had never heard of the problem.

As for me, I am considering trying the smaller Lippert pin box. It's about 6 inches shorter which means I'll clear the sides of the truck but will have to start watching the cab to fifth wheel clearance.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Allworth wrote:
Vulcaneer,

You, too, need to reread the original post.

The underside of the trailer never contacted ANYTHING.

The side wall of the extended pin box did the damage. Another reason that extended pin boxes are not always the best solution to turning restrictions.

Maybe you should read my post. The point of my post is to indicate the driver has the ultimate responsibility for damage. And damage can occur for any of many reasons. It is always easy to blame the manufacturer. The manufacturers cannot anticipate every situation we get into. And I cited a few of the many scenario's. There are always things that can happen. Happens to all of us. Happens to me. Most always it's driver error. I'll bet extended pinboxes have saved much more damage than they cause. His issue is not the extended pinbox. It is the lack of experience. And after this problem, he has gained knowledge from this experience. So he can cross this one off his list. Oh...he'll have another one down the road. We all do. and the more that happen the farther apart the next one comes. It's all experience.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 08, 2013
Allworth wrote:
Vulcaneer,

You, too, need to reread the original post.

The underside of the trailer never contacted ANYTHING.

The side wall of the extended pin box did the damage. Another reason that extended pin boxes are not always the best solution to turning restrictions.

What makes think it was the pin box when the two trailer frame plates that the pin box bolts to and that hang down out of the over hang are the first thing that will contact the bedrail? The pin box fits inside these plates and tapers up away from the truck's bed rails, where as the plates hang down and can contact the truck.

Do I have to jackknife my truck and take another picture?

Chris
Allworth
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2013
Vulcaneer,

You, too, need to reread the original post.

The underside of the trailer never contacted ANYTHING.

The side wall of the extended pin box did the damage. Another reason that extended pin boxes are not always the best solution to turning restrictions.

Forum Discussion

Lippert 1716 vs. Chevy 2500 Bed Rails

36 Replies

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