Pin Box with Air

I have an air hitch with a standard pin box so I have the same issue only in reverse. I approach my hitch and stop before the jaws hit the kingpin. I then raise my front landing gear which lowers the front of the trailer and compresses the hitch so that the ride plates marry. I then back completely into the kingpin and the jaws snick into place. I adjust my air pressure at the beginning of the season and don't deal with it until the following year.

noteven wrote:
RobWNY - I don't have an air spring "pin box" but have B&W 5th wheel. Are the jaws not closing because the pin is too far out of "plumb" (vertical "level") with the jaws?

Does the air spring in the pin box force it nose down? This is an unnatural angle for a pin and 5th wheel to try to hitch.

If yes then you need to adjust whatever so the upper 5th (pin and plate) are in a reasonably close plane with your 5th wheel ("hitch"), or tilt the 5th wheel front down a bit with a bungee or something so it planes to the pin box as you back in. Don't strap it solid let it rock.


Also making sure you are backed in with a bit of pressure on the front of the pin allows the jaws to close freely. Set some weight on the truck and push on the trailer gently.

As you know the B&W does not need to be slammed into the pin to lock up. The lever & pin locks it.

Yes. What happens when the air bag is filled to the desired PSI, the pin itself gets cocked forward on an angle. So when you hitch up, the jaws don't completely close naturally like they do with a standard king pin. Here's a crude drawing that shows what I mean.

I have had a 5th Airborne air ride pin box for 10+ years. I air it up to the line after I first hookup in the spring and never let air out. I may have to add a little a time or two during the travel season to get back to the line.

I have a Reese Elite hitch with the wrap around jaw and there is never a problem hitching or unhitching with the pin box aired up. Had a Pullrite Super 5th hitch on my previous truck, also with wrap around jaw, and never a problem with that one either. The pin box plate rocks forward and aft and self aligns with the pin box plate as I back into it, or when I pull out to unhitch. The pin box plate should be an inch or so below the level of the hitch plate so that the pin box rides up on the hitch plate to ensure that self alignment and easy hitching. Or down off of when unhitching.

RobWNY - I don't have an air spring "pin box" but have B&W 5th wheel. Are the jaws not closing because the pin is too far out of "plumb" (vertical "level") with the jaws?

Does the air spring in the pin box force it nose down? This is an unnatural angle for a pin and 5th wheel to try to hitch.

If yes then you need to adjust whatever so the upper 5th (pin and plate) are in a reasonably close plane with your 5th wheel ("hitch"), or tilt the 5th wheel front down a bit with a bungee or something so it planes to the pin box as you back in. Don't strap it solid let it rock.


Also making sure you are backed in with a bit of pressure on the front of the pin allows the jaws to close freely. Set some weight on the truck and push on the trailer gently.

As you know the B&W does not need to be slammed into the pin to lock up. The lever & pin locks it.

I've had the AirRide pinbox for almost a year now leave it inflated all the time. I've found it's a little trickier to unhitch mine compared to a standard pinbox because of the pin's angle when it's inflated. Perhaps if you start with the trailer a little lower so that it can ride up onto the saddle(?) a bit.
JK